trying to bottle-feed kittens...?

Question

My cat had kittens-5- last week, but she still doesnt have any milk. Ive tried to get them out and bottle feed them, but mama cat- understandably- starts trying to take them back to her "nest". Theyre squirming around pretty well, but I dont see how they can last much longer with mama not feeding them. any ideas?

my other cat had kittens about a month ago, and her teats stayed fairly full. this cat's teats are always flat, no lumps at all. thats why im afraid she doesnt have any milk. but, since i posted the question, she's gone back to them, and they do seem to be feeding, so who knows...

i havent seen the other mama cat in about a week. dont know if somethings happened to her or if shes just out getting a boyfriend

Answer 1

Give the mother cat a more rich diet to get her to produce milk. If that does not work then ask a vet about hand rearing them and how to do it. My friend didn't want to go to the vet so she just put a plate of kitten food mixed with warm goat milk to make it softer. My friend knows someone who had a cat that didn't have any milk and the Kitty's died in less a week! Are you sure the mom has no milk? it could be that the cat doesen't want too feek it when you are watching. sereousely! I think your cat has some milk because your kitty's would be dead by now.

Answer 2

ok are you checking the mama cat before or after she leaves the kittens. if the kittens have survived this long the mama probly rilly is feeding them. Cats milk dont swell them up like dogs do. she should have aprx a quater sized lump under at least the bottom 4 teets. thats the milk dont expect to find this after she has just left the kittens thou cause it wount be there. the kittens have drank it. If she is staying with them and is taking care of them other wise but you find that her milk rilly has dryed up all you need do is dropper kitten formula onto there top lip every few hours and she will do the res of the mommying. but i really do think that if the kittens are still active and alive after a week the mama cat is feeding them your just not checking her at the right times to find the milk or you are looing for her teets to be big and swollen. relax and beobservant. watch the kittens for a while and see if they suckle when shes in the nest with them. if they do shes probly feeding them. oh and if your still conserned about them eating enuf when they begin to walk you can start mixing formula and wet cat food on a saucer and offering it to them. get them weaned as soon as possible.

Answer 3

okay the one problem with this is that kittens will suckle even if they have no milk coming it is the nursing action they go for, doyou have an eyedropper if so mix 1/2 cup milk or half n half and a pinch of sugar, heat it so it is lukewarm, dip in the eydropper take the kitten sometimes what i do is i take them gently by the neck and place the eyedropper in their mouth and squeeze somethimes they start drinkig right away, sometimes they do not like it but if you can get 2 eyedroppers full in them (pull it out if they start to choke) every 4 or 5 hours they will be fine, it sounds like the mamma kitty does not have milk this happens, you mentioned another cat, other female cats will lots of time let other baby kitties nurse from them so try that if possible, eme at [e-mail] if you need any more info and help or just kitty moral support okay? god bless you and all your furry children and happy fourth of july,

Answer 4

If your kittens didnt get that first milk from the mom they have a 0% chance of living.The first few days of nursing the mon is producing colsturium(spelling its LATE) and Kittens are born with unfilled in holes and such in their bellies..This first milk coats all that as well as giving them antibodies they need to fight off disease and infection...Let her take them to her nest and leave them alone she may have milk ..Cats dont have big boobs like dogs. If she truley doesnt have milk the vet needs to pull some of her blood and spin it and get it in the kittens.I dont think after 5 days they would still be squirming if she wasnt feeding them.......I learned this about Cats because we had tiny kittens come into our Animal Shelter..We put them on a pregnant cat .Her Kittens that she gave birth too died and the Vet explained this to us.....Take them ALL to the Vet ASAP

Answer 5

I am going to warn you....it is really hard....but I know from what you have said that you are the kind of person who wouldn't let them die. So first and foremost talk to your vet and let them explain the details of hand feeding. It will be hard because you will be taking over as the mother which means you will be doing everything she did. If you don't have the time and energy let the vet help you to find someone who does. Goats milk and KMR are great for them and cotton balls become your best friend. If you need more assistance please ask. I am hand rearing two babies right now and wish I could help you. I enjoy it and have done it for more than 100 kittens now for the shelters that I have worked for.

Answer 6

Take your cat and the kittens to the Vet. Also, you can buy nurser bottles and KMR (kitten milk replacer) from either your Vet or Petsmart or Petco. Petsmart or Petco would be better because you could buy it in bulk and it will be cheaper. Kittens need to be fed about every 2 hours and need to be stimulated to go to the bathroom at every feeding (wipe their bottoms with a warm damp cloth)

Answer 7

mom cats do not abandon their kittens till something has befell to her or the kittens are defective. it isn't likely that got here upon kittens were abandoned in any respect. not purely might want to the mum be off doing what cats do yet she will be a feral cat, afraid of people, and the presence of those who imagine they're "assisting" will be combating her from having access to them. it isn't authentic that mom cats spend all their time with their kittens and she or he will be hiding close by waiting for the human interlopers to leave. commonly, those who discover kittens might want to leave them on my own. a strong thanks to help kittens of stray or feral cats will be to verify a nutrition and water station 30 or so ft faraway from the nest to help the mum out. because the kittens get the right age to eat, there would then be possibilities to socialise the kittens and get them to a protect. mom too if she isn't feral. all of us might want to not be in a hurry at hand-rear kittens. You examine such an excellent style of posts on the topic with the aid of human proclivity to intrude or of the favor of a few to play hero/heroine. If the got here upon kittens extremely are abandoned the finder easily might want to not purely call a vet even if the nearest cat rescue employer and ask for help and assistance.

Answer 8

If this is her first litter, the milk my not have dropped yet. But that doesn't mean she's not feeding them enough. Don't try feeding them by hand because they won't do well. Kittens suck, they don't swallow. By this I mean that unless they're eating from a teet, they won't know what to make of the liquid in their mouths. You'll make it worse.

Answer 9

bottle feed them with KMR (found at petsmart/petco its a kitten milk...)you can usually buy a kit also make by KMR with a bottle/nipples..

also warm the KMR up for a few seconds in the microwave..mix it afterwards

they will know what to do..you just hold the bottle for them like your do a baby..and let them drink it (one at a time)

Ive done this plenty of times :) also if mom cat isnt taking care of them..you may also have to get them to pee by rubbing the area until they go and finish.(use a towel..and just rub in a circular motion)

its fairly simple..KMR isnt cheap though.

and btw KMR doesnt stand for kitten milk replacer.. its the brand name..theres also KMR for puppies

Answer 10

You need to talk to your vet quickly and they can find someone who has a nursing mother cat who can surrogate feed them.