Disapponted

 The continuing saga of feral cats ..... I sent the man for cat formula, and he came back with some kitty milk in a carton much like a juice box. I read the instructions, and it was indicated to be fed to cats and kittens over 8 weeks old. All they had, he said. Three syringes were free from the pharmacy.

Having nothing else, I fed the FOUR kittens. The master of all feral cats had found another kitten that was apparently underneath Mama cat. This is when he decided that I must be wrong about Mama eating her baby. He surmised that she was only "cleaning" the kitten and I must have seen that and thought she ate it.

I saw her crunch down on the tiny cat and heard it as well. It sounded just like that time Martha, the boy cat, gifted a half rabbit to his canine siblings. I know what crunching bones sounds like. Perhaps he should have come as soon as I yelled for him and not made me back-track to the house to get his attention. He would have seen the tiny striped tail dangling from Mama's mouth before she polished off the baby and swallowed.

I was up and down last night. Eddie got up at one point and spent about an hour trying to climb up high enough to see the kittens basking in the warmth of the turtle heat lamp. He was worried. Toni Louise has ignored the new addition to our family. BoJangles is anxious to play with his new toys! They have all sniffed the kittens and Bo seems to understand that they smell like his old pal, Martha.

Mama was waiting for me at the door this morning. I took the box out and let her look at them. She carefully lifted out one in the correct carry position and toted it away and under the truck. With this weather pattern, it was hard for my aching joints to get down to watch her, but she was cleaning the baby and nursing it. Mousy tongue and Marble arrived from under the shed (still disdaining the apartment complex provided by the Cat Master). I was afraid they would decide to dine on kitten. I wanted Mama cat to take over their care, so I put the box under the truck next to her. I must have been quite a sight out in my carport still wearing a nightgown crawling under the truck.

I went in to inform the sleeping man that the cat family was under his truck, lest he run them over. He went right out to "check on things". Mama had taken another kitten and left. Have not seen her all day. She abandoned the last two and we brought them in to keep them warm.

We got some tiny bottles with kitten replacement formula, and I fed the duo and did their bodily elimination routine. The runt of the litter, the one that resembles Martha, ate like a champ. Still using the syringe since they couldn't suck hard enough to get a stream of milk. He/she is loud when attention is required and sort of crawls around on the towel in the shoe box housing them.

The little solid gray kitten was lethargic and not very interested in eating. I was not surprised when I checked on him about 30 minutes after a feed to find him dead. I am sad but not devastated. Now I wonder about the fate of the other two. I think this was the one found underneath Mama.

I will be on feeding duty again tonight. Reminiscent of raising Martha, the boy cat. Feeding four of them was hard. The three solid gray kittens were hard to tell apart, and I was afraid I would over feed one while neglecting to feed another. I can handle one. Well, Eddie and I can since he will alert me when he hears a mewling sound. Didn't even consider waking the man in the bed.

I remember him helping me feed the twins. I breast fed Jill from the beginning, but Jeff lacked a sucking reflex and only nursed during the day. I supplemented both with formula. The Similac rep at the hospital I worked at provided all the formula we needed free. Not the powder, but ready to feed 4 oz. bottles and a box of sterile nipples. Yes, I do know what a blessing it was. 

But I have gone off into another tangent. I could slip tiny Jill into the bed from her bassinet and feed her right next to me. I would awaken the dad and tell him to feed Jeff. Many is the night I would startle awake to put Jill back in her bed and see my husband and my son, cradled in his arms, both asleep with formula dripping down the baby's face, sometimes the nipple would be in his ear. That could account for some of Jeff's frequent ear infections.

Mama has returned to eat with the other feral cats. No idea where she has the other two kittens are waiting for her. Cat Master showed her the corpse of her baby, and she was indifferent, continuing to eat her own dinner. I am sorely disappointed in her mothering skills!