Griffin Posted June 12, 2011 Share Posted June 12, 2011 I've not had any newborns for handrearing from Cats Protection for ages now but one arrived last Sunday. She was born last Sunday morning to a very young mum, the only kitten in the litter, and mum decided straight away she didn't want to be a mother. So she was less than 12 hours old when she arrived here weighing a respectable 92 grams. My eldest daughter was overjoyed. It's her 14th birthday on the 22nd and she's been saying for months that she wanted a kitten for her birthday. So I said that if this little one makes it, and our other cats don't object, she can stay Daisy has named her Marge I'm tying to convince her to change it to Florence Marge took well to bottle feeding. Thankfully because she can take onboard so much milk the feeds every two hours were short lived I hate getting up in the night, I'd rather stay up ridiculously late and get up fewer times so for the first couple of nights I was up until 2am, feeding her again at 4am then getting up at 6am. Not nice! Now her last feed is at midnight, then again at 4am and breakfast at 7.30am followed by feeds every three hours or so during the day. I weigh her daily. Today she weighs 157 grams Her eyes have started to open too. The sound of her purring is just amazing. She likes cuddles and for her face to be rubbed. Awwwww. Fingers crossed she continues to do well. It's still a long road ahead. I must admit I am looking forward already to the introduction of solids and going to bed at a reasonable hour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy ben grace Posted June 12, 2011 Share Posted June 12, 2011 Bless her she looks beautiful. Well done you for giving her the best chance in life and a loving home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted June 12, 2011 Share Posted June 12, 2011 So cute! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted June 12, 2011 Share Posted June 12, 2011 Wow - I didn't realise you could hand rear a kitten. She looks gorgeous! Well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 Oh so sweet. I really hope she makes it through, I know it can be tough. I really should stop visiting this part of the forum - I'll end up hankering after so many more pets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omletina Kyckling Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 Aw gorgeous....good luck with her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosey Lucy Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 Well done, that's real dedication. She looks gorgeous, I hope she continues to thrive x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted June 15, 2011 Author Share Posted June 15, 2011 Getting a good photo of a wriggly black kitten is impossible. So here is a video I took of her this morning instead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 Awww, look at those little velcro claws. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 Well done for taking care of her. She is so sweet. We had a hand reared kitten from the Cats Protection about 20 years ago, she came to us when she was 10 weeks old and she was lovely, but hard work, she was harder to house train, and she didn't know how to clean herself properly, we had to give her a bath once a week for the 2 years of her life. She grew into a large fluffy cat and was so affectionate, her health was never quite right, she suffered from tummy problems and unfortunately was run over when she was only 2 years old. We were so glad to give her a happy life for a couple of years that she might not have had otherwise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted June 15, 2011 Author Share Posted June 15, 2011 My experience of handreared cats is similar, they're never quite 100%. Hebe & Athena were handreared from two days old and they've both got digestion problems and both look old before their time. I've always said I am a very very poor substitute for mum, formula milk is awful stuff and they miss out on so much by not having mum and siblings to play with. That play teaches them so much, bite inhibition for one thing! I hope that having several other cats here to copy helps with her toilet training. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 Oh just too cute Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted June 17, 2011 Author Share Posted June 17, 2011 200 grams Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franklyrabbit Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 A feather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted June 27, 2011 Author Share Posted June 27, 2011 Thankfully Daisy has seen sense and has decided to re-name her kitten Nancy She's 22 days old now and doing very well. This week I'll be trying to get her to eat solids. She's got big feet and big ears And her long black fur is turning grey! Here she is earlier on today: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 So sweet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosey Lucy Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Oh Bless! So gorgeous, well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 So gorgeous, keep the photos coming Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Oh what a gorgeous little bundle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 the most gorgeous thing I've seen in a long time! good on you and Daisy for all your hard work, I bet she's loving it isnt she? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Such an adorable little thing - the pics are sooo sweet, they made me cry! I have such respect for anyone who truly cares for animals. Long may she continue to thrive! She is beautiful! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellekatz Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 She is one gorgeous little kitten..... well done to you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted July 2, 2011 Author Share Posted July 2, 2011 Tuesday was a very very tough day for Nancy We nearly lost her She had diarrhoea and the bad pains in her belly made her not want to feed properly but she was hungry and distressed and getting dehydrated. It was a vicious circle. We ended up at the vets at 10pm to get a pain killing injection and sub-cut fluids. Thankfully that allowed her to sleep for a few hours before taking a good feed. She's still got diarrhoea, and from time to time it is obvious she's got a bellyache so she has a tiny amount of Metacam so that she is able to feed normally. She's still gaining weight thankfully and I hope to get her onto solid food as quickly as possible so that I can stop feeding her formula milk. Today was a big day for her because up until this afternoon she lived cocooned in layers of vetbed in a cat carrying basket. Now she's moved to a big squishy bed in my rat cage that I use for brooding chicks in She LOVES her new bed and she loves the extra space she has to move around in and be nosey She shoved THAT in my mouth, am deeply unimpressed... so much so that I'm running away.... ooooh Sri Lanka looks nice.... I bet they wouldn't try to force feed me there... only 699 what a bargain! Go away woman! Perhaps I'll go after a kip in my new bed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 2, 2011 Share Posted July 2, 2011 How can anything so small be that cute? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted July 2, 2011 Author Share Posted July 2, 2011 She's amazing and I love her soooooo much. Feeling quite nervous because I suddenly realised that if she's in her new bed she'll not be sleeping next to me tonight! I'll not sleep a wink and will be up with the birds to feed her and check she's ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...