My Babies are Ready for Their New Homes

A month since my last entry and how they have grown!! I have finally uploaded the pics and now you can see how they have progressed.

Owen with the little ones, 11.02.09

From 11.02.09

11.09.09


11.16.09


11.17.09


11.18.09


11.21.09


11.23.09


Nine weeks old now. What joy they have brought to my life!
I will really miss them.

Transition Time

Lined up in order; CC at the top, Shadow in the middle and little Felix on my foot. My three little kittens, who can scream like they lost their mittens.

Yesterday was a very eventful day! Along with all of the emotional things going on in my personal life came the blessing of watching the kitties begin a new journey of growth in their lives.

I observed both CC and Felix washing themselves for the first time. Look close and you will be able to see CC holding her little paw up while she licks it clean!
They slept less between feedings and therefore I graduated them to a bigger box so that they could have room to play.
I tried giving them some food, their little teeth are getting so sharp! They have been using my fingers as teethers.

Shadow got curious and I caught him just before he got himself stuck behind the washer. I would never have been able to get him out safely if he would have gotten back there.

Afrter a long day they just curled up in my lap.
Ah, aren't they sweet?

Four Weeks Old!!

Hard to believe that two weeks has gone by since the little beasties came into my life. Already they are showing signs that all to soon my mothering time will be over. This morning I kept them out longer than before. I spread a beach towel on the floor for traction and they did gravitate towards it, but they could not help but explore.

Felix and CC
Felix,(facing out) Shadow (on the left) and CC (on the right)
Shadow
Since they can track on me quite well now, they stagger towards me wherever I walk. I was trying to prepare a larger box for them and I kept moving around. It was amazing how quickly they can move. I have to be very careful or I could step on one.

I am not sure when they will be ready for the new box exactly. Right now they seem to be content with the little crate. They snuggled up all toasty warm with each other. One day though that will not be enough, they will want to explore more as their waking hours become longer and longer.

They are now consuming 2 bottles of milk at a feeding,(not individually, but rather all together)I have purchased some kitten food as I am sure it will not be long before they want to eat something more solid. Their little teeth have erupted and I notice that after they finish nursing they chew and chew on the nipple. (something mommy cat would not allow, but I let they since it does not hurt me and I am sure it feels good on their gums. )

CC of course is the bravest of the brave. She watches my every move quietly but intently. I am falling in love with her more and more. Petting her is one of the most relaxing things in my life now. I will always be indebted to Amber for bringing these three little kittens into my life.

Thank you Amber!

10.28.09 Walk About

Shadow is in the lead, CC in the middle and little Felix is pulling on the rear.

The little beasties (a term of endearment I have adopted for them) are beginning to walk around more. I let them out for about a half an hour this evening and two of them walked around and explored.
The littlest one just cried and cried until I picked him up.

They all seem to be tracking on me better. When I walk across the floor their little heads turn as I go by. Their little motors seem to be non stop the whole time I am holding them.

They are three week old now!

The three little kittens are three weeks now!
How fast a week can go by!!!

CC has gone potty finally and is sleeping much better. I never thought I would be happy to see cat poop!

They all got a bath after I watched a vet on a you tube video say it was okay. I only filled the sink about a quarter of the way with warm water. It was probably the warm water helped to get things started because she just let it go while she was laying in the water!!

Felix still is significantly smaller than CC and Shadow. It is almost like they are growing every day and he is not. He eats, but he just does not seem to gain weight.

When I am petting them and while they nurse they all three purr and purr and purr. It is such a soothing sound I am afraid I might fall asleep and drop them. I want them to be loving and gentle so that I will be able to find good homes and people who want to keep them for their whole lives. A loving cat is just that much easier to find a good home.

Funny how they walk, shaking and unsteady at first and now almost running to the sound of my voice. When I say running I am taking liberties as it is not quite a run but so much more so than what they first tried.

CC went exploring and found the heating pad I have been using for my arm. I had set it down so that I could feed them, but had forgotten to shut it off. She snuggled right down and did not move for quite a while.

Betelgeuse, my parrot, flew down to the floor and walk over to their crate the other day. Shadow was hanging on to the top edge of the crate, Beteleuse would look up then walk away and then come back and look up again. It was so funny watching the look on his face.

With just the two of us I was doing 3 loads of laundry a week. Strange that I find myself doing laundry every day now. Lots and lots of towels.

Here are some pictures from 10.21.09

Here are some pictures from 10.22.09

They are eating more, going potty and crawling quite well. When I put them on the floor they will come to where I am sitting.
The little claws still do not retract. A fact my hands can attest to!

Three Lost Little Kittens aka The Tale of Three Kitties

This one is for you Amber!

This is only part one.
I hope to document each segment of their lives.

Still Here!

I was apprehensive about checking on the kittens this morning. After last night I was not sure if the little girl would still be with me.
CC
I carefully opened the crate lid and there they all three were alive and snuggled between the two stuffed animals that Amber had given them. They seem to love the stuffed animals. I have seen them kneading on them and if I place them in the crate at the opposite end they always gravitate back to them.

They ate really well. The remedy I found online looks like it might beginning to work. The little girl had two hard little kernels of poop.
A combination of mineral orally with a chaser of sugar water and a little anal stimulation with a q tip soak in mineral oil and warmed with hot water. Sounds gross, but the painful cries of a kitten bound up will make you do gross things. I copied the info for future reference.
My thumb is really red and sore. During her worse moments she was using it as a release or pacifier to help deal with the pain. Unfortunately, although the little teeth have barely broken through, a kitten in pain can exert an extraordinary amount of pressure!
CC
I checked their little ears this morning and they have opened even more. While Gary was talking I was watching the ears rotate to locate the source of the sound!

We have named them: CC, short for Cleopatra Chiana is our fat and sassy long-haired little girl, Shadow is the medium haired middle boy kitty, and then Felix, our short-haired little runt, who happens to full of energy and life! Such a difference 6 days, warmth and food makes!
Shadow

Three Lost Little Kittens!

About a month ago, a cat, a fat cat, began visiting Chris and Ambers. She looked forlorn and hungry so Amber, whose heart is big and kind began offering the poor thing food.
One day she noticed the cat was not "fat” anymore and she suspected that there might be kittens somewhere.
10.14.09 Sometime during all the chaotic events that have unfolded these lately, she noticed that she had not seen the cat. Then a few days ago she heard meowing. After a couple of days she began to worry since she had still not seen the mother cat.
Last Tues. we had a horrific winter storm, Sacramento received 1.5" of rain that day and we had wind gusts up to 45 mph.
Weds. morning she heard the plaintive cries again and knew she needed to search for them. She enlisted the aid of Christian, her husband, in searching for the source. Together they found them in the old pump house on their property. At first they thought only one was alive. They were ice cold, soaked to the skin, covered in mud and ants were beginning to be drawn to the smallest kitten, he was also the coldest.

She called me frantically and I encouraged her to bring them over. We dried them, removed the mud and ants, then fed them KMR (Kitten Replacement Milk).

I am guessing they are about 2 weeks old because their eyes are open, but haven’t been for long. They have that cloudiness look of newly opened eyes. We have 2 boys and 1 girl. The girl is the largest, has a rounder face and longer fur. The middle child has long hair as well, but not as long as his sister. The littlest has short hair.

I was not too sure as to the survival rate of the smallest. He looked like he did not have more than an hour or two left of life. I am sure it was only the body warmth of the other two that sustained him.

Amber had planned to care for them and therefore took them home only to find out they had a notice they had to be moved out within two weeks. The next morning she called and asked if I would take them and of course I said yes!

Warm, cozy and full bellies.
Life is good.

Look at that face!

From Earth Song

What a position!

10.15.09 They have slept most of the time. When they awaken I stimulate them to pee, clean them up wash my hands, feed them, get them to pee again, wash my hands, feed them, get them to pee again, put fresh towels in their bed, then put them down to sleep and in 3 to four hours we do it all over again.
I had to switch to a bin with fold down tops. Those little kittens were almost climbing out of the first bin.
Using the eye dropper.
Ouch! the little teeth are breaking through!

10.16.09 Had a field trip today with Brennan. It was an all day event so I took the kittens with me. We went to the Grace Foundation in El Dorado Hills. They mainly take in horses, but also have taken in other rescue animals, cats included. I mentioned the kittens to Beth, the owner of the foundation and she took a look at them. Said she thought they looked good and that I was doing everything right. Whew! It was a good feeling to hear that. Then she said to be prepared, I could do everything right and still… sometimes they die.
The little girl in a Peaceful Sleep
Wiping butts. I thought I was through with this once my kids were grown!

10.17.09 The kittens are growing more and more each day. They are quite a handful, but in these stressful times it is healing to give comfort and aid to something so helpless.
Each day they have grown stronger and stronger.

My Supplies, I forgot to add the heating pad, very important!


10.18.09 Wow, what a difference a few days and food makes. The kittens are getting stronger and louder ! When they wake up the cacophony is overwhelming!
I go to my peaceful place and then I just focus on one at a time. My hands are getting quite rough feeling as their sharp little claws shred the top layers of skin.
10.19.09 I am concerned for the little girl. She is the largest and the strongest, but is not eliminating the waste she is producing. If I cannot get her to have a bowel movement I am afraid she may die. I know at times she is in pain. It tears at my heart to hear her cries. At the moment though, she is sleeping peacefully with her brothers.
I noticed today, their eyes had begun to lose the cloudiness that they have after just opening. I also noticed the ear canals are opening.
M is for MMMMmmmmm good milk!