Kittencare 101

A friend with a camcorder took this video of me feeding and bathing a few kittens. I thought this might be helpful to watch:

My Story - One Year Wait Unfair to Baby Animals

Today I am posting my story behind the wildlife rescue and why it is closed right now.

A quick update on the kittens: the 3 boys will go up for adoption today and the runt of the other litter is looking better!!! :)))

My Story - One Year Wait Unfair to Baby Animals My mission in life has always been helping to protect and nurture animals injured or abandoned, regardless if they were wild, exotic, or domesticated. In fact, by the age of 5, I was already known as “Miss Dolittle”. Since that time, up to the present, I have been an active volunteer at many rescues and shelters in different parts of the world for more than 35 years. In 2000 I moved to Stephenville, Texas. I learned of the lack of wildlife rehabilitators in the area and decided that I could fill that void. I inquired about the legal regulations and learned that helping migratory birds required two permits, from both the State and Federal wildlife agencies. I sent in the Federal Permit with the intention to get that one out of the way first and then fill out the application for the State Permit a short while later. The reason for this was that I still needed one more outside enclosure to pass the required State inspection necessary for the State permit. I learned later on that I had to apply simultaneously for both permits, so the application for the Federal Permit was put on hold. Then the news came that we are going to be moving soon, which meant I would have to go through the entire wildlife application process again. I put the State Permit off as well as spending the money on the material for a new enclosure, expecting to be moving within 3 months. These 3 months turned into 3 years, this time due to paperwork delays by the Federal Government. In the meantime, I was actively helping out at the local animal shelter on a regular basis. A licensed rehabber was there in the beginning to show me how things worked. Then the rehabber moved to another county and I continued to help out at the shelter. Over the next 3 years I established and registered a non-profit organization in Stephenville to help support the ever-growing wildlife care needs that were not covered by the limited resources of the local Humane Society. While awaiting the Government paperwork, on which the move depended, to be finalized, I kept taking in animals, raising them, releasing them. I started the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue, Squirrel-Rescue, and Pets and Wildlife Forum Websites to share the information that I have learned. Everything went great. I was living my dream! I took on various online jobs that allowed me to stay home 24/7 and attend to the babies and sick animals. To learn how other animal lovers handle similar situations, I joined an online community related to the subject. I had 5 pink (no fur yet) squirrel babies that had fallen out of a tree in a storm. Someone in the community contacted the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, who in return sent the Game Warden to me, who knocked on my door a few months ago in February because someone had complained that I was keeping squirrels without a permit. I received a citation and fine, which I paid the same week, believing that this was my punishment for breaking the law, which I admit. I did not follow the rules. At that point I realized I would not be able to continue caring for wildlife until all the legalities were addressed, so I finished building the outside enclosure, filled out the State Permit application, and sent it in. A month later I received the following reply (excerpt): "Thank you for your application for a wildlife rehabilitation permit. At this time, the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department is unable to process your wildlife rehabilitation application due to a wildlife rehabilitation violation dated February 15, 2007. Departmental policy is to wait a period of one year after the citation before reviewing a rehabilitation permit application. I was shocked! Barred for a year in addition to the pretty hefty citation? For trying to save some innocent helpless babies? Where does the punishment fit the crime here? You can drive for 90 minutes into any direction before you can find another wildlife rehabilitator. What is the community supposed to do when they find a wild baby animal? I am sure many of you reading this are nodding, because you found yourself in similar situations and have probably broken the law numerous times yourself without even knowing it! I believe that a law that cannot differentiate between somebody who endangers animals and somebody who is honestly trying to make a difference for the better, that that law can't be a good law and might need some revising! I will keep you updated on my quest and hopefully we can make some changes. That's why I ask you to stay tuned, my fellow animal lovers, I might need your voices and support. Contact: squirrels@rainbowwildlife.com

Kittens' first day outside

The first day outside for the 3 boys and 4 girl kittens. The 3 boys are almost ready to go back to the shelter to be put up for adoption. It might get a bit more quiet in here!

The six not so newborns anymore have started to open their eyes. They are so tiny though, it's amazing. The runt of that litter is not doing so good and I am afraid I will have to make a decision soon...

The 3 oldest boys are almost ready

I started cutting down on the milk. They are nibbling on the dry food and are using the litter box now each time they have to go. They still have the small boxes in their cage, but I will exchange it tomorrow for the normal size one. I'm very happy with their progress.

Here they are after feeding:

The promised pictures of the 4 girls

The 4 female kittens opened their eyes yesterday!

I will post some pictures later, just wanted to make note of the beautiful occurrence right away! So far each of the 13 kittens has survived. 2 of the newborns, the runts, aren't eating as much as I would like to see it, but they are not doing too bad either. Time will tell. Time is something I don't have much lately hehehe. Feeding every 4 hours where it takes me 2 hours to feed all of them. The newborns I feed of course every 2-3 hours, so that's all I'm basically doing..warming bottles and feeding. And I wouldn't want it any other way! loool

13 Kittens, six newborns

These six kitties are less than 48 hours old.
My Great Dane Olliver is already very interested. He keeps helping me with cleaning
the kittens after feeding :).

I am not happy with the runt of this litter, have to keep a close eye on her.

The other 3 boys are doing great and the 4 girls are about to open their eyes!

First 2 litter of kittens this year!

The 4 girls are 1 week old (eyes still closed) and the 3 boys are now 2.5 weeks old. All 7 are doing ok. I received the boys when they were 10 days old and just opening their eyes:



The 3 boys are starting to play now and figuring out balance, hehe:







__________________

Did you know...

Did you know that cats view people as parents or children that need help?? They actually feel compelled to bring us food! In hindsight, kitty is trying to do his share for the family. Cats also have a natural desire to store food for “rainy days”.

Groom Your Cat

Your feline will look (and feel!) like the cat’s meow after a good grooming session.

By nature, cats are extremely fastidious. You’ve no doubt watched your kitty washing herself several times a day. For the most part she can take care of herself very well, thank you, but sometimes she’ll need a little help from you.

MAKE GROOMING AS ENJOYABLE AS POSSIBLE—FOR THE BOTH OF YOU!
Grooming sessions should be fun for the both of you, so be sure to schedule them when your cat’s relaxed, perhaps after exercise or eating. You want your pet to remember grooming sessions in a positive way, so you never want to risk losing your temper. If you’ve had a stressful day or are in a bad mood, it’s probably not a good time to groom your cat.

Keep your first grooming sessions short—just 5 to 10 minutes. Gradually lengthen the time until your pet is used to the routine. You should also get your pet used to being handled. Get in the habit of petting every single part of your cat—including ears, tail, belly and back—and especially the feet!

And keep in mind, a little patience can go a long way. If your cat is extremely stressed out, cut the session short and try again when she’s calmer. Unfortunately, most cats do not like baths, so you may need another person to help. And remember to pile on the praise and offer her a treat when the session is over.

BRUSHING
Regular sessions with a brush or comb will help keep your pet’s hair in good condition by removing dirt, spreading natural oils throughout her coat, preventing tangles and keeping her skin clean and irritant-free.

If your cat has short hair, you only need to brush once a week:

- First, use a metal comb and work through her fur from head to tail.
- Next, use a bristle or rubber brush to remove dead and loose hair.
- Be extra-gentle near her chest and belly.

If your cat has long hair, you will need to brush every day:

- Start by combing her belly and legs; be sure to untangle any knots.
- Next, brush her fur in an upward motion with a bristle or rubber brush.
- To brush her tail, make a part down the middle and brush the fur out on either side.

BATHING
If your cat’s coat becomes greasy and oily, or if she’s gotten into something sticky or smelly, she’ll benefit from a bath. Use a mild shampoo that’s safe to use on cats, and follow these easy steps:
- First, give your pet a good brushing to remove all dead hair and mats.
- Place a rubber bath mat in a sink or tub to provide secure footing.
- Put your cat in a tub or sink that has been filled with about 3 to 4 inches of lukewarm water.
- Use a spray hose to thoroughly wet your pet, taking care not to spray directly in her ears, eyes or nose. If you don’t have a spray hose, a large plastic pitcher or unbreakable cup will do.
- Gently massage in shampoo, working from head to tail.
- Thoroughly rinse with a spray hose or pitcher; again, avoid the ears, eyes and nose
- Dry your pet with a large towel.

NAIL CLIPPING
Most people really don’t handle their cats’ feet until they are about to clip the nails and then…watch out! Some animals can get very upset at this totally foreign feeling. That’s why it’s a good idea to get your cat used to having her feet touched before you attempt a nail trim. Rub your hand up and down her leg and then gently press each individual toe—and be sure to give her lots of praise and some food treats as you do this. Every animal is different, but chances are that within a week or two of daily foot massage, your cat will accept nail clipping with too much fuss. Here’s how to do it:

- Begin by applying gentle pressure to the top of the foot and cushiony pad underneath—this will cause her to extend her claws.
- Use sharp, high-quality cat nail scissors to cut off the white tip of each nail, just before the point where it begins to curl.
- Take care to avoid the quick, a vein that runs into the nail. This pink area can be seen through the nail.
- If you do accidentally cut into this pink area, it may bleed, in which case you can apply some styptic powder to stop the bleeding.

http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pets_groomcat