4 little rescues! 4 weeks old--update and photos page 2!!!!!

TikiGator · 08-28-2008, 09:14 PM

Thought I would share......I'm a tech at a vet clinic and we work with a lot of local rescues, a couple of them have trap-neuter-release programs for feral cats. Tuesday I went into work and we had a couple ferals we had to spay/neuter. One was a female that appeared on the large (pregnant side). Unfortunately, there is no way to do an exam prior to anesthesia because they are literally wild (like small tigers!

) So we have to sedate them in their live-traps and then wait until they go down, take them out, fix them, and put them back in before they wake up.

Anyhow, this female was pregnant, normally we abort the kittens because the majority of the time they are not to term, meaning they wouldn't be able to live on their own. To our surprise, these kittens WERE to term, and appeared to have heartbeats when we go them out (which, under the circumstances, usually they wouldn't surrvive the drugs from the anesthesia).....so we decided to try to save them! Miraculously enough we got them breathing, ALL four of them!

I brought them home, and am doing my best to keep them alive. Chances are slim they will surrvive, especially because they were unable to get the very important colostrum from the momma cat, but so far they are all doing well! They were 2 days old today....here are some photos!!!

Blaze:

Socks:

Frisbee:

and Tadpole:

GreyDot · 08-28-2008, 09:36 PM

Gads, they're sweet! You did well, TikiGator

Those kitties are nothing short of miraculous!

BabyMay · 08-28-2008, 09:43 PM

Oh how well I remember those days. I sure hope they make it, but like you said they missed that important mom's milk. With you being a Vet tech, they are in very capable hands. If anyone can pull them through, you can. I will send a little pray out for them. Although it sounds like they have an angel looking out for them. They are so precious at that age. With there flat little ears and rat like tails. Good luck and keep us posted.

Karen Cole · 08-28-2008, 09:47 PM

They are cute but why not leave them on the mother for a few days at least?

Good Luck to you and them
Karen

horselady · 08-28-2008, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karen Cole

They are cute but why not leave them on the mother for a few days at least?

Good Luck to you and them
Karen

Good question, unless mom had no milk yet?
What about colostrum replacer for cats, ? Just asking questions, i have no clue

breburtch · 08-29-2008, 11:06 AM

o there so adorable. I have faith in you and them that they will survive. I've rescued a few newborns in the past that didn't get the colostrum and only one out of them all never made it. So good luck and keep up the good work hand raising them so young can be hard and tiring but atleast there all healthy at this point which makes things easier

ETA: btw I like the name tadpole lol what made you name him that?

TikiGator · 08-29-2008, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karen Cole

They are cute but why not leave them on the mother for a few days at least?

Good Luck to you and them
Karen

Karen, the mother was feral. Meaning, absolutely wild and untame. It's not feasible to put the kittens in a live trap with her--no room for litter box, she would be very stressed out, no way to change food/water. And there's no way to get her in a cage, and take care of her and then try to get her back into a live trap to release her. Feral cats are almost impossible to manage.

Not to mention, she had been spayed, and often times after a surgery like that the mother will reject the kittens. And ontop of all that, although we did do a feline leukemia/FIV test on the mother, she has not been vaccinated, so there's no telling what bacteria, germs, mites, fleas, etc that she has that could be given to the kittens.

As far as horselady's question about the colostrum.....they don't sell kitten colostrum, however there is a relatively new study that has been done showing blood serum from a healthy non-pregnant cat (male or female) can actually be used as a colostrum donor. Unfortuntealy this has to be done between 36 and 48 hours after the kittens were born (when their gut is absorbing antibodies), and the donor must be a vaccinated healthy cat. I just read about this yesterday, the kittens were already 48 hours old so we missed our window of opportunity, but it's good to know for future kittens we may have to raise.

So far so good, all kitties are happy and healthy thus far. Thanks for sending the good wishes!

seerfarm · 08-29-2008, 02:19 PM

What sweeties! Sending healthy thriving thoughts and prayers.

TikiGator · 08-29-2008, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by breburtch

ETA: btw I like the name tadpole lol what made you name him that?

LOL I have no idea!

I've always been known to come up with original and different names for animals/pets. I guess this is just one more. It totally fits him though. LOL

Tobiesmom · 08-29-2008, 02:44 PM

Oh bless their little hearts! (and yours, too!) I've raised two orphans like that - and fortunately both made it. I'm pulling for you. Keep us updated (I love Tadpole, too!) What a great name.

BarnBum · 08-29-2008, 02:51 PM

I *really* like that black/white one with the tiger stripes

....... aka Blaze

No more cats...

Good luck !!!

ahlihaff · 08-29-2008, 05:49 PM

They are the tiniest little kitties. I hope they make it.

Gids_mama · 08-29-2008, 05:58 PM

Yes just thought you should know that ill be there in 8/9wks to pick up tadpole..hes make me a great addition.haha
id love to have him though.. striped cats like that are my fav.. we have a cat thats part bobcat..ahhh viscious sucker though..but shes gorgeous..

breburtch · 08-29-2008, 06:28 PM

I think my fav's would have to be socks and blaze lol also really like tadpole(I'm partial to dark tabby's incase anyone hasn't noticed)
Is it just me or does frisbee have a long pointer face?

lol I can't get over how cute they are...makes me wish I had my own place so I could start fostering kittens and puppies agian for the animal shelters(parents wont let me foster anymore while I live at home because when I used to we always ended up with atleast 1 new addition to the family)

Shiloveshorses · 08-29-2008, 06:35 PM

Frisbee looks like Mico when he was smaller. I hope they all continue to do well.

SACREDWINDWALKER · 08-29-2008, 09:38 PM

Hubby and I raised 4 babies from day 1 (well 3-1 didn't make it) I think we overfed her...anyways, the 3 we fed every 2-3 hours and of course did all the TLC with wiping their butts to make them pee....but my vet where I work said that colostrum for kittens and puppies isn't as necessary as it would be for a foal....people use serrogate mothers for kitties and puppies all the time....so no need to worry there....

The main thing I did as a precaution was worm them at 2-3 wks with Strongid-T and when they were about 5-6 wks......and started them Albon if anyone showed any mucousy diarrhea.....coccidia was the main thing that worried me because it can take them out quick.

Good luck with those beautiful babies!

My babies are now going on 3 years old....and they are so rotten, they think we are mom and dad....

One of the 3 still has to have our hand touching her face or she places her paw in our hand before she can go to sleep....she's the one in my Avatar!

TikiGator · 08-29-2008, 09:44 PM

Sacred, she's gorgeous.....maine coon??

SACREDWINDWALKER · 08-29-2008, 10:00 PM

I don't know what she is....people have said she looks like one but she has a smooth haired tabby brother and a long haired orange brother with a bottle brush tail......here's their pics.

Fuzzy

Garfield

GreyDot · 08-29-2008, 10:13 PM

Sacred, those are GORGEOUS cats!

LuvMyMares · 08-29-2008, 10:47 PM

AAWWWW how cute those kittens are!!! Good luck with them and keep us posted!!!
(ps I bet I know where you got the name tadpole

I got a million of them in my yard right now....How bout u?)

08-28-2008, 09:14 PM
TikiGator Weanling Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 454	4 little rescues! 4 weeks old--update and photos page 2!!!!! Thought I would share......I'm a tech at a vet clinic and we work with a lot of local rescues, a couple of them have trap-neuter-release programs for feral cats. Tuesday I went into work and we had a couple ferals we had to spay/neuter. One was a female that appeared on the large (pregnant side). Unfortunately, there is no way to do an exam prior to anesthesia because they are literally wild (like small tigers!) So we have to sedate them in their live-traps and then wait until they go down, take them out, fix them, and put them back in before they wake up. Anyhow, this female was pregnant, normally we abort the kittens because the majority of the time they are not to term, meaning they wouldn't be able to live on their own. To our surprise, these kittens WERE to term, and appeared to have heartbeats when we go them out (which, under the circumstances, usually they wouldn't surrvive the drugs from the anesthesia).....so we decided to try to save them! Miraculously enough we got them breathing, ALL four of them! I brought them home, and am doing my best to keep them alive. Chances are slim they will surrvive, especially because they were unable to get the very important colostrum from the momma cat, but so far they are all doing well! They were 2 days old today....here are some photos!!! Blaze: Socks: Frisbee: and Tadpole: __________________ Laura at Tikigator Farm Naples, FL www.tikigatorfarm.com Last edited by TikiGator : 09-28-2008 at 03:40 PM. Reason: update!

08-28-2008, 09:36 PM
GreyDot Started Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Hamilton, OH Posts: 2,433	Gads, they're sweet! You did well, TikiGator Those kitties are nothing short of miraculous! __________________ Dot, March 30, 1983 - August 29, 2009. A kind eye, a brave heart, a gentle soul, a wise spirit. I will always miss you, Sweet Boy.

08-28-2008, 09:43 PM
BabyMay Started Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,779	Oh how well I remember those days. I sure hope they make it, but like you said they missed that important mom's milk. With you being a Vet tech, they are in very capable hands. If anyone can pull them through, you can. I will send a little pray out for them. Although it sounds like they have an angel looking out for them. They are so precious at that age. With there flat little ears and rat like tails. Good luck and keep us posted. __________________ For the love of all animals.

08-28-2008, 09:47 PM
Karen Cole Started Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,506	They are cute but why not leave them on the mother for a few days at least? Good Luck to you and them Karen

08-29-2008, 11:06 AM
breburtch Started Join Date: May 2008 Location: Ennismore, Ontario Posts: 2,886	o there so adorable. I have faith in you and them that they will survive. I've rescued a few newborns in the past that didn't get the colostrum and only one out of them all never made it. So good luck and keep up the good work hand raising them so young can be hard and tiring but atleast there all healthy at this point which makes things easier ETA: btw I like the name tadpole lol what made you name him that?

08-29-2008, 02:19 PM
seerfarm Bombproof Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Out with the Herd! Posts: 9,633	What sweeties! Sending healthy thriving thoughts and prayers. __________________ "One must be a god to be able to tell successes from failures without making a mistake".

08-29-2008, 02:44 PM
Tobiesmom Yearling Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 533	Oh bless their little hearts! (and yours, too!) I've raised two orphans like that - and fortunately both made it. I'm pulling for you. Keep us updated (I love Tadpole, too!) What a great name.

08-29-2008, 02:51 PM
BarnBum Kid Safe Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sunshine State Posts: 5,803	I really like that black/white one with the tiger stripes ....... aka Blaze No more cats... Good luck !!! __________________ *Life is a coin, you can spend it anyway you wish, but you can only spend it once.* Last edited by BarnBum : 08-29-2008 at 06:34 PM.

08-29-2008, 05:49 PM
ahlihaff Seasoned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Western MA Posts: 4,560	They are the tiniest little kitties. I hope they make it.

08-29-2008, 05:58 PM
Gids_mama Long Yearling Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Ramsey, Indiana Posts: 1,365	Yes just thought you should know that ill be there in 8/9wks to pick up tadpole..hes make me a great addition.haha id love to have him though.. striped cats like that are my fav.. we have a cat thats part bobcat..ahhh viscious sucker though..but shes gorgeous..

08-29-2008, 06:28 PM
breburtch Started Join Date: May 2008 Location: Ennismore, Ontario Posts: 2,886	I think my fav's would have to be socks and blaze lol also really like tadpole(I'm partial to dark tabby's incase anyone hasn't noticed) Is it just me or does frisbee have a long pointer face? lol I can't get over how cute they are...makes me wish I had my own place so I could start fostering kittens and puppies agian for the animal shelters(parents wont let me foster anymore while I live at home because when I used to we always ended up with atleast 1 new addition to the family)

08-29-2008, 06:35 PM
Shiloveshorses Started Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 2,280	Frisbee looks like Mico when he was smaller. I hope they all continue to do well. __________________ If you follow your heart, you can't go wrong...... http://theadventuresofkarendeniseandshianne.blogspot.com/

08-29-2008, 09:38 PM
SACREDWINDWALKER Started Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Western Kentucky Posts: 2,168	Hubby and I raised 4 babies from day 1 (well 3-1 didn't make it) I think we overfed her...anyways, the 3 we fed every 2-3 hours and of course did all the TLC with wiping their butts to make them pee....but my vet where I work said that colostrum for kittens and puppies isn't as necessary as it would be for a foal....people use serrogate mothers for kitties and puppies all the time....so no need to worry there.... The main thing I did as a precaution was worm them at 2-3 wks with Strongid-T and when they were about 5-6 wks......and started them Albon if anyone showed any mucousy diarrhea.....coccidia was the main thing that worried me because it can take them out quick. Good luck with those beautiful babies! My babies are now going on 3 years old....and they are so rotten, they think we are mom and dad.... One of the 3 still has to have our hand touching her face or she places her paw in our hand before she can go to sleep....she's the one in my Avatar! __________________ http://www.sacredwindwalker.com

08-29-2008, 09:44 PM
TikiGator Weanling Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 454	Sacred, she's gorgeous.....maine coon?? __________________ Laura at Tikigator Farm Naples, FL www.tikigatorfarm.com

08-29-2008, 10:00 PM
SACREDWINDWALKER Started Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Western Kentucky Posts: 2,168	I don't know what she is....people have said she looks like one but she has a smooth haired tabby brother and a long haired orange brother with a bottle brush tail......here's their pics. Fuzzy Garfield __________________ http://www.sacredwindwalker.com

08-29-2008, 10:13 PM
GreyDot Started Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Hamilton, OH Posts: 2,433	Sacred, those are GORGEOUS cats! __________________ Dot, March 30, 1983 - August 29, 2009. A kind eye, a brave heart, a gentle soul, a wise spirit. I will always miss you, Sweet Boy.

08-29-2008, 10:47 PM
LuvMyMares Weanling Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Southwest Florida Posts: 334	AAWWWW how cute those kittens are!!! Good luck with them and keep us posted!!! (ps I bet I know where you got the name tadpole I got a million of them in my yard right now....How bout u?) __________________ I Luv my 3 mare's-Cheyanne-Palomino Paint, Butter's-Sorrel Arabian & Katie Lou-Black AQHA