Day 10: I created a monster (or three)!
I let the boys out to explore the living room tonight. Boy, was that a mistake! I knew this would happen: now they've tasted the great outdoors, they want their freedom. When it came time to put them back in the bathroom, Buster and Chico began working feverishly to break down the barrier I use to keep them in and allow Stella to go in and out. I finally put a board up against the edge where they can squeeze out and I hope that will do. Meanwhile, everyone, including Stella, will continue to live behind the closed bathroom door when I'm out, as well as at night when I need my sleep. Oy!
November 20, 2009
November 19, 2009
November 18, 2009
As time goes by...
The guess was that mom was about a year and a half old, and the kittens were somewhere between 5 and 6 weeks. I witnessed the kittens nursing off mom at 8 pm on the first day, and saw everyone was using the litterbox. One of my jobs as a foster parent is to make sure the cats are well litter-trained, and that they don't scratch furniture.
During the following week, I learned that the kittens were all boys - though I should add that this has yet to be confirmed by someone with experience sexing kittens. I named mom Stella; the black short-hair Boo; his "twin" plus a tuft of white on his chest became Buster; and the furry charcoal kitten I named Chico, after a false start where I'd thought he was female and had called him Dustbunny.
As I watched how much they ate I came to the conclusion that Stella was scarfing down close to a can and a half per day, with Chico and Boo helping out a tiny bit. I was worried about Buster because I didn't see him eat any Wellness; I bought goat's milk and tried that with no luck. But considering it's a week later and Buster still bounces off the walls during playtime, he's obviously getting enough from mom.
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| Buster & Boo |
Was told by my contact Elizabeth that the cats had been covered in fleas when found, and each kitten had received a drop of Revolution on the back of the neck plus mom had received 3 drops. Elizabeth asked me to try to name them and report the names to her within 3 days if I could.
The guess was that mom was about a year and a half old, and the kittens were somewhere between 5 and 6 weeks. I witnessed the kittens nursing off mom at 8 pm on the first day, and saw everyone was using the litterbox. One of my jobs as a foster parent is to make sure the cats are well litter-trained, and that they don't scratch furniture.
 |
| Chico |
As I watched how much they ate I came to the conclusion that Stella was scarfing down close to a can and a half per day, with Chico and Boo helping out a tiny bit. I was worried about Buster because I didn't see him eat any Wellness; I bought goat's milk and tried that with no luck. But considering it's a week later and Buster still bounces off the walls during playtime, he's obviously getting enough from mom.
November 11, 2009
My first fostering experience
On November 11, 2009, Karen emailed me that a family of cats had been found: could I foster them? I had been reeling in the past week from the loss of my beloved cat Peaches, who had died on the 5th at the age of 18. I said yes, probably because it was so lonely coming home to an empty apartment and I desperately missed the company of a furry critter. I knew VOKRA needed my help and so did the cats: mom and three kittens had been left in a carrier in a schoolyard. Fortunately, some kind-hearted children had reported this to the right people, who called VOKRA.
Momma and the babies were delivered to me at 4 pm by Karen and Leigh, along with litterbox, pine litter and 12 large cans of Wellness chicken. I was told to put a little dry food on top of the Wellness if the cats weren't used to canned - i.e., they didn't seem to want to eat it.
November 12, 2009All four received their first dose of Drontol worming medication today: Stella had 1 ml syringed into her mouth, and each kitten received .5 ml. They hated this; the poor kittens actually foamed at the mouth. I must come up with a treat to give them after their next dose on the 19th.
Momma and the babies were delivered to me at 4 pm by Karen and Leigh, along with litterbox, pine litter and 12 large cans of Wellness chicken. I was told to put a little dry food on top of the Wellness if the cats weren't used to canned - i.e., they didn't seem to want to eat it.
November 12, 2009All four received their first dose of Drontol worming medication today: Stella had 1 ml syringed into her mouth, and each kitten received .5 ml. They hated this; the poor kittens actually foamed at the mouth. I must come up with a treat to give them after their next dose on the 19th.
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