Tonight we're supposed to drop down to -18 with strong winds bringing the windchill temp even lower. I brought Bacon and Taco Belle into the barn from the quarantine area, to join Little Timmy who got moved into the barn yesterday. Now the only rabbit still outside is Spotty, but she's happy in her two story enclosed cage, safe from the wind and the snow.
Floki's kittens are three weeks old today. They're looking pretty good in general. Little Amos is falling behind. Zombie would lay down with him so he could nurse, but Floki keeps laying down away from him. Amos can't see her and several times I've found Floki nursing all of her kittens and Amos taking a nap a foot away, completely oblivious to the fact he's missing his opportunity to eat. When I put Amos with the other kittens he finds a teat about the time Floki decides to get up and walk away.
Today I introduced Amos to goats milk. Yeah, I broke the kitten bottle out. Every time before I've waited until the kitten was in distress to try to salvage with the bottle. I don't want to do that this time. He's smaller than the other kittens, and I'm not sure if that's because he's four days younger, or because he's not nursing as well anymore. He didn't take to the bottle - I didn't expect him to on day one. Once I'd gotten some in his mouth he seemed to like it, but didn't drink much before losing interest.
I took the left over goats milk and put it in a dish with some cat food. I let it soak a while and once it was softened up, I offered it to Amos. He wanted no part of it. A couple of the other kittens at least attempted to lap some up before wandering away. I let Floki finish it. I tried again with the bottle this evening, but Amos just doesn't seem to want it. I got him to drink a small amount. Enough for him to get a taste anyway. Perhaps when he gets hungry enough he will be more interested. I really hope this isn't the beginning of the end for little Amos. He is 17 days old today. Just on the cusp of the dangerous age here.
On the plus side, Ginger Bear is active and has been exploring further and further from the blanket they've been staying on. He hasn't shown interest in the food dish or the water dish yet, but he has sniffed at the litter boxes, and wandered over to see the big kitties as they ate at the food dish. He comes right up to us and meows, he seems to like being petted.