litter of 5 kittens

my new cat cookie was rescued last week as her previous owner did not want her because she was pregnant so i took her in and within 2 days we had 5 brand new kittens mum is doin well and so are the kittens all except one i feel she is not putting on weight like the others and she is quite small compared to the others i was wondering is there anything i should or shouldnt do as im quite new to the kitten side of cats any help and advice would be greatly appreciated

I will say off the top that I am NOT the kitten expert on here. A couple of things come to mind. First to get a small scale and weigh them every day so that you know for a fact if they are gaining weight.

Second is to supplement the smaller kitten's feeding with a kitten milk replacer such as KMR. If this is not available to you, I know there are formulas on here for so-called kitten "glop" that can be fed to them. I also think... but not sure, that goat's milk can be used in a pinch. Do not just give cow's milk as that will give the kitten diarrhea.

Forgot to say you will need a kitten bottle to feed a baby that small. Don't hold her/him like a human infanat either - on the back. Kittens nurse on their tummies or even upright is ok.

well just to keep you up to date i weighed the tiny one yesterday she weighed 67.6 grams and weighed her again today she has dropped to 62.8 grams i have been to the local pet shop and picked some lactol and feeding things up she has had 4ml so far but she was content and went sleep so i have put her back in with mum now.

i will keep you all posted

Originally Posted by AddieBee

not sure, that goat's milk can be used in a pinch.

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Yes, among others our forumite JennyRansom has excellent results with goat milk for emergency kmr.

Goatmilk is also good for adult recoverers. And many humans who dont manage common cow milk, do manage the goat milk.


To the ThreadStarter: If the stronger siblings put her away, try to lay her with her mom when the siblings are asleep.
Also keep her warm if she is put away...

I think also, unless she is also taking some from mom, try with give a little but often. As she doesnt have the strengh to take as much as she really needs.


Her weight is very low, but not too low. So be prepared for the worst, but hope for the best, and fight on as long as you can!

The link for motherless kittens may perhaps be of use to you
www.kitten-rescue.com


Good luck!



btw: Welcome to the Forums!


Ps 2. I myself know more about the kmr from KMR-brand, or Royal Canins for kittens.
Both are very good, the KMR possible better, the RC cheaper..

But I suppose this Lactol is good enough, as I took a quick search on Google about it.

This is not to make you panic. I read that kittens smaller than 90g are at risk to not make it. If she is eating however, that is a good sign. In addition to supplementing, and if the mother doesn't panic too much, you can remove some of the other bigger kits for 10 to 15 minutes and allow the smallest to have a better chance at getting milk.

thank you all so much for your advice and help and im pleased to tell you all she is doin fine she is putting weight on slowly but she is getting there and mum is feeding her properly now so i dont have to intervene as much i keep weighing her each day just to check mum dont like it so much but she sits on the table and watches me then takes her back herself now bless

Originally Posted by smirnoff

thank you all so much for your advice and help and im pleased to tell you all she is doin fine she is putting weight on slowly but she is getting there and mum is feeding her properly now so i dont have to intervene as much i keep weighing her each day just to check mum dont like it so much but she sits on the table and watches me then takes her back herself now bless

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I'm glad to hear it

Oh that's good news!