My main question is My cat moved the kittens, to underneath my dresser. I was advised by my vet to wash the kittensin baby shampoo because they had fleas on them. (That's proboaly why she moved them) and now i'm thinking on the bare carpet the fleas will jump right on to them again, then i'll have to wash them again(the washing worked i got all the fleas off) . Should i put them back in there clean box or leave them and not worry about the fleas. I can tell my cat has a strong mother instinct to protect her kittens but she is still clumsy.
I'm so happy. I originally didn't want kitens u knwo the whole pet over popuation thing. However she had other plans on her mind. I wouldhave still had her spayed but bot my bro, mom, and Godmother all want kittens. (Without the drive and adoption fee) So I held off on the spay and have that scheduled for late october after the kittens are weaned. Does anyone have any other general advice for me?
2006-08-15 12:56:52 · 14 answers · asked by lamikashi 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
First, I would speak to your vet again re: the fleas. It's not good to wash and chill newborns -they're so incredibly fragile right now. You should put the kitties and mommy in a safe place and spray well for fleas with the over the counter stuff that kills the eggs. It does work and will get rid of the fleas in the house altogether -- but you would need to let it air out and then vaccuum well before putting the babies back on the floor. If you can check them and see how they're doing flea-wise -- if they don't have them, leave them be for the time being so Mommycat doesn't flip out over them being removed again.
Mommy moved the babies because you took them away and washed them. You're correct that she has a high protection intinct, and this is perfectly normal. She'd have likely moved them within a week even if you hadn't -- just because it's normal.
Here's a development calendar that will help you along. Just plug in the birthday of the babies:
http://www.purrinlot.com/kittenbirthcalendar.htm
It's recommended that the babies stay with mommy until at least 12 weeks. However, ABSOLUTELY do not remove them before 8 weeks! Just let mommy handle it. Make sure she's getting good quality kitten food (she needs the extra protein at least until she weans the babies, and then a bit longer so she can recouperate from them sucking the life out of her). She'll decide when it's time for them to be weaned, and it's best to let her do as she sees fit for her babies.
You're in a magical time now. Enjoy it to the fullest. Just make sure everyone taking a baby UNDERSTANDS that they must spay/neuter by the age of 6 months!!!!!!!!! And mommy needs to be done as soon as her milk dries up.
ENJOY!!! You won't believe how fast they grow!! In a month, you'll have the most adorable little monkey-demons running all over the place!!! =)
2006-08-15 13:49:59 · answer #1 · answered by Shadycat 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The kittens are too young to have *anything* put on them. Treat mom with Advantage, the kittens will get protection just being near her. And treat as much of the house as you can for fleas. Don't bug mom any more than you have to - she'll move the kittens any time she feels threatened, maybe to somewhere really inconvenient.
Mom will need lots of water and kitten food while she nurses the babies - that's hard work for her. Start looking for places the kittens could get into trouble and 'kitten proof' the house. They'll be toddling around and exploring every nook and cranny before you know it.
Please get the mom spayed as soon as you can, and make sure she doesn't get outside and get pregnant again before then. Kittens are adorable but there's too many of them and not enough homes - I was just at the Humane Society today and they have over 80!
2006-08-15 16:27:19 · answer #2 · answered by dukefenton 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fleas are a huge problems, and can be deadly for newborn kittens. I would put them back in the box and with mama, put them in a room with no carpet (bathroom, laundry room). To help rid your home of fleas in carpeted areas...go to the grocery store and buy powdered Borax (its for washing clothes) sprinkle this thickly on the carpets.. wait a few hours then vacuum vacuuming vacuum..The biggest key here is to dump the vacuum contents OUTSIDE the house immediately (if its a bag vacuum throw the bag, bag less shake it vigorously outside) At about 2.00 a box for the Borax, a couple boxes depending how much carpet you have should last a week, I did this every day for a week, and they disappeared with no harsh chemicals.
2006-08-15 13:06:49 · answer #3 · answered by Amy S 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My advice is to wait until the kittens are old enough for flea medicine (I think it's 8 weeks) and get flea medicine for the kittens and mommy. This will make the fleas go away because they will get on the cats and die.
2006-08-15 15:22:27 · answer #4 · answered by sundragonjess 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My dog had puppies and she would keep moving them under the wheel barrel and our kitchen table. The mothers feel better if her babies are protected and hidden under something rather just out in the open. Let her move the kittens were she wants and then you can help her make that spot more comfortable for her.
2006-08-15 13:05:58 · answer #5 · answered by Baby_Phat 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would wash teh kittens again, and put them in a seperate room, some places you can rent the Rug Doctor, if u dont have a carpet cleaner already...i would suggest taht,,,clean your carpets where the flees might be...go to your petstore to see if they have any sprays that you can spray in that area just incase that didnt take care of it...good luck ~!
2006-08-15 13:04:06 · answer #6 · answered by shortlilkorngrl929 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, your Cat probley moved them because she didn't fell they were safe . . . just get the kittens out from under the dresser and then was them and if they get flees again give them another bath or get you house sprayed for flees!
2006-08-15 13:01:54 · answer #7 · answered by Rachel S 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
make her a nest out of a large box and a towel and place it close to the spot she chose. if the family is inside the box the babies wont wander off when they start moving around.
2006-08-15 13:02:49 · answer #8 · answered by JOHN G 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well make sure that all the kittens get spayed as soon as possible. and make sure the mom cat gets spayed too. one cat can be the cause of 420,000 cats within seven years.
2006-08-15 13:45:14 · answer #9 · answered by keep it real 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not really if u don't mind the fleas then but them on the ground or u can bomb ur house to git rid of the fleas
2006-08-15 13:02:49 · answer #10 · answered by fred 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋