kittensFTW

07/12/2023

There's a real dog heavy contest going on at

Sunflower is a former colony cat, found as a 4 week old runt, when her mom brought her to a local nursery owner and then disappeared. She wasn't supposed to find her forever home so quickly, but she settled in with the resident toddler and, honestly, could never have belonged anywhere else.

She spends her days socializing foster kittens and bullying foster dogs.



Vote for me https://goodcharlie.me/billboardcontest

07/12/2023

There's a real dog heavy contest going on at

Sunflower is a former colony cat, found as a 4 week old, when her mom brought her to a local nursery owner and then disappeared. She wasn't supposed to find her forever home so quickly, but she settled in with the resident toddler and, honestly, could never have belonged anywhere else.

She spends her days socializing foster kittens and bullying foster dogs.



Vote for me https://goodcharlie.me/billboardcontest

07/02/2023

Steve on his first roadtrip

06/22/2023

Long day, but a good day

DFW Orphan Kitten Hub

https://venmo.com/u/Weston-Hogan

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/kittensftw

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2VK047SXWSH94?ref_=wl_share

https://m.facebook.com/groups/528184189015245/permalink/787522503081411/?ref=share&mibextid=DcJ9fc

05/30/2023

05/14/2023

Fading kitten protocol

05/12/2023

🥳

05/02/2023

Last week I shared about a sick little kitten named Von Dutch. I didn’t share more about him because my optimism regarding his case was fading, and I didn’t want to burden everyone with an uncertain and sad story. But I do want to update you and let you know that unfortunately after 7 challenging days of supportive care, he was not responsive to treatment and continued to worsen, and it was kindest to humanely let him go.

These decisions are never easy, but I take comfort in knowing that he was given the best chance possible, and that he will leave behind a real legacy through his contribution to research.

As you may know, my nonprofit Orphan Kitten Club has an ethical research program, and this year we are kicking off a multi-year Failure to Thrive study in partnership with UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Kittens entered into this study are neonates who have received at least 72 hours of proper husbandry and supportive care, but who have still passed naturally or required humane euthanasia. Through necropsy & histopathology, this study examines the (many) root causes of failure to thrive, and will report on trends and findings.

Von Dutch’s remains are entered in this study and have been examined. While some symptoms of disease were evident prior to his passing (severe upper respiratory infection and inflammation, ulceration of the tongue likely due to calicivirus, secondary bacterial pneumonia), his preliminary report also shows thymus atrophy & middle ear infection. We will learn more soon.

Von Dutch was a sweet kitten who loved to be pet. He is survived by his mama Kitson and his two siblings, one of whom has some similar symptoms but is stable. We will remember him as we care for them, and honor his memory through research.

People commonly say that some kittens “have fading kitten syndrome” and “just pass.” This isn’t true. Every kitten who isn’t thriving is sick for a reason. We can discover those trends through scientific inquiry and hopefully, someday, improve outcomes for kittens through what we learn. I’m proud that our organization can spearhead the quest for pediatric knowledge & I am grateful to our donors who make that possible.

You can honor Von Dutch through a charitable contribution at this link:

orphankittenclub.org/donate ❤️

04/29/2023

In theory... it should always be so simple... make sure the cat is hungry by holding back the prior meal... set a trap with yummy food... 10 minutes later the cat is securely in the trap and covered. Easy-peasy. Right????

04/28/2023

Support TNR (Trap/Neuter/Return) and save the lives of homeless cats in Carrollton, TX

04/26/2023

It's ! When bottle-feeding kittens, it's absolutely crucial to position them correctly. Picture how kittens nurse on their mom: lying on their bellies, paws resting against Mom's body, heads facing forward. NEVER feed a kitten on his back, NEVER hold a kitten in the air while feeding, and NEVER tip a kitten's head back while feeding. Any of these "don'ts" can cause aspiration — inhaling formula into the lungs — which can quickly kill a kitten. Instead, imitate Mom by giving the kitten a level surface to lie on, belly-down, paws resting on your hand, with the bottle at a level where he can suckle without tilting his head back.

04/16/2023

📢 Let's talk about bottle-feeding and bottle-feeders. 🍼

It's very common for us to be contacted by well-meaning good Samaritans who ask whether we can take any number of newborn kittens without the mother. Our answer (in much more diplomatic terms): NO, NO, NO! Don't do that! 😳

The ABSOLUTE BEST source of nourishment and care for a kitten is its mother. There is no better food source than mother's milk and no better source of care. Did you know that a momma cat licks each kitten's ge****ls to encourage it to eliminate since kittens do not p*e or poo on their own until they are approximately 3-4 weeks old? Or that mom's pheromones play an essential part in the mother-kitten bond and encourage suckling? IF MOMMA CAT IS AROUND, KEEP THE KITTENS WITH MOM!

People who bottle-feed kittens are rare and extremely valuable. They literally care for kittens around the clock, sometimes tending to the same kitten every hour. Depending on the age of the kitten, a bottle-feeder could spend a half hour or more with each kitten. Multiply that by a litter of 4 and you've now taken two hours of that bottle-feeder's time -- and then it's time for them to start again. For this reason, most bottle-feeders will not take on more than 6 neonates at a time. Sick kittens can present additional demands upon the bottle-feeder and require even more specialized care. Many neonates do not survive. We can't say it often enough: IF MOM IS AROUND, LEAVE THE KITTENS WITH MOM.

We prefer to save our bottle-feeding volunteers for orphaned, discarded or single kittens without a mom. These are the kittens that absolutely need to go to a bottle-feeder; these are the ones who desperately need a surrogate. If you fill the bottle-feeder's home and time with kittens who you know have a mom, these orphans will have nowhere to go and will die. Please don't do that to them.

PLEASE, use your/our resources wisely: DO NOT SEPARATE MOM FROM HER KITTENS!

📷 courtesy GypsyKitties

04/14/2023

Here's a brilliant idea for trying to determine whether kittens are abandoned or whether momma is tending to them. (Usually, mom is nearby, but this is a great way to be sure.)

Simply place a ring of flour around the kittens. Perhaps use a bucket as a template and lightly flour around the rim. We would sprinkle a bit lighter than in the photo below so as not to panic the mother. If you return and see paw prints, you'll know mom was there.

As a reminder, try not to disturb the nest and keep a distance. If momma cat thinks you've found her babies, she'll move them.

04/10/2023

A cat named Arthur waited for a home for seven long months. The poor guy was found with a broken leg by Perry's Place, the "Heaven on Earth," rescue in North Hollywood. Arthur was "dumped at a vet clinic to be euthanized," but now, he's living large! "POV: you are

04/07/2023

01/14/2023

This Sunday is the first FREE Feral Cat Sunday clinic at Arlington Animal Services for 2023!

Any Arlington community and/or feral cats may participate!
The first 20 feral Arlington cats brought to Arlington Animal Services Center (1000 SE Green Oaks Blvd.) prior to 8am will receive a free spay or neuter treatment. The cats will need to be picked up same day, times will vary based on the clinic’s schedule.

Kittens must be at least three months old, and all cats must be IN A TRAP to be eligible for the free clinic. All Arlington residents are welcome to participate.

01/04/2023