New baby pics, as requested:-)

[Lisa0825]

At only 3 days old, wydell asked me to bring the whole family in to the shelter for pet fair day, so people could see them, and get interested in adopting them. I thought it was too soon, and poor Michelle did seem really stressed out, but once we got home, and she had her privacy back, she was OK.

Mom and babies in the kitty condo at Whiskerville:



Pink noses!!! :loveya:





As I mentioned before, she didn't want to keep the babies in the box anymore, and was keeping them on the hard floor. I tried to get her and the babies on the little fleece bed, but Michelle wouldn't have any of it, and eventually, she picked the babies up and moved them to the floor with her as well.



They stayed there all day, but finally, I saw them all on the bed together late last night, so maybe she figured out it's kinda nice!LOL

[NV Whino]

1. Gawd, I live little kitties

I'm looking for a couple to adopt, but Whiskerville is a bit far away.

[Lisa0825]

2. We sent one from Texas City to Southern California last month!

The lady happened to see one on our site that looked just like her dearly departed fur-friend, and she had to have it, so she paid the airfare, and we sent her new kitty to her!

[mike_c]

3. wow, what great pics!

Kittens are the finest form of life on earth....

[superconnected]

4. I took in a pregnant cat who had her kittens under my bed last night.

She came of course - from the back of my apt complex. All of my cats are abandoned from renters of my complex - 100plus units. I feed more outside that are too.

But that's not why I'm posting. I'm posting to say, I wouldn't dream of taking a momma cat and her kittens to an exhibition when they are only 3 days old. I think you should have followed your gut on that one.

glad it turned out well.

I just wouldn't have done it. It's pretty bad that they even asked you to.

Sometimes it's important to be able to say the word, "no".

[Lisa0825]

5. Well, I am new at this, so I thought she knew better...

I protested a little, but she really wanted them there, and since they have all been doing this for many years, and I'm new, I gave in and went with her decision. I doubt the kitties knew the difference, but momma was quite stressed. This morning she let me pet her and purred, so I guess I'm mostly forgiven:-)

I hope we'll get to see some pics of your new babies too!!! Lucky girl, that she had you to take care of her!

[superconnected]

6. I'm lucky that she was brought to me last week, and that she didn't escape

and had them in my place.

I was worried about her. I'd heard of her but never seen her myself tell they brought her. She is a short haird calico, with a lot of white, much like yours is.

I don't think I'd let the kittens out of the room for the first 6 weeks. Last year I didn't with those kittens and they were fine.

If you follow your instincts you'll be fine. You said yourself you didn't want to.

If you haven't read Gavin De Beckers book - the gift of fear, I highly recommend it. It teaches you to follow your instincts.

[Lisa0825]

7. I was wondering about how long to keep them isolated.

Do you think momma will want to stay in there with them for that long? I haven't tried to touch the babies much since she had them, just to move them. Do you have any input on when I should see how momma tolerates me petting them or hodling them? I'm trying to be patient and give her space, but I have heard that it is important to get them used to the touch and smell of humans so they will adjust to being pets rather than feral like mom.

[superconnected]

8. I wait 4-6 weeks before touching them - when they're

walking around and their eyes open. I doubt it will hurt touching them now though.

Your momma cat should be fine to eat and use the litterbox when she likes. My momma cat will likely want to remain in the room with them. She was caught and placed in my bedroom last week. She's been fine with that. I doubt she'll want out until her kittens are older.

Last year I went through this with another neighborhood stray "Aurora". I chose to keep Aurora and her kittens hence I have 5 perm house cats, and the rest are visitors till they get forever homes.

Aurora wanted out very little until her kittens were eating on their own. I believe that was the 2nd month.

The momma cat you have will probably settle down and not want out much.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

11. I've always heard you should handle kitttens as soon as mom allows it,

and that kittens who don't have a lot of contact with humans by the time they are about 7 weeks old are likely to be skittish and shy. Go ahead and handle them -- it won't hurt them and might help them socialize with people more easily.

[NV Whino]

10. Don't be afraid to handle the kittens

Don't stress out the mom and don't treat the kittens as you would an adult, but just petting and tickling bellies a few times a day will help them adjust to humans. Pet the mom as well. If she objects or gets upset, stop moving and just let your hand rest within her space. She'll soon understand that you mean no harm as will the kittens.

[demnan]

9. How beautiful and sweet!

Moms usually know best. So maybe she just had to be sure it wasn't some sort of animal trap or something.

[Lisa0825]

13. I think she thinks my house is just a great big trap!LOL

Well, at least at first she did, judging by how hard she tried to escape! But now she seems pretty content having her own little room and closet, with consistent food delivery!LOL

[Eurobabe]

12. Oh how precious!

KIT-TENS!!! Thanks Lisa for posting this, hope they grow big and strong and learn to love human contact...you're an angel for taking her in.

[BrklynLiberal]

14. ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo so wonderful Thanks for more pics.

They are beautiful. Mommy looks very content.

[shanti]

15. awwww, calicos!

what a bunch of cuties!