My new foster girlie Amelia is closer to delivering her babies than I thought she was. I took her to the vet for a check up and to get some Canaural for her ear mites and treatment for all her passengers and the vet surprised me by telling me that she's due in 1-2 weeks, 3 weeks at the outside!

This means that I've only got a week or so to sort out her dreadful matting (the babies won't be able to get to the milk if I don't- her tummy is THAT bad) and get her comfortable with a nest and everything.

I'm not at all worried about it, but the poor love is in such poor state that I was hoping for a little more time to get her in shape before she becomes a mum again. Either way round this will be her last litter and then she can have her own life back and go to be a happy snuggly housecat with a family of her very own.

Another forummer to be over-run with tiddly kitties then? :hihi:

How many litters has she had before?

We don't know exactly, but she's been living rough for some time.

My attic isn't glamorous, but it's safe, warm, quiet and there's endless food and comfy beds.

ooooh, medusa, you dont know how tempting this is to say ill have one!

if she is your foster cat, what will happen to the kittens? will they stay with her and then go onto the rescue centre that she has come from or are you responsible for finding them homes directly?

what sort of cat is amelia? obviously, its difficult to say who daddy is, but what sort of kittens are you anticipating? (obviously healthy ones!)


x

I'm fostering her on behalf of South Yorkshire Animal Rescue- so any homes will be home checked by them and subject to their adoption rules.

She's very long haired and black and white, so her babies are likely to be little pompoms with feet and whiskers.

.... so her babies are likely to be little pompoms with feet and whiskers.

That sounds gorgeous!

I'm fostering her on behalf of South Yorkshire Animal Rescue- so any homes will be home checked by them and subject to their adoption rules.

She's very long haired and black and white, so her babies are likely to be little pompoms with feet and whiskers.

:o **Sighs longingly** then backs away from the thread hoping to never look back :D

:o **Sighs longingly** then backs away from the thread hoping to never look back :D

ditto!

i really hope they find happy homes when the time comes.


x

Don't worry Moonbird- I can always tell you that they're all reserved already if you enquire later.

Don't worry Moonbird- I can always tell you that they're all reserved already if you enquire later.

:sad: Thank you, please do :cry:

I'm fostering her on behalf of South Yorkshire Animal Rescue- so any homes will be home checked by them and subject to their adoption rules.

She's very long haired and black and white, so her babies are likely to be little pompoms with feet and whiskers.

la la la I'm not listening, I'm not listening, I'm putting my fingers in my ears (you KNOW I have a soft spot for B&W long hairs...)

Hi Medusa,
I'm looking to adopt a female kitten around mid april after my holiday, would they be ready by then and how do i go about adopting?
Thank you.
Jo

If the kittens are born in a couple of weeks then that takes us to the end of May or start of June before the babies are ready for their forever homes if we plan on them going home at 12 weeks.

Amelia may be ready to go up for adoption before then, depending on how things go after the babies are born.

When the little ones are old enough to meet potential new families I'll post again with all of the details- I don't want to count my kittens before they're here safely.

hope she goes on okay, Med.

one of the boys I had who was rescued via cats protection league cane to us in a bit of a stateHe was a longhair (A birman cross I think) he was so freaked out by the ill-treatment he rcievedm we could not touch him without him "fainting" in fear. it was very difficult to groom him because of this.

I'm glad Amelia is going to be doctored after this litter. That should improve her quality of life no-end!

It does get me mad/ upset, (perm any eight from ten emotions) when I hear of neglect or ill treatment cases.

Wahay! We have lift off!

While I was out with the dog this afternoon Amelia was busy having her babies. I can't be sure that she's finished yet, since they're all still all wet, but at the moment we have 4 squeaky little bundles.

From their colours I think that Daddy is a dark tabby, since the babies are all quite dark with white and a few stripes. I'll be able to tell more once they're all dry and Amelia is more settled with sharing them with me.

AHHHHHHHH! i found out today that my kitty is having babies,,,,, post pics when u can!

Congrats on the safe arrival of the fluffy ones, hope Amelia is ok and resting in safety with this litter. :D

More kitties to cause lots of 'aww' and 'ahh' moments :) (I forgot the 'stop chewing that' moments :/)

Now that they're dry it appears that we've got 2 black with white bits kittens and 2 dark tabby with white bits kittens, and she's all calm and purry now so I think that's our lot.

I've got a few weeks yet before the 'don't chew that' moments happen- I'll stick with being gentle and sweet with them at the moment.

:love: Aww I hope they do really well and look forward to the pics, shame they're all taken though (I know they're not really) :sad:

Congrats Mummy Medusa.

Nice one Medusa- hope mum n kitties are doing OK. Photos soon please

I'm struggling to keep one of the babies alive this morning- he's not latching on to mummy and is getting cold no matter what I do. I've got a feeling that he's not long for this world, poor love.

I'm struggling to keep one of the babies alive this morning- he's not latching on to mummy and is getting cold no matter what I do. I've got a feeling that he's not long for this world, poor love.

I'm sorry to hear that Medusa poor little thing, I hope that he pulls round for you :sad:

Well, I tucked him inside my bra to get him warm, filled him with warm Cimicat then massaged him until he squeaked angrily- and that was great, because it's just the sort of noise that kittens should be making.

His nose and paws are all pink again so I put him back in with mummy and got him latched on to the milk bar. I'll go and check on him before I take Molly out after lunch- there's very little I can do if Amelia doesn't want to know, because the odds of successfully hand rearing a kitten so small are almost zero.

Well, I tucked him inside my bra to get him warm, filled him with warm Cimicat then massaged him until he squeaked angrily- and that was great, because it's just the sort of noise that kittens should be making.

His nose and paws are all pink again so I put him back in with mummy and got him latched on to the milk bar. I'll go and check on him before I take Molly out after lunch- there's very little I can do if Amelia doesn't want to know, because the odds of successfully hand rearing a kitten so small are almost zero.

You're doign a great job Meds- I was mortified when AShia's 4th baby didnt make it -we tried everything we could but it just wasn't meant to be.

I know- if he's not going to make it there's nothing I can do to change that. I also know that there's no point in rushing him off to the vets, because I have all of the kit and know everything up to and including how to do heart massage on kitties.

I'm going to go up and check on him again in a while- he's easy to spot because his tail is hooped in black and white.

He's got this far and is all warm and squirmy again, so I'm hoping that we can persuade her to care for him and allow him to feed. He's a lot smaller than the others, so that's possibly why he was getting pushed away from mum.

It wasn't to be for poor little Lemur (I broke my naming system because he had a lovely tail that was ringed in black and white).

I went to do the last check before I went to bed last night and found him all cold again, so I went through the routine of warming him up, rubbing him until he breathed properly and filling his tummy with Cimicat again, but when I went up this morning he was past anything I could do for him.

He didn't really get a chance at life, being so small. RIP Lemur.

aww RIP Lemur. poor baby.

RIP Lemur x

that's so sad, poor little boy. RIP

Sorry to here about Lemur, poor baby, I guess he just wasn't meant to be for this world. xxxx

Poor little guy. You did well to keep him going so long. :(

You know you did your very best for the little guy, God rest him x

How are the rest of the gang doing? And why are there no piccies yet? Come on Meds.

I'm pleased to report that the remaining 3 kittens are hale and hearty and were squirming about in the nest a little while ago.

I now know that both dark tabby and white kittens are boys and that the black and white kitten is a little girl.

Photos and names to follow now I know that Amelia is getting a little bit more chilled about me moving them from the nest.

I've just been and prised the little ones away from Amelia long enough to take a (very poor) photo of them:

Aaron (http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c54/mewsletter/?action=view&current=Aaronat4days.jpg)

Anna (http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c54/mewsletter/?action=view&current=Annaat4days.jpg)

Anton (http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c54/mewsletter/?action=view&current=Antonat4days.jpg)

aww they are grgeous, congratulations :)

they are so sweet :love:

They really are very lovely- and it's great that their mummy trusts me enough to let me take them from their nest to take their photos. She's had a tough life and I'm amazed that she still trusts humans at all, but she does and I'm looking forward very much to her being spayed and having a dematt so that she can have a forever home of her very own where she can go outside because she wants to, rather than living rough.

aww little sweeties- shouldnt have any trouble getting homes for them if you keep taking the photos...now that I'm fostering, I wouldnt be at all suprised if I end up with an expectant mum at some point this season. I keep looking at our bab wegie Arnie and it only seems like a couple of months since he was born - but it was 1st October!

Does anna need a home?

Sooo tiddly!

Keep the piccies coming :)

They are cutiepies. Do you have pictures of Mummy Amelia for us to coo over?

They are cutiepies. Do you have pictures of Mummy Amelia for us to coo over?

Amelia's in a really bad state with her coat at the moment (being very long haired and having been found living rough) but when I can get her out of the nest with the babies I'll try to take their photo together.

In answer to BaBG's query, all of the babies and their mum will be looking for a new home for some time at the start of June, when they are 12 weeks old. Amelia needs to go to somewhere over the south of the city or anywhere that's a really good distance from my place because of her having lived rough locally to me, but the only limits on the little ones' placing is down to who asks first and who passes their home check.

is she a specific breed med or is she a heinz 57?

We really have no idea about her breed- she's probably a pedigree bitsa (although a very pretty one). She's very sweet and snuggly so I'm sure that she'll find a lovely home.

Hey Meds, tried to PM you but your inbox is full, can you get in touch with me when you have time please? Thankyou

I've just been and prised the little ones away from Amelia long enough to take a (very poor) photo of them:

Aaron (http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c54/mewsletter/?action=view&current=Aaronat4days.jpg)

Anna (http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c54/mewsletter/?action=view&current=Annaat4days.jpg)

Anton (http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c54/mewsletter/?action=view&current=Antonat4days.jpg)

Aww bless their little sock, Anton looks just like Jodie my chilhood cat. Nice work Medusa

I took some more photos of Amelia's babies yesterday:

Anna (http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c54/mewsletter/?action=view&current=annaat10days2.jpg)

Anton (http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c54/mewsletter/?action=view&current=Antonat10days.jpg)

Aaron (http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c54/mewsletter/?action=view&current=Aaronat10days.jpg)

Amelia being a lovely mummy (http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c54/mewsletter/?action=view&current=Ameliaandherbabies1.jpg)

They're little fat babies and their eyes are just opening.

They are SO adorable :)

How many cats do you have, Medusa?

They are lovely and Amelia is stunning I am so pleased you have them and they will be rehomed appropriately. What will happen to Amelia will you keep her?

I've got 4 cats of my own- Arthur, Tiffy, Baby and Billy- then I've got Molly and however many foster cats and kittens inhabiting the place (currently just Amelia and the little ones).

At the moment Amelia and her babes are in the attic away from my mob because it's not fair to stress her out mixing with a dog she's only just met and everything, although she's on speaking terms with all of my cats. As soon as the little ones are weaned I'll fetch them downstairs to allow them to meet the family and her to dry up ready for spaying (and a dematt- poor love is likely to end up mostly bald) and she can come downstairs when she's ready after that.

Amelia will be looking for a forever home when she's through all of that too- I don't have the money to look after any more animals than I already have and I never want to get to the stage where I'm skimping on their care because I can't afford better.

Oh my Goodness Kerry, you never said that Amelia was the spitting image of my Harry x

Beautiful x

She's half of his size though- a real little dinky girl (or she will be, once she's shrunk back from her preggie size).

I took some more photos of Amelia's babies yesterday:

Anna (http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c54/mewsletter/?action=view&current=annaat10days2.jpg)

Anton (http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c54/mewsletter/?action=view&current=Antonat10days.jpg)

Aaron (http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c54/mewsletter/?action=view&current=Aaronat10days.jpg)

Amelia being a lovely mummy (http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c54/mewsletter/?action=view&current=Ameliaandherbabies1.jpg)

They're little fat babies and their eyes are just opening.
Aww I want them all :love::love::love::love:

Aww I want them all :love::love::love::love:

That's the advantage of fostering- I get to do all the snuggling and then I get the joy of seeing them go to happy new homes with happy people who are in love with them!

aww I want Amelia but I cant. I just cant. I cant have 9

My attic isn't glamorous, but it's safe, warm, quiet and there's endless food and comfy beds.
Can I move in?
Well, I tucked him inside my bra to get him warm
You'll have even more people wanting to move in now! ;)

I've just been and prised the little ones away from Amelia long enough to take a (very poor) photo of them:

Aaron (http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c54/mewsletter/?action=view&current=Aaronat4days.jpg)

Anna (http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c54/mewsletter/?action=view&current=Annaat4days.jpg)

Anton (http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c54/mewsletter/?action=view&current=Antonat4days.jpg)If only we weren't already adopting two moggies....

It looks like I'm in for a couple of weeks of rather intensive work- all of the babies have caught flu off their mummy! Amelia's obviously a carrier, even though she appears fine in herself she's got runny eyes too.

At the moment I'm bathing their eyes open and giving them eye drops twice a day, combined with cleaning Amelia's ears and giving her Canaural to sort out her ear mites.

What joy- and next week I start with the worming regime too.

May be asking advice at some stage Meds- looks like my latest foster cat is a young mum to be too...

Hope your gang are better soon, poor babies.

Anytime hon :)

Update on mummy & kitties pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease?

Just wondering how they are all doing? :huh:

Apologies for not responding to this topic for the last week or so- I've been rather worried about the babies.

They're really suffering with the flu, poor little ones. Thankfully they're not having chest problems, but their eyes are needing to be bathed open at least 4 times a day, as well as having eye drops twice daily and antibiotic drops twice daily.

We've been back to the vets today and the vet was sufficiently worried about them to check that Amelia isn't a carrier for Feline Leukaemia Virus or FIV. Thankfully she isn't- large sighs of relief from me.

Hopefully their eyes will be improving pretty quickly now (crosses fingers) so I'll be able to get them weaned and post new pictures soon.

They're 3 weeks old today BTW.

Poor little things it sounds like they are having it rough, so glad that Amelia isn't harbouring any nasties...poor little lady.
I'm sure that with your loving care the kittens will soon perk up and go from strengh to strengh :)

Aww poor things, Hope they improve quickly Med. nothing worse than seeing little ones suffer.

Aww poor things, Hope they improve quickly Med. nothing worse than seeing little ones suffer.

Unfortunately this is one of the down sides of fostering cats and kittens who have been living rough- they are unlikely to have had their vaccinations and can be carrying anything from ear mites to fatal diseases.

Hope the babies get well soon medusa.

I'm really pleased to report that the new antibiotics and eye drops have done their stuff and the babies now all have their eyes open and are now able to get up and about, exploring around out of the nest for the first time- woohooooo!

I'll be posting some more pictures soon.

I'm really pleased to report that the new antibiotics and eye drops have done their stuff and the babies now all have their eyes open and are now able to get up and about, exploring around out of the nest for the first time- woohooooo!

I'll be posting some more pictures soon.

They are lovely :love:

aww great news. My latest foster girl turns out not to be an expectant mum after all, which is good news too.

That's definitely good news katkin. It means that she can be off to a forever home so much sooner.

She's a little sweetie- older than we first thought but a gentle little thing- should be up for adoption mid-end April so plenty of time for me to get a few photos of her for CP website.

OK- time for a little update.

I'm really pleased to report that that at 4 and a half weeks they have all now recovered from their flu and have little beady bright blue eyes.

They're starting to develop their mummy's thick coat too, so I think that 2 of the 3 are going to be at least semi-longhaired.

Everyone of a broody disposition look away now- they're gorgeous and here come their photos:

Anton (http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c54/mewsletter/?action=view&current=Antonat5weeks.jpg)

Anna (http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c54/mewsletter/?action=view&current=Annaat5weeks.jpg)

Aaron (http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c54/mewsletter/?action=view&current=Aaronat5weeks.jpg)

I've started the very messy process of weaning and I'm putting them in a basket and taking them away from Amelia every day for a short period, which is gradually going to get longer over the next week or so in order to get them used to the noises and other beasties in the house (and also to push them towards weaning just that little bit faster so that we minimise the chance of them getting any further flu complications).

Anton's my favourite, but I'm biased towards Tabbies as my first moggie was a tabby.