feeding newborn kittens....

[smudgley]

Ok the new cat that's just arrived today is frightened stiff.
She may be feral / semi-feral I don't know. She's certainly unhandleable at the moment & growling very loud.

As far as I know she gave birth yesterday.

The 4 kittens are in good condition & are well fed & fat (thankfully) and they were found at 1pm today & taken away from the nest, then she was trapped, she's been in a pen with them for the past hour and a half & hasn't moved from the floor area, I've put the kittens in a basket right by her, but she won't get in the bed. They are fine at the mo, but will need food soon (very soon). :roll: Obviously they should be feeding every 2 hours at this age. It's been at least 3 and a half since they were fed. The more I handle them, the less she'll want them.... Any suggestions?

No I don't have any suitable moms who can foster.:(

[dinahsmum]

Put them in the dark/silence?
Put them in the dark outside?
Feliway?
Rescue Remedy? (can work if put/rubbed in to their ears, apparently)
Feed the kittens wearing a clean apron and gloves?

Sorry if any sound stupid - I'm just trying to 'think inside and outside the box'

[dinahsmum]

........... and could they have one or two 'feeds' of just water or glucose water? Might that help with rejection (I believe the 'me' smell comes from the mother, through the milk, through the babies and out in their poo - so artificial feed would make them even more alien. ) So water wouldn't. It'll keep them alive but keep them hungry and shouting. That should get Mum's hormones working and the lactating zooming ahead

[smudgley]

good thinking.

they are in a quiet place, not dark but can't really darken the place as she's outdoors, she won't go inside the pen.

Don't have Feliway here at the mo. Only dog equivalent..

My rescue remedy is probably at work.:roll:

At least I have cat milk to hand..

Gloves & pinnies I have... I really don't want to go down the route of feeding them but I'm going to have to soon. they'll be so hungry.

Why does everything end up so complicated, she was perfectly happy feeding them on her own in her little nest under the bush. :roll:

Anybody want to hand rear a bambino?

[Jac]

So sorry to read that she's so afraid. Poor poor wee soul. Sorry cant help with the kittens unless you want to send them to me:roll: (trying to lighten the mood)
If she wont feed them, then it looks like your going to have to. With the minimum amount of "smell" coming from you I would think.
If she's like us then her boobs are going to hurt soon. She'll want to feed them. (I would think)
I hope she does soon. Sorry I cant be of any real help.

[smudgley]

........... and could they have one or two 'feeds' of just water or glucose water? Might that help with rejection (I believe the 'me' smell comes from the mother, through the milk, through the babies and out in their poo - so artificial feed would make them even more alien. ) So water wouldn't. It'll keep them alive but keep them hungry and shouting. That should get Mum's hormones working and the lactating zooming ahead

Now that's an idea.. I have lectade. :)

[dinahsmum]

I'd love to Smudgley but I'm not close enough to you.
Do you have specialist orphan kitten fosterers?

[Jac]

Ps I would take them for you to foster in a split second if only I was nearer.

[smudgley]

Jac - that sounds funny "with the minimum amount of smell coming from you" .....:-D
I know what you mean, but it sounds like I smell! :lol:

[dinahsmum]

Lectade - fab. Hydrate them and let nature take it's course overnight. A good night together might just do the trick. If not, you know what you'll be doing tomorrow

[Jac]

Sorry "smelly" didn't mean that the way it sounded. I ment human smell. If you know what I mean or am I just makeing a big hole for myself?

[smudgley]

I'd love to Smudgley but I'm not close enough to you.
Do you have specialist orphan kitten fosterers?

Nope. Not that I'm aware of. but I do have enough people through Guide Dogs who I could ask... no way could I hand rear 4.:cool: One or 2 maybe. :)
(John wouldn't be impressed though)

[smudgley]

Sorry "smelly" didn't mean that the way it sounded. I ment human smell. If you know what I mean or am I just makeing a big hole for myself?

Smelly Kelly.... :cry:

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Mags]

Smudgley, do you think mum would go to the kittens if they were just lying on a blanket close to her? She's probably never seen a basket before and is a bit wary.....especially as she was caught in a trap.

Just a thought!

[smudgley]

Where's Fran today... FRAN.......... what are your thoughts.. 4 hungry Bambinos... one grumpy & upset Mom...?

[Jac]

Have you got a hedge? Or a place outside where she couldnt get away from? Possibly she's just mega stressed at the thought of her babies getting "lost" then getting caught in a trap.
I hope she feeds them soon.

[smudgley]

Smudgley, do you think mum would go to the kittens if they were just lying on a blanket close to her? She's probably never seen a basket before and is a bit wary.....especially as she was caught in a trap.

Just a thought!

Well at first I put them inside the pen... she just lay on the floor under the pen.So I moved them to her in the basket, they are literally a few inches from her, she only has to inch over & she'll be with them.
I thought about putting them right to her, but then thought I would find it hard then to get them back to a warmer place if she won't move & is lashing around the place.. Don't want them on the slabs. Could maybe leave them on the blanket & move the basket out the way. i don't want to touch them at present to be honest. I'm going to check on them now.

[smudgley]

Have you got a hedge? Or a place outside where she couldnt get away from? Possibly she's just mega stressed at the thought of her babies getting "lost" then getting caught in a trap.
I hope she feeds them soon.

If I put her outside I'd never catch her again. She's outdoors but in the run.

[Animagus]

I have no idea what you could do to encourage her but the lactade idea sounds like the best bet.

[dinahsmum]

Good luck Smudgley. Off to feed the humans now - much easier prospect.
Hope everyone, human and feline, has a peaceful night and mum accepts her kittens back. You'll wake up in the morning and find mum fed and watered and the babies at the milk bar.

[Kazz]

Nope. Not that I'm aware of. but I do have enough people through Guide Dogs who I could ask... no way could I hand rear 4.:cool: One or 2 maybe. :)
(John wouldn't be impressed though)


Hiya Smudgley.
I'm sorry I have only just seen this; see what happens when I go to have my dinner and leave the computer on.:roll: Sorry to hear Mom won't have anything to do with them, if you need a foster/handrearing give me a shout, I have spoken to my Mom and Dad (as I work full time as you know) and they are quite happy to hand rear. Dad is quite up for it Mom is a lot more common sense approach, but she is really good at times like this. Dad sleeps less now and would adore to do this. I think Mom feels the same to be honest. ;)

One condition though they would not be stayers and would need a home when they are old enough. - honestly

But we would be happy to have a go I know nothing is guaranteed with tiny newborns but we would be willing to try.
And round the clock feeds/cleaning no trouble.:?

[alexgirl73]

I'm willing to take on one as well if need be Smudgley!

[smudgley]

Thanks Kazz & Alex.

By the time I got round to feeding them, I decided they should have a milk feed, not just lectade as it had been hours since they'd eaten.

They were really hungry and took the feed really well. I've now put them onto the slabs with her on a small blanket. they are climbing all over her - she's very tense & not wanting to know them. I am just going to leave them for a while & see what happens.

[Kazz]

Excellent plan, hope it works I have noidea how good a stand in heat source Cleo would be not good I imagine. :)

[alexgirl73]

everything crossed here kelly xx

[Mags]

I hope mum relaxes a bit now her kittens are with her ......... fingers crossed that she will soon accept them....

[Erin]

i hope it all works out smudgley,fingers crossed here too

[random]

I hope it works out and she accepts them Smudgley, I don't know how far you are but if I can help in anyway give me a shout, I have 2 very good mummies here who may be willing to help if needs be.

Good luck. x

[smudgley]

Thanks Random.

She hasn't moved.

I have a feeling that she may well be feral, in which case she won't have had anything in the way of human contact. Although this lady has fed her for a while, but hasn't been able to get close enough to touch her.
{good news is, she's going back there once spayed to familiar surroundings}

Anyway, she's still in the same spot she's been since 3pm. Not moved a muscle, not eaten, no drink & not interacting with the kittens. Then I just checked on her & decided that it's probably best to leave the kittens with her on the floor, it's crap I know but she needs to nurse them.. she's not nasty with them, just rigid with fear. I gently surrounded her with vetbeds & she slowly burrowed under one, 4 little Mittens in tow. :-D So all I can do is hope they'll be snug & hope she will eat now it's getting dark. The kittens are feeding from her & she's letting them, so not rejecting them, just scared stiff from her ordeal in the trap & the new environment. She urinated in the trap, which I don't see happen very often & find it seems to be only the very frightened cats tend to do that, so I've decided to leave them to it & see what tomorrow brings. really hope they are ok, but I feel it's in their best interest to leave them to settle with Mom. I know she's a good Mom, because she was managing perfectly well until we came along.:roll: Anyway they spent last night under a hedge out in the cold.So maybe tonight will be a better option than last night for them.;)

[Kazz]

I hope she gets on alright Smudgley.

[random]

Oh that sounds promising at least, have you got maybe a cat carrier or something 'closed in' that you can put in there for her, maybe she'd like a little 'secret' place like that. Sorry if you've already done, or someone suggested that and i've missed it. :lol:

[Animagus]

fingers crossed for her Smudgely xxxx

[Erin]

Oh That sounds better Smudgley,hope it continues :-)

[dandysmom]

Encouraging news. Poor thing, she must be absolutely terrified!

[alexgirl73]

Sounds more promising Smudgley. Keeping everything crossed for her x

[smudgley]

This morning Mom was still in the same place, however she has eaten & had a wee in the tray.
The kittens were all on a blanket huddled together, (about 3 feet away from Mommy) they weren't crying & their bellys seem full. I am presuming she has let them feed etc during the night. Strange behaviour Mommy is showing.
I am going to leave her to it today & not interfere too much.

[alexgirl73]

She must be absolutely terrified!!!! At least she seems to be letting the babies feed. Hope she feels a wee bit calmer soon.

[Mags]

Poor girl, if only they could tell when a kind person is trying to help them :(

Pleased to hear things have progressed in that she now let the babies feed and she has eaten herself. If she is feral it must be so hard for her to understand what is happening at the moment.

I agree it is best to leave her on her own and she will then, hopefully do what is necessary.

I hope it all goes well Smudgley....

[Kazz]

Maybe she now "considers" the kittens dangerous, when she tried to get to them she was trapped if she stays away she is fine. But no idea really how a feral cats mind works - at all.

I suppose the longer she feeds them and stays with them the better. Hopefuly she will improve with time.
Although if she is a feral, will it affect the kittens behaviour toward people? will her distrust of humans transmit itself to the kittens?

Karen

[smudgley]

Kazz - I will ensure the kittens get lots of handling from an early age (not too early with this one though) & they will be very well socialised & make lovely pets. ;) Done it lots of times with ferals, you just have to be careful Mom is not to close when you take the babes away for handling sessions.:shock:

I've left them on the floor under the pen & covered the front up with a blanket for complete privacy & guess what I saw when I just had a peep?..............Mom & Babes snuggled up on the vet bed.:-D She looks more relaxed & the kittens are fine.

Need to sort names & for the V litter. :roll: I better check the names post & see what was decided.

A name for Mom....anyone? how about a £5 donation to name Mom :shock:

[dinahsmum]

Glad you seem to have turned the corner with this family S - well done!

[dinahsmum]

A name for Mom....anyone? how about a £5 donation to name Mom :shock:

Yes - she's Annie, as in litle orphan Annie, seeing as she is going back to 'the streets'. Also 'un homage' to WPC Annie Cartwright from Life on Mars - one of the best things on TV for years :)

I thought the litter was W Smudgley? If it is, and the boy is to be Watson, that'll be a tenner I'll send you. PM me your address again sometime

[alexgirl73]

If you would like Smudgley, i can come through to your s maybe once a week and help out with the socialisation of the many kittens you have! Let me know.

[Kazz]

Thats right I owe you a £5 for a girl called Winne. :)

[EmmaG]

Kelly what colour is mom??

[Mags]

And my £5 for a girl called Willow still stands ;)

[smudgley]

Kelly what colour is mom??

All black :)

[Erin]

Im glad its improving smudgley

[Fran]

I'm sorry I haven't been around Smudgley and have only just seen this. It seems like you have everything very much under control - well done! You have done pretty much what I would have suggested, putting loads of blankets / vet bed outside and letting the kittens snuggle up to mum outside. Hope all continues to go well for mum and the babies from here.

[Sweet]

I'm just catching up too.........

What a time you have had......Your a star !

So glad to read, Mum and Babies seem more settled now :) x

[Sweet]

Wrong letter I know.....

Name Mum Star and I will donate £20 to your hard work x