phoenix's health. help/advice please?

[Phoenix]

Thank you for your reply. You see this is my first time having a cat, I grew up with cats but they were just there and I was too young to understand.

I want to do right by phoenix and because it was only last Thursday she saw a vet I thought I would wait before taking her again. She isn't showing any worrying signes or anything but this is all new to me so I can't help but worry, especially as all the others died.

The vet said Phoenix should have her first shot at 2 months so nearer the time I will schedual her appointment. I'm already putting away money for her and refuse to let my sister pay for her health checks etc as I see it as it is my responsibility.

I remember the last litter had a kitten that Loved eating litter, so I will buy de-clumping litter or natural stuff. I will buy her scratch post (although none of the others used this and neither did the mum), bowls, bed, toys and fle/ worming stuff. Is there any more I am missing? I want to be fully prepaired.

Some sites say about washing the kittens young and others didn't. I wanted to find out about this because I would have thought that would do more harm than good. I would wash off the scent and mum could reject her. That's the last I need giving the survival rates anyway.

Also milk? Give her cats milk or not? Again some say no and others say yes.

When will she be old enough to travel to the vet alone? (Without mum)
I will take her home in roughly 10-12 weeks so she is fully weaned and mum has taught her the 'kitty home schooling'.

Sorry for all the questions but I want to get it right and I know there will be plenty of other post's during Phoenix's life.

Thank you

[Karen]

Oh, don't apologize for asking questions! Yes, 8-10 weeks should be old enough for her to be weaned and away from her mum. Every day that goes by increases her likelihood of surviving. I would not give her cow's milk, and once she is weaned, she won't need cat's milk, either. Just good kitten food - it is fattier and has more of the stuff a growing kitty needs - and she'll be fine.

You can teach her to use a scratching post, just get one, and show her how it is done, and she'll likely come to enjoy it. If it helps, you can rub it with catnip, but kittens don't usually react to catnip until they are older.

[Phoenix]

Thanks again. Well she is still alive, made it through another day. My sister isn't too keen on her as she said she keeps hissing and spitting, but then she has been saying for 6 years that her house has ghosts. Now both the cats are reacting. Said they are both acting odd. The mum is chasing something around in the air that isn't there (like a invisable fly in the air), and is not really eating much and Phoenix keeps hissing and spitting at 'nothing'.

My mum said make sure I buy her kitten milk so I thought I would ask first as I'm not sure about that.

And yeah I am buying a scratch post regardless of whatever as she already has sharp lil nails. Mum has catnip but isn't to keen on it. Ill test some of mums before I buy it. Thankyou. If anyone has anything else I should know please let me know

Thankyou.

[kittycats_delight]

Cats are lactose intolerant so milk is not needed once weened. Mum's milk gives Phoenix all the nutrients & antibodies etc that she needs. So as for milk, kitten milk (kitten replacement milk) or any lactose free milk is not needed unless she comes home with you before 8 weeks old. I had a kitten we had to bottle feed as she came home with me at 5 weeks old because her mum wouldn't have any more to do with her or her brother.

First vaccinations are at 8 weeks old and usually 4 weeks later she will get her second round of vaccinations. She will be good then for 1 year. Spaying should be done at around 6 months. It is much better to spay before the first heat cycle. Spaying before the first heat cycle (usual at 6 months or so) will decrease (not eliminate) the chances of Phoenix getting certain types of cancer (mainly reproductive cancers like mammary cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer etc). There is a significant decrease in the chances, that being a decrease of about 50%.

Check out this
site for some info. There are many many more out there that will give you supporting information as well as additional information.

As for the hissing at your sister...Phoenix may need some more interaction with people. She could very well just be scared. Also as for Phoenix's mum chasing things that no one sees that isn't all that strange. She could just be bored. She is obviously used to coming and going and occupying herself in the great outdoors. That's a pretty big playground for a kitty so being confined & having to care for a baby is most likely a very boring venture for mum.

I am sure there is lots more to tell you but my mind is a muddle now so if I think of anything else I will post.

Oh, one thing. Do get her spayed whether you intend to let her out or not. It is better in so many ways some of which are in the link I provided. Try to spend some time with Phoenix as much as you can before she is ready to come home with you & maybe leave an old tshirt or something for her to get used to your scent.

[Phoenix]

Hello and thanks for your reply.

I saw Phoenix again tonight and she allowed me stroke her without hissing/spitting at me. I felt really privileged. I'm starting to wonder if the reason she does this is because her ear canal's are starting to open?

Phoenix was a bit early with developing as she opened her eyes around 7-8 days old. (Not sure if that actually is early but the first litters eyes opened a lot later) anyway she slightly reacts to noise which makes her do it. Another theory is that when my sister is out all the lights are off and it's dead silent (my sisters out a lot) so when she gets in Phoenix now has to adjust to the light and noise my sister creates upon returning. Don't know if this could be a reason? Also I thought as she has no litter mates which she once did she is literally alone.

Also mum doesn't sleep with her or sit in the box with her. Today she made her first noise but I noticed mum will talk to her and if she gets no response she walks up and checks her. If she gets a response she will lay down with Phoenix so she can feed which always results is Phoenix passing out in deep sleep. She's out like a light. Mum can sense when she is falling asleep (probably stops suckling) and jumps out and sleeps on the floor facing the box.

Could the fact that mum don't sleep with her make her a bit more scared? She is 12 days old tomorrow but mum does watch her like a hawk.

I was thinking about getting her spayed regardless but could she die when she goes under? As I was told if she does survive she could be a sickly kitty (which may or may not be the case).

I was also thinking about adopting another kitten so she has some company, would this be okay? I'm going to call the vet either tomorrow or monday to book her injections and will fire away questions at the vet so I'm not constantly asking on here.

As you may have noticed, I'm someone that has to be the best at what I do, okay isn't good enough for me... I have to be brilliant at it, so getting it right the first time round is a big deal for me.

I will post pics of phoenix soon when I figure out how to.

[kittycats_delight]

It would be great to get a second kitty for company. Many of us often suggest getting 2 kittens instead of 1. Be warned they will get into more mischief together than alone but they are constantly entertaining and will make you laugh & smile to no end.

7-8 days is early for opening the eyes. Eyes normally open between 10-14 days. Just because she is the only survivor doesn't mean she will be sickly. Usually when there is a litter and only one survives it is because that 1 is a fighter & stronger.

There is always a risk with anesthesia whether it is a cat, dog, other animal or human. It is never 100% risk free. Ask you vet if they do pre-surgery blood work. Most vets do & it lets them know if she will be at a higher risk than others. It is very rare for something to happen under anesthesia. I have known only 1 person that it happened with and it wasn't because something went wrong. It was because they found a large inoperable tumor & the cat was really ill. This was an older cat as well. I have had 2 very skinny feral cats spayed with no issue. Both had given birth 2 weeks before the surgery. They are both happy & healthy & living inside with NO desire to go out at all.

Talk to you vet. Inundate her with questions. They are professionals and are there to help you make an informed decision & to make the best decision regarding your cat. Also, keep asking us questions here. Between the members here, some of which have been rescuing for years and others who have special needs cats, have a font of information to help. They have countless years of experience dealing with things from the simple to the most complex that you can imagine.

We are here to help if we can & do it gladly. Let us know what you vet says ok.

Michelle

BTW...I have a Phoenix too.

[moosmom]

You might want to give her goat's milk! My cats LOVE it and it's totally lactose free. It's good for them, with lots of calories and nutrients.

You can get it powdered at any pet store, or at a farm that has goats.

You got some GREAT advice here. Nothing else I could add. Don't ever apologize for asking questions. There are a lot of knowledgeable people on here. Welcome!!

[Phoenix]

Hiya,

My sister once brought two kittenss that were both female she called shekerah and shekana and my sister said they were really really bad so she gave them away. About a year or two later she got another cat (Phoenix's mum) who's called Princess and her first litter was a litter of 3, one pure black, one ginger and another black and white and my sisters friend took two the kittens together (I sexed them all as boys and am correct). This girl who took two kittens say's they are really really bad together and I was thinking about taking one of them but not too long after princess was pregnant and I decided to wait.

I have the patience for animals were as they both have not.

Yes the vet said she could be very sickly, but then we did go to a pet hospital that relys on donations to keep it running which you don't have to pay for, so they will see your animal and give you medication if needed for free and you can choose to donate or not. So maybe the treatment you get there reflects the payment they get. When I was worrying about Phoenix they said they can't do anything for kittens. If she was going to die then they can't do anything and said 'its just a waiting game with kittens'. Apparently. You cannot do anything for kittens but can for cats. I found that a bit strange. But didn't argue as they are the vets.

I will fire questions at the vet and if I don't like the possible outcome or they can't do a test before I will re-think.

Princess drinks Goat's milk but didn't understand why they can drink that but not cow's milk? Does cows milk contain something Goats doesn't? Or is Goats just more Gentle?

You see I myself don't Drink or eat any dairy so I wouldn't know much about it.

P.S - michelle I remember looking on the past posts before I signed up and your blinking picture come up with Phoenix. I was glad to see someone else with the name as everyone thinks I'm crazy using it. I thought given the circumstances it would be perfect as the vet said she would die the next night as all 3 of her litter mates died and she survived and I believe that because all of us are wishing she survives she is getting the wishes/luck.

It would be great to get a second kitty for company. Many of us often suggest getting 2 kittens instead of 1. Be warned they will get into more mischief together than alone but they are constantly entertaining and will make you laugh & smile to no end.

7-8 days is early for opening the eyes. Eyes normally open between 10-14 days. Just because she is the only survivor doesn't mean she will be sickly. Usually when there is a litter and only one survives it is because that 1 is a fighter & stronger.

There is always a risk with anesthesia whether it is a cat, dog, other animal or human. It is never 100% risk free. Ask you vet if they do pre-surgery blood work. Most vets do & it lets them know if she will be at a higher risk than others. It is very rare for something to happen under anesthesia. I have known only 1 person that it happened with and it wasn't because something went wrong. It was because they found a large inoperable tumor & the cat was really ill. This was an older cat as well. I have had 2 very skinny feral cats spayed with no issue. Both had given birth 2 weeks before the surgery. They are both happy & healthy & living inside with NO desire to go out at all.

Talk to you vet. Inundate her with questions. They are professionals and are there to help you make an informed decision & to make the best decision regarding your cat. Also, keep asking us questions here. Between the members here, some of which have been rescuing for years and others who have special needs cats, have a font of information to help. They have countless years of experience dealing with things from the simple to the most complex that you can imagine.

We are here to help if we can & do it gladly. Let us know what you vet says ok.

Michelle

BTW...I have a Phoenix too.