Horrible Custody Battle!!!!

**QueenScoopalot** · 06-08-2004, 05:44 PM

Yikes! I rescued a lovely, but crabby Himalayan cat a while back. Mewsette has calmed down quite a bit with the help of Rescue Remedy. I trapped (well actually scruffed) four 8 week old kittens last week...no mama.

I at first thought it was so sweet that Mewsette took a shining to them and wanted to be in the cage with them, so I let her stay and wash and love the babies. Day #2...went to feed etc. and Mewsette had decided they were HER kittens, and no way was I coming anywhere near them or her cage. ARGHHH! It's been a total fiasco trying to get fresh food and litter in the cage without risking aggressive scratching and biting...not to mention threatening glares!

Well I was forced to remove the kittens from her custody this afternoon as much as I hated to. That was risky business but I managed, and plunked them into another cage with Josephine a docile feral, who's nursed and cared for several others. Wheww. They're now having a ball playing in the triple decker cage, and Mewsette is acting like it all never happened!

I'm still treating her with "kid gloves", but in the hour since our custody hearing she's calmed wayyyy down. Psycho girl thought she had given birth to them!

They're off to the vets for shots etc. Friday, and then off for adoption. Geesh...I'm scared to have anymore kittens near Mewsette.

**leslie flenner** · 06-08-2004, 08:29 PM

Jan, don't be scared!!! Just know that all kittens coming in-SHE gave birth to and you'll have to give up all maternal rights immediatly! You wouldn't want to traumatize Mewsette repeatedly now, would you?

**kimlovescats** · 06-08-2004, 08:53 PM

Awwwww, kind of sad for Mewsette ... but potentially dangerous for YOU! I'm glad you were able to regain custody of them without adding injury to insult!

**leslie flenner** · 06-08-2004, 09:00 PM

She is a bit of a fresh girl!! we trapped her (actually jan scruffed her while I held a carrier up on end) back in Feb. Because we didn't need a trap, it was assumed she was a good kitty! (although I did get nailed by her on her way into the carrier but chalked it up to my hand being in the wrong place, wrong time!). Anyway, she has been on Rescue Remedy and classical music since then and is a consistantly fresh cat! Don't know if anyone would find her adoptable at all (the shelter jan is using might have a hard time with her and say come and get her out of here!)
I say, let her do her mothering thing on the ones that are appropriate! She did not produce milk so I assume jan moved the kittens to get mother's milk? not sure. ya know it's funny how a cat with no babies can suddenly produce milk for a litter! a true phenomena I say!

**QueenScoopalot** · 06-09-2004, 05:58 AM

Leslie, Moving the kittens was for the safety and sanity of me!

They aren't nursing anymore that I can tell, but I wouldn't put it past Mewsette to start producing milk for them. Sweet Pea did years ago for a few misc. street waifs. I nearly chocked then...today not much suprises me!

**catmandu** · 06-09-2004, 08:59 AM

As a New Mother , she is over prttective , I have seen a Fearl Mom , single handed , beat up three hunting dogs! Its good that she realises that she can trust you , and the Kittens , are fine!

**QueenScoopalot** · 06-09-2004, 03:46 PM

Originally posted by catmandu
As a New Mother , she is over prttective , I have seen a Fearl Mom , single handed , beat up three hunting dogs! Its good that she realises that she can trust you , and the Kittens , are fine!

The problem is....these are NOT her kittens, but she thinks they are. I can't risk being attacked by her if I need to touch one of the kittens, or clean and feed them. Mewsette has calmed down,and is back to normal now that the kittens aren't with her. I dread to see her in action when the next group comes along!