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Well-cared-for Mother: Many European countries maintain group day care for infants in day nurseries associated with a mother's place of empoyment, rather than family day care for an individual child. Particularly in eastern Europe, the factory creche or infant nursery is very common. In Czechoslovakia, for example, over 50,000 children between three months and three years of age were being cared for in such facilities in the 1960's.
Gestation takes 16 days; 7-15 in litter; young born pink, naked, and blind. Do not disturb young or mother for at least a week after birth; if disturbed mother will either kill and eat the young or neglect them and allow them to die. After 3 weeks, remove young from mother; otherwise, mother fights with them and often kills them. Sexes should be separated before young reach maturity at 43 days.
Cats are susceptible to a number of diseases which may be easily transmitted to humans; hence, it is not wise to pick up stray cats promiscuously for adoption, especially if there are children in the family. This is also an argument for keeping a well-trained pet shut in during the night. A kitten should come from a healthy, well-trained, and well-cared-for mother. From the standpoint of the health of the child and for the comfort of the animal, no child under the age of five years should be allowed to possess a pet cat. When anything appears to be seriously wrong with the pet, it is advisable to take it to a veterinarian. If this is not possible, the children should be kept away from the animal, and if it shows no sign of improving, it should be disposed of humanely. |
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