# 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:** 3
**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, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/41 "2012-08-15T23:00:01Z")
i love spork! i forget about that utensil sometimes, it is a good one. egg beater might be a bit interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/42 "2012-08-16T01:16:18Z")
Whisk. Colander. Double Boiler. Ramekin. Skewer. ---
**Author:** ![kjbrasda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/74df32/32.png) [@kjbrasda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kjbrasda)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/43 "2012-08-16T04:37:00Z")
/hijack > [@starwarsfreek42](#): > > I’m not sure what’s going on with the focus on my camera, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. I get that sometimes when there’s dust or a fingerprint on the lens. Try cleaning the lens. I use a microfiber eyeglass cloth. ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/44 "2012-08-16T09:02:39Z")
I’m gonna buck the trend here after a moment of silence for Spoon. [moment of silence] Bill! One of the kitties should be Bill. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/45 "2012-08-16T12:41:39Z")
…and this is my cat, Garlic Press. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Springtime_for_Spacers)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/46 "2012-08-16T23:22:44Z")
I had a Manx kitten, Tavy, and he had quite a few problems. I got him from a shelter and wasn’t prepared for what I found as I had previously had a fit and healthy Manx. Tavy was a little darling however and a very happy cat. The most noticeable thing was his digestive issues, he had persistant diarhoea and, as it turned out could only tolerate white fish cooked with rice (even chicken gave him the runs). After he was around a year old I found a brand of biscuits he could tolerate. His other issues were more subtle, he had trouble with jumping, although this improved a bit with age but more significantly, while playful and alert and by no means stupid he was, nonetheless, a bit off. He wasn’t as fast as a normal kitten, nor as persistantly playful, although not taken from his mum too early he took to suckling on a blanket. All in all, while there was no doubt he had a good quality of life he had issues that as a potential owner I wish I’d been informed of. [Here’](http://sydney.edu.au/vetscience/lida/cats/search/disorder/977/Taillessness)s a good summary of the issues Manxes can have. > [@](#): > > Taillessness refers to the absence of a tail. Taillessness occurs to various degrees producing four types of appearances: > > 1. ‘Rumpy’ - lack of tailbones > 2. ‘Rumpy riser’ - several fused, immobile tailbones > 3. ‘Stumpy’ - longer, mobile but abnormally shaped tail > 4. ‘Longie’ - near normal but still shortened tail. > > The shortened spine in ‘rumpy’ cats results in malformation of the lower spinal cord. A depression can be felt at the end of the spine where the tailbones are absent. Consequently nerve supply to the lower back region of the cat is inadequate. This causes abnormal hindlimb movements when walking (hopping, incoordination, walking on hocks), rectal prolapse, tail paralysis, urinary incontinence and constipation. Other physical abnormalities include twisted pelvis, enlarged head and anal deformities. Generally ‘rumpy riser’, ‘stumpy’ and ‘longie’ cats are less likely to suffer from spinal cord deficits as seen in ‘rumpy’ cats. Tavy was a Rumpy Riser, having a couple of fused tailbones. My more functional Manx (Bathsheba, but also male 🙂 ) had only one tailbone but he could wag it – the effect was hysterically cute. Bathsheba was a superb specimen of a cat. Huge, muscley, very bright, dominant in temperament, wicked in character and I’ve never seen a cat that could run so fast or jump so high. Let’s hope the other kittens are no worse than Tavy and as good as Bathsheba, aka Bathy the bad cat. Eta I recommend you find a neuter and release programme for the dad. ---
**Author:** ![Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Springtime_for_Spacers)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/47 "2012-08-16T23:24:21Z")
And I should have said, Fishslice, Pastry Brush, Cherry Stoner, Salad Fork and Whisk. ---
**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 17, 2012, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/48 "2012-08-17T05:02:32Z")
I particularly like Spork, Whisk, Skewer, and Butter Knife, of the ones that have been mentioned so far. I was making dinner tonight, and contemplating my various kitchen utensils and trying to decide if there was a good kitten name there or not. 😃 ---
**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 17, 2012, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/49 "2012-08-17T23:54:34Z")
i’ve been eyeing the utensils as well. chop sticks! zester! grater! ---
**Author:** ![starwarsfreek42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@starwarsfreek42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/starwarsfreek42)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/50 "2012-08-18T18:11:47Z")
Oooh, Zester is a good one. We just got back from the vet, he says mom looks good and all the kittens look perfectly normal and healthy. A few fleas, but no worms, no mites, nothing, which is a miracle considering that she’s lived outside. We go back for vaxes when the kittens are weaned and we can start getting spayed and neutered after that. I am in Alabama if anybody nearby wants one. [Here’s](http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/284886_10151356653334046_514867964_n.jpg)a pic from [today](http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/292307_10151356653004046_1068118255_n.jpg). They are 5 days old today, I guess. ---
**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 18, 2012, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/51 "2012-08-18T20:15:04Z")
> [@starwarsfreek42](#): > > Oooh, Zester is a good one. > > We just got back from the vet, he says mom looks good and all the kittens look perfectly normal and healthy. A few fleas, but no worms, no mites, nothing, which is a miracle considering that she’s lived outside. We go back for vaxes when the kittens are weaned and we can start getting spayed and neutered after that. I am in Alabama if anybody nearby wants one. [Here’s](http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/284886_10151356653334046_514867964_n.jpg)a pic from [today](http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/292307_10151356653004046_1068118255_n.jpg). They are 5 days old today, I guess. Hooray! So glad to hear that they’re all doing well! 🙂 ---
**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 18, 2012, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/52 "2012-08-18T21:29:49Z")
Oh my gosh they are so cute! I want to just grab them all up with both hands and SQUEEEEE! over them. We need official names assigned, though, OP. And pictures of each utensil-kitty. And right sharpish. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2012, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/53 "2012-08-19T03:28:11Z")
I want them all. However, we are in a city where we’re allowed to have up to three cats…and we’ve got four. Plus even if we were allowed by law to have unlimited cats, my grumpy Siamese girl would have a conniption fit. They sure are adorable, though. I want to pick them up and rub their teensy heads and cuddle them close. ---
**Author:** ![Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Springtime_for_Spacers)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2012, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/54 "2012-08-19T04:48:42Z")
They are nice, hope all continues to go well. ---
**Author:** ![starwarsfreek42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@starwarsfreek42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/starwarsfreek42)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2012, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/55 "2012-08-19T05:07:10Z")
Thanks, I hope they all grow up healthy and get good homes. They are so soft and warm I want to make a pillow out of them. I haven’t got their names assigned yet, I think the stripey one will be called Pepper Shaker. Probably Peppie for short. ---
**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 28, 2012, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/56 "2012-08-28T20:26:33Z")
Need more pictures of tiny kittehs please. ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/57 "2012-08-28T21:15:09Z")
Ohh, the little cute baby kitties! They’re sooo damn cute when they’re all teeny and new! Especially when they’re all piled up together in a fluffy cuteness heap. I want them all, but I’m not anywhere near you. Also my husband would kill me if I brought another baby kitten home. ---
**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 29, 2012, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/58 "2012-08-29T23:41:47Z")
how are the cuties? have you named a few of them? ---
**Author:** ![starwarsfreek42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@starwarsfreek42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/starwarsfreek42)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/59 "2012-09-02T01:05:34Z")
They are doing good! They have eyes now and are kind of toddling around, not quite walking but not swimming anymore. [Here](http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/s720x720/558216_10151386516814046_225124313_n.jpg)is a pic from this week. The solid gray one is Tong and the gray and white one is Spork. The stripey one is Pepper Mill, but I can’t decide if he/she should be called Pepper or Millie for short. I think most of them are girls, but I’m not sure. ---
**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447/60 "2012-09-02T01:17:19Z")
> [@starwarsfreek42](#): > > They are doing good! They have eyes now and are kind of toddling around, not quite walking but not swimming anymore. [Here](http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/s720x720/558216_10151386516814046_225124313_n.jpg)is a pic from this week. The solid gray one is Tong and the gray and white one is Spork. The stripey one is Pepper Mill, but I can’t decide if he/she should be called Pepper or Millie for short. I think most of them are girls, but I’m not sure. Squeeeeeee!I named a kitten. I wish I could give lil Spork a big cuddle - hell I wish I could give them all cuddles [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayday-newborn-kitten-wont-cant-nurse-update-sad-outcome/631447.md?page=4)