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Think back to a few weeks ago. I fostered two stray kittens, Wednesday and Gomez. When it came time to spay, neuter and bring them back to the shelter for adoption, Andrew and I tearfully said goodbye, but our two wild and fearful kittens were now confident and confident. I was so proud to be able to help them develop socialized attachments. Bomber.
Within just a few days, they were adopted as a pair and are enjoying their new home together. Knowing that made the tearful farewell really worth it.
What I didn’t expect when I brought my kitten home to the shelter was that I would be rushed by three very excited shelter volunteers, who were also in contact with another kitten who had just been brought in. He was very enthusiastic about inviting me to go home with a group of kittens.
Only this time, it was a nursing mother cat and her seven adorable babies.
One of our very dedicated shelter volunteers, Mary Ann, is well known in our community as a kind and thoughtful cat rescuer and was “gifted” with a mother and her kittens. I learned that.
One morning, Mary Ann happened to look out the window and saw a car parked in front of her house. Someone came out with a large box, placed it in her driveway, and sped off. Inside the box was a breastfeeding mother and a 3-week-old baby.
So Mary Ann did what she always does when she finds a weak cat or kitten. She was taken to the shelter for her health check and placed in her loving foster home until her kittens were weaned, socialized and grown. (at about 2 months) she is old enough to be spayed/neutered and placed into a loving home.
To be honest, it felt like there was a lot to do. Wednesday and Gomez were just two kittens, but it was more than a few kittens to manage.
Although I have experience caring for animals, at the end of the day, I was still a novice when it came to raising kittens. So the idea of an adult taking on her seven suckling kittens seemed a bit overwhelming.
But those enthusiastic volunteers did a good job of peer-pressuring me to take them. I’m really glad they did that, as it turned out to be much easier than I expected.
Her husband Andrew named them “Snow White and the Seven Devils.”
You’re probably wondering if an adult cat and seven small kittens would be easier to manage than just two. But what a difference it makes to have a caring breastfeeding mama by your side to take care of all the heavy lifting.
Yuki is such a gorgeous, kind and loving cat. She’s just a fun person to be around, so it’s clear to me that someone truly loved her with her heart and provided her with all the right socializing.
It’s a shame that the person who previously owned her didn’t get her spayed and was subsequently overwhelmed with a cub she couldn’t support or care for.
I should have taken him to a shelter, but I was lucky to have someone as responsible and kind as Mary Ann.
Watching Snow take care of the kittens is incredibly moving. It’s amazing to see how naturally and instinctively she knows what they need, when they need it.
All I really had to do was make sure she was getting enough nutrition and fluids to keep to a strict feeding schedule. After all, she only weighs 6 pounds, so strapping 7 grow kits to her can be a huge strain on her tiny body.
Here’s some of what I learned about this very special stage in the development of these little devils.
Nursing kittens are very hungry!
Snow nursed the kittens frequently, especially during their first few weeks. Kittens have small stomachs, so their nutritional needs are met by frequent, short feedings.
Immediately after giving birth, Snow began producing colostrum, a nutrient-rich yellowish fluid secreted by her mammary glands. Colostrum is very important for kittens because it contains antibodies that protect them from infections and diseases during the early stages of life.
Mothers are very supportive and encouraging.
Kittens need stimulation to nurse, so Snow licks the kitten’s abdomen and genital area. This licking has two purposes for her. It stimulates your kitten’s urination and defecation and encourages him to suck on your nipples. Snow hates clutter, so she’s good at keeping everything very clean and tidy during this process.
fun and weird facts
Snow’s nipples have small barbs that allow the kitten to stay attached even when she moves.
If mom gets over it, she gets over it too.
As the kitten grew, Snow noticed that it was getting a little too big (its teeth were getting a little too sharp) to continue nursing, so she gradually introduced it to solid food. At this point, all I had to do was give her some wet food diluted with a little more water. And while she eats, she lets the baby join her. This process usually begins around 3 to 4 weeks of age. She would even bring the kittens partially chewed food and let them nibble on it.
At this point, at about 6 weeks old, they are feeding themselves just fine and Snow’s milk is gradually drying up. Trust me, she’s excited about it.
But she still hugs her kids, cleans often, and allows them to jump all over her like it’s a jungle gym. When she needs a break, she comes out to the living room and plays with us. wonderful.
Having them here brought a cozy and warm holiday atmosphere into our home in a very nice and totally chaotic way. Snow and her kits are very kind, gentle, loving and sociable.
For me, holidays tend to be a bit depressing, so this is a good thing. I lost her mother many years ago. And with Snow by my side, I was reminded of how grateful I am to have a mother who raised me to be the kind, caring, and considerate person I am. I miss her every day.
So this holiday season, I want to thank all the mothers who always seem to know what we need, when we need it, and by natural instinct. i love you all. I hope you have a nice vacation.
As a child, Jack Hagerman founded and ran his own makeshift animal shelter, taking in stray cats, injured birds, and the occasional rabbit. As an adult, he co-founded the Endangered Livestock Conservancy on a farm in the Midwest, caring for and rehabilitating more than 400 animals from 17 different endangered species. He previously worked at Pasadena His Humane, Santa Fe Animal Shelter and Humane His Society. When he’s not working with animals, he writes about them. He hopes to make the world a better place for his animal friends, all while telling a witty story at a time.
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