Introducing Little Tyke: A Tribute to Einstein

[Ivan Seeking]

As some of you know, we lost our very special 17 year old cat, Einstein, about a month ago. And even though we still have two more cats and a stray that visits daily, Tsu came home with this the other night.

He is three weeks old. Einstein's nickname was Little Tyke, so we named this little one in his honor.

I was watching Tsu yesterday and clocked almost five whole minutes that she wasn't looking at the new kitty.

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/4986/tyke1wt8.jpg
http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/161/tyke2za2.jpg
http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/4022/tyke3ae4.jpg
http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/5973/tyke4af4.jpg
http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/1995/tyke6wp9.jpg

 

[Poop-Loops]

Zomg Cute Overload!

 

[Danger]

It's nice to know that he has a great new home.

 

[lisab]

So, so cute! He's adorable!

Congrats on your new little one! Just three weeks old...was he abandoned?

 

[Ivan Seeking]

...was he abandoned?

Well, apparently one of Tsu's coworkers has a dog that brings home the babies of stray cats. That's about all that I know about it.

 

[Astronuc]

Awww! What a cutie! Sweet!

 

[scorpa]

Oh my god that is so freaking cute! Adorable!

 

[hypatia]

That is so darned cute! {waves hi back to the little guy}

 

[Moonbear]

Oh, so adorably cute! And a little sad too how he arrived so young. But, at least he has good people to take care of him.

 

[Integral]

He's a real cutie alright, we were visting last night, had some of Ivan's awesome steaks and oohed and auude over the kitty. Indeed
Tsu was reluctant to let the little guy out of her sight.

 

[Evo]

Oh, how adorable! That's one lucky little kitten!

 

[turbo]

Wave "Hi" to the PF'ers!

 

[Evo]

How do you get those kitten bottles to work? No matter what size hole I punch, they never seem to be able to drink, so I end up feeding them with an eye dropper.

 

[Tsu]

Thanks everyone! I'm just completely in love with this Little Tyke.

Apparently my friends dog is the motherly type set herself up as the neighborhood Kitten Protective Services. She up and decided that the feral mother of these kittens was just NO GOOD, - no good AT ALL and SHE was stepping in. So she brought the kittens home at almost 2 weeks of age. Being the softie I am, and never having had a kitten so young, I thought I'd give it a go as 'Mama Cat'.

Now, I was a bit worried about what Ivan was going to say about it, but to his credit, he stepped up to the plate and offered to perform the 'Mama Cat' duties while I'm at work. It took him all of 2 seconds to fall for this little sweetie. Isn't he just the best? :!) And I thought I was the softie...

These aren't the best pictures in the world. They were taken so close up because he's so small and then there's the glare off of my pale lilac soft fuzzy bathrobe that Tyke is so fond of. He likes to climb into my pocket and 'hang' out with me while I do my housework.

As far as those bottles - Ivan cut a rather huge hole and I give the bottle a tiny but steady squeeze as he's feeding. Then I actually have to burp him! And THEN! - after he plays a little after eating, I get to "poop the kitten" which usually requires a minor butt bath when done.

We'll try to post pictures as he grows so you can watch his progress with us. My face already hurts from constantly smiling at him.

 

[Moonbear]

Apparently my friends dog is the motherly type set herself up as the neighborhood Kitten Protective Services. She up and decided that the feral mother of these kittens was just NO GOOD and SHE was stepping in.

and then there's the glare off of my pale lilac soft fuzzy bathrobe that Tyke is so fond of. He likes to climb into my pocket and 'hang' out with me while I do housework.

Awww... He probably thinks you're his mommy with all that fur. That's about the age Lucky was when we wound up with him when I was a teen. We used to give him a big stuffed toy cat to cuddle with when we weren't around to cuddle with him.

As far as those bottles - Ivan cut a rather huge hole and I give the bottle a tiny but steady squeeze as he's feeding. Then I actually have to burp him! And THEN! - after he plays a little after eating, I get to "poop the kitten".

Just wait until he surprises you one day by pooping by himself! What a mess! It's that stage between you doing it for him and him being old enough to use a litterbox that's the worst (I guess it's like toilet training kids when they still have accidents on the way to the potty).

 

[Tsu]

Just wait until he surprises you one day by pooping by himself! What a mess! It's that stage between you doing it for him and him being old enough to use a litterbox that's the worst (I guess it's like toilet training kids when they still have accidents on the way to the potty).

YIKES! No one told me about THAT one! Oh, joy. Hey, Auntie Moonbear! Wanna come visit and show us how to take care of that??

 

[Moonbear]

YIKES! No one told me about THAT one! Oh, joy. Hey, Auntie Moonbear! Wanna come visit and show us how to take care of that??

I'd suggest keeping him confined in a box or laundry basket or some such place and give him a very shallow pan (like the depth of a pie plate) for a litterbox so he can easily get in and out while getting the hang of the idea. It's really that they start being able to poop on their own before being on solid food, so as you know, what comes out on a milk diet is rather gooey, and until he's on solid food, it'll keep being that way.

 

[Kurdt]

Aww! Reminds me of my Rosie except she hasn't got the stripes.

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/8623/kittyvv6.jpg

 

[Tsu]

Thanks for the tip, Auntie Moonbear. At what age can I expect this fun to begin?

Aww, Krudt! What a SWEET and pretty kitty Rosie is! How old is she? Aren't kitties fun? Puppies, too. Hmmm... Maybe I'll bring home a puppy next...

 

[turbo]

Tsu, what breed is the puppy in your avatar?

 

[Kurdt]

Aww, Krudt! What a SWEET and pretty kitty Rosie is! How old is she? Aren't kitties fun? Puppies, too. Hmmm... Maybe I'll bring home a puppy next...

She was stray so we don't know for sure but we think she's about 10 years old now.

 

[Moonbear]

Thanks for the tip, Auntie Moonbear. At what age can I expect this fun to begin?

I don't remember what age...sorry. I just remember the messes. Well, by 6 or 7 weeks, they're fully capable of using a litter box and weaned for adoption even when they're still with their mom, so if he's going to go through that stage, it shouldn't be too far away (and won't last that long either).

 

[Tsu]

turbo - I don't know what breed it is. It may be a Samoyed or a Malamute. I'll bet Moonbear knows. It's one of those pictures that went around in emails years ago and I thought it was the cutest thing I'd seen in ages. That look on it's face reminded me of myself during a hot flash, so I chose him as my avatar. (I couldn't find a picture of a Pit Bull with lipstick).

edit: I just googled myself and it appears that I am a Malamute.

Kurdt - WOW! 10! Excellent!

MB - oh joy. What do you mean IF he's going to go through that stage? Do I have a choice here? Anything else to look forward to?

 

[Moonbear]

MB - oh joy. What do you mean IF he's going to go through that stage? Do I have a choice here? Anything else to look forward to?

Well, I only have experience raising one from that young of an age, so maybe I had a weirdo and yours won't go through that stage. Just trying to stay positive. Evo has bottle raised a few, maybe she knows if this is a common thing or just that I had a wacky kitten (I do have a knack for attracting the wacky cats...just ask Ember).

 

[turbo]

Moonie, Tsu's avatar is a really cute dog. My wife and I want another pet, and that little rascal looks like a hand-ful. Do you know what kind of dog that is? We have a very small house so a Yorkie or a Westie might be a good choice, but that little rascal is TOO cute.

 

[Tsu]

Well, I only have experience raising one from that young of an age, so maybe I had a weirdo and yours won't go through that stage. Just trying to stay positive. Evo has bottle raised a few, maybe she knows if this is a common thing or just that I had a wacky kitten (I do have a knack for attracting the wacky cats...just ask Ember).

Yes, we've heard about your attraction of the wacky.

Auntie Evo? Your experiences?

Also... Do bottle fed kittens experience personality problems? I had a vet tech. tell me that once, but I think SHE was the one with the possible personality problem...

 

[Tsu]

turbo - I think I'm a Malamute. http://www.google.com/search?q=malamute+puppies&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&ie=utf8&oe=utf8

 

[Kurdt]

Get a Chihuahua and a Dobe turbo

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=8CW3p97HoHw

 

[Moonbear]

I don't know breeds of puppies any better than the next person. Though, I wouldn't have guess malamute. I'd have guessed shih tzu. If you scroll down this page at some of their puppy pictures (the ones where they haven't pulled their fur up in barrettes), the puppies look more like Tsu's avatar than the malamute puppy pictures I've been finding (the nose looks too pushed into be malamute...but it could just be the resolution).

http://www.rockingkshihtzu.com/

 

[Moonbear]

Also... Do bottle fed kittens experience personality problems? I had a vet tech. tell me that once, but I think SHE was the one with the possible personality problem...

They can, but I don't think any different than kittens that are just weaned too young. Things like excessive kneading, chewing on their tails (one of my friends had a kitten weaned too young and named him Tails because he would constantly suck on his tail, like a baby sucks on their thumb). Some might not know when to stop biting, but you have other cats around to help show him proper cats are supposed to act (by biting back when he acts up if necessary...usually that's the job of littermates). Lucky, the one I bottle-raised, was somewhat of a loner as an adult, but LOVED baths (he got a LOT of them when he started pooping on his own...and on himself)...he'd jump in the bathtub with my stepsister (she's the one who ultimately adopted him for a permanent home).

 

[turbo]

I was guessing a shih tzu-chihuaua cross or something like that. Cute, short-haired, with an alert but friendly temperament and a bit of "sass".

 

[Tsu]

Good point, Moonbear. See? What do I know? Now a shih tzu is a much smaller dog than a malamute, so that is a consideration - especially if you're looking for a lap dog. For THAT, may I suggest a 3 week old kitten? Also something to consider: I don't know about others, but my friends shih tzu was about the DUMBEST dog I've ever seen. Truly. Brain free. Anyone out there with a smart shih tzu? I'd love to know that aren't all that dumb!

 

[Math Is Hard]

I looooooove little marmalade stripey kitties! Way cool!

 

[turbo]

Good point, Moonbear. See? What do I know? Now a shih tzu is a much smaller dog than a malamute, so that is a consideration - especially if you're looking for a lap dog. For THAT, may I suggest a 3 week old kitten? Also something to consider: I don't know about others, but my friends shih tzu was about the DUMBEST dog I've ever seen. Truly. Brain free. Anyone out there with a smart shih tzu? I'd love to know that aren't all that dumb!

My second cousin and her husband had a shih tzu with at least a half a brain. He had a spectacular under-bite and a tendency to race around looking for imaginary things that people would "throw" for him to entertain themselves, but he was a sweet little guy.

 

[Tsu]

Thanks MIH. He sure is a sweet little thing. I just love him to bits! He rolls onto his back on my lap after eating and waves his little arms and legs all around and bites himself. (Not too smart - might be part shih tzu).

 

[Tsu]

My second cousin and her husband had a shih tzu with at least a half a brain. He had a spectacular under-bite and a tendency to race around looking for imaginary things that people would "throw" for him to entertain themselves, but he was a sweet little guy.

Yeah, that was kinda of what Judy's shih tzu did! Also, he would go to the door to go outside to pee but he would POOP in the house! I'm not sure they EVER got him trained. He was still doing that when he was 2 years old! I'm talkin' DUMB as a BRICK!

 

[lisab]

Awwww, so cute!

In addtion to "pooping" him, you'll need to bath him. Not in a tub, but like his mom would. Take a damp cloth and wipe him down, using short strokes like a mom-cat would lick. The cloth doesn't have to be wet, just moist. You'll be amazed at how much debris you'll wipe off of a cat that seems clean.

I do this to my (adult) kitty all the time - she loves her baths! Especially when we do it in the sun.

I can't wait to see pictures of him as he grows!

 

[GeorginaS]

Oh wow is he ever cute, Tsu and Ivan. :!) Congratulations to all of you. (Your avatar, by the way, Tsu, appears to me to either be a Shih tzu or a Lhasa apso puppy. One that's had a haircut around his/her face.)

I've never tried being a momma cat to a wee, wee baby kitty before, but I've watched a real momma cat do her thing, and she had the little ones in the litter box within a couple of weeks. We didn't realize they'd use it so soon, and the walls were too high for them to scale comfortably, so they' hang off of the side and then fall in face-first. They did it by imitation so Moonbie's pie plate (something with low sides) with cat litter in it sounds like a great idea. Put him in after he's eaten (or when you'd normally "poop" him) and show him, using you hands, how to scratch around in the litter. They generally catch on pretty quickly, even though you'll have to keep tidying him up afterwards. (The momma cat did.)

lisab's suggestion to bathe him with a warm, damp cloth is an excellent idea too.

Can you quickly learn how to purr, Tsu? I've heard that kittens love that.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Can you quickly learn how to purr, Tsu? I've heard that kittens love that.

We are both fluent in feline.

Little Tyke already purrs up a storm when I talk to him. He likes to sit with his face about four inches from mine, and listen, then he peeps and purrs and reaches out to grab my lip, which isn't always pleasant!

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Whoops, Little Tyke is a girl.

 

[Evo]

They did it by imitation so Moonbie's pie plate (something with low sides) with cat litter in it sounds like a great idea. Put him in after he's eaten (or when you'd normally "poop" him) and show him, using you hands, how to scratch around in the litter. They generally catch on pretty quickly, even though you'll have to keep tidying him up afterwards. (The momma cat did.)

I always place the kitten in the litter box, take one of its paws and gently "paw" the litter so that they feel it move. That seems to be all it takes to get them going.

 

[lisab]

Whoops, Little Tyke is a girl.

Dang fur!

...seriously, though, I thought nearly all orange cats were male. Guess not!

How's she doing?

 

[hypatia]

awww little Tykette!

 

[Evo]

Also... Do bottle fed kittens experience personality problems? I had a vet tech. tell me that once, but I think SHE was the one with the possible personality problem...

No, they don't have any issues. The only problem is how often a kitten has to eat, I was lucky to be working at home. And it wasn't just one, one mother was killed by a dog and I had three 2 week old kittens, not too bad until they started moving around. I had to take them one at a time into another room to feed them or they would all go berserk when I brought out the formula.

The main problem with little kittens and cat litter is that they tend to inhale the litter and start choking. Or maybe I just had weird kittens. I had to watch them carefully.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

How's she doing?

On a scale of 1-10, where 10 is sooooo cute that you can't stand it...

Guess.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

I swear, it is as if one can somehow sense the sex of a cat. In spite of the fact that she is orange, and even though the parts looked male to those who have checked, Tsu and I have had the hardest time calling her, him. There was a definite inclination to refer to her in the feminine. We talked about and assumed that this time we would be wrong. This has happened before.

We were hoping for a male as we have two poorly socialized females already.

 

[Evo]

On a scale of 1-10, where 10 is sooooo cute that you can't stand it...

Guess.

Just wait until she goes into the "anti-gravity" stage where she walks around with her claws out all of the time to make sure she doesn't float into space. This is when you need the kevlar armor.

I'd be standing in front of the stove, cooking, when an airborne kitten would suddenly become attached to the back of my thigh.

 

[Moonbear]

Whoops, Little Tyke is a girl.

I swear, it is as if one can somehow sense the sex of a cat. In spite of the fact that she is orange, and even though the parts looked male to those who have checked, Tsu and I have had the hardest time calling her, him. There was a definite inclination to refer to her in the feminine. We talked about and assumed that this time we would be wrong. This has happened before.

We were hoping for a male as we have two poorly socialized females already.

One of the women who works at our farm insists you can tell by their faces. She's actually pretty good at telling the sex of kittens before peeking between the legs, so there might be something to that.

Good thing "Little Tyke" is a gender neutral name.

 

[GeorginaS]

My friend's son had that problem with his cat Stella. The people C got the cat from said the cat was a she. Stella is a he and permanently stuck with his name.

Little Tyke does look like a she, though. Moon bear is right -- just look at her face.

 

[Tsu]

She does seem to have a cute little feminine looking face, doesn't she. Actually, Ivan called it first. He kept calling her she while I was stuck on the he. I was just hoping for another boy like our sweet Einstein. It doesn't really matter, tho. We love her to bits already. This is her routine:
- wakes up instantly to the sound of my voice. meows incessantly.
- eats voraciously
- burps LOUDLY into my ear
- rolls over onto back to play, waving arms and legs in air, mewing and chomping on my fingers
- eats a little more
- gets taken to the cat box; if she doesn't produce, she gets a PTKJ ('poop the kitten job')
- she's had some loose stool lately (Vet says its probably the milk replacement formula), so usually gets a butt bath after the PTKJ. Then I wet down a wash cloth and give the baby her bath. She loves this!
- after her bath, she snuggles into my neck under my hair and goes to sleep. SHE'S SOOOOOOO CUUUUUUTE!

I've had so much fun doing this, I think I'm just going to get kitten after kitten and do it ALL of the time! (Ivan, honey. Relax. I'm just kidding! OK? )