Legend Leopards

[Patti]

I don't know that he bottle feeds all of them. Have not looked at his website, don't know where you saw that, really don't know what he does or why.

Another breeder does this as well and advertises them as 'human imprinted', in other words more socialized than if raised by the mom. As far as I can tell it's just another sales gimmick to make people think bottle raised kittens have better personalities than natural raised, which in my experience is completely untrue. Makes me wonder if the moms are so hostile toward humans that the kittens can't otherwise be socialized if left with them. I know this has been the case for a few other breeders with certain moms, but those breeders simply admit it.

 

[MM3]

I'm sure it's all about money, when it should be about INTEGRITY! End of story

Some where in these threads was a mention of Chris from cutting edge bottle feeding his kittens. Hence taking kittens away from there mommies. I personally don't know if thus is true but a suggestion was made that the litter problem I am having has a name "pica" ! One of the causes weening kitten too early! Does anyone know or have any experience with pica and their kitty?

 

[Trish Allearz]

Pica can be caused by all different issues. Heck, pregnant women are tight to be prone to it. (it's eating nonedible substances so like craving laundry detergent, dirt, etc). I've heard it is more due to a lack of something in ones diet. In regard to cats, I have bottle fed my fair share of babies due to whatever and they weren't more prone to pica than any other kitten.

Sent from my so called smartphone so all typos and bad advice can be blamed on said "smart" phone

 

[Patti]

I've never heard of pica being associated with bottling babies but there are some articles online that support a relationship between pica and early weaned (not necessarily bottled) kittens:
http://www.manhattancats.com/Articles/PICA.htm

 

[Rafiki]

I have only heard of wool-sucking as the form of Pica that cats get from being weaned too early.

MM3 - has your kitty litter loving cat been tested for anemia? This thread caught my interest and when I did a quick look on the internet that came up as a possible cause.

 

[admin]

Agree with Trish...Pica is usually caused by a mineral deficiency ion the diet...

 

[Becki]

Kovu's breeder bottle feeds her f1 and f2 babies. It isn't an unheard of or outside the mainstream practice. Not everyone does it this way, but it isn't alarming. Sue mentioned temperament - Kovu is over the top cuddly and even at 8 months, loves been held. Maybe that is just him and he would be the same had he not been hand raised, but I am not willing to totally discount the effect.

I am not defending Chris whatever his name is, don't know him from Adam. Just noting hand raising isn't an awful thing, nor is the choice not to hand raise the "wrong" way in my not a breeder but an owner opinion.

 

[MM3]

Kovu's breeder bottle feeds her f1 and f2 babies. It isn't an unheard of or outside the mainstream practice. Not everyone does it this way, but it isn't alarming. Sue mentioned temperament - Kovu is over the top cuddly and even at 8 months, loves been held. Maybe that is just him and he would be the same had he not been hand raised, but I am not willing to totally discount the effect.

I am not defending Chris whatever his name is, don't know him from Adam. Just noting hand raising isn't an awful thing, nor is the choice not to hand raise the "wrong" way in my not a breeder but an owner opinion.

According to my vet, a study was conducted and kittens taken away from nursing naturally have many mental behavioral issues. My vet isn't going on hear say but documented reports. Everyone has a right to believe what they wish but it makes sense to me. The bond between baby and mum is broken, security baby must feel isn't reinforced daily with nursing. My question is why?

 

[MM3]

I have only heard of wool-sucking as the form of Pica that cats get from being weaned too early.

MM3 - has your kitty litter loving cat been tested for anemia? This thread caught my interest and when I did a quick look on the internet that came up as a possible cause.

At my appt yesterday with kitty's vet, he didn't feel at this time to do a test for anemia. Checking her overall health, eating regiment, activity level all good. Weaned to early is the cause of all that is described and associated with Pica. So sad

 

[John Popp]

According to my vet, a study was conducted and kittens taken away from nursing naturally have many mental behavioral issues.

That's a real tough data set to parse anything from as there is so much more that goes into socializing a kitten than the way they are fed.

I would think that an ideally socialized and mentally healthy kitten is one that was nursed by their mother while also participating in some bottle feeding. Grooming, playtime and even nap time play roles in their mental health development. So easy to stack the deck in any study, even inadvertently.

Also, I don't think I have ever met a cat that shouldn't be seeing a therapist once a week. Some are well functioning with their mental health disorders while others heightened energy levels prove too much to mask the underlying issues.