This is the day they started exploring the shelf below their den. One is a kitten going up the ramp and the other is one hiding behind a can of paint.
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This them in their new 'den'. It is the stairs to the outside door to the basement. I checked to make sure there weren't any holes big enough to get to the outside. They retreat here on ocassion but most of the time they are wandering or hiding on the basement ground.
My kitty is getting ready to have her kittens. Don't know how long she still has to go, but she's getting pretty wide.
When she has them, other than providing a place and some privacy, do I need to do anything? Any advice at all is welcome because this is my first time being a gramma.
CarolL wrote: > My kitty is getting ready
> to have her kittens. Don't
> know how long she still has
> to go, but she's getting pretty
> wide.
>
> When she has them, other than
> providing a place and some
> privacy, do I need to do anything?
> Any advice at all is welcome
> because this is my first time
> being a gramma.
If it's her first litter, keep an eye on her to make sure everything is going alright. Some cats like a nesting box (you can use a large cardboard box) lined with newspaper topped by soft towels, but just remember, don't move her kittens to what you feel is a safer place because that will upset her & she'll move them either back where she had them originally or somewhere else. She knows best what she considers safe. Some cats get more affectionate than usual just before they're ready to give birth. After the kittens come, restrain yourself & others from handling them. It's not good for them to be handle very much, plus it upsets mamma cat.
My advice is to monitor on ocassion if you can- I didn't get to, she disappeared- in case she gets one stuck or something. I read that if a mamma is in labor and has a kitten but doesn't feel safe she can stop and wait and have the rest up to 24 hours later. For many animals the first timers there is the risk of them not carrying for the babies but I think that is unusual. They do everything. Clean them up, sever the umbilical cord, they even eat the kittens waste. EW! Privacy, quiet and low light for first 2 weeks. Then you can start making them aware of you but respect mom. I was told that you pet and talk to mom before you pet her babies, then when you are done thank her by petting and talking to her.
You might want to read up on how to recognise if she is having trouble with labor and what to do so you feel prepared, just in case.
Sephe has been amazing. She really encourages them to come out when I am down there. I just sit and watch them play with their mom's tail and tackle her. I should get video.
I'll be putting a link to some video tomorrow. Yes, 4. My bet was 4. She was HUGE. She is really a petit cat and she had this massive belly. She looked ridiculous. One of the kittens is really big too. The first one she is 'holding' on to.
#23 posted July 27, 2007 at 3:58am (EDT) edited July 27, 2007 at 4:04am (EDT)
pennyann wrote: > I'll be putting a link to some video tomorrow. Yes, 4. My bet was
> 4. She was HUGE. She is really a petit cat and she had this massive
> belly. She looked ridiculous. One of the kittens is really big too.
> The first one she is 'holding' on to.
We went to bed after three....and there were four. Their names are Spot, Junior, UnNamed and Sparkle-Tangerine. UnNamed will have a name soon when my older son has had enough time to ponder it.
