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Expert: - 11/22/2008


Question
There is this stray cat that lives in my garden, two weeks ago she gave birth to 4 kittens..well i touch one of them about a week ago and two days ago the mother cat stopped feeding the whole litter. Is this normal?

Answer
Betty,

- How old are the kittens?

- Has this mama kitty been okay with being handled by you?

- Is mom thin?

- Do you feed the mom or kitties in the neighborhood whether stray or feral?

- Did you remove the kittens from mom's line of sight at any time?

- How many times did you touch the kitten and for how long?

- Is mom still around?

- Did the mother appear to be in season?

- Do you have a number of stray cats in your neighborhood?

- Are you willing to take mom and/or her kittens until they are ready to go to good permanent homes?

- Are the kittens able and willing to eat solid foods yet?

- Have there been any other cats hanging around where the kittens are?

These questions are going to help me to find out more about what's going on in this situation so that I can give you an accurate answer and some suggestions for the issue you have written to me about.

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Ali

Expertise

I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

Experience

I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

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