Hi guys! Just thought I'd ask about surrogate mothering. I am going to try this with my next litter due in 8 days. My Oreo has her babies who will be 5 weeks old when my next bunch comes. Now, many of you know about the blood incompatibility issue I am facing with both of my Sphynx queens. I must not let them nurse for 48 hours immediately after birth.
My question is this: Is it commonplace for another cat who is already nursing to willingly accept newborns? I am hoping my Oreo will accept the upcoming babies, as it will create a much nicer beginning for the kittens. Bottle feeding is a non-issue for me, but when there's a mom there who can do it, I think that would be so much better. There are a minimum of 4, possibly 5 kittens coming. I am trying to figure out the best way to handle the surrogacy; if I need to separate the two moms or what. I am afraid if I keep them together and Oreo is nursing Maddie's babies, that Maddie won't like it and take her kittens back. She will be wearing a body sock so the kittens wouldn't be able to find her nipples, but that's only if I allow Maddie to be with her kittens to bond in between feedings from Oreo.
Oreo's babies won't need her as often when they're 5 weeks old, so they won't be stealing nipples as much as they would if they were only a couple weeks old. Oreo is a fantastic mother, so I have high hopes of her being a surrogate for Maddie's little ones.
I've never had to do this before, but I thought with all the people here who work rescues and fostering, someone would have some experience with surrogate moms.
Any and all advice is greatly appreciated!!
My question is this: Is it commonplace for another cat who is already nursing to willingly accept newborns? I am hoping my Oreo will accept the upcoming babies, as it will create a much nicer beginning for the kittens. Bottle feeding is a non-issue for me, but when there's a mom there who can do it, I think that would be so much better. There are a minimum of 4, possibly 5 kittens coming. I am trying to figure out the best way to handle the surrogacy; if I need to separate the two moms or what. I am afraid if I keep them together and Oreo is nursing Maddie's babies, that Maddie won't like it and take her kittens back. She will be wearing a body sock so the kittens wouldn't be able to find her nipples, but that's only if I allow Maddie to be with her kittens to bond in between feedings from Oreo.
Oreo's babies won't need her as often when they're 5 weeks old, so they won't be stealing nipples as much as they would if they were only a couple weeks old. Oreo is a fantastic mother, so I have high hopes of her being a surrogate for Maddie's little ones.
I've never had to do this before, but I thought with all the people here who work rescues and fostering, someone would have some experience with surrogate moms.
Any and all advice is greatly appreciated!!
