A cat forum. CatBanter

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Go Back   Home » CatBanter forum » Cat Newsgroups » Cat anecdotes
Site Map Home Register Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

Maternal instinct takes over



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old April 21st 06, 10:04 PM posted to rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Maternal instinct takes over

Maternal instinct takes over
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/dail.../s_446072.html

PICTU http://www.pittsburghlive.com/photos...DCcatdog-a.jpg


Kelly Kent, of Connellsville, was surprised when her 2-year-old cat,
Zoey, decided to adopt another mouth to feed, especially since Zoey
already had a litter of kittens -- three to be exact -- on March 26.

"This is Zoey's second litter," Kent says, "and she loves and cares for
each of her kittens."

But this wasn't another kitten Zoey took in -- it was a pug puppy.

The strange adoption took place soon after Zoey gave birth to her kittens.


Kent's neighbor approached her with a problem. The neighbor's dog had
puppies at almost the same time Zoey had her kittens. However, one black
puppy, a pug with no name, was a runt and wasn't getting fed by his mother.

Kent, a self-professed animal lover with one dog and two cats already,
in addition to the kittens, decided to take the puppy in and try to hand
feed it with an eye dropper. She had no luck.

"He wouldn't eat," Kent says. "He was weak and shivering when the
neighbors brought him to me."

Since Zoey was nursing her litter anyway, Kent saw no harm in seeing if
the puppy and Zoey would work together.

They did.

"The cat took to it," Kent says, watching Zoey lie down on her side
while her kittens and the runt puppy, which is smaller than its adopted
siblings, gather side by side to feed. The puppy kicks his legs and
struggles to get his share of Zoey's milk just like the kittens.

Zoey has not stopped with just nursing the puppy, either. She will also
bathe and clean him just like he was one of her kittens.

"It's odd," Kent says. "I'm surprised because she (Zoey) is not a fan of
dogs."

While Kent says a cat nursing a dog is an odd thing to see, she has seen
something else just as strange.

"I have an aunt that had a dog that nursed a pig," Kent says.

Dr. William Sheperd, veterinarian for Camelot Veterinary Services in
Uniontown, says that in the animal kingdom, it's not at all unusual to
have a surrogate mother nurse another animal, even if it's from another
species.

"It's their maternal instincts," Sheperd says.

He adds that there have been cases where horses and cows have nursed
offspring that was rejected.

While Sheperd says there is no health risk of a puppy drinking a cat's
milk, his only concern is if the mother cat would make enough milk for
the puppy.

"Puppies sometimes require more milk than kittens," he says.

But in Zoey's case, it might not be a problem.

"She might make enough milk for a pug," Sheperd says. "But if the puppy
is crying a lot, it is not getting enough milk; if the puppy is eating
and sleeping well, then there shouldn't be a problem."

About two weeks after the pug arrived at Kent's house, she said he has
greatly improved. He now gets along fine with the bigger kittens, "even
though one keeps attempting to scratch his head."

While Kent's three children are eager to keep their still unnamed puppy,
she isn't sure what to do with him. She knows what she wants to do with
Zoey, however.

"She's going to be spayed on April 30," Kent says, putting an end to
Zoey's long and strange nursing days.

"We always encourage them to be spayed," Sheperd says.

PICTU
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/photos...DCcatdog-a.jpg

--

Thanks!
God Bless you,
~Angela
************************************************** ***********
http://www.AngelaRose.com
http://www.AngelasJournal.com
http://www.SSQfan.com
http://www.SmokyCountry.com
************************************************** ***********
  #2  
Old April 21st 06, 11:21 PM posted to rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Maternal instinct takes over

I want that pug puppy.


  #3  
Old April 22nd 06, 10:52 AM posted to rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Maternal instinct takes over



About two weeks after the pug arrived at Kent's house, she said he has
greatly improved. He now gets along fine with the bigger kittens, "even
though one keeps attempting to scratch his head."/////


I love the look on the red baby cats face.... He's like, "What the
F***? are *YOU* doing at *MY* milk bar?!"

Helen M

  #4  
Old April 22nd 06, 03:50 PM posted to rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Maternal instinct takes over



--
I love the look on the red baby cats face.... He's like, "What the
F***? are *YOU* doing at *MY* milk bar?!"

Helen M


I know! I would have captioned that: WHOA, MOM! Look at that!

Hehe

Lily & her mama

Irulan
from the stars we come
to the stars we return
from now until the end of time
"HRFLTiger" wrote in message
oups.com...


About two weeks after the pug arrived at Kent's house, she said he has
greatly improved. He now gets along fine with the bigger kittens, "even
though one keeps attempting to scratch his head."/////


I love the look on the red baby cats face.... He's like, "What the
F***? are *YOU* doing at *MY* milk bar?!"

Helen M



 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Hidden feline takes the biscuit Debbie Wilson Cat anecdotes 3 December 3rd 05 01:02 AM
HRFL takes exception to the dross on TV Helen Miles Cat anecdotes 16 June 5th 05 10:40 AM
Playing Games With Mommy and Daddy CatNipped Cat anecdotes 138 September 26th 04 08:07 PM
Stosh takes a ride Karen Cat anecdotes 14 September 7th 04 02:28 PM
Maternal instinct Marion Cat health & behaviour 62 April 7th 04 02:57 AM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 11:29 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 CatBanter.
The comments are property of their posters.