A Little About Kittens

 

 

Ok, this needs to be said…

After a horrible experience with a “rescuer” I feel some things need to be explained so others do not make these mistakes.

 

I was contacted by a friend who begged me to help her other friend. I made no promises, felt pressured to help though. The FIRST story was that the friend, we will call Sasha for this article, had multiple “stray” mother cats with 10 kittens total. Sasha had caught 6 of them.

As the tale went on, I learned one kitten was very sick and was not gonna make it. Sasha had not included that kitten in the total amount……

The first plan was that I would meet up with her about a week from when we first spoke in order to give me time to prepare to receive 6 kittens……. Again, I had not planned on any intake this year but felt pressured to do so.

Sasha then changed the plan. She needed the kittens gone because of “her daughters allergies”. I found out later this was not true. She wanted them gone because they had the runs and had destroyed her carpet.

So, I met her the following day. Sasha produced 10 kittens…… Most were super skinny, less than 6 weeks old, all looked sickly. I brought them home and began feeding, caring etc for them. Some would not eat I had to use the syringe, which a few also rejected.

All had the runs….. All failed to behave like kittens. They basically ate and slept, no playing or other normal kitten activity.

All were super infested with parasites…… Some were so infested they had bloody stool.

The problem is no dewormer can be given before a kitten is 6 weeks old and even then it is dangerous!!!!

Sasha said the kittens were born on March 14. Sasha knows a good deal about the stray mothers involved. She claims she loves them and has been caring for them for years. When she trapped mama number one and sent her here, the plan was I would house / isolate her to keep her from getting pregnant and Sasha would have her fixed. The conversation looked as if Sasha cared a great deal about the mamas and wanted them back in their colony after they were spayed. She also claimed to have gotten pledges from Actors and Others for the surgeries. She has not provided that info for the one mama already here. Sasha had promised to handle setting the appointment with her vet. I would transport and then post surgery the mama would return to her. That was the plan……

Of course, that plan changed once mama was enroute to me. She asked if she could relinquish her to me. It was at that moment I decided I would not accept anymore from her. The excuses she gave were sickening really. She was being held back and needed to live her life. She failed to understand these are community cats who have known nothing except the area they live in!!!!

Then the kittens started passing away, before an appointment could even be made for an in person visit. I had consulted with a pay per visit online vet who explained that when they turned 6 weeks old I had to deworm them or the parasites would kill them. That vet also explained that due to how infested they were the dewormer might be too little too late.

They advised using a multi dewormer approach since we were not positive which parasite they had. I had seen some in the poo but they could have others. So, the day they turned 6 weeks, dewormer 1 was given. I had to wait 48 hours to give dewormer 2.

Between dewormer 1 and dewormer 2 I lost two of the littles.

At this time I learned it was not one kitten who passed under her care. Now the story is 3 kittens died. There were also four more kittens running around outside that she could not catch.

I am sitting here like how many mama’s do you have??? She claims there are only 3. Do the math….. There has to be more than 3 mamas!!!!

Sasha’s story changed every time I spoke to her. Initially she claimed the kittens used the litter box. I knew this to be a lie because a 5 week old kitten has not learned this yet. She also claimed the litter seemed healthy, ate good, etc. She did not disclose that they had runny, bloody poo…… After I had taken the kittens she did say she had to rip up the carpet in the room she had been keeping them.

So, each day I am burying kittens…… Each day I wonder which one is next?

Today I have 4 of 11 left……

Two of them are struggling hard.

But, as a rescuer, I fully understand part of my job includes showing them LOVE before they have to cross the rainbow bridge.

As a rescuer, I pray for each one. I want them to make it. But, I also make them as comfortable and loved as possible while knowing they are sick and waiting for the dewormers to work their magic…..

I cry over every single one and make sure their resting place is peaceful.

 

I did not write this for pity. I wrote this to show how getting good information might have changed the outcome.

First, with stray mamas and babies never remove the babies from mom unless they have been abandoned or are in danger. NEVER! Stray mamas are great mams and had the babies stayed with mom they may have had a better chance. By removing them from mom at 4 weeks of age, forcing them onto wet food too early only complicated the situation.

At 4 weeks of age the kittens still relied on mom’s milk for nourishment. Yes, they nibble at wet food, but they NEED the nourishment from mom’s milk. Their delicate systems cannot handle regular food until 6 weeks of age. Yes, they nibble at wet food, but how they digest this food is important. Their systems cannot properly digest meals of wet food only until after 6 weeks of age. Prior to that their system relies on mom’s milk.

The babies could have been treated via mom’s milk. The mothers could have been medicated / dewormed via the food and then passed it to the babies via the milk. This may have saved some of them.

But, Sasha took at least 13 away from their mothers…… Three died in her home and I have buried 7 so far…….

When you “save” a kitten it is imperative to give the rescue / foster TRUTHFUL information, even if it is not pretty.

Kittens are delicate, very delicate and their little systems cannot handle much. Truthful information can save lives. When someone misrepresents a kitten’s health status the sick kitten may not get the immediate treatment it needs.

In the case of the ones I have, I did consult the online vet within 48 hours of their arrival to me. But, because they were not yet 6 weeks old I had to wait.

I know the urge is strong to take kittens indoors, cuddle them, pamper them but this is not always what is best for them. Please allow them to stay with their mama until a minimum 6 weeks of age. These kittens had good mamas who were caring for them very well. That was obvious in how clean they were, how clear the eyes were and how well behaved they were.

I have cried so much this past week it is heartbreaking.

 

Remember, I am always available via messenger for kitten questions! People even call me when they feel it is an emergency!!! I don’t mind because I would rather someone ask questions before removing kittens from a stray / feral mom.

Ok, off my soap box now and off to clean up oopsies, feed babies and pray the dewormer works some magic an Leaving them is the best until they are weaned, just take care of mama during that time.d heals them. I know two are struggling….. But they are still here and I will fight for them as long as they have fight in them. If they give in, then I hold them, cry and comfort them.

So, points to remember about this:

1.        Never remove the kittens before consulting someone in the know

2.      Always give the rescue / foster TRUTHFUL details and information!!!

3.      If kittens are under 6 weeks old use kitten replacement milk ONLY, no wet food!!!!

4.      If leaving them with mom you can mix dewormer with the wet food for mom!!!

5.      When dealing with multiple moms and kittens in the same age range, understand that the kittens have more than one care source. The moms will share duties. Just take care of the mams during that time.