ELENORE
KITTENS GROWING
MISS HISSY, MAMA CATWe have all enjoyed the kittens in the nest box. Now I have a dilemma. One of my hens, Elenore the silky mix, has adopted the kittens and is very possessive. Miss Hissy, the mama cat, doesn't seem to mind this babysitter but my fear is who will nurse the kittens. I removed Elenore from the nest but she had a huge fit and fought her way back. Surely Miss Hissy will get her out when it is necessary. Has anyone in the country with cats and chickens ever had this situation before? Is there a problem of the kittens starving? In case I am the first to encounter such a problem, I will keep you posted as things progress.
UPDATE: Of course you all were right. Last night at closing time Elenore was back on the roost and Miss Hissy was back with her babies. With all this mothering I'm sure this batch of kittens will be very spoiled.
I'd be more afraid that the mama cat might eat one of the eggs and then the grown chicken will attack the cat and, oy.... too much imagination running wild here.
ReplyDeleteI'd worry about the kittens. But what to do ? Besides you feeding them through a medicine dropper ? I don't know.
I do not have a clue, but like you there is bonding going on. If they are nursing now, I am guessing it will continue.
ReplyDeleteMamaCat's face tells me to back off from this situation.
ReplyDeleteShe won't let them starve. She may be feeding them when the chicken isn't around, they'll let you know if they're hungry. We had a garage cat (no barns in the city) when I was a kid and the dog adopted the kittens. Mama cat loved not having to be with them constantly and would feed them when the dog was absent.
ReplyDeleteYou'll know if the kittens are ailing - they're NOISY!
Good luck with your growing zoo!!
Wow! They'll nurse - they just have two mommies now :)
ReplyDeleteIf there is a problem, you can always get kitten formula from the vet.
I've heard of other species adopting babies before, but never chickens and cats. That is funny. I haven't a clue what to do, but keep us posted.
ReplyDeleteOh! Annie, I am a girl who grew up on the mean streets of the city.
ReplyDeleteI have absolutely no idea what you should do but I agree with Bonnie; Miss Hissy is telling you that she has it under control...
I'll check back tomorrow.....
I don't think you have anything to worry about. The kittens will meow when they are hungry and momma will feed them. I'm sure she does when the hen is away. But keep us posted.
ReplyDeleteI am clueless on this one!
ReplyDeleteHow sweet, it's lovely to see animals get on together.
ReplyDeleteYvonne
UPDATE: Of course you all were right. Last night at closing time Elenore was back on the roost and Miss Hissy was back with her babies. With all this mothering I'm sure this batch of kittens will be very spoiled.
ReplyDeleteOh my! That is just the cutest thing I've ever seen!
ReplyDeleteIt's cute but I'm sure that is quite a dilema. Judging from the mama cats I've known. She'll be back in charge soon enough.
ReplyDeleteAdorable! We had barn cats when we were in the business of raising quarter-horses. We had a nice calico mama and her kittens tended to be ferrel. One from a little stayed up in the loft and would never come down except to crab when the automatic feeder was empty. Some stray cat must have visited the barn one night and both Mrs. Beasley and Spook had kittens at the same time. We gathered them up and put them on some horse blankets in a big barrel. Both mothers nursed indiscriminately and the babies couldn't have cared less who belonged to whom.
ReplyDelete