The Truth About Nursing Cat and Her Cat Litter

I love books and research, but I like empirical information just as much, even in stinky situations. So far, I’ve been trying to figure out the best way to care for the newborn kittens and how to properly socialize them. Yesterday, I posted a video. Some of the first things everybody agrees the kittens need is litter boxes, several of them, shallow, not the clumping kitty litter type, and after a few days and much mess, the kittens will learn. Nobody prepares you for interesting nursing cat v kitty litter potential situations.

Last night, the nomad kittens (I call them that because they like to relocate around the room) decided to rest behind the nursing cat’s litter box. I though it was a bit unsanitary but they looked adorable. This morning, I had to deal with major stench coming out of the nursery (the kitten room). Farrah, the feral kitty, did not want to soil the litter by her little angels’ sleeping heads, so she perched up on the back of the couch and proceeded to go to the bathroom, numbers one and two, while facing the yard. Since she only goes to the bathroom once a day . . . No litter scoop could save me! I had to take out and wash all the pillows, and the pull out mattress, and the floor. Luckily, as I’m in the process of kitten proofing, I had already covered the couch with sheet and the worse part of my job, not the most difficult though, was taken care of. Afterwards I scrubbed, did laundry, and found nice spots for the cushions outdoors, where they’re going to stay until they no longer smell!

Caring for newborn kittens is sometimes challenging, but it is rewarding. Taking care of their mom, can be rewarding in its own way.

Kitten development update: The newborn kittens (age: 32 days) are still not interested in food other than their mom’s. They are practicing running and jumping. Most jumps and runs end up with a startled kitten on its back. The calico kitten is a leader and she often jumps on her litter mates. The dilute calico kitten is the exact opposite. She’s happy to spend the day on her back watching her litter mates as she sucks on her paws. The tuxedo kitten, the only male kitten, is the most inquisitive and the one that ventures the farthest from mom. The fawn kitten is changing colors again. She now looks as is she has pale clouds on her body and her dark spots have gotten darker. The fawn and white one is the one that needs time alone. She often breaks away from her litter mates, but she joins them just as frequently. They are all chubby!

The Crazy Cat Lady