Yesterday I went to The Breeders farm to collect my milk. (The Breeder bred Daisy and is my mentor in all things Cow). She was flat out. Jogging across her quad to say Hullo. Huge tractors and trailers parked by the bins. The flat sun was shining and they were harvesting and there is no rest until the crop is all in. Can you take these criers? she said. Their mother has gone. We briskly trotted to her barn. I did not realise’ til this morning but I have been in the fields. She continued. I don’t have time. It added up slowly. The mother cat might have been gone a few days. Abandoned kittens. No longer crying. Just lying still.
Ok, I said, without thinking, following her into her barn, she scooped up three tiny, tiny kittens. Eyes still closed. This one feels cold, she said. Still alive though. She works with animals. She knows the score. She knows what a small cold body means. Pop her in, I said. I will see. Not looking good though, I agreed, as I tucked the cold wee body in with its siblings. One marmalade coloured was bigger than the rest and two the colour of fresh mushrooms.
I put the box of kittens in the car. Ton moved back, he is not a Cat Dog – Boo moved forward and lay himself on the seat next to them. We drove home. Quick Smart.
Their eyes were still closed. Glued shut. I added a hot water bottle to their box and Boo and I cleaned all the gunk from around their eyes with warm tea and the first thing this wee cat saw was this .
And all the rest of the day as I fed them with an eye dropper, every hour, with warm very diluted raw cows milk and a little egg mixed in- Boo had his face in every stage. More than once I had to tell him not to take the kittens out of the box without asking first.
And I learnt an interesting thing from Becoming Cliche who works in a zoo – so she knows about these things. I sent her an SOS as the littlest one was so cold. If you try to feed a little animal who has already gone cold, so cold they cannot digest, the food will rot in their bellies, she wrote. So it is important to warm the animal first. In your bra, she suggested! She obviously has no idea how small my bra is. However. Boo took over.
Boo has their corner.
Yes, that is a shot of a dog asleep with his head in a box of dozing kittens.
Good morning. Boo and I fed the kittens tiny feeds of milk through the night and each time they seemed stronger. I am using the same theory as the lambs. Tiny drinks often. They are in a bigger box now, which is wrapped in a duvet. The little pale fella is warm now and as noisy as the others.So far so good. They can slowly creep about the floor at feed time, though not very fast (and not far as Boo lays in front of them to prevent them getting away) but I am hoping that soon they can lap their milk from a saucer. I think they might be about a week old but it is hard for me to tell. I do not have a bottle small enough for a cat, and using the eye dropper is not ideal. Though I have read that a syringe is better so I will try that today.
I have also read a dozen alarming articles on hand rearing kittens and it seems the problems are myriad. But I am going to follow my own instincts and do the best we can.
So I did not get around to picking the apples yesterday. Today maybe?
your friend on the farmy, celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
75 responses to “Oops, she’s done it again! Boo too. Boo is as much to blame!”
Gosh, so much great advice from the farmy fellowship, as usual. The wee kittens are adorable and you get another pair of angel wings for taking them to raise. 🙂 I think Boo will make a fantastic Nanny and it will be interesting to see just how much they bond with him…I know they will bond with you. Maybe once they are older the other cats will show them how to be “cats.”
I love your little angel helper. My male English Springer was amazing with his brood of seven always fussing with them, washing and playing. The boys get all the fun! When I brought home my two kittens at 3 weeks of age they were very much doted on by the group of dogs I had now if humans could just get along so nicely 🙂
I am hot a cat person, but this is a heart warming story! Well done you and your able assistant Boo!
I love Boo. And I love you too, miss c. Compassionate souls are the most beautiful of all.
I saw your post in my reader, and just jumped on it to read! I am an old softie for animals, but I don’t have the space you have, but I would of put that box in my car and done the same…so look forward to reading about them as they get older…precious:-) You seem to come up with such original names for animals on your farm—I am looking forward to hear what their names will be:-)
Cute little Furballs. Have raised puppies on Goat Milk Baby formula – you can then mix as much or little as you need. Sweet gentle Boo, good luck. Laura
Boo and those kitten faces. It’s cute overload! Boo will have to teach them to be good mousers.
Well, I am a cat person–dog person too– and I feel the same way The Fellowship does. Just teary-eyed over the kittens, Boo, and you. Laughing too, over Boo taking the kittens out of the box without permission. Laughing and crying, great stomach shaking!
Oh Miss C – I have been away for weeks and months but when I saw this I though, I must go and visit.
You are a marvel. You and Boo both.
Celi, the only kitties I ever hand reared were only 4 days old when I found them in my front yard. Mere Frost has already told you everything I might suggest, except that you may find gloves to be of aid to you when you begin feeding them from the veterinary bottle. Little kittens like to kneed as they feed, and you will find that your hand is not a suitable substitute. I still have scars from those four kittens! 😉
Boo is unbelievable! A lovely photo journal of him at work, too. I will be smiling every time I think of him and those kittens today!
For sure Linda! Definitely gloves! LOL I forgot to mention that! 😀 This is all so exciting! Ceci is so much fun isn’t she! I don’t miss one day if I can help it! Combining and unloading trucks today. Have a great day everyone! Enjoy Ceci! Wish I was there!
There is no doubt who is head mistress, problem solver, and mother of all in the Kingdom of the Farmy. I’m holding my breath and saying big prayers for these precious little lives. V.
OK well my post got lost as I can’t see it here any where! So all I will say is “Good Luck my friend and I am sure those little lives are so relieved to have been claimed by such a wonderful person”
Hugs, Lyn
You never cease to amaze me. I am in awe of you (and Boo). And to think you don’t even really like cats!
Very best of luck to the Hokey Pokey bunch. XO
Awwww Cutr overload. Dogs are angles, too.