Queen over cleaning kitten

Kaelia · #1 (**permalink**) 13-12-2009, 03:56 PM

Hi our kitten is now 4 weeks old and is doing well. Mother cat is devoted to her as her other kitten was stillborn. The problem we have at the moment is Mum cat is over cleaning her baby, I noticed yesterday that the kitten has a bald spot under her chin and around her neck area. I have been monitoring them both and mum cat is cleaning her excessively, especially where the bald spot is, it's now looking a bit sore. I am taking her to the vet tomorrow but in the mean time is there anything I can do to stop mum from cleaning that area too much? Is it normal for cats to do this to kittens? Any help would be great.

Saikou · #2 (**permalink**) 13-12-2009, 05:08 PM

A friend has this with one of her queens and a singleton kitten. She had a to fashion a little vest out of her son's old school socks. That did stop her doing it. Not sure that would help you though, it doesn't sound like an easy place to cover, unless you could fashion something with a high neck.

Kaelia · #3 (**permalink**) 13-12-2009, 06:44 PM

Omg, I wish I had that of doing something like that, I have been trying to think of everything. Thank you so much Saikou, I will dig out one of the kids suitable socks

xx

Saikou · #4 (**permalink**) 14-12-2009, 02:08 PM

I hope it works. The little kitten my friend had was only a couple of weeks old, and the queen in question had actually caused an infection at the site. His little grey vest did work though.

Cats seem very prone to OCD behaviour, especially licking, they do it to themselves too. Those rough tongues can strip hair and the top layer of skin off in no time. Mad creatures.

Kaelia · #5 (**permalink**) 14-12-2009, 08:11 PM

Your a Star Saikou! It seems to be working a treat. The skin isn't broken and there is no infection. It was looking a little irritated yesterday but seems so much better today as mum cat can't get to it now with her sand paper tongue

I raided my youngest daughter's sock drawer and picked out a few nice stretchy soft ones and cut them to size and made small front leg holes in them. They are ideal and don't restrict the kittens movement at all and mum isn't bothered by the strange pink kitten attire either.

She is a wonderful devoted mum but a bit too devoted at the moment. We have decided to keep the kitten ourselves as she was a singleton and Cali adores her. We are keeping an eye on mum so she doesn't start the obsession in another area, but she seems fine for now...Yes I agree, mad creatures indeed!
I will keep you updated, and thanks again

Saikou · #6 (**permalink**) 15-12-2009, 12:15 PM

Thats excellent news. I am glad it worked, there's a potential cottage industry there - kitten vests made out of all those odd socks you find after the washings been done

Cali does sound like a wonderful Mum, and I think we need pictures of her and baby in her new outfit.

Kaelia · #7 (**permalink**) 15-12-2009, 10:07 PM

Haha yes what a good idea! I have now resorted to using my daughters tights as we can make lots of little vests out of each leg

I will try and upload a pic, she hardly keep's still and mum gets miffed when I try and take a pic of her feeding the baby. But I think I would feel the same if my hubby decided to take them of me if I was breastfeeding

Cali Kitten.jpg

Hopefully this has worked...she was destroying the box when this was taken lol.
It's amazing how much she has come on since birth, she was tiny, we think premature as I have never seen a kitten as small as her, she was also hairless in places but she is a proper little fighter and is coming on leaps and bounds

Saikou · #8 (**permalink**) 15-12-2009, 11:26 PM

She is gorgeous, I love torties. Its probably her tortie spirit that pulled her through her difficult start, they have a character all of their own. She really does look great. The vest looks excellent too, although you have probably given her a taste for dress up, she will be demanding the latest must fashions as she grows.

Kaelia · #9 (**permalink**) 16-12-2009, 08:46 AM

We think she is gorgeous too, her mum is also a tortie, and they are both as barmy as eachother

I think she is taking a liking to the vests, my 7 year old thinks its brilliant that we have a kitty who likes to dress up too.
Cali belongs to my mother but I have taken over the care of them both for the time being as mum felt out of her depth with the whole birth and small kitten thing. She was convinced we were going to lose the kitten. She was so upset. My mum lives with us so we didn't have to move them thankfully.

Cali also had a still born a day after this one was born, although it was a lot bigger than the tortie baby. It was heartbreaking.

They are both doing well though and we are really pleased with progress

Thanks again for your help Saikou, you have been a blessing x

sjreilly72 · #10 (**permalink**) 16-12-2009, 03:30 PM

Your little baby is stunning, and she just looks so sweet in her bespoke jacket lol.

Love to see more pics of her, please.

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