My cat just had kittens...IN MY BED! Can I move them?

[detroitcatlady]

They are so adorable! Looks like a wonderful litter. Hope they are doing well!

 

[kawaiikitty]

I have another question, for anyone who may know. Momma does not want to stay in the room when i'm not in there. When I'm in there she lays with them happily, but if I leave the room...when I come back in she jumps up and comes to the door. She does the same thing when I go to leave. But when I sit in the room near her, she lays there very content with her kittens licking and nursing them.

I can't sit in the bedroom all day, but I have other cats in the house. I feel like they need to be moved into the living room because momma wants to be near us.

After she had the first 6 of her kittens, I left the room for about ten minutes and when I came back she was at the door and the kittens were alone on the bed. I picked her up and took her back to the bed...and then while I was there she went on to have the other two kittens. She didn't want to have them when I wasn't in the room with her, it seems. 

So how can I keep them in the living room and keep them safe from my 3 year old cat who will not be very welcoming. A simple box that my other cat can jump in won't work. I was thinking about getting and using one of those enclosed soft playpens like this one      Then when mom is in there with them I can keep it zipped, and when she wants out I can let her out and zip it again. I am always out in the living room so I'd be able to do that. They're also quite large so I think I could even put food and water in there. Any thoughts on that? I'm worried if I keep them in the bedroom then she will continue to leave them more than she should because she wants to be near us...

 

[DreamerRose]

They are adorable! I think it's okay to move the kittens. Put them one by one into one of the boxes you've prepared. Mom will follow at some point and settle down. I've had to move newborn kittens and never had a problem. As the others said, mom will leave them to eat and drink when they all fall asleep. There was a mom cat I had that had just gotten out of her box when I came into the room. She looked worriedly at the kittens then at me as if to say, "Don't wake up my babies!" Human moms will say that, too.

 

[handsome kitty]

She may settle down after a couple of days.  Some considerations:  The kittens need low light, their eyes will not open for days; mom may not want other cats nearby for the first few weeks.  Food, water and a litter box should be in the same room with mom and kittens so she doesn't need to go far from the kittens.  I've see @sarthur2 suggest closing the door so the mom has to stay with her kittens the first couple of days.

 

[kawaiikitty]

 
She may settle down after a couple of days.  Some considerations:  The kittens need low light, their eyes will not open for days; mom may not want other cats nearby for the first few weeks.  Food, water and a litter box should be in the same room with mom and kittens so she doesn't need to go far from the kittens.  I've see @sarthur2 suggest closing the door so the mom has to stay with her kittens the first couple of days.

Mom cat has food, water, and litter in the room but she goes to the door and prefers to leave to eat, drink, and use the bathroom for some reason. She always goes back, though. The door is shut, so I have to let her out and back in. 

Having a few problems, though. 8 cats seems too many for mom. She is doing a good job, I think the best she can with 8 of them. When they eat, not all of them manage to find a nipple and fight. So I wanted to do the thing someone suggested above, where I put 4 in a different box with a heat source and swap them with mom every hour or so. That hasn't worked out (will explain further down). 

Also, mom is not helping all of them go to the bathroom...I think she just can't tell which ones she has done it for and which she hasn't. So I was helping with that, and did about 4 kittens (they all went so I don't think she had been doing it) but then the kitten I was doing it to was meowing. Mom came and looked very distraught and picked up the kitten and took it to another place entirely. Still in the room, but underneath a drawer in the corner. She then sat there with only that one kitten nursing it....

I made the mistake of thinking this would be a good opportunity to give her 4 kittens to nurse while the others remained in a box with a heating pad under a towel in half the box on low. So I put another 3 with her. A bit later when all was done, I tried to get her to lay with the other 4 kittens....and move the 4 that were in this little cave spot she found back into a box. She didn't stay with the kittens who hadn't eaten and instead immediately got up and started moving all of them back where she had taken them. The place she took them isn't a great spot, because I can't really access them and I need to be able to get them to supplement feed them and also help them go to the bathroom, if she is going to keep all 8 together. Also, there are no edges and they can just wander off. The room is shut, but 8 kittens is a lot to keep track of and there are some nooks and crannies in the room. Next time she leaves the room, should I stick them back in the boxes that are ideal and close up the area that she took them to? Or should I just try to secure where she took them around the edges so the kittens can't get out? But then I won't really be able to keep an eye on what's going on....  Also, she only moved 6 of the 8 kittens...

I really feel that the litter needs to be split up and alternated every hour or so. Because some are really aggressive about eating and fights start where they are scratching at each other. Last night I was up most of the night breaking up fights and helping kittens who couldn't find a nipple find one. I also think she'd do a better job at bathroom stimulation if she only had 4 at a time to do it to. But I'm not having much luck right now :/

 

[talkingpeanut]

Yes, definitely switch out four and four. You also really need to be weighing them and supplementing the ones who aren't gaining enough. You are right to help potty them. You can hold them near mom's head when you're handling each kitten so she can see you. And yes, they should be in a box with mom, with edges high enough that they can't wiggle out. Can you make the box large enough that you can rotate all the kittens within the same box? One group nursing and one by her head?

 

[catpack]

Someone else might have a different suggestion; however, I think I would confine mom and kittens to a bathroom or another room that doesn't have all the nooks and crannies. Put mom's food, water, litter box and a separate bed for her in there.

In keeping mom confined, you can divide the kittens and rotate them in and out of the room with mom.

Weighing the kittens daily is going to be super important for you as you will know which kittens need more formula and how mom is handling nursing them in shifts.

 

[ginny]

Too bad you can't milk the mama (like a cow) and then bottle feed her milk to the ones who lose out on a nipple. 

 

[kawaiikitty]

Yes, definitely switch out four and four. You also really need to be weighing them and supplementing the ones who aren't gaining enough. You are right to help potty them. You can hold them near mom's head when you're handling each kitten so she can see you. And yes, they should be in a box with mom, with edges high enough that they can't wiggle out. Can you make the box large enough that you can rotate all the kittens within the same box? One group nursing and one by her head?

She came out to use the bathroom, eat, and drink right now so I switched the kittens back and filled in the spot she had taken them. For some reason she won't use the litter box that's in the room and she won't eat the food or drink the water in there either. For now I just put them all back in the large box. It's 32 inches side to side and about 20 inches front to back, so it's pretty big. All of the kittens flock to her when she's in there with them, though, so I can't really get them separated within that box. Especially the ones who are really aggressive about feeding, they seem to be on her constantly when she's in there. If i move one of those away, they are back quickly scratching and pushing another kitten off of their nipple. I put them in together for now, so she doesn't get so upset about me moving them back. But I will move 4 to a different box soon.

I've been weighing them and supplementing.

Someone else might have a different suggestion; however, I think I would confine mom and kittens to a bathroom or another room that doesn't have all the nooks and crannies. Put mom's food, water, litter box and a separate bed for her in there.

In keeping mom confined, you can divide the kittens and rotate them in and out of the room with mom.

Weighing the kittens daily is going to be super important for you as you will know which kittens need more formula and how mom is handling nursing them in shifts.

I can't confine them to the bathroom because we only have one bathroom, and the litter box is in there for the other cats. We also only have two other spare rooms and they are both a child's bedroom that have even more hazards in them to the kittens. But rotating in room and out room is a good idea, I think I will probably bring the box of the kittens that aren't nursing out into the living room with me. I have other cats, but I can keep them near me and supervised. 

 

[handsome kitty]

Mom may get upset if she can't see the kittens.  You will have to play it by ear.

Be careful when supplementing.  Tummy down, head up (like its laying by mom) and put a drop or two in the kittens cheek.  Wait for the kitten to swallow, breath and repeat.  Take your time  you don't want any to go into the kittens lungs and cause pneumonia.

Sounds like you are on top of things and doing a great job!

 

[kawaiikitty]

Hi everyone, I posted 2 weeks ago about the pregnant stray I took in having her 8 kittens. 

All of the kittens are growing, eating, and have been doing very well.

Until a couple days ago, I noticed two of them seemed to have very watery eyes. I took a cotton ball and gently wiped their eyes with warm water, but it didn't really do much. 

Today, one of the kittens with watery eyes, his one eye which was watering a lot and squinting yesterday is now closed. I haven't seen him open it up all day. 

They have also been sneezing a tiny bit pretty much since they were born. I didn't think much of it, because they all have been doing well otherwise. I figured it was just an irritation from smells, etc. They're all eating, starting to walk upright, gaining weight steadily, all of their eyes opened, etc.

I read about the feline herpes virus and about lysine, but the kittens are only 2 weeks old right now and only nursing still so I assume they're too young to give lysine to. 

What should I do about the kitten who has very watery eyes, and now one closed eye? Does he need to go to a vet, or is there something I can do? He is still eating and behaving normally other than his eyes.

Thank you for any help!

 

[kawaiikitty]

This is a photo of what the kitten with the particularly watery/irritated eyes looks like today. His eye is still open a bit sometimes, not closed all the time. But it is just barely remaining open. His eyes were completely open and fine about 4 days ago.

12596958_1556953311262998_2002108719_o.jpg

• kawaiikitty
• Jan 27, 2016

This is what all of the other kitten's eyes look like, for comparison. Sorry the photo quality is not good. They're from a cell phone and it's hard to get photos with them moving around so much.

12636989_1556953467929649_2094799131_o.jpg

• kawaiikitty
• Jan 27, 2016

 

[StefanZ]

Do you have access to a vet, to phone and take advice from?  I suspect strongly that kitten must have help of some sort, its not just home remedies.

If you havent access to vet, I could try and gather up some home remedies, but please begin with the vet!

 

[kawaiikitty]

 
Do you have access to a vet, to phone and take advice from?  I suspect strongly that kitten must have help of some sort, its not just home remedies.

If you havent access to vet, I could try and gather up some home remedies, but please begin with the vet!

A blizzard hit us hard where I am. Trash hasn't even been collected this week. I'm in a small town and our vet is local, and the office is closed due to the weather. Their automated message has a number for the nearest emergency vet clinic, in the case of emergencies, but I don't think I'd be able to get to them as they are about an hour away. Today is warmer and some of the snow is melting off the roads, so I'm thinking my vet will probably be open tomorrow. What can I do in the meantime? And what are your thoughts on the eye situation, as far as if you had to guess what is going on. I know you're not a vet, but any suggestions or ideas would be very helpful right now. As I said, he is still eating and walking around and going to the bathroom when stimulated like all of the others. 

 

[StefanZ]

I have been learned (by our mods once upon the time, btw!) not to fool around with difficult or unclear eye issues, unless Im pretty sure what it is, and what is possible to do with it.  So Im following this advice rather scrupulously!

Here, as said, I have an impression this is something which may be serious.  A vet should look at it, or at very least, give advices on telephone after your description (you may perhaps even send a couple of photos, or send a link to this your post).

Of antibiotics, terramycine paste is often used for minor eye problems.  In many places its possible to get it without receipt.

Of washing off the eye, saline water is easy to get, and fairly effective - used even i hospitals.  A teaspoon salt boiled up in one litre water, cooled down to body temp.

The same receipt for minor wounds on humans...

You can after wash with common water, or saline water with just a tiny trifle salt, if you think its necessary.  But tears are salty, so not too strong saline water is natural.

Using tea water may work, rather weak tea. Body temp.

Camomille tea water is also useful.

There may be others, but these are what I know of.

As its mostly one eye, be sure you dont contagion the other eye...

 

[talkingpeanut]

The main thing is not to let the eye get sealed shut. You can hold a warm damp cloth on it until the crud loosens, and then wipe, as often as you need. This will clear up quickly with ointment from the vet. You should try to get them in ASAP.

 

[ellag]

do you have any colloidal silver? i've heard of using that but i haven't used it for eye problems myself.

 

[kawaiikitty]

 
I have been learned (by our mods once upon the time, btw!) not to fool around with difficult or unclear eye issues, unless Im pretty sure what it is, and what is possible to do with it.  So Im following this advice rather scrupulously!

Here, as said, I have an impression this is something which may be serious.  A vet should look at it, or at very least, give advices on telephone after your description (you may perhaps even send a couple of photos, or send a link to this your post).

Of antibiotics, terramycine paste is often used for minor eye problems.  In many places its possible to get it without receipt.

Of washing off the eye, saline water is easy to get, and fairly effective - used even i hospitals.  A teaspoon salt boiled up in one litre water, cooled down to body temp.

The same receipt for minor wounds on humans...

You can after wash with common water, or saline water with just a tiny trifle salt, if you think its necessary.  But tears are salty, so not too strong saline water is natural.

Using tea water may work, rather weak tea. Body temp.

Camomille tea water is also useful.

There may be others, but these are what I know of.

As its mostly one eye, be sure you dont contagion the other eye...

Thank you. I will definitely speak with the vet tomorrow. I am sure they will be open tomorrow. The schools are opening back up tomorrow and trash pickup is supposed to resume tomorrow too. For now, I have been using warm damp cloths on his eye. I am thinking of using tea water like you suggested tonight, but would like suggestions on what kind of tea would be okay. Is green tea okay to use? That's what I happen to have on hand in the house. Also, I see that the terramycin eye cream is sold online....but would that be similar to what the vet would give? I could get some with same day shipping from amazon. Or would it be better to just wait and get it from the vet, do you think?

The main thing is not to let the eye get sealed shut. You can hold a warm damp cloth on it until the crud loosens, and then wipe, as often as you need. This will clear up quickly with ointment from the vet. You should try to get them in ASAP.

I will try to get them to the vet tomorrow if it is opened back up. I have been using warm damp cloths to soak the eye. It actually doesn't appear to have any "crud" and it also isn't leaking yellow or green discharge. It is leaking clear fluid...  But the right eye is very squinty and opened much less than the other eye. 

 
do you have any colloidal silver? i've heard of using that but i haven't used it for eye problems myself.

I have never heard of colloidal silver. Can something like that be used in a kitten so young? They are only 2 weeks old.

 

[Sarthur2]

Please see the vet. They may have an eye infection, but they may also have an upper respiratory infection (URI) requiring an antibiotic. I say that because you mentioned sneezing.

 

[StefanZ]

 
Thank you. I will definitely speak with the vet tomorrow. I am sure they will be open tomorrow. The schools are opening back up tomorrow and trash pickup is supposed to resume tomorrow too. For now, I have been using warm damp cloths on his eye. I am thinking of using tea water like you suggested tonight, but would like suggestions on what kind of tea would be okay. Is green tea okay to use? That's what I happen to have on hand in the house. Also, I see that the terramycin eye cream is sold online....but would that be similar to what the vet would give? I could get some with same day shipping from amazon. Or would it be better to just wait and get it from the vet, do you think?

I will try to get them to the vet tomorrow if it is opened back up. I have been using warm damp cloths to soak the eye. It actually doesn't appear to have any "crud" and it also isn't leaking yellow or green discharge. It is leaking clear fluid...  But the right eye is very squinty and opened much less than the other eye. 

I have never heard of colloidal silver. Can something like that be used in a kitten so young? They are only 2 weeks old.

Green tea is surely OK too, its not only the usual black tea.  You can use is as the damping agent of that warm damp cloth, for example.

I think the terramycin sold online is the same.  At least, I have seen forumists tell about it, when a poster hadnt access to any good vet and no pharmacias nearby either, so they told terramycin could be bought online.  Thus, I suppose its a standard concentration. 

But the only way to play it safe is  talk with your vet.      (I myself have access to vets, so its seldom I myself use home remedies for heavy problems)

You can perhaps yourself find on terramycin for animal use, what concentration there is, and later on compare with that terramycin you are going to buy, what concentration there is.

Minor differences wont matter that much, as its no exact science smearing on a paste. But you dont want big differences of 10x or more.