the New Cat
By carpenter5
@carpenter5 (6782)
United States
June 28, 2007 7:55pm CST
As most of you know-Kristen is working at our local vet's office.
Today, she called me and asked if I would play surrogate to a 2 week old kitten whose mother had abandoned him. He has to be bottle fed and kept on a heating pad.
Of course, the tender hearted me said...yes
So, Oliver is now a member, at least temporarily of the Carpenter household.
Baby, our rat terrier is expecting babies. I am not sure if her motherly instincts have kicked in, or what...but she thinks this is one of her babies.
Earlier this afternoon, Oliver was in his little box, and was meowing pitifully. I came into the livingroom, and the cat was out of his box and in Baby's bed.
I picked him up, put him back in his box and left the room. A few minutes later, I returned to find Oliver being carried by the scruff of the neck by Baby. I watched her as she carried him across the room, put him back in the corner of her bed, and then climbed in beside him, and curled around him. He immediately calmed down and went to sleep.
Anyone else ever seen this happen? Do I let her mother him...or take the kitten away from her? She is still several weeks from her due date.
4 people like this
11 responses
@Lifez2short (4962)
• United States
29 Jun 07
I think that is very cute.
I would just let the dog go as long as she is not hurting the kitten.
You never know the dog might just take great care of the little kitten for you.
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
3 Jul 07
She is so protective! Sunday, my mom and her dog came over, and Boots was trying to lick the kitten and Baby growled at him. (This is the father of her puppies.)
1 person likes this
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
3 Jul 07
The vet said to let her nurse the kitten if she wanted. She said it would be good practice for her once her own babies were born. It just shows she is going to be a good mother I guess.
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
6 Jul 07
I can't wait until the new babies get here. Oliver went to a permanent home. :( It's kind of lonely around here without him winding around my ankles
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
30 Jun 07
You should let her mother the kitten. The kitten will feel safer with the mother cat doing what comes naturaly for her.
1 person likes this
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
16 Jul 07
The biggest problem was that Baby's milk hadn't come in yet, so Oliver really wasn't getting anything but comfort.
@cipher2004 (1183)
• United States
29 Jun 07
That is so adorable.I have also heard of dogs taking care of kittens and even nursing them.Seems you wonderful dog is laying next to the kitten to comfort him not hurt him.I know this is another subject but with a tiny kitten at that age can he go to the bathroom by himself.If he doesn't,take a tissue a slowly wipe his anal area.This will stimulate him to go.The mother of newborn kittens licks the anal area to make them go.If not they will get all backed up.I am sure you probably know this already.Or the vet had informed you of this.Congradulations this little kitten will be hard to give back.You might end up keeping her.Espespecially since your dog is already attached.
1 person likes this
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
16 Jul 07
oh yes, we learned all about having to make him go to the bathroom...both peepee and poopoo. My daughter's boy friend was smartest of all, he would hold him above the toilet and make him go.!!!
@AmbiePam (120738)
• United States
29 Jun 07
Yes, that is rather uncommon, although I never get tired of hearing about it or seeing it. Just let her care for the kitten, she probably will continue doing so even after her babies are born. I'm so jealous! New tiny kitten and new puppies on the way!
1 person likes this
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
6 Jul 07
One of mine doesn't eat much, and she would rather have people food if I'd let her.
My son's german shepherd/Rottweiler/Boxer mix...eats like a horse.
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
3 Jul 07
Two more babies have been found! If you were close enough, I know that you could have one of them. They're going to go to the pound when they're 8 weeks old if the girls can't find a home for them. We're going to keep one, but I can't afford to feed 3.
1 person likes this
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
16 Jul 07
He is in a permanent home now, and Kristen talked to the lady yesterday, and he is learning to pounce on a piece of string! He's eating regular kitten food, dry soaked in milk and weighs almost 2 pounds now!
@GardenGerty (169474)
• United States
29 Jun 07
I would say definitely let her mother him. She knows more about baby four legged creatures than you do, and he will probably develop a more normal animal personality this way. I would even go so far as to say that it is probably good for her as well. We all benefit from loving and being loved and it helps us flourish and reach more of our potential. I have seen a Tom Cat adopt a baby Weimeraner puppy, and hunt for and kill game for it. Their relationship continued to be good even when the dog was grown. Unfortunately, the cat got hit by a car, and the young dog visibly mourned him.
1 person likes this
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
6 Jul 07
how sad! Hunter's boxer even tried to let this cat nurse. It was so funny. Beans has never had a litter of puppies.
@Willowlady (10657)
• United States
29 Jun 07
This is wonderful when it happens and as she is good then it can only help the little kitten. It will be more social and able to live in a household where there is a dog. That is a plus. Also the natural heat of the animal body will more conducive to the kitty thriving. Good luck with this little one and good luck with the new puppies. An exciting time for sure.
1 person likes this
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
6 Jul 07
I was just amazed at the mothering instinct of all of the animals..including 2 male dogs! It was wild.
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
3 Jul 07
It has been such a cute sight..with this little gray and white kitten following this red yorkshire terrier around the house. If Baby gets too far ahead, she stops and waits for oliver to catch up.
@bigpinkmomma (449)
• Canada
29 Jun 07
I really don't know a lot about Rat Terriers but this sounds so cute. I can not see the harm of letting her mother the kitten at all . I would imagine the kitten will be the one to miss her Surrogate mother if she has to be sent to a new home.
1 person likes this
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
16 Jul 07
We now have a 5 week old Lab puppy. She is almost as big as Baby, so the response hasn't been the same. lol
She does seem to miss the kitten though!
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
6 Jul 07
I did. Kitty has gone to live with a permanent "Mommy" He was fun, but having to make sure he ate every 2 hours was a lot of work.
