Dear Deana:
You don't have to give up on those babies at all! Some vets--and
some people--are much more likely to PTS little babies like that but
it certainly isn't necessary at all. I raised three little newborns
(The Three Orange Boyz) and they are now 10 months old. I kept them
all because I wanted them to grow up and stay with their sibbies
their whole life long. They tested negative to FeLV when they were
tiny and then at nine months one developed swollen glands and found
out on one day that he was FeLV pos and the next day that he had
lymphoma. He's on chemotherapy and doing very well! The other
babies are still negative and are now vaccinated against FeLV.
You were in the right place twice for this little family. Once, when
the poor mama was attacked and ran and again when she returned to
you. She had her babies at your house so she felt safe with you,
which is wonderful! Be sure and keep the babies very warm (very!)
and, also, purchase some Bene-Bac for their little gut flora. The
best kind to get is the big tube, not the little bitty ones from the
pet stores. You will go berserk trying to feed Bene-Bac to squirmy
little ones from those tiny tubes AND it will cost more, too!
Revival Health is in Iowa (and on the web) and they have the good
stuff. When they get poopy and you have to wash them under running
water (which mine HATED!) go to the pharmacy and buy some little
throwaway human baby washcloths because the poo is hard to get off.
It's easier to get them clean AND they are SO fluffy and sweet-
smelling! Your babies are so little that you can cut each human baby-
sized washcloth into 16 (yes, sixteen!) itty bitty washcloths for
kitty babies! Also, invest in disposable human bed pads--they're not
very attractive (that green!) but boy, do they keep the laundry
down. I wanted them to be groomed as though they had a kitty mommy--
it's good for their immune system --so I got them a tiny flea comb.
I think it's Revival that sells a teeny-tiny flea comb about four or
five inches long and it makes a perfect little hairbrush for them--
and they love it! I tried a toothbrush but it didn't work and that's
when I saw the teeny little flea comb. Perfect!
Oh--and don't let them suck on the little boys' peepees--not a good
idea since they have such a strong sucking capacity. You will know
that's what they are doing when they get what I like to call "peepee
head:" the fur on their face will be plastered down and then above
their forehead it'll be fluffy again. It's very amusing. Some
people say to separate them but I didn't do that--I just carefully
stopped it when they started rooting around somebody's little bottom
and they're fine. If mommy was there they would obviously suck on
her. There is a pillow that is available that has built-in nipples
made from KMR nipples! It's expensive, though, and I'd just make one
myself. There is also a kitty-mommy stuffed animal that has a
heartbeat with it (from Target or Revival.)
I would get the tiny ones tested--you don't have to do it right
away. But you should take in your Ragdoll girl and have her tested,
because it's good to know.
I got a gorgeous little long-haired tuxedo, Mamie, that nobody wanted
because she was FeLV positive. My vet and his tech saved her life
when she was found on a golf course sick and wormy and fleazy. We
had no idea how long she would live, so every birthday was a
milestone. She was in fabulous health for ten years and then her
immune system gave up on her. The vets just thought she was
amazing. And so did I! Once you have one you learn fast how easy it
is to care for them--and how long they can live, too!
The only other thing I can think of to say--now--is, I would not have
them spayed or neutered at the early age that is sometimes
recommended. I feel that it's better if they are older, especially
since they may have a weaker immune system because they lost their
mommy, so I like to give them an edge by doing it at the older
recommended age.
I love little kitty babies! You are so lucky to care for them!
Aren't they sweet? And sooo noisy when they are hungry! And I love
their little tomato tummies! I hope I haven't given you kitten-
raising information that you already know and if I have I apologize.
But you absolutely don't have to PTS them. They deserve to live,
too. Just be sure that your vet realizes that, too. Keep the big
kitties away from the babies until you know everyone's FeLV status, tho.
What colors are they? Are they long or short haired? Boys? Girls?
Tee
Taylor Scobie Humphrey
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
On May 8, 2007, at 1:42 PM, Deana K. Wagoner wrote:
I am new to the list and need some advice. We have a number of
ferals in our neighborhood and there has been an effort to trap/
spay-neuter as many as possible. I have been successful in turning
two of them into great house cats. One was negative and
vaccinated at 6 months of age. She is about 12 months now. The
other kitty is several years old and was spayed, but as far as I
know she wasn’t tested. She lived on my patio for a year then
decided to be a house cat. I haven’t had her tested yet, but she is
very healthy. I suspect she is a cat that ran off/got lost or was
dumped. She is a Rag Doll and really doesn’t act like a true feral.
Another feral in the neighborhood had a little late last summer.
Before I could capture these guys, one of the females got pregnant
and delivered the litter of kittens on my patio. When the kittens
were a day old, a neighbor’s dog attacked the stray mother and got
one of the kittens. The mother cat went up a tree, then took off.
I tried to follow her, with no luck. I watched the kittens for
about four hours, and she never returned. We got some kmr and feed
the 4 remaining kittens, continuing to watch for her to return.
She returned in the middle of the night on Sunday night in a rain
storm, obviously in bad shape. I just happened to look out when I
was up in the middle of the night bottle feeding the kittens. I
took her to the vet as soon they opened yesterday morning, but she
died from the injuries. The vet suggested testing her for FeLV.
(with the comment that if the cat was positive, you wouldn’t want
to treat her any way.) The vet reported there was a negative test,
then a second test was positive. The vet then suggested that all
of the kittens be PTS immediately with the chance that they were
positive.
I haven’t had cats much for the last 20 years, although I grew up
with cats- all before FeLV was identified – so I am not familiar
with it. Based on what I am reading, there are LOTS of questions
about test results/vaccinating/etc.
We are bottle feeding the kittens and they are growing like crazy,
crawling all over the place and don’t appear at all sick. They
were only with their mother just under 24 hours. (born last
Thursday.)
Is this common to just give up on the babies without knowing if
they are positive or not? I would appreciate any advice.
Thanks
Deana
