Well tinker is in labor

Maybe that's why she was being a bad mom- because she still had a dead kitten inside of her and it caused her to be stressed out...Is she doing any better now?

Originally Posted by fastnoc

No it was dead. I didn't see it until today.

and I don't think i'm much of a dad, i did a pretty crappy job of this. and even with all the great suggestions here i barely made it.

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Oh, that is NOT true! You are doing great in a terribly trying situation. If she went under the bed and delivered a kitten and you didn't know.. or it came out stillborn, these things happen. You're doing everything you can to get Tink to be a good mom, nurse and clean the kittens and keep Wilbur out of the way. A big cyber to you.

When I volunteered at my vet's office, we would keep the cats that were waking up from anesthesia warm like this: Run the tap water until it is hot. Fill a 2 liter soda/water bottle with hot water. Wrap full bottle with towel. Be aware of the towel's thickness. Too thin = too much heat transfer, too heavy = not enough heat transfer. Place a couple of these "hot water bottles" around the animal to gently warm them. Cheap and effective way of keeping the baby nest warm. And easy to change out/rotate/reuse when they cool down.

Good luck. You are certainly doing a wonderful, admirable job of kitty parenting!

Originally Posted by fastnoc

"EDIT: yeah it was just cold. man, Tinker isn't being very 'motherly'. i have to pick her up and hold her, then get the kittens 'attached' and hold them the whole time. . if I don't they'll just cry and she just leaves them. even when she's with them she lays facing them. not offering milk.

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She's too young, mostly.

Originally Posted by fastnoc

No it was dead. I didn't see it until today.

and I don't think i'm much of a dad, i did a pretty crappy job of this. and even with all the great suggestions here i barely made it.

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You've done more than most people would have done with the very last of what you've got.

keep in mind, I don't blame myself for the dead kitten. I couldn't have helped that, I didn't even know it was there. What I mean is I'm having to force everything. the feeding, the sleeping, the moving of the cats. etc.

What REALLY bothers me, is I'll get tinker to feed them, then they go to sleep, and she MOVES them again.

Here's the scenario. The babies start crying. She picks ONE up. only one. brings it to my feet and sets it down. watching it cry. I pick it up, and get the other two together. I sit on the bed and tinker runs over and lays in my lap. I get them all 'hooked up' and let them eat. she's fine. After awhile she decides to get up. the kittens cry. but I sit with them and keep them warm until they fall asleep. After awhile I get up. they're sound a sleep. tinker goes over and picks one up again and brings it to my feet, crying. if I take it back and quiet them down? She does it again. If I just hold it, she gets upset and tries to move it again.

So basically no matter what I do she CONSTANTLY makes them cry again and I can't get a break.

That doesn't sound too successful

I may sound stupid for this because I don't know anything about kittens or mothering instincts. But...

Tinker is still a kitten herself, and you bottle fed her. Is it possible that she thinks you are supposed to be feeding the kittens instead of her? Perhaps she's confused?

I do wish she would quit moving them around or that you at least had some way to confine her so you could easily find and get to the kittens when necessary.

I don't think you're stupid at all, and i think what you just said has a lot to do with the problem. 1. Tinker is only 10 months old. too young. 2. she was bottle raised, and likely doesn't know she's suppose to take care of them. so she puts them to me, knowing i did it for her.

She does have some instinct. she stimulates them now and gets them to go potty. So that part is good because that's the one I REALLY didn't want to have to do.

Yea you know - the kittens are saying to her "Mom! We're hungry!" and Tinker's like "Oh - yea? Well I know this guy who makes a mean bottle..."

How are things this morning, JT? Did you get any sleep? Any progress with Tinker and the babies?

I've slept about 2 hours in the last 2 days. lol. they're ok i just have to keep everything going.

It's not unusual for cats to have trouble getting the routine right on their first litter, especially if they're fairly young themselves. Of course, you have the added complication of Wilbur.

you know what's funny? Wilbur isn't a problem. he's stopped worrying over them so much, and sometimes when tinker moves them, she takes them to where he's sleeping and puts them in his stomach. like she's trying to get him to feed them.

Originally Posted by CruiserMaiden

Yea you know - the kittens are saying to her "Mom! We're hungry!" and Tinker's like "Oh - yea? Well I know this guy who makes a mean bottle..."

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LOL...that's great! If only we knew what was really going on in their minds. I imagine you have it pretty close!

JT, I don't believe I've posted in any of your threads, but I have been following them since you had your fosters! You've been doing great with a difficult situation. Just keep your spirits up!

It does sound like Tinker is making some progress...slow, but some. Hopefully within a couple of days she gets into the routine and you can get a bit more of a break! You're being a great dad to help her along with this.

WOW! You are doing great! Don't stress, the babies will be easier to care for after several days has passed.

I think you guys are onto something with Tinker bringing the babies to HumanDad when they are hungry... she is associating feeding with HumanDad. Keep showing her how to feed them, be consistent. Hook them onto her, pet her, soothe her, keep her still, keep her with them until they are fed.

Get ahold of that vet, the vet obviously has to take responsibility for this.

I have bottle-fed new borns before, and had to stimulate them myself. It's nasty work, but necessary. I used a little face-cleansing pad (or some folded-up toilet paper) and put it under the bum, then rubbed gently, massaging (light pressure), until they peed, and later, pooped. I had LOTS of old towels & sheets & whatuch in their bed area, in case of messing. Made for doing laundry constantly, but was easer on my carpets for sure.

My neutered male took over after a few days and stimulated them for me half the time, that made life easier.

I slept very little, I remember sitting on my kitchen floor sobbing because I was so stressed out and overwhelmed. You can DO this, stay strong, just look at thier little faces. I have faith in you, look how far you have come already.

welp. i busted the camera lol

lol i know it!!!

it's ok it's covered under warranty, I just won't be able to take pics of the little cherubs for awhile.

one question. is it normal for a little bleeding to happen on the mom for a coupel days? I swear I remember asking this because i think madonna did it too but I can't remember.

maybe i just need some sleep

NO CAMERA?? How are we going to keep up with your babies? We need our daily cuteness fix.

I found little drops of blood from Goldy for about a week after she delivered. Mostly it was spots on the floor leaving a trail where she walked. It did start getting more watery after the first day or two, but you could still tell it was blood.