9 week old Kittens and Surgery

Rosemary, Tarragon, and Basil at 9 weeks old.

Here we are, 9 weeks old.  Weighing in at about 8.5 lbs and tail length is anywhere from 7 inches to 8.5 inches, these kittens now do all the things a big cat can do and more.  They clean themselves, use the litter box, and can eat dry or wet food.  Unlike your adult cat, you really have to double check for safety issues.  They can now jump and climb everywhere.  They can get on your kitchen table, into the trashcan, and chew through electrical chords.  They will try to eat houseplants, paper, or other small objects in their reach.  If you have ever lived with a 2 year old toddler, this is life for the next few months with a kitten, without the temper tantrums.  This is a good time to invest in a cat tree and interesting toys if you don't already have them. 

Spay stitches 2 days after surgery.

All the kittens have had their surgery.  Basil is showing off her stitches from her Spay.  This is 2 days later.  The doctor did a nice job.  She will get her stitches removed in 10 to 14 days and then she'll be ready for adoption.   Tarragon, who was neutered, is ready for adoption just a few days after surgery.  

Even though Tarragon is ready, it is just a few days before Halloween and too risky.  This holiday brings with it some who practice rituals of animal sacrifices, so we are extra careful and do not do adoptions during this time.  All three kittens will wait until Saturday, Nov. 3.  Anyone who wishes to consider adopting these kittens, or other Friends for Life kittens, can see them at the Petsmart in Mesa at Stapely and Baseline between 10am -3pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Kittens at 8 weeks old. Cats and collar dangers.

8 weeks Old

The kittens have reached the 8 week old mark.  If you have been raising a kitten, but wanting to know when to put the little one up for adoption, this is a good age.  The kittens could eat only dry food, but I still like to give a treat of the canned food at least once per day.  I find it keeps their coat soft and shiny.

They are weighing in at 2 lbs and 2 oz.  Most healthy kittens will be 2 lbs by 8 weeks old.  The tail length is between 7 - 8 inches long.  The ears are big, thin and open to the point that you can see the folds and tucks of the inner ear.

Snuggled in with my daughter and helper.

The kittens received their second set of vaccines, called a 5-in-1.  They were a little sleepy afterwards, but this time everyone ate as usual and by the next morning you would never have known anything had happened.  I do keep them in a smaller space for the night after vaccines, the bathroom, just in case someone ends up getting sick.  Typically the kittens are lethargic and not very hungry for 24 - 36 hours.  Holding or touching near the injection sight can also be sensitive for a day or two.

Surgery for Spay/Neuter is set for next week.  Some Vets are willing to do this procedure when they are 2 lbs.  For male kittens you must check that their testicles have dropped.  Sometimes that takes until 9 weeks.

The ADLA provides a list of a variety of low cost clinics where your pets receive this very important surgery.  The primary reason Shelters are inundated with kittens and puppies is from pet owners not taking on the responsibility of preventing unwanted pregnancies.
 
Because these kittens belong to an Animal Shelter, they also received their microchip.  Any Vet or another shelter that has a scanning device can wave that over their neck area and identify the kitten as belonging to Friends for Life.  Friends for Life can then check their records to determine who last adopted the animal.  There have been many cats' and dogs' lives that have been saved because of this little device.  You can also microchip your pets with your name and contact information.  It is much more reliable than a collar, especially on cats that often pull off and lose their collars.  I also find collars to be dangerous on cats.  They can choke and injure themselves with them.

Patience with a drainage tube and baby onesie after a collar injury.

Back in 2003, Patience came to us through the Shelter.  Her fur was so matted with mud and blood that we didn't realize she was a long haired cat for at least 3 days.  She was found in a field with a terrible wound under her arm and along her neck.  Her one paw had gotten caught in her collar.  She was lost and debilitated, unable to hunt for food or protect herself.   We don't know how long she was like that, but she was very thin by the time she was rescued.  She was put on medications, and had a drainage tube placed in the wound to aid the healing of the infection.  That's an infant onesie she is wearing to keep her from licking or chewing the infected area.  She had a full recovery and found a wonderful home a few months later.

Kittens at 7 Weeks Old. Eyes and Claws

They posed as if they knew it was picture day.   7 weeks old.

The role of mama cat is substantially changing now that the kittens have reached the 7 week mark.  They did need their nails clipped and another bath.  But litter box use is consistent. You will also catch them grooming each other.  They clean each others ears, lick off any remaining food on each others faces and generally help each other in those difficult to reach places.  It's very cute to watch.

They are eating more of the dry kibble and I only feed them some canned food twice a day.  If I have a day that I need to be gone for 8 hours, there's no need to worry about them going hungry.  Although, socialization is very important at this age and they need human interaction throughout the day, so I limit long days away or arrange for someone to come by and play with them when I'm gone.

Look at those ears!  Especially the gray girls. See how they are disproportionately large for their head.  I have reason to believe the black one is gestationally a few days younger than the girls and his will have that appearance later in the week.  They are weighing in at about 1 lb. 13 oz.   Their tails are 7 inches long.

These three love to cuddle.  When you rub them behind the neck just right, they go simply limp in your hands.  As sweet and snugly as they are, it's good to be cautious when they are near your face.  Eyelashes can be a great fascination to little ones.

Iris

Back in 2004 and my more novice years, we had a little tortie who would get really close.  She thought those eyelashes were a great toy, tried to catch them and scratched my cornea from top to bottom across the iris of my eye.  That was a painful experience, with a trip to urgent care, where they put me on oral and eye drop antibiotics along with updating my tetanus shot.  We named that little girl Iris.  When adoption time came, a woman saw her name on the internet page.  She had another tortie, one month older, and her name was Tulip.  Seeing that, she knew this was her kitten....

Iris and Tulip, adopted sisters for life.

6 Week Old Kittens

6 weeks old, Rosemary, Tarragon and Basil

Once more, here is a photo of the same kittens with the same blue background.  I'm hoping it is useful in showing the changes that happen at the various weeks of growth.

These kittens have lost there blue eyes and are acquiring their adult color.  Some kittens keep their blue eyes as long as 8 weeks before changing.  If your kitten keeps its blue eyes past 3 months, there is a possibility that the kitten is also deaf, but Not necessarily deaf.

These kittens are healthy and growing within the range of Average.  They weigh just around 1.5 pounds.  The tail length is 6 inches. The ears are open and thinning and look proportional to the head size.  This will change.

These kittens were chewing and puncturing the nipple on the bottle, so for safety reasons I no longer provide a bottle.  But, they still get a milk replacer in the same dish with their wet food.  They are also snacking on dry kitten food through the day.

They are very curious, active and playful.  It was quite the challenge to get all three of them in one photo and I needed the assistance of a friend to accomplish the task. On the flip side, they also really enjoy snuggling up with people and taking a nap under your chin, in your arms and on your lap.

Completely grooming on their own is still a challenge.  A warm wet washcloth and a soft brush mostly do the trick, but they still needed a full bath.

Sweet Tarragon helping me study.

I've become quite attached to Tarragon, dare I say, he is my favorite.  There will be some tears shed when he goes to his forever home.  I trust the adoption consultants at Friends for Life that have the job of screening potential families and finding the very best homes possible.  I cannot thank them enough for making those difficult decisions.