phoenix's health. help/advice please?

**Phoenix** · 11-16-2011, 06:38 PM

Hello everyone, my name is shaynie and I have been searching a while for a forum where I can seek advice/help.

My sisters cat gave birth on the 6th november to 4 kittens. One died at birth and as the days went on 2 more died leaving only one. We took mum cat and last kitten to the vet to find out why they all died and what the outlook is for the last kitten. She didn't really know but said it could be a respiratory infection which caused them all to die. She said the last kitten could die that night.

So 10 days later the kitten is still here and seems to be doing well. This kitten will be mine when she is weaned and if she survives. I have named her Phoenix.

What I should tell you is that mum cat has never had any injections and she already had a litter of 3 a few months ago and all where healthy. My sister was going to get her spayed but she was pregnant again so held off.

I visited Phoenix yesterday and she has doubled in weight and her eyes are open too, so she is developing, however she is silent. I stroked her with the tip of my finger and she turned to me and opened her mouth and done it twice but the first she spat, second no noise came out. I know this is normal in kittens as they are trying to protect themselves. When mum is out of the box Phoenix crawls around but never makes a noise for milk or anything. She is clearly feeding as she is gaining weight but my sister said she never makes noise so mum watches her and when she moves goes in there.

I didn't know if this is normal? That mum only relyswatching the kitten to see if she should attend to her or not.

My sister text me today saying phoenix keeps hissing and spitting at her and she isn't even anywhere near her. She actually said she's possessed but I thought I'd ask as there had to be a reason.

I also wanted to know about how Phoenix will develop when she has no litter mates. I know as they get older they play with each other, what will happen in this case? Will she be okay?

Also is there a age that she will reach which she would be at less risk of dyeing? Like the first trimester of pregnancy carrys all the risks. Is there anything in this case? Phoenix never showed sign's of a URI, not one and she seems okay in herself. I'm saying she's a girl as she is Calico and males are very rare. Mum is also Calico and Phoenix is the first Calico of hers.

I'm going to get all her injections and she is going to be a house cat but I'm still thinking about spaying her in case she gets out. I live in a flat alone with no other animals (except tropical fish) so she will get plenty of attention.

I think I have covered everything but if I have missed anything I would be happy to fill you in. Sorry this is long.
Any replies I will be grateful for.

**Karen** · 11-16-2011, 07:00 PM

Poor girl, I hope she continues to improve and that she is gaining weight is a good sign. I wouldn't worry about her not making noise when she "meows" - some cats never do. We once had a cat who adopted us when he was about 6 months old - much older than Phoenix, and he'd just open his mouth and nothing came out.

I would schedule an appointment with the vet for Phoenix, just to have her checked out. I hope your sister does get her cat spayed, it'll be better for her, and everyone around. It could be she just wasn't healthy enough to have kittens again so soon, or, as she's had no vaccinations, she had some illness she passed on to them, sadly.

By the way - we worried "Cat" would never learn to make noise, as his best buddy became out Saint Bernard, and cats are not equipped to bark! When he finally managed to make a noise, it was an exact mimic of the squeak the cellar door made!

I wouldn't worry about her development because she's an "only kitten," just make sure she gets and stays healthy, and give her plenty of playtime, and she should be fine!

**Phoenix** · 11-16-2011, 07:25 PM

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** · 11-16-2011, 08:37 PM

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** · 11-17-2011, 02:15 PM

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** · 11-17-2011, 02:43 PM

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.