in article k.net, Nicole
Johnson at wrote on 7/6/03 6:44 PM:

Hi all! Yes, I have converted. I still love my great dane, but the newest
love of my life (Hailey the supposed maine coon) has me stressed. In all 21
of my years, I've never owned a feline, so perhaps having rescued a 4 week
old kitten that insists that I'm her mommie from which she can nurse.
While I'm crazy that she has fallen in love with me, I'm terrified that I'm
going to do something wrong and kill her. So I'm going to start out slowly
and ask a LOT of questions!

1. I've learned that milk causes diarreah (I can't spell), but are there
special nutrients that are in a cat mother's milk that she is missing in her
kitten chow?

KMR "Kitten Milk Replacement". Available from vet and pet stores.

2. Longhair beauty that she is, we're having a.emm...pooping problem. Yeah,
it sticks. I've trimmed the hair down around the "area" but it still gets
stuck. I've been using baby wipes after she's gone (god, thank you for baby
wipes) and they work well...takes away the smell and gets ride of the
doodie....but is there any way to keep from having to wipe her?

She'll grow out of it, although, you might consider keeping a poop shoot
shaved as she gets older. But, once she figures things out and learns to
groom herself, you'll be fine except for the occassional dingle.


3. Declawing...Yeah, I'm sure you are all going to hate me for it, but it's
getting done. She's an indoor cat and I'm afraid that she's going to scratch
the babies. What age do vets usually recommend the procedure?

Are you prepared for what could happen? Early arthritis, urinating, biting?
Millions of babies are raised everyday with cats with claws and survive just
fine. I did. Your fear is totally unjustified and so is the procedure.
Consider, if you must, or if a problem (highly doubtful) would crop up, Soft
Paws. Getting her used to claw trimming now would make her very easy to keep
trimmed. There is NO need to declaw. That's all there is to that. Have you
even considered these options???

4. Spaying..what age?

Most people do it between 4 and 6 months.
I have more questions, but I'll let ya'll get to these!! Everyone's
expertise would help!
Thanks,
Momma-Kittenhead


Really consider your options (THERE **ARE** OPTIONS) to declawing. It is
terribly inhumane. I'd suggest you rehome her before doing it. It's terribly
selfish of you when claws won't be a problem if you just trim regularly.

Karen