tough love

I am trying to be a good mama cat. I am trying to ignore the pleas for the bottle. I realized yesterday that Sierra is already weaning the Homesteaders. I have left some canned food in a bowl in there for them, and I add some of the leftover formula to it and mix it in, thinking Sierra was probably eating it. I saw Sage eating it, so I know I am behind schedule with the Rockets. Last night I left a bowl of said mixture, and this morning, there was less than when I put it there. Good news!

The bad news is Arnie still has the squirts, and they are worse. AND, he has decided he likes privacy when he poops. That means under my desk, or behind the stereo stand...and it is nasty. I think it's time for the vet. He is still gaining, and playing, so I am not too worried about him yet. I have now blocked off every nook and cranny in my office, and put the litter box under a chair, so hopefully Arnie will decide that will be fine.

I need to spend some more time with the Homesteaders tomorrow. I noticed they were a little skittish to noise, and fast moves. I think it's time to get the neighborhood kids to come play.


Hogan, looking rather stoic.


Sierra looks as tired as me.


Nuf said.


What happened to Halicy's neck?


Kelsey.


Dot.

sleep? what's that?

My lack of sleep is catching up with me. I am still keeping up with the Rockets, but I am feeling rather zombie like at times. I did get a little nap in this evening, so i feel a bit better.

The Rockets seem to be doing OK. Arnie gained again today, so I feel good about that, but he still has some runny poop issues. Caddo lost a tiny bit, but is still a little constipated. He also has seemed to lose his memory of how to suckle. He now wants to chew the nipple. He gets so much air in his belly, and he has to be burped for a long time or else he vomits, and milk comes out of his nose. (we've all been there, right?) So, he is going to be learning to drink out of a bowl sooner than later.

The Rockets seem to be doing the same thing they always do.

The Homesteaders are doing fine. Joy managed to get a decent picture of Kelsey, so I am posting it here. They still want all of my attention as soon as I walk in the room, and I assume they did the same thing to Joy when she spent some time in there with them. We already have a friend that wants to adopt one of the Homies. Dot has been spoken for! I have warned said friend that Dot is a real noisy one, but she said good! We will see if we are still friends after Dot goes to live with them. LOL!


Dot, actually not screaming.


Kelsey, being cute.

All in all, we are getting along just fine. Maybe I can get another nap in tomorrow, and I will feel even better!

progress

I have been worried about the Rockets, because Caddo had not pooped in a couple of days, and Arnie has not been eating well, and had lost some weight. Well, today Arnie gained some weight back, and Caddo pooped! (We talk about poop a lot around here, so get used to it!) Well, he cried, and cried, and then I had to give him a little "help" if you will...and he pooped out something that was as hard as a rock. Poor little guy. Hopefully the rest of what's in there will be easier to deal with.





Another little bit of progress, Arnie ate, and liked, a little bit of canned food mixed with formula. Granted, I had to put it in his mouth with a syringe, but he liked it, and ate 4 or 5 "servings" of it. Caddo is not convinced just yet, but he did give it a try.
They both look like they are doing OK to me.



In the homestead, we are still trying to get used to the whole litter box thing. I took this beautiful photo of Halicy...right after she peed in the floor. Oh well...Nature's Miracle.




Everybody into the pool?

It's hard to get good pix of the Homesteaders because as soon as I go in and sit down, they ALL come screaming, and looking for a bottle. I have been supplementing them, since Halicy was losing weight, but man, they are relentless, and Sierra is almost as bad. She is so starved for attention, she head butted my camera just as I was taking a picture tonight. I did get a couple of good pictures though, and they are still just as cute.
I couldn't get a picture of Kelsey, since she was clinging to my shirt and screaming the whole time I was in the room.


Dot


Halicy


Hogan


Sage

kindergarten graduation

We reached a new milestone this weekend. Both of the rockets have started to use the litter box! Sometimes it takes a little prodding, but if I put them in the box, they will use it. No more pee soaked Caddo! I also have let them out of their laundry basket, and let them have free roam of my office. They stay pretty close to their warm bed, so I am not to worried. Plus, their teeth are so small at this time, I am not worried about them chewing wires. When they start to roam too much, I will set up the playpen.



The biggest surprise is, someone peed in the litter box in the Homestead! Not Sierra's box either, the little one I put in there for the babies. Don't know who it was, but I was shocked to see it. Sierra has become a bit of a pain with the litter box. She has started standing in it, but pooping over the edge. Now is about the time I get a new gallon of Natures Miracle.




Couple of scares this weekend too. Yesterday, Arnie lost his appetite. Just didn't want to eat. He lost almost a full oz! He finally got back to normal, and has been back and forth, but shows no other signs of illness. This morning Caddo seemed to forget how to drink from the bottle, and just wanted to chew on it. I managed to get some breakfast into both of them, but when they don't latch on, it takes forever, plus they get so much air in their bellies, they have to be burped. Yes, they burp.





In the Homestead, Halicy was 2 days of no gain, then a loss. She is back on the bottle supplement, and has gained some. It does make it a bit more difficult to have them in two separate rooms, but I think when they are all on solids, they can all be together, and they will be fine. Sierra will probably go back to the shelter once they are weaned anyway, so she can be spayed and go on view. I am sure someone will snatch her up right away. She had a home at some point, because she hears the Kitty treats when you shake the bottle and she comes running. She will be happy to have all the attention from her new family.


Halicy knows it's time for the bottle, and comes running.


Sierra takes a break from babysitting.

return of the white dots

The white dots are back. If you are new to this blog, you probably have no idea what I am talking about. If you foster kittens, you know all too well. The tiny splatter of Panacure. All kittens go through at least one regiment of Panacure, which is a dewormer. It is a white chalky liquid substance, and the kittens do NOT like it.


All seems well with the Homesteaders.


The vile white stuff.

Everyone got a dose today, and everyone spit as much of it out as they could. I ended up wearing a lot of it. My desk got some when I gave the Rockets theirs. The floor got some when Sierra and crew got theirs. All part of the process. Sierra's bunch, I am calling them the homesteaders, since they will be here a long time, seem to probably not need it, but the Rockets both have distended bellies, so they probably do have worms. Hopefully, the Panacure will do it's job.


The Rockets get a good nap in.




Evidentially there isn't enough room IN the basket for Caddo.

The Bottle Rockets went to the vet today, to see if we can get an idea why Caddo is peeing all over the place. They took a sample, and will let me know what they find. The trauma of the trip must have really wiped the boys out. They have been sleeping all afternoon, waking up to have a meal, and off to sleep again. Then the next trauma of the Panacure. Whew, what a day for the poor little guys!


Both Rockets, out of fuel.


Arnie is sleepy, so Caddo takes advantage...


Arnie retaliates...


and goes for the jugular!

In the other room, Sierra and her itty bitties seem to be doing fine. They also were not pleased with the Panacure sneak attach.
I know, I take more pictures of the Rockets now, but they are living in my office, and my camera is right next to me, waiting for that too cute to miss photo op. More pictures of the homesteaders tomorrow.

I think I will go wash off my shirt.

little clowns

The bottle rockets are doing just fine. They are both coming into their own now, and are pretty content. I think I am going to have to break out the playpen soon, as they will be climbing out of the laundry basket any day now.


Caddo has dinner.


The Rocket boys sleep


Chillin'.


Stretch.

At the 1:30 feeding this morning, much to my surprise and delight, Caddo was dry! OK, he still smelled pretty bad, but he didn't wet himself. Couldn't say that at 6:30. I had Joy microwave the heaters, and I changed the towels, and gave the boys their bottle. Pee-Eww. After a burping, and stimulation to TRY to get all the pee out of Caddo, he got another bath. I think he feels so much better after it that he doesn't mind it so much. Plus, that warm water probably feels good too.


Still a bit damp from this morning's bath.


Arnie Sleeps


Arnie bites Caddo in Kitty Smackdown.


More smackdown.





First time since he has been here, Caddo pooped. If you have never been around a little kitten, you might think he was in distress. Babies cry when they poop, like they are in a great deal of pain. I don't think they are, but they do make quite the scene. Anyway, everything "came out fine."

Joy spent some quality time with Sierra and crew in the kitty room, since I have been spending a lot of time with the bottle rockets. She got some great shots. Sierra seems to have gotten over the trauma of the impostors, and is back to being a great mama.
It is just cuteness overload!


Hogan.


Sage.


Halicy.


Kelsey.


Dot makes it known she is NOT pleased.

quiet before the storm

Well, it didn't take Sierra long to show her distain for the interlopers. After the first tentative meeting, I was so hopeful that Sierra would just accept these guys as her own. Not so much. While all the kittens were sleeping together, Sierra was across the room, watching. Then, Caddo peed all over the place. Probably needs an antibiotic, but that's another story...
So, once Sierra's babies smelled like the bottle rockets, (that would be the new itty bitties) she decided she didn't want anything to do with ANY of them! I was in pure panic mode at the thought of having to bottle feed 7 babies!


Bottle Rocket smack down

I went into action. Wiped down Sierra's babies. Washed my hands with hand sanitizer, and once they were dry, wiped the smell of the alcohol on the kittens. They, I rubbed Sierra's head with the same smell, and I prayed for good results. After a few minutes of heavy attention from me, she decided to roll over and let them nurse. Whew.

In the mean time, I had to clean up Caddo, the incredible pee machine, and get him dried off. I bottle fed both the boys, and put them in a laundry basket in my office. I heated up 3 of the cuddle disks, or whatever they are called, and then covered the basket with a towel. They were very snuggley and warm. I also got up at 1:45 and gave them a bottle, and found Caddo had peed all over himself again! New towels, wipedown, bottle for 2, and a quick peek in to see how Sierra and crew were doing. She was near them...but not with them, so I sat with her, and placed one kitten with her. She fell over to let her nurse, then I got all the other ones out and put them with her and went to bed! Back to sleep by 2:30.


Arnie seems to say, "Who, me?"

All was well in the morning. More bottle for the boys, and a reheating of the disks. Off to work. Back at 1:30. Bottle for both, and yes, more pee! Decided Caddo needed a real bath, so he got one. Bishop came in and jumped right in the basket with the boys, and gave them a little bath before heading back out. Caddo was almost dry before he peed all over himself again! I am getting baby wipes this evening!


Bishop checks out the new arrivals.

So, all are sleeping soundly now, and all seems to be well, with the exception of the peeing thing. Ted and Martha, don't worry about the Bottle Rockets, they will be fine. Bishop will help. I think I will go to bed early.


Bishop makes sure Caddo's head is clean. Wrong end Bishop. His head isn't the problem!