How long can they last without her care? What should I do for them
2006-07-10 02:49:38 · 13 answers · asked by hthrdnnr 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
Has the mother cleaned them up? If not I would be concerned. If so, she may just need a break, make sure plenty of food and water is available to mama. If she continues to be neglectful, call a vet or a local animal shelter like the humane society - they offer great advice in such situations. Orphaned (or rejected) kittens need to be bottle fed every 2-3 hours round the clock for approx. 3 weeks when you can introduce formula in a bowl as well as dry kitten food (soften with formula if you like). This means setting your alarm clock and getting up several times throughout the night. A special bottle and formula are available at most pet stores or stores like Walmart and instructions for feeding amounts is on the label. A kitchen scale can be very helpful for making sure the kittens aren't losing weight during this time. It is a huge undertaking for a beginner, but your local vet or shelter will surely offer support.
2006-07-10 03:18:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would give them about 4 hours to start nursing. Put the mama & babies in a quiet place together and keep an eye on them. But try not to handle or interfere.
If there is no nursing after the 4 hours you might try to gently squeeze open a kitten mouth and attach it to the nipple.
If this doesn't take you will need to get a dropper and kitten milk and begin feeding them yourself. Kitten milk can be bought at Walmarts or at a vet's office.
You must take care when feeding the kittens with a dropper. Don't lay them on their backs as you would a human baby but hold them belly down facing you. After feeding you need to burp them by placing them on your shoulder near your ear and patting softly. You will hear a little whoosh of air when they burp.
After feeding, if the mother has not made them elimanate their waste you must do this also.
There are many breeders who have web sites giving instructions on handraising kittens. Valuable information can be found there. I got more information from these sites then my own vet when I experienced the same problem with one of my females.
Good luck
2006-07-10 10:07:44 · answer #2 · answered by katt4 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is your cat a new mother? If the answer is yes, she may need some assistance from you. First see if you can get them dry. Take a old towel and rub her first with it, and then rub the babies with it then. If the mother still refuses to do anything with the babies, she may be experiencing trouble or she may not be done having babies. Call the vet ASAP and tell the vet what happened. A variety of things could be the reason why she is not nursing. She may sense that something is wrong with them and that is why she isn't tending to them. Check them out. See if they are breathing. If they are breathing, then you may have to play surrogate mom for awhile. You may have to feed the babies and bathroom the babies as well.
To feed the babies, you have to take some watered down milk and make it warm for the kittens to drink, until you can get kitten formula for them. Until you have a actual baby animal bottle, dunk a corner of a clean towel in the milk for the babies to suck on it. After they are through sucking on the milk, then you take a soft tissue and lightly massage the areas where they pea and poop to stimulate them to go to the bathroom. They will pea and poop on the soft tissue. Take another clean soft tissue and clean them up from their bathroom experience. You may have to do this every hour for awhile. Newborns eat and go to the bathroom every hour for a week and then gradually eat every two hours and so forth.
Keep the babies in a warm and dry area. Let them cuddle each other for heat. They are helpless and defenseless in this state and will need your help.
Keep doing all these things with the mother present. Her maternal instincts may kick in once she sees you helping her.
Good luck to you and your new arrivals! May you and the kittens and your cat have many enjoyable days ahead with each other!
2006-07-10 10:23:22 · answer #3 · answered by Lyndee 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is this a first litter? Let the mother have privacy for a little while. Give her time to get adjusted and she should be fine. If given plenty of time and she still doesn't respond you might try the local vet. to see if there are any cats that are nursing available to be a surrogate or even a animal shelter might have a mothe cat with kittens. My daughter works for a vet and I have seen this work very well.
Good luck!
2006-07-10 10:06:17 · answer #4 · answered by cjgrace2003 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It all depends. There's a number of reasons why she may not be caring for them.
1. Sometimes first time Mom's don't always know what to do. You may need to put the kittens to her nipples and coax them to drink. I've had Momma's who wouldn't let their babies drink because they just didn't know what was going on; it sounds mean, but you may have to hold Momma down to let her kittens feed.
2. There may be something wrong with the kittens. Some Mom's -know- somethings up. Are they mewing? Pooping? Since they are new, it'll take a while for them to poop but still. If they aren't acting like normal newborns (which they mew and wriggle around) they may be premature.
3. Another new mom thing. If she just won't care for them, won't let them nurse and just leaves them, it's going to become your responsibility for them to live. Momma cats (along with other animals) have to coax their babies to nurse, and use the bathroom. They also need to keep their babies clean and warm.
If they aren't pottying, you'll need a warm-wet washrag and lightly rub their bottoms to get them 'to go'. Momma cats will use their tongues to do that (yucky huh?). You'll also need to get kitten milk and a dropper to feed them.
If you know someone who's a cat lady (sir, whatever) consult them. It's hard to help over a screen when you can't see exactly what's going on. Good luck to you and your babies :)
2006-07-10 12:12:12 · answer #5 · answered by Athena 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She just had a litter of kittens, let the cat rest. Imagine how you would feel if you'd done the same thing.
If a day or so passes and she doesn't want to nurse, call a Vet.
2006-07-10 10:47:28 · answer #6 · answered by C R 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
continue to put her back in the nursing area even if you have to lock the door every 4 hours. It's very important during the begining of the birth for the kittens to get the mother's milk she will eventually get use to the process, remember this is a new experience for her too
2006-07-10 10:07:50 · answer #7 · answered by potato 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Give her a break! She just had kittens. That's a LOT of work. She'll be ready soon enough, you don't need to do anything. Cats have been around for millenia. Just provide love and support, and let nature take its course.
2006-07-10 09:59:12 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Clam down its ok the She will take care of them let the kittens dry off
2006-07-10 09:56:30 · answer #9 · answered by ♂The•Fresh•Princeφ 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
bad cat..may be consult a vet..they may know more
i never keep pets but i like other's pets
might be it is a usual behaviour .i have no idea
or may be she was not in love with their fathers..i know i am little bad when i say that
but i would say ask a professional
or at least try to feed themmbe their mother urself
2006-07-10 09:56:21 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋