O/T - I think my cat is seriously Codependent
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Florida
Posts: 6,780
O/T - I think my cat is seriously Codependent
A few of you know we've been through a couple of litters of kittens over the last year or so. We had rescued a sick, frail female a couple of yrs ago & nursed her back to health; since her growth was stunted & her heat came later than normal, I kept missing the signs to get her fixed in time before she would escape & get pregnant. All in all it's been fun for DD but I'm happy to be d.o.n.e. with kittens for a long time, 
.
We found wonderful homes for all of the babies except for the last one, Olaf, which we kept because he's just special.
And now she seems to be having a hard time letting go of having someone to coddle & nurse & teach. Even though he is 5 months old I am *still* having to stop her from trying to nurse him here & there. When she can't "find" him in the house she calls & calls & calls & calls until he answers. A few times each day she gathers up his favorite toys, calls to him in that deep-from-the-belly-Mama-Cat-Chirupping sound, wanting him to play, wrestle & make sure he is bathed. He will drop whatever he is doing & go running because Mama is calling!
At 5 months he is "this close" to outsizing her - she is petite & he is huge & it's hilarious to watch them interact this way. She seems like she doesn't know what to do with herself without a little one to train for hunting & to depend on her after being in Mama-mode for so long.
I hope she finds recovery soon, for her OWN sake.
.We found wonderful homes for all of the babies except for the last one, Olaf, which we kept because he's just special.
And now she seems to be having a hard time letting go of having someone to coddle & nurse & teach. Even though he is 5 months old I am *still* having to stop her from trying to nurse him here & there. When she can't "find" him in the house she calls & calls & calls & calls until he answers. A few times each day she gathers up his favorite toys, calls to him in that deep-from-the-belly-Mama-Cat-Chirupping sound, wanting him to play, wrestle & make sure he is bathed. He will drop whatever he is doing & go running because Mama is calling!
At 5 months he is "this close" to outsizing her - she is petite & he is huge & it's hilarious to watch them interact this way. She seems like she doesn't know what to do with herself without a little one to train for hunting & to depend on her after being in Mama-mode for so long.
I hope she finds recovery soon, for her OWN sake.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Florida
Posts: 6,780
Originally Posted by HopefulinFLA 
Hilarious! Maybe you could foster kittens for a local rescue? Sounds like mama would love it.
No way, Jose! We have already "fostered" 3 litters, totaling 15 kittens in less than 18 months. No. More. Kittens.
(for a while, at least,
)
Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: My mind wanders a lot, but I try to stay in the present.
Posts: 1,007
Has Olaf sleeping all day on the sofa? Is he not taking responsibility for his hairballs? Is he abusing cat-nip?
Remind mama cat of the three C's
She didn't Cat-Cause it
She can't Cat-Control it
and
She can't Cat-Cure it
Remind mama cat of the three C's
She didn't Cat-Cause it
She can't Cat-Control it
and
She can't Cat-Cure it
Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 13,497
Originally Posted by SeriousKarma
Has Olaf sleeping all day on the sofa? Is he not taking responsibility for his hairballs? Is he abusing cat-nip?
Remind mama cat of the three C's
She didn't Cat-Cause it
She can't Cat-Control it
and
She can't Cat-Cure it
Remind mama cat of the three C's
She didn't Cat-Cause it
She can't Cat-Control it
and
She can't Cat-Cure it
RIP Sweet Suki
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: In my sanctuary, my home
Posts: 39,913
The Mama pull is strong. I had that same thing happen several years ago. I was imagining a 5 year old cat still suckling on Mama even though nothing was coming out.
Have you had Mama spayed yet?
Have you had Mama spayed yet?
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Florida
Posts: 6,780
Originally Posted by SeriousKarma
Has Olaf sleeping all day on the sofa? Is he not taking responsibility for his hairballs? Is he abusing cat-nip?
Remind mama cat of the three C's
She didn't Cat-Cause it
She can't Cat-Control it
and
She can't Cat-Cure it
Remind mama cat of the three C's
She didn't Cat-Cause it
She can't Cat-Control it
and
She can't Cat-Cure it
Suki - yes, Mama got fixed about 3.5 months ago.
Gotta run - time for a last round of fetch so he'll get worn down & sleep without WAKING me to play fetch at 5 am. Yes, seriously!
Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,443
Lol. Cute thread. I love cats. I have kittens right now too.
How long after a litter does the mama go back into heat? When can I get her spayed?
My mama cat sat belly down in the floor today and showed some tough love. No matter how much those kittens pushed her she wasn't budging. She must have been tired of them for awhile!
How long after a litter does the mama go back into heat? When can I get her spayed?
My mama cat sat belly down in the floor today and showed some tough love. No matter how much those kittens pushed her she wasn't budging. She must have been tired of them for awhile!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Florida
Posts: 6,780
FG - I will upload a pic for you, lol. I have to run to a mtg but should have time this afternoon.
Thumper - hilarious!! We had mama spayed when the kittens were about 6 wks - that way they were on solid foods, could do without nursing for a time & she got to heal a bit. But she was able to continue nursing right away when she was feeling better. Her litters were pretty close together - I think at one point she was pregnant only about 11-12 weeks after having a litter? I kept waiting for her to be DONE nursing - that was my big mistake.
Thumper - hilarious!! We had mama spayed when the kittens were about 6 wks - that way they were on solid foods, could do without nursing for a time & she got to heal a bit. But she was able to continue nursing right away when she was feeling better. Her litters were pretty close together - I think at one point she was pregnant only about 11-12 weeks after having a litter? I kept waiting for her to be DONE nursing - that was my big mistake.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,443
Originally Posted by FireSprite
FG - I will upload a pic for you, lol. I have to run to a mtg but should have time this afternoon.
Thumper - hilarious!! We had mama spayed when the kittens were about 6 wks - that way they were on solid foods, could do without nursing for a time & she got to heal a bit. But she was able to continue nursing right away when she was feeling better. Her litters were pretty close together - I think at one point she was pregnant only about 11-12 weeks after having a litter? I kept waiting for her to be DONE nursing - that was my big mistake.
Thumper - hilarious!! We had mama spayed when the kittens were about 6 wks - that way they were on solid foods, could do without nursing for a time & she got to heal a bit. But she was able to continue nursing right away when she was feeling better. Her litters were pretty close together - I think at one point she was pregnant only about 11-12 weeks after having a litter? I kept waiting for her to be DONE nursing - that was my big mistake.
The mother was about 8-10 weeks old when she wondered into our yard and when fall came I couldn't not let her in the house so she is ours now. The kittens are so so so cute and fun. I inherited another cat my aunt could not keep and then we have our old cat that is mine. I do not NOT need 7 cats, lol. My neighbors would picket. I wish I lived in the country so I could keep them though.
Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: USA
Posts: 13,560
FS, I just took in a kitten that was abandoned by it's momma. My male cat now thinks he is the daddy and watches over her with a protective eye all the time even though she clearly drives him nuts and climbs all over him LOL. He grooms her, and I noticed this week she started doing the same to him. They are funny to watch!
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
