Any advice on fattening kittens up once Mom has closed the milk bar? My current fosters are just… tiny. Mama was just six months or so herself when she gave birth, and she had five kittens which just don’t seem to be as big as they should be. I tried Kitty Glop, and it gave some of them diarrhea. I have them on kitten kibble and IAMS soft food. Babies will be eleven weeks old tomorrow, and I don’t think one has hit two pounds yet.
I’m posting this in hopes that other people will chime in, but I would recommend Gerber chicken baby food, goat milk (we buy canned goat milk, but it’s available in the refrigerated section too), Nutri-Cal for kittens (I’m a little hesitant to suggest that because in my experience kittens haaate the taste. But I’ve used it successfully in the past to get kittens perked up and interested in food.) If they’re not on a probiotic, I’d start them on one. (I know you’re probably familiar with all these things, but those are what I’d recommend. Hopefully there’ll be more suggestions out there!) Oh! And I highly recommend Liqui-Tinic or Pet-Tinic drops.
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Cats and boxes are a match made in heaven, aren’t they. I made the mistake of stacking a bunch up on my carport to take to the recycling truck. Before I could get it loaded in the car, it had been claimed by Sophie as her throne and the whole stack is still there, 3 weeks later.
I try to NEVER put down a box or boxes in a spot where I’m not willing to leave it for the life of the box (or the cat)! The instant I forget that important fact of life, someone (usually Archie) claims the box for himself and then I can’t ever move it.
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Target still has the Llama basket.
Yep, you can see it on the web site, but it’s showing out of stock and no longer sold at my local Target – and you can’t place an order for it online. I think that if you’re wanting one of those baskets and see it in your local Target, you better grab one!
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Where might I find that sweet cuddle kitty? One of mine is a cuddle, the other is relatively independent….the cuddle kitty would help, I think…..Any ideas, please?
They’re on Amazon, here. (It looks different, but is made by the same company.) Alternately, you could buy the heart by itself and put it inside a stuffed animal (I think it’s the heartbeat sound and the heated pad that Benjamin likes so much.)
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Does Clyde have any marshmallow fluff left? Or have you squeezed it all out?
It seems to be regenerating at a faster pace than I can squeeze it out of him!
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Just came here to say I saw this.
I’ve ordered one of those – which have popped up in my Facebook ads too – and will report back as far as how it compares to the Pier1 Fruitasan!
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How do you and the shelter manage the flea situation? I know that you do rigouous cleaning between litters. Is that enough??
I use topical flea/tick treatment (usually Revolution) on adults and Advantage on kittens (until they’re old enough for Revolution), and treat all cats – permanent residents and fosters – monthly. If they come to me with just a few fleas I’ll stick with the topical stuff, but if they’re badly infested I use Capstar (which can be used in addition to the topical.) I’ve been extremely lucky to have never had a bad flea infestation, due in part I’m sure to the fact that I’m religious about applying it every month.
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Today is also the first time the Les Chatons were introduced. (2019 entry)
I always feel SO SORRY for Margeaux when I read that post because she had kittens shoved into a cage with her and she was like “What am I supposed to do with THESE?!” and then it turned out she was pregnant all along. That girl certainly deserves the wonderful home she (now Elfie) and Katriane (now Neko) ended up in.
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“She’s over there, isn’t she?” Bunny’s face is cracking me up. But rest assured – she has no issues with Cutey and Clyde any more. I am pretty sure she’d let them nurse if they wanted to, but I haven’t seen them even attempt. (Which is fine – there’s more to mothering than letting them nurse.)
Lola’s eyes up close.
The Fluffles spend way more time on the couch than previous litters have, and I love seeing them there.
I spy.. with my little eye… Bugs! (Clyde and Lola in the box.)
Honey checks out the view.
Between Lola’s front paws is the crocheted cat Fred made. They love that thing!
I’ll be glad when Bunny can stop wearing her collar at all, but it sure is a good color on her.
Benjamin, Bugs, Lola and Honey think they need a bigger tree.
Having eaten lunch, Clyde retires to the ToastyCat bed for a bath and a snooze.
Bugs thinks a nap is an excellent idea.
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Archie and the Existential Angst.
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Previously
2019: “You’re not funny, lady.”
2018: Scott, havin’ a think.
2017: This is Frankie.
2016: Barnaby Mouse gets a little sun.
2015: “Excuse me, please not to bother. I am on VERY IMPORTANT PHONE CALL.”
2014: Thursday Thlurrrrrpday.
2013: A melee of Dragons.
2012: Kinda relaxed for someone who’s about to go off and get the ol’ snip-snip, isn’t he?
2011: No entry.
2010: No entry.
2009: Girlfriend has got some LUNGS.
2008: It’s so cute I want to squeeze them to death.
2007: The knowledge that he’s the Purtiest! Kitty! Ever! makes Sugarbutt a wee bit smug.
2006: No entry.
2005: No entry.
Oh my! The floof is strong with that Honey girl!
Kerfluffle throwback: https://www.love-and-hisses.com/6-4-08/
oh that Archie!
Naps are always a good idea, Bugs.
You know what? My BFF’s cat Olive does not get the whole box thing. She’s into towels (we risk certain maiming should either of us try to take away her current love and try and launder it…) and Egg McMuffin wrappers (she’s a bit…weird), and there was the time her favourite toy of all time was a Lindor chocolate wrapper (minus the chocolate, of course…).
But boxes? Nah. I had to bring Malcolm’s ratty ol’ box I’d gotten from Costco years ago when I moved here from Toronto in 2017, otherwise poop would have been flung monkey-style.
My Allie just ignores boxes, too, which is sad. Most of my past cats have been box-crazy, especially Aggie, who was a….hmmmmm…. big girl, but could fit herself into pretty much any box!
Our cat will not get near a box. He is odd.
It looks like Archie’s starting to get the old man grumpies. (Not to be confused with his young man grumpies.) <3
My current fosters (now 13 weeks) have been generally slow to gain weight and a few weeks ago began at best plateauing, at worst a couple of them ended up losing >20% of their high weights. They became extremely finicky and had (only occasionally some) bad poo, but remained active and alert/playful and not at all lethargic. The one who started losing dramatically first ended up spending a few days at the vet, an extended fecal eventually returned positive for enteric coronavirus and clostridium (though the lab report seemed to indicate not high enough to be of concern). Vet put them on Albon and metronidazole (they were already getting probiotic and fiber) and have turned a corner in the last week: now they are no longer finicky and are steadily gaining.
My Allie just ignores boxes, too, which is sad. Most of my past cats have been box-crazy, especially Aggie, who was a….hmmmmm…. big girl, but could fit herself into pretty much any box!
In my house, we don’t call them empty boxes. We call them cat traps. A box seldom sits on the floor for five minutes before acquiring an occupant.
I’m searching for the snuggle cat tomorrow! Thank you so much for answering my question- going to be my cuddler’s new buddy. Should I rub it with my scent or something? Due to a broken leg I am mostly in a recliner with very little cuddle room, so I want my scent to be available. Thanks again! ML
I’ve never done it, but it certainly couldn’t hurt to do so!