Hand reared kittens as adults

Re: Hand reared kittens as adults

Meow1950 — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 10:35:42 GMT

I had a litter of kittens I hand-reared and I kept one of them. Sadly he died before he was even a year old (fox or dog attack I think) :( but he was a lovely, friendly cat, although probably not any more so than a friendly kitten who hadn't been hand-reared. I wouldn't have said he was smaller than other cats his age, but I suppose just some are smaller! I have a very tiny cat at the minute and she wasn't hand-reared, she's just petite lol :)

Re: Hand reared kittens as adults

Lesley Stinson — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 00:22:53 GMT

I have hand reared over a hundred kittens. (I have only lost 3 to date)I have always used Royal Canin kitten Milk. I think it is the best out there. To get around the constipation problem I have always given 1 ml of boiled water between feeds. This stops the problem.

When I hand rear a litter or a single kitten I always ask the question Am i prepared to keep this kitten if no home is found to be good enough?

I find that hand reared kittens are no bigger or smaller than naturally fed kittens. It all depends on the amount of nutrition that they get and the amount of nutrition that the mother cat received before giving birth.

It is true some kittens grow up to be perfect adult cats while others can be monsters but it important that they can socially interact with other cats between the ages of 5 - 7 weeks as this is the time that they learn how to be a cat. They also have to be introduced to new situations so that they learn how to cope and not become fearful.

Hand reared kittens are more clingy that other cats and this is something that I inform new owners of because not everyone wants that in a cat. Some like the independant side of them.

Re: Hand reared kittens as adults

A-J — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 23:13:58 GMT

A vn friend of mine hand reared my 2 boys (now 6 mths old) with 2 litter mates and 2 others who were a week or so younger. Both mine are quite large, very sociable with the children and don't have any bad behavioural problems. The only problem i have with them is that they are obessed with food, they will eat anything and will try their best to get to it when we are eating, but they are getting some manners in that department.

Re: Hand reared kittens as adults

Jenny Cook RVN — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 21:00:03 GMT

Hey I have a handrear who is nearly 6 months old, he is neutered n chipped now... I've had him since 3 days old when mum rejected litter of 4. I had robin n his brother from 3 days, did well on cimicat, got bit constipated on it too. He was fine until 2 weeks old when sadly his brother died, he became clingy and naughty with hand biting... He didn't tolerate being scruffed when needed too, screamed and wriggled n scratched... When he was 14 weeks old, we got an 8 week old kitten who came from litter of 5 and grew up with them and mum... Robins behavior gradually started to change over time, he became more sociable with us and new companion and less bitey and clingy... Of course he still has his moments of being a purring little cutie n snuggling n smoochy. Although, when in for neutering few weeks ago, he embarrassed me at work screaming practice down, scratching vet and not tolerating injections, towel wrap or scruffing, took ages to knock him down... I've heard that hand rears are naughty and unsociable... On some levels, that's true with robin. I think if I didn't get companion, he'd be worse. Weight wise, he was tiny, at 9 weeks, he was only just 1kg. At his neutering he was 3kg and looks big but not dat although he is very greedy!!

Re: Hand reared kittens as adults

Sal the 1st — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 20:54:10 GMT

[quote user="Susan Jackson"]

Her mum was feral getting neutered she was at term so options were to hand rear.

[/quote]

I will probably get totally slated for this - I have changed my views on hand rearing radically over the years. There are so many healthy young animals already languishing in various rescue centres and kennels thoughout the country some of them being euthanased every single day to make room for the next intake that I do feel in cases like this that euthanasia is also an acceptable option.

I know hand rearing is very satisfying when you get a healthy puppy or kitten or other at the end of it - it gives you a real feel good boost but now unless I was going to give that animal a home for the rest of its life or in the case of wildlife I could be confident of its return to the wild or it is an endangered species and needs to be passed to somebody else for specialist care if it is left to my choice it would be a pts I am afraid. Respect for those that hand rear as I know it can be a heartbreak but hope people can see it from my pov as well.

Re: Hand reared kittens as adults

Sal the 1st — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 20:35:54 GMT

ok well maybe I was wrong to use lactol then - even tho I never had a problem with it and the kittens I reared appeared to do very well. I suppose we all learn something new. Cimicat I hated because as already mentioned kitties consistently became constipated usually around week 2.

Re: Hand reared kittens as adults

Nicola Russell — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 12:16:43 GMT

Lactol is now formulated for puppies. there is a separate Kitty Milk by Beaphar. Lactol doesn't contain taurine o is now unsuitable for kittens

Re: Hand reared kittens as adults

Susan Jackson — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 11:55:32 GMT

I've also hand reared a few kittens, most of them ok but some died and it is heart breaking. I applaude anyone who does because it's so tiring. I remember for 3/4 weeks of walking round always tired and thankful when a friend would give me a night off.

As far as size, my last cat is huge and not fat. Her mum was feral getting neutered she was at term so options were to hand rear. She turned out same size as Mum. Female cats are usually smaller than males and some male cats are small. It may just be genetics?

The difficulty I have with hand rearing is they get consitpated and I follow the guidelines on the feed. I've tried cimi cat, lactol and the RCW kitten fomula. The cimi cat was the worst for constipation so I tried the others. Lactol I don't agree with because it's not animal specific. We get told that the diet and milk produced by cats and dogs are very different, plus it had a really sweet smell that I didn't like. My favourite is the royal canin milk, I've had the best results with this one.

I was also always been told that hand reared cats were bad and not socialised correctly. I've never had a bad cat yet. My newest which I've still got is scared of the vets and I'm sure when she needs to have stuff done she'll have to be sedated but she's not aggressive in any way otherwise. She does the nuzzling in my neck too, it was where I fed her from. Bless her she's also a tortie!

Re: Hand reared kittens as adults

Sal the 1st — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 10:25:31 GMT

A few of mine were a bit on the small side but otherwise healthy. I know some people frown on Lactol rather than using cimicat but I honestly didnt have a problem with it and as I could be hand raising at any given time puppies and kittens and whatever wildlife got dropped off at the gate I found it a good all rounder (good for fox cubs and badgers too)

Re: Hand reared kittens as adults

oconnoanan — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 09:46:08 GMT

Good point Sal! Someone has to rear them though, but unfortunately it won't be me any more - I've had too many die and I get too attached - its heartbreaking when you put weeks or months of effort and emotion into them when they don't survive. Fair play to people who continue to do the hand rearing, midnight feeds, etc - hopefully they'll be luckier and not have as many little bodies stacking up in the garden :-(

Re: Hand reared kittens as adults

Kirsten Clements — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 09:45:42 GMT

Thank you for your message. My kitten also loves to lie on my neck and he also loves to get in my food practically! He was hand reared with his brother which I think helped a lot but his brother did pass away. He also has been raised with a cat who I rescued who did help with the mothering side although she is spayed. He's also been brought up with a whippet which has helped as they play together. It's his size that worries me more than behaviour.

Re: Hand reared kittens as adults

emmadilemma — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 09:44:07 GMT

I have a cat that i hand reared 14 years ago and he`s an angel He sucked the other cats ear tips for about a year or so but he grew out of it....

Re: Hand reared kittens as adults

Sal the 1st — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 09:32:17 GMT

my experience has been that single hand reared kittens can be quite clingy. The ones reared in groups tend to be a bit more independent. I have seen wool sucking in a few but then I have seen wool sucking in cats that have not been hand reared too. I came across one hand reared practice cat when I was locuming that was the most aggressive (ferals included) cat that I have ever met. My attitude to hand rearing has changed quite a lot over the years - these days I would rather concentrate my efforts on finding homes for cats already in rescue centres rather than contributing to increasing their numbers

Re: Hand reared kittens as adults

meep_ kitten — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 09:25:39 GMT

dont think kitten's personality or experiences when very young make much of a difference to how the adult cat turns out?? I have had a multitude of kittens pass through that I hand reared, and of the ones I kept (from different litters) one was a real nervous little boy when he first came, now he's a bonkers fella, full of beans (still hates being picked up) and is quite boistrous - full of character though. The other little girl I've had for 5 years, was sweet and affectionate as a kitten, now is completely aloof, keeps to herself, doesn't tolerate being petted....Also had a wild kitten I took in who is now a lovely friendly sedate adult cat - very maternal!! So kitten behaviour doesn't seem to relate to adult cat personality as far as my personal experiments/observations have revealed anyway!

Re: Hand reared kittens as adults

Nicola Russell — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 08:45:41 GMT

I helped hand rear a litter of 5 kittens from a couple of days old. They are now over a year old, and they are smaller than we expected. They are very affectionate, one I recently pet sat for suckles on clothes. Another (who is my favourite) was spoilt as a kitten, was picked up as soon as he cried and was snuggled under the chin. Now, as soon as you sit down, he lays around your neck (it is sweet, but you never get anything done). He is a very nervous cat, especially of new people, but once he knows you he is lovely, puts his paws round your neck and purrs for Britain. He has to be shut out when you eat as he is determined to steal it, and can be quite naughty.