Return to Adoptable Animals In Foster
March 29th
Four weeks and we are starting to see some major development. Although mom is still cleaning them up, the kittens are starting to eliminate waste on their own. There are a few little "accidents" near their sleeping area, so foster mom starts to put out appropriate litter pans for the kittens, who cannot easily get in and out of mom's deeper pans. She puts out shallow tray, only a couple of inches deep, and a couple of smaller litter boxes that are only a few inches deep. The kittens start climbing into the box, following mom's example, and they are digging in it and starting to use it. Sometimes they have a little bit if difficulty, and they mew as they are trying to use the litter box. They are pretty messy, though, and have thrown litter all over the room. Since this litter seems to be doing pretty well climbing into the smaller litter box, their foster mom will take the tray away. Although they are using the litter box, they haven't quite learned to respect each other while using the box, and while one kitten is trying to use the box, another is frequently pouncing on him or her, and they are attacking each others' tails in the box. As they grow up, they will eventually learn not to play in the litter box, but that will take a little longer.
Mom is still keeping a close eye on them, but she is watching them more from afar. She is still quick to respond to their cries, though. When she first hears them cry, she will chirp and talk back to them from wherever she is. If the cries continue, she will go to her babies, and sometimes even pick them up and take the crying baby into a corner or under the dresser with her.
The kittens are even more mobile now. They are learning to climb and can actually climb the 1 foot scratching post and use it to get themselves onto the bed. Their jumps aren't as developed as their climbing, however, and when they attempt to get off the bed or scratching post, they usually wind up falling off. Their play is even more rough and we hear more cries as they bite each other while rolling round on the floor. They are starting to learn to like toys, and their favorite toy is a ball that is almost as big as they are. We try the laser pointer with a few of the kittens. They don't chase the dot yet, but they are now starting to watch it pretty closely.
Some of the kittens are slowly starting to eat canned food now. Although they will still be nursing for a few weeks, they will also gradually be adjusting to solid foods. I put a little bit of canned food on my finger and put a tiny bit in each kitten's mouth. The kittens decide they like the food, and lick the remaining food of my finger. Salem, the little black one, gets greedy and bites my finger trying to get some canned food. I use my finger with food to try to lure the kittens to the paper plate with food. At this age, they are not always very good at eating, as they still don't know how to bite or lick the food, but 3 of them follow my finger to the plate and manage to continue eating off the plate.
Unfortunately, we have seen a little bit of sneezing and coughing in a couple of the kittens, sure signs of upper respiratory infection. It is no surprise, as mom has undoubtedly been exposed to lots of upper respiratory viruses, being an inside-outside cat, and the stress of the past month is enough to lower mom's immune system. The kittens have to be started on an antibiotic, especially since upper respiratory viruses can deteriorate pretty quickly at this age. The antibiotic is a liquid, and the kittens hate the taste so much that they start foaming at the mouth in response! However, it is necessary to start treating them now, and to watch them closely for signs of any new problems, such as loss of appetite or worsening symptoms. If the respiratory infection gets severe enough, pneumonia could develop, or the kittens may stop eating. For now, though, their foster mom will just watch the kittens and make sure they are eating and receiving their antibiotics. This is where being in a foster home is very important. In the shelter environment, the kittens would be continually bombarded with other viruses that other incoming cats are harboring. In the foster home, better isolation is possible, and the environment itself is less stressful, so mom and the kittens have a much better chance of pulling through anything quickly.
