So if you've joined us on this
Facebook live, welcome to Ki
This is the first one of our
summer 2022 KittenCam programme
that we're going to be doing.
We are hoping to do some live
streams weekly for you Um
giving you the lowdown on all
things kitten from Kitten
Socialisation which is what
we're currently here doing and
what we'll be doing week on
week to kit and care and what
to do if you've got a pregnant
cat. Um and basically asking
you guys to send in your
questions so that we can answer
any questions that you might
have that's kitten related. So
we're here today with Mia and
her gorgeous litter of three
kittens who are only we've got
Max, we've got Munchie, and
we've got Merlin. As you can
see, they're all enjoying a
marvelous siesta at the moment.
Um snuggling into mum. They've
just had just had a nice feed
from mum. and now they're
having a nice snooze. So what
we'll be doing each week is as
we said focusing on kittens and
socialisation Um which is
really really key in the first
eight weeks of their life. Um
it's essentially to get them
used to human interaction. Um
so that they can learn to
trust. Um humans, be around
them. And also so they can get
used to things like having
their vet checks. So we've got
Helen here who's going to tell
us a little bit about what she
does in the socialisation
volunteer. Um and what it
involves So yes it's really
important to start human
interaction quite you know as
soon as possible. Obviously at
the moment these three they're
only a week old or just over a
week. So at the moment it's
basically a lot of time with
mum Not much handling. Er
depending on what mum allows as
well. Um and yeah so in the
following weeks to come we will
then start to properly handle
the kittens and the purpose of
that is to get them used to
being handled but also being
used to get getting them used
to being handled for vet
appointments where the vets
will be checking you know their
nose, their eyes, their ears,
their paws. So we we do that
with them. We check everything
and just get them used to that
sort of handling. And then as
they get a bit older, we then
and and they're ready to to
start playing. We then start
playing with them with with
toys and introducing them to to
lots of different kinds of toys
and getting them used to that
rather than playing with them
with our fingers and our feet
because that's really important
that they don't play with our
fingers and feet because you
know as they get older and
bigger it hurts. It hurts a lot
more. So yeah it's really
important that I think I just
woke up mum. Um sorry mum. Um
yeah so it's really important
to get them used to playing
with toys early on. But also us
as you know being around us and
just getting lots of love from
us as well. So getting strokes
and tickles and things. So that
they've you know they get you
that kind of interaction with
with us with humans.
So we will be following
probably not just this litter,
not just Mia and her kittens,
but we've got quite a few
kittens here at the moment, and
across the UK in our centres
and branches. Um, as we said,
kitten season gets quite busy
for us. Um, and it's very full
on. Um, you know, helping mum,
raise her kittens, feeding
extra miles, mum's got being
really tip top shape. Um, to
help you know she's in in her
pen twenty-four seven. Er so
she's, yeah, we, we have
special diets for the kittens,
special diet for mum. Um, she
gets lots of vet checkups,
which is great, and as Helen
said that, mum will be with
kittens, right up until they
sort of finish nursing from her
at the moment. She's helping
them with everything from
toilet grooming and teaching
them even to eat. Um so yeah
and then kittens will be
rehomed from cats protection at
around eight weeks old and
before that happens they will
be neutered. They'll have their
flea and worm vaccinations. Um
they'll be microchipped. Which
is really important because we
know cats like to roam. If
you've got an outdoor cat it's
really important to like chip
your cat even if they're an
indoor cat actually because if
they escape. It's very useful
if they get lost. Um so all
those things are done at Catch
Protection and we recommend
that you know if you do a
pregnant cat or if you've had a
litter of kittens recently in
your home these are all really
key things that you need to
consider as well. So flu
vaccinations and and wearing
tablets and you know, having
all their their key
vaccinations. Um there's a
reason that we you can't see on
the camera at the moment
because you've got a lovely
close up of the kittens. But
there there's a reason why our
socialisers wear sort of gloves
and and aprons and things on my
handling very young kittens and
that's for infection reason So
obviously they haven't had any
vaccinations yet. It happens in
a couple of weeks. Um and
before then you know it's very
easy when you've got staff and
volunteers coming into to feed
them and clean out the pens and
be with mum and you know change
litter trays and things that we
could be introducing germs to
the area and also taking germs
away with us. So you'll see in
future streams when everyone's
wearing protective gear that's
part of the reason. Um to keep
the kittens and all the other
safe as well. Um yeah so they
get lots of individual
treatment and extra special
care. Every penny helps. We're
looking after these guys. Mum
looks very chilled there which
is good. Yeah that's really
important. She's chilled yeah.
Yeah so at this stage as Helen
said it's more about mum than
interacting with kittens isn't
it? Because you know when
kittens are first born unless
there's a real issue we would
actually leave mum to it as it
were for the first few days.
You don't want to kind of get
in there and start you know
messing around with her newborn
kittens. You want to give them
the time to bond and her the
time to learn to become a mum
and nurse them and things. But
from a few days I think these
guys were handled for the first
time only a few days ago
anyway. So mum's actually been
out a few minutes ago and had a
little fuss with Helen. Um and
now she's climbed back in and
obviously providing a very nice
bed for her kittens. Yeah.
She's being a great mum. She's
being a great mum. And it's
really important that we take
into consideration mum above
all else because if mum's
anxious or nervous that can
easily be passed onto the
kittens as well. Um and we want
you know we want the kittens to
be super relaxed. Um and that's
part of socialisation as well.
have you got any questions for
anyone
Not just loads of people saying
that they someone's asked.
That's an interesting one. We
don't actually know. Um she
came in. Mum came in to us from
a house where they were moving
house. And the new house was
not suitable for her but she
came in when she was already
pregnant. So we have no idea
who Dad was. And I'm not sure
that the the owners would have
either. She obviously wasn't
muted. So that's another thing
to mention. Um is that mum will
also be microchipped. Um if she
wasn't already and she will be
vaccinated. Um neutered before
she goes home. Um because
neuterings are really important
part in making sure that the
the number of unwanted cats in
the UK starts to reduce. Um
Because there's an awful lot of
unneuted cats having kittens
and we do sadly get quite a lot
of abandoned kittens into our
centres and branches. So new
things really really key. Um
And if you have had kittens,
it's important to know that
they can reproduce from about
four months of age. It's
seriously that young. Um so, we
at Catch Protection advocate
neutering from four months of
age but equally, it's important
to know that if you've had a
litter of kittens and there's
males and females in there,
they don't care that they're
brothers and sisters. They will
do the need. So, and and mum
here actually is only one year
old herself. So I mean she's
pretty much a baby a baby
herself. I think this is her
first litter. We haven't been
told that she's had previous
litter but sadly we do see that
sometimes. Um young cats having
litter s in quick succession.
Um which I mean it's it's
actually quite stressful for
for young cats to have to look
after kittens. And there's a
number of health benefits. Um
related to neutering and
there's loads more about that
on our website as well. So
we'll post some links in the
comments Um if people are
interested in finding out more
about neutering or about
rearing kittens or about
getting a kitten and the things
to look for will link our
kitten checklist as well.
Gorgeous. Okay, well, I think
we're going to leave mum and
kittens to have a little
snooze. For the rest of the
afternoon. Um and we will be
back again next week. Possibly
with Mia and her kittens.
Possibly with another litter.
Um but either way you'll get to
see them as they grow. Um over
the next six to eight weeks or
so. Um and we'll try and keep
you updated as well with how
their rehoming process goes. Um
but thanks for joining us
today. Thanks for any donations
we receive as well because
they're all really gratefully
received and go the the health
and happiness of cats and
kittens like Mia and her
litter. So thanks guys.