Baby kittens

[DallasRechelle]

My stray cat, Fancy, had her litter of kittens about 3 weeks ago. Starting last weekend, she started to leave them on the doorstep. First it was one last Sunday (a sweet gray tuxedo female named Squirt) . On Wednesday it was 2 more kittens, a solid black female now named Dora the Explorer (she explores the apartment the most) and a black & white one named Sylvester. On Friday, it was a fourth kitten, a solid gray one we haven't named yet (any ideas????).

My question is ... when should we start to introduce more solid food? They're teething now. It's been years since I've had to deal with baby kittens and I'm out of practice. We're nursing them now with cat milk but want to know when we can start to wean that. We're keeping them until they're about 10 weeks old, to ensure they're ready. We've also decided to keep Squirt.

Thanks for your advice!!!

[DallasRechelle]

She's leaving them on the doorstep? Wonders never cease. Smart momma trusting her human like that.

I can't help much with the kitten issue. It's been 20 years since I dealt with kittens. Some of the shelters don't let them go until they are two pounds. Good weight. I've always thought 6 weeks or later. IIRC, the momma will stop nursing at 5-6 weeks.

But it's been a long time.

Good luck with the placement.

Anne

Fancy trusts me *only*. I've been feeding her & another stray who had a litter about 5 weeks ago for nearly a year now. She lets me handle her and has let me try to ease her pain from her injury. I think that's why she left them for me. Her injury is severe and I think it's come to where she needs to be seen by a vet and probably put to sleep. Her shoulder is severely damaged and I think broken. With where we live, she needs to be inside at the very least, because we have several varities of snakes that would eat her, as well as a pack of coyotes with at least 6. Poor baby. :(

Babies are developing beautifully. They are about 11 ounces right now. They are so precious, it's going to be hard to give any of them away.

[Catty1]

Poor Fancy. Just remember that cats also get along VERY well on 3 legs...and if the surgery is horrendously expensive, check out imom.org

Of course, the vet will know best - and I wish only the best for you and this poor, brave Momcat.

HUGS
Catty1

[DallasRechelle]

Poor Fancy. Just remember that cats also get along VERY well on 3 legs...and if the surgery is horrendously expensive, check out imom.org

Of course, the vet will know best - and I wish only the best for you and this poor, brave Momcat.

I know, I feel so awful for her. I'm just SO relieved that she brought the babies to me instead of letting them suffer and/or die. They are beautiful kittens and very very sweet.

I'll definitely look into that website, thanks!!

[QueenScoopalot]

Poor mama kitty. Is there any way you can take her in? Here's another link to a terrific (but fast moving) website http://www.handicappedpets.com/cgi-bin/msg/webbbs_config.pl where you can get a lot of support, and ideas for Fancy. At the very least, you may be able to find somebody willing to take her in. She sounds way too sweet to kill. :( I'm guessing by now her babies are eating? They sound old enough to try out wet food. With hesitant kittens (I rescue non-stop) I smoosh a bit of wet food in their mouth, and then gently guide their heads down to the food dish, and 9 times out of 10 they start nibbling. ;)

[barncat]

If she is bringing them to you, she knows she isn't giving them enough nutrition. Everyone's advice is great, but as youn ga s they are I would mix some of the mother's replacement milk with the food you are softening for them. It will help to ensure that they are getting all the vitamins etc that they need.

My first "heart" cat was a kitten whose mom was run over before her litter opened their eyes. They all were fine.

Youare being a good friend to the wildling and her children.