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Stray Cat Gave Birth 20 hours ago need tips and advice.

post #1 of 17
4/16/10 at 5:26pm
Thread Starter 
Hi all first time caring for new borns. so a stray cat (though seems very socialized she went up to us!)that me and my gf brought into our apartment a few months ago gave birth last night we were not home to witness the birth. When we got home the kittens and the queen were in the box we set up for them a couple weeks ago. The kittens were feeding and we noticed there were 5 kittens tho one wasnt moving. My gf started crying cause we feared it didnt make it and it seemed so it wasnt moving at all. we watched the kittens till 3 am in the morning and the whole time the mom cat stayed in the box with the kittens. then round 5 in the morning the mom cat got out of the box and started making alot of meowee noised like calling us and then she jus did her own normal things she did before she had the kittens like walk around sit on the dresser play with our other cat ect is this normal? even at one time the mom cat was laying between me and my gf on the bed for a good 30 mins, another time she was sitting right out side of the box while the kittens were inside?!?! we are scared to leave them by themselves my gf has work and school and i go to school so there are goin to be times when we are not home is this goin to be a problem? any other advice or tips would be helpfull thanks every one!
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post #2 of 17
4/16/10 at 5:45pm
Did the 5th kitten revive? If not, be sure to remove it from the nest.

Some mothers are better than others. It's important that the kittens keep warm and eat every 2 hours or so.

Just ask any questions you may have, and there are real experts here who will try to help you.
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post #3 of 17
4/16/10 at 6:17pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrblanche View Post
Did the 5th kitten revive? If not, be sure to remove it from the nest.

Some mothers are better than others. It's important that the kittens keep warm and eat every 2 hours or so.

Just ask any questions you may have, and there are real experts here who will try to help you.
yeah the 5th didnt make it so we did remove it from the nest. my gf is saying the queen is doing better and spending more time with the kittens but still goes and does her own ting time to time i guess this is a normal thing. to keep them warm i saw on a site that getting a electric hear warmer adn placing it under the towel in there nest is a good idea? Would they be ok if there are left alone when we go to work or school? should we seperate them from our other cat? our other cat and the queen get along very well they play alot at first i thought i was fighting but i think its playing lol they run after each other and kinda wrestle. out other cats seems ok with the kittens she does peek inside and is curious about the kittens bout havnt seen any agressive moves
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post #4 of 17
4/16/10 at 7:20pm
Is it really cold where you're located? An electric heater is not a good idea. It could get too warm plus there is a danger with electrical cords being too near the kittens, or the mother if she chews on cords. The babies will pile together for warmth when the mother isn't with them. If you're really concerned you can put uncooked rice in a sock and heat it in the microwave, just make sure it's not too hot to touch. The kittens will cuddle up to that.

It's normal for the mother to take time away from her babies. As long as she goes back to feed them every 2-3 hours they'll be fine.

I had a stray with kittens about a year and a half ago. My other cats never bothered the kittens, but I didn't like to leave them alone when the kittens were really young. When I went to work I would put the kitten basket and mama cat in my bedroom, with food and water and litter box, and let the others have the run of the rest of the house.
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post #5 of 17
4/16/10 at 8:21pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by GoldyCat View Post
Is it really cold where you're located? An electric heater is not a good idea. It could get too warm plus there is a danger with electrical cords being too near the kittens, or the mother if she chews on cords. The babies will pile together for warmth when the mother isn't with them. If you're really concerned you can put uncooked rice in a sock and heat it in the microwave, just make sure it's not too hot to touch. The kittens will cuddle up to that.

It's normal for the mother to take time away from her babies. As long as she goes back to feed them every 2-3 hours they'll be fine.

I had a stray with kittens about a year and a half ago. My other cats never bothered the kittens, but I didn't like to leave them alone when the kittens were really young. When I went to work I would put the kitten basket and mama cat in my bedroom, with food and water and litter box, and let the others have the run of the rest of the house.
located in southern california weather here is kinda weird really hot one day then the next its cold lol. i do notice that they bundle together when they sleep.

about the time away from her babies thanks for the reply on that i was really concerned thinking she is abanding them or something.
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post #6 of 17
4/17/10 at 3:42am
I have a stray that gave birth less than a week ago. I also got worried when I saw her leaving her kittens and strolling around but her bond to the kittens seems to be getting stronger despite her strolls.

I say that because when the kittens where first born, she didnt pick them up out of the hole they were in and I had to put them in their cardboard box for her. During the next day I had to reposition them in their box when feeding on several occasions. I never got any response from the mother when handling the kittens.

These last few days though, even if she is out for a stroll, if I approach her kittens she comes right over and gets in the box to see what I am doing. I'm no animal behaviourist, but its seemed like her bond got stronger after feeding the kittens for a few days.
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post #7 of 17
4/17/10 at 11:35am
Like mrblanche said, some moms are better than others...as long as she does go in often enough, and the kittens aren't crying and they don't feel chilled, you don't need to worry too much Good luck with them, and I'm sorry for your loss
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post #8 of 17
4/21/10 at 2:33am
Thread Starter 
ok well heres an update kittens are doing well snowy the mother is doing alot better job mothering the kittens. One question i have it i noticed a bug on snowy im thinking maybe flees?! we do put frontline on her just havnt for a while. is it ok to put frontline on her now? Is it bad for the kittens if snowy is near them with frontline on her?
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post #9 of 17
4/21/10 at 6:25am
I had one who if she could get some lovins from a person would stand up with the babies nursing and let them fall where they fell and another who although the sweetest cat, you could not go near her after having her babies - she wanted them and no one else. Their reactions, like people, vary a lot.

Some formulas of Frontline are approved for nursing cats and others are not, I would call a vet and ask, but if it isn't bad, and you are not sure it was a flea, would be very careful before using a flea med.
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post #10 of 17
5/3/10 at 12:37am
Thread Starter 
ok update all the kittens are doing good there getting big soooo fastt lol. another questions cats have 5 finger 5 nails right??? cause 2 of the kittens have 6 nails????!?! is this normal and the other 2 have regular 5 nails???
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post #11 of 17
5/3/10 at 2:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by alphaqforever24 View Post
ok update all the kittens are doing good there getting big soooo fastt lol. another questions cats have 5 finger 5 nails right??? cause 2 of the kittens have 6 nails????!?! is this normal and the other 2 have regular 5 nails???
You may have some polydactyl kittens (extra toes). This is a very common occurance with cats and in most cases causes the cats no harm. Some people even like the extra toes-ies.

When they get bigger and you start trimming their nails (best to get them used to this at a young age) you should check and make sure there are no extra nails down between the toes and if they are, make sure to trim them well as the cat often can't sharpen these. Your Vet can show you how to properly trim nails and examine the extra toes to make sure there are no problems (there usually aren't with extra toes).
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post #12 of 17
5/4/10 at 5:55pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lyrajean View Post
You may have some polydactyl kittens (extra toes). This is a very common occurance with cats and in most cases causes the cats no harm. Some people even like the extra toes-ies.

When they get bigger and you start trimming their nails (best to get them used to this at a young age) you should check and make sure there are no extra nails down between the toes and if they are, make sure to trim them well as the cat often can't sharpen these. Your Vet can show you how to properly trim nails and examine the extra toes to make sure there are no problems (there usually aren't with extra toes).

hey thanks for reply soo i guess its nothing to be concerned about? when would be a good age to start trimming there nails? they are almost 3 weeks old. any other tips since there nearing the 3 month mark? Like with food? liter box? scratching post? any changes i should do? they are starting to walk a little.
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post #13 of 17
5/8/10 at 12:40pm
Thread Starter 
any one?? there nearing 4 weeks old what changes should i do with there food, nest, liter box, ect.? food there still getting milk from mommy nest i put 2 big boxes together, no liter box yet dunno when they should have one. anything else?
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post #14 of 17
5/8/10 at 12:48pm
Try putting some non-clumping litter in a shoe-box lid, or something small enough that they can get into. Put them in there every once and a while and make a digging motion with their paws, so they get the hang of it- it may take a while, but they'll eventually catch on.
For food, try either wet food or hard food moistened with water. Try rubbing a little of it on their mouths- they'll lick it then they'll have the taste on their mouths. Algain, it may take them a few days, but they'll eventually get it.
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post #15 of 17
5/8/10 at 5:07pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by CuteKittenKat View Post
Try putting some non-clumping litter in a shoe-box lid, or something small enough that they can get into. Put them in there every once and a while and make a digging motion with their paws, so they get the hang of it- it may take a while, but they'll eventually catch on.
For food, try either wet food or hard food moistened with water. Try rubbing a little of it on their mouths- they'll lick it then they'll have the taste on their mouths. Algain, it may take them a few days, but they'll eventually get it.
ohh ok thanks for advice. i have clumping liter at home is that bad to use for the kittens?
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post #16 of 17
5/8/10 at 5:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by alphaqforever24 View Post
ohh ok thanks for advice. i have clumping liter at home is that bad to use for the kittens?
The problem with clumping litter is that kittens tend to eat anything that comes near their mouths. Litter that clumps in a kitten tummy can be fatal.

I started putting out small pans of litter for Goldy's kittens when they were 4 weeks old, but I didn't see anybody actually use them until they were 5+ weeks old. I think they mostly learned by example. I put a small pan of litter next to each of the big boxes and I think that helped. I saw Cali watching her momma use the litter box, and when Goldy was finished Cali hopped into her little pan and used it.
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post #17 of 17
5/8/10 at 7:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by GoldyCat View Post
The problem with clumping litter is that kittens tend to eat anything that comes near their mouths. Litter that clumps in a kitten tummy can be fatal.

I started putting out small pans of litter for Goldy's kittens when they were 4 weeks old, but I didn't see anybody actually use them until they were 5+ weeks old. I think they mostly learned by example. I put a small pan of litter next to each of the big boxes and I think that helped. I saw Cali watching her momma use the litter box, and when Goldy was finished Cali hopped into her little pan and used it.
Yes, I agree- almost all of my fosters have decided that eating their litter was the first thing to do so I would wait until you can get some non-clumping
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