# MAYDAY - newborn kitten won't/can't nurse \[Update: sad outcome\] **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 14, 2012, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447 "2012-08-14T07:19:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/21 "2012-08-14T15:38:22Z")
Goodnight, little Spoon. Mama cat and her kittens were lucky to find a human who can do right by them, even when it’s hard. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/22 "2012-08-14T16:08:06Z")
> [@PandaBear77](#): > > My mascara seems to be making my eyes water … Yeah, my allergies seem to be kicking in. Thanks for doing the right thing, OP. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/23 "2012-08-14T16:49:00Z")
Aww, little Spoon. ☹ You’ve done lots of good things here…you gave homeless Mama Cat and her kittens a safe place to live, and you kept a helpless creature from suffering needlessly. ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/24 "2012-08-14T16:50:05Z")
Stupid dusty room. _sniffle_ You’re good people, **freek**. Spoon was born nice and warm and loved, and got to go out peacefully instead of struggling and hurting. Good for you. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/25 "2012-08-14T17:26:30Z")
You did the right thing. Poor little guy. ---
**Author:** ![starwarsfreek42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@starwarsfreek42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/starwarsfreek42)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/26 "2012-08-14T18:46:58Z")
At least the poor critter didn’t have to starve to death or suffocate slowly. He was so wheezy that I thought he wouldn’t live long after he was born anyway. Otherwise, though, he was wiggly and lively like a baby kitty. What a shame. The good news is, the other six (!!) appear to be healthy and squirmy like perfectly normal kittens. They all have eyes and noses, although four do not have tails. There’s a tailless grey cat that hangs around here, the neighbors call it Bunny Cat because it hops when it walks. I suppose it must be their father. [Here is a pic.](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8296/7782976712_f04389dc3d_b.jpg) I’m not sure what’s going on with the focus on my camera, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. Anybody need a kitten? Free to good homes! ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/27 "2012-08-14T20:30:06Z")
Betcha Daddy is a Manx - they have big, rounded rumps that make them look, indeed, like rabbits or raccoons. Holy cow, that’s a big ol’ pile of cute right there! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![D-bear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@D-bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D-bear)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/28 "2012-08-14T21:57:09Z")
Where are you located? We have been baby shopping. When they’re weaned, I’d give one a home! (Provided you’re in Colorado.) ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/29 "2012-08-14T22:16:13Z")
Bobtail kitties are adorable! Keep us posted as they grow up! ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/30 "2012-08-14T22:33:06Z")
Aww, poor Spoon. ☹ Thank you, **freek** , for doing the right thing for him. The rest of the kitties are cuties. One small bit of advice, and I’m sorry to bring this up and hope it won’t be an issue, of course, but I remember reading that no tail on a kitten can sometimes indicate that they’re going to have problems with their little insides, because their spines don’t form properly. This can result in digestive difficulties and the inability to poop properly and can sometimes sadly lead to the kitty needing to be euthanized. I almost hate to mention this in light of the loss of Spoon :(, since of course it doesn’t occur in all tailless cats–just something to keep an eye out for, to make sure everybody’s pooping as they should. Keeping good thoughts for all of them, and can’t wait to see more pics as they grow up! ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/31 "2012-08-14T22:56:30Z")
a tough night and morning for you and wee spoon. it is good spoon had loving hands and a nice name, to move on with. will you name the others after utensils as well? that is one furry, happy, pile of kittens. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/32 "2012-08-14T23:25:55Z")
OMG, like: Masher, Soup, Tong, Chops, Butter, Flipper, like that? Cute! ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/33 "2012-08-14T23:32:06Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > OMG, like: Masher, Soup, Tong, Chops, Butter, Flipper, like that? Cute! Reminds me of one of my favorite children’s series, the Mrs. Coverlet books. One of the kids got a mama cat and five kittens, and he named the kittens things like George Soup and Sally Egg. I can’t remember the rest of the names, but they were all cute. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sarabellum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarabellum/32/3492_2.png) [@Sarabellum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarabellum)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/34 "2012-08-14T23:45:58Z")
I love the utensil-themed name idea! Spatula, Tongs, maybe a wee pair that look like twins could be “Cookie” and “Cutter”? ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/35 "2012-08-15T00:15:42Z")
be sure to watch for the smartest kitten, that one will have to be knife! pronounced k niff y. 'cause it is cute. ---
**Author:** ![starwarsfreek42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@starwarsfreek42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/starwarsfreek42)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/36 "2012-08-15T04:42:00Z")
I do recall reading somewhere that bobtail kitties sometimes had other problems. I’m going to go ahead and call my own vet in the morning and get an appointment so they can be looked over by a pro and have mom checked for worms. I suppose I had better continue with the utensil theme. Spoon is already taken, but there’s also Fork, Spork, Knife, Tong, Spatula, Ladle, Lemon Wedger, Nutcracker… tons of options, really. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/37 "2012-08-15T05:13:47Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > it is good spoon had … a nice name, to move on with. I fully agree! 🙂 I hope the other kittens, no matter what their names turn out to be, have good, long, healthy lives. And my cats will get extra treats and skritches tonight, in honor of little Spoon. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/38 "2012-08-15T05:53:26Z")
I like Butter a lot! Because [Buttered cat paradox - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buttered_cat_paradox). ---
**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/39 "2012-08-15T07:16:17Z")
> [@starwarsfreek42](#): > > I do recall reading somewhere that bobtail kitties sometimes had other problems. I’m going to go ahead and call my own vet in the morning and get an appointment so they can be looked over by a pro and have mom checked for worms. > > I suppose I had better continue with the utensil theme. Spoon is already taken, but there’s also Fork, Spork, Knife, Tong, Spatula, Ladle, Lemon Wedger, Nutcracker… tons of options, really. Spork! ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/40 "2012-08-15T07:57:11Z")
Yeah, that was a no-hoper. It happens. An organism that can survive the fetal stage but never formed properly for the next stage. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447.md?page=3)