Cat Births & care?

Question

My 2 cats Samantha( Sam ) and Charlene ( Charlie ) gave birth at the same time. Sam lost a kitten 3 days after its birth. Sam had 4 and Charlie 5 , Charlie is losing a lot of weight feeding the 5,

My problem is that Sam is taking charlie's babies and feeding them while Charlie doesn't seem to care.

My question is , is this normal behaviour for cats?
Will charlie be affected?
Does it happen that a mother cat will stop feeding her young?

Answer 1

cats instincts take over when they have kittens. if charlie does not seem to care-i would not worry about it. if charlie is loosing too much weight-sam is helping her. keep an eye on them and make sure the mothers are still not causing each other problems.

Answer 2

It is not uncommon for animals to adopt other babies, particularly of the same species. I have seen dogs adopt kittens, cattle adopt fawns and I have even read of tigers adopting piglets.

If Sam can feed all nine kittens then there should be no problem. It is not uncommon for cats to give birth to litters of many kittens, so nine should not be to much of load. Also, when the kittens get older, you could start adding to their diet, like canned cat food, just to make sure everyone is getting enough. If you're not already, giving both Sam and Charlie more food, as well as canned food, is highly recommended for increased health throughout kitten rearing.

If Carlie doesn't care them she will probably remain unaffected. Sam would also probably let Charlie have her babies back if she wanted them. It seems that Sam recognizes a need and is willing to help out, not take the kittens away from their mother.

Unfortunately, mothers do abandon their young, particularly if it is their first. There isn't really much you can do if the mothers do abandon their young, they are either good parents or not. Charlie may come around with the next litter, or may even come back to these kittens and help Sam raise them all together.

I wouldn't worry too much. Charlie is probably low on resources and Sam is helping out. If no fighting ensues than I guess you just have one big happy family.

Answer 3

Yep this is very normal and often if you have a queen (entire female) and she hasn' had kittens but the other cat has she will develope milk and help with the feeding.
It doesn't matter who feeds as long as they get food.
Give Charlie Kitten food as it is higher in calories and allow her to eat when ever she likes. Eukanuba has a maximum calorie food and Hills has a similar food that is very high in calories and would be good for Charlie if you are already giving her kitten food and is still loosing weight.

Answer 4

This is normal behavior for females raised together and birth close together. Since Charlies isn't protesting, she won't be affected at all. I had a momma cat stop nursing her babies at 3 weeks old and they began drinking water and eating moistened food. They refused a bottle. Sadly a little brat in my neighbor nearly killed the momma when she went out for a break and we had to put her down-she was paralyzed from chest down. And her bladder was destroyed. We had a mother and daughter set of cats both gave birth within days of each other. The mother had several litters before and this was a first for the daughter. The mother kept stealing the daughter's babies. I got out my own daughter's old playpen (knew it be good for something one day) and put both mommas and their babies together. They took turns feeding them and neither one minded, it's like this is what they wanted. I'm sure Charlie is grateful for the help. It's ok if she isn't objecting. Have you tried to put them together to let both raise the babies together. They might go for it.

Answer 5

As long as all babies are eating well, it doesn't matter who they eat from. This goes back to pack instincts in the wild (usually the dominant female cat is also the one who is the main hunter, therefore other females will usually nurse for her so she can be out hunting for the pack) But your cat shouldn't be losing a lot of weight just from nursing. Make sure you are feeding her a high quality kitten diet (yes, for moms too).And take them to a vet for a check up if they havent been already.

BUT MOST IMPORTANT- SPAY THE CATS NOW!

Answer 6

this is normal that the other cat feeds all the babies. you have to feed a nursing cat more than usuall she has all them babies taking everything from her so you need to feed her more. The other cat will step in when she feels up to it but as long as the kittens are eating and healthy dont worry about it

Answer 7

My boyfriend had this happen in Oct. He had 2 females give birth and they switched kittens alot. One stole all of them...all 9 were nursing her. She got very thin and her nipples were getting chaffed. So he moved her into the bedroom by herself and her kittens for two weeks. She gained weight fast .But in two weeks went back to nursing them all when she came back into the living room. So till they were all weaned she wasn't allowed with the other kittens.
The other cat in the living room missed her alot and the kittens. But the mothers are fixed now and both are healthy.
Good luck

Answer 8

you should ask a vet what you should do. The vet will provide ideas on the thanks to look after them, which incorporates feeding them formulation with a plastic syringe or a watch dropper, and providing them a warmth, mushy, secure area to sleep and stay in. you're in a position to positioned a blanket over a heating pad set on low (it truly is in basic terms my idea, please ask a vet if that is high-quality). My concern is that your one 3 hundred and sixty 5 days previous cat has given delivery two times in about 2 months. this signifies that almost immediately after giving delivery to her first kitten she grew to develop into pregnant back. this isn't proper. Your cat might want to no longer develop into pregnant right after giving delivery, and probable might want to no longer develop into pregnant back. you want to get her mounted right now so this does no longer take position back. this can be why she isn't in a position to look after all of her kittens, because she might want to sense beaten. My next concern is that your one 3 hundred and sixty 5 days previous cat is in basic terms too youthful to be giving delivery. the reason i think this way is that her first clutter became in common words a clutter of one kitten. it is a demonstration that your one 3 hundred and sixty 5 days previous cat is in basic terms too youthful to be having kittens. the different indication is that she isn't worrying for them precise. Your cat should be a minimum of a three hundred and sixty 5 days, ideally a three hundred and sixty 5 days and a 1/2, earlier she turns into pregnant. Please, take your cat and kittens to the vet today. also, please start up taking more effective perfect care of your animals. try to be paying more effective interest to what is going on such as your cat and her kittens. -Kidx

Answer 9

my cats had kittens at the same time as well one cat would feed and look after all of them while the other cat went and ate and went to the toilet had a sleep then they changed over it was quite cute:)