Help!

ponyrock

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Jan 23, 2011
Messages
7
Purraise
0
Location
new hampshire
Hi there, my name is Greg and one of the guys in my band was forced to move in with his inlaws with his wife and kids so I ended up taking his female Persian and male tabby. Little was I to know that the Persian wasn't spayed and the tabby wasn't fixed either. Fast forward 12 months later and Diva, the Persian just gave birth earlier today in my brother and his wifes closet, no less. 2 so far........and they're on a bunch of old shirts. Now I had set up something dark and quiet for her in my room in the previous weeks. I thought we had an understanding. Apparently not.
Now, first of all, she is growling when she goes in to see the babies, but that may be just because we're all standing around near the closet, watching. Also, Diva has an affinity with ME......for some strange reason, that is......I feed her and pet her and she sleeps in my room often. Is there a problem with the male tabby going in and seeing the babies? He's curious and he knows and I just don't want any problems. Also, its 2 am almost and I have my door closed and my bro has his open so they can get to their food and litter in the hall and Diva can get to her babies. Well, it seems like since this afternoon, Diva has been ignoring them. Is it normal for her to spend so much time away from her babies so early? What should I do, I don't want them to starve and all Diva seems to care about us whether my doorr is closed. When is it ok to move them?
 

GoldyCat

Moderator
Staff Member
Moderator
Joined
Jul 31, 2008
Messages
15,759
Purraise
4,676
Location
Arizona
Welcome to TCS. What are your cats' names?

My only experience with newborn kittens was when I took in a pregnant stray 2-1/2 years ago. Goldy basically stayed with her babies continuously for the first few hours. I put her food close to the basket so she wouldn't have to move to get it. She must have gotten out at some point to use the litter box, but I never saw her far from the kittens.

Have you seen her nursing the kittens? They're like human babies, they need to eat frequently and mostly sleep in between.

Are you sure she's finished having all her kittens? If she's still in labor she could be too restless to stay with the ones she's already had.

Will she let you move the babies into your room? If that's where she normally sleeps she might be more comfortable there. It would also give her more privacy if you keep the rest of the people out of your room.

I would keep the male cat away from the kittens just to be on the safe side. He might not hurt them intentionally, but he doesn't know what they are, either. Another consideration is that a female can get pregnant again within a day or two after having kittens. (I hope the male has been neutered now).
 

hissy

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 19, 2001
Messages
34,872
Purraise
76
keep the male away from the kittens and get him neutered quickly. Even after the neuter, keep him away because he could harm the kittens. Is she nursing the kittens at all? Can you decrease the amount of people in the room with her and YOU alone just sit next to her and be very still to see if she will start caring for the kittens. If they don't eat soon they will die and you will need to step in before that happens. This website will guide you www.kitten-rescue.com

How old is the Queen? If she is a young one, she may not be sure how to be a mom and again you will NEED to step in. She shouldn't be growling, she should be licking her kittens and caring for them.

Don't move the kittens she could attack you. Just be sure wherever they are they are in a quiet place, they are warm and out of any drafts.

Re-reading your posts raises concerns. I would start taking care of these kittens on your own and at least see if after you bottle feed them- she might clean up the kittens. Cats don't have a choice when it comes to mating. Some of them, should never mate in the first place.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #4

ponyrock

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Jan 23, 2011
Messages
7
Purraise
0
Location
new hampshire
Ok. Night one........my brother left his bedroom door open all night so she could care for the babies and so she could eat and get to her litter. so far, all I can tell is that she is spending time with them but you can't see much due to the small space in the closet where she had them but Everytim you step to look, she climbs back in and sits on them so you really can't see whas going on. I'm assuming so far, their getting milk because when I left for work thus morning, I could hear them crying. Diva always expects me to feed her at the same time every morning and she kept me up most the night clawing at my closed bedroom door. I shut my door last night so she would focus on her babies and not sleep in my room all night. I'm not too worried about the male......he's smart as a bag of rocks ( just his personality) and all night tonight, their door was open and the male was out and about. Although, perhaps I should just get him fixed now, just to be safe.
Cheers
Greg
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5

ponyrock

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Jan 23, 2011
Messages
7
Purraise
0
Location
new hampshire
And another thing, the queen is at least 5 or 6 and has had a litter or two in the past with the tabby. They are both all too familiar with eachother and were biting eachother playfully.
 

StefanZ

Advisor
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
25,997
Purraise
10,645
Location
Sweden
Moms with kittens are a) easy to stress up, b) they are protective for their kittens.
I think it is why she growls and sits on her kittens when you are trying to look...
Clearly, she doesnt feel entirely at ease.
Thus, if you must look - only one at once, etc...


So, whatever you do - secure she feels safe and unstressed.
And let her be together with her kittens. If she wants to take a little walk to straighen up her legs, fine, but her place is with the kittens.
And of course, dont let her outside!

The male? If they ARE friendly to each other, there is, statistically, no danger.
There are even many examples of also fertile males being like an extra mom for the kittens. And this is quite common with neutered males. Or them at least as a well wishing uncle.
But this is statistically.
Thus - there ARE sad examples too... As witnessed by a couple of our forumites.
Besides, who knows, although she allows him near, she may be stressed by him anyway...
So, unless you see they ARE friendly and she welcomes him and wants him near - better to held him apart.

Especially as both are fertile, and as someone mentioned - next mating CAN come already a few days after the delivery.

So, unless you ARE a breeder, go and neuter him pronto, pronto, or ASAP, as the americans say.
Observe, he may be fertile even one months after the neutering, but the dangers goes lesser and lesser...


Good luck!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #7

ponyrock

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Jan 23, 2011
Messages
7
Purraise
0
Location
new hampshire
I wouldn't dream of letting her outside......not in a million years. She's a persian........so to me, she's more likely to get picked up by someone and I'm not letting that happen. I've already spoken with the guy in my band who I got them from and honestly, this whole thing was supposed to last until they moved into a new apartment. I might just tell him to take the tabby back. I couldn't part with Diva, although if her inclusion to come with Marley(the tabby)was mandatory, I would regretfully give them both back, I suppose. Either way, something will be done, today as a matter of fact. I want these babies to live and I never expected any of this but that's priority number 1. So is 24 hours the recommended time before deciding to try and move the babies? I would like to get them and Diva in my room as soon as possible.

Thanks again
 

GoldyCat

Moderator
Staff Member
Moderator
Joined
Jul 31, 2008
Messages
15,759
Purraise
4,676
Location
Arizona
Since Diva seems to want into your room, why don't you just leave the door open. She might move her babies there on her own.

As far as moving them yourself, every cat is different. Don't let anyone else try to touch her kittens and don't let other people hang around watching when you try to move them. I would try picking them up with the old shirts they're laying on and take the whole bundle to the nest you've made in your room. If you can handle it, maybe even pick up the kittens and Diva together to make the move. Watch Diva closely for her signals. She'll let you know if she's okay with you touching her babies. If she growls or attacks you, leave them alone.

You may find that once she's in your room she'll settle down.
for an easy transition.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #9

ponyrock

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Jan 23, 2011
Messages
7
Purraise
0
Location
new hampshire
Update.......my brothers wife tells me Diva has been feeding and sleeping with the babies proper.(sigh) I'm a little more relieved now.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #10

ponyrock

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Jan 23, 2011
Messages
7
Purraise
0
Location
new hampshire
Update number2........We've decided to wait a couple days to move the babies. Diva has been playing thus funny yet repetitive game where she seeks me out in the house, she starts being vocal as if saying......"Hey, follow me. Wanna see something special?" I follow her upstairs and every time, watch her go in the closet as she lays down with her kittens. Cute.......now if she could only stop coming into my room every 10 minutes while I'm trying to sleep. And she is more vocal than ever. Again, thank you everyone who responded here at the forum.

Greg
 

GoldyCat

Moderator
Staff Member
Moderator
Joined
Jul 31, 2008
Messages
15,759
Purraise
4,676
Location
Arizona
If she's coming into your room to get you at night, maybe that's a signal that she's ready to have her babies moved in there with you.

Glad things are going so well. Have you been able to get any pictures of the kittens yet? At least post pictures of Diva and Marley. We love
 

goldenkitty45

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 29, 2005
Messages
19,900
Purraise
44
Location
SW Minnesota
I"m guessing she is upset because the male is around. Keep him away from her as he can breed her when she is nursing the kittens. He needs to be neutered now and kept out of the room for 2 months or until she is spayed (she should be spayed when the kits are 8 weeks old).

As long as the kits are not crying a lot, they are not hungry and she's fine to leave them. But if she is not paying attention to them, they may be sick and you may need to try and bottle feed.

I find that if the kittens are sick or a genetic problem, the mother will reject those kittens and most times those kittens will die despite us trying to help.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #13

ponyrock

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Jan 23, 2011
Messages
7
Purraise
0
Location
new hampshire
I will defiantly post some photo of the whole lot. I think Diva realises her mistake of having them in my brothers room and not mine, where she spends most of her time. Although Marley isn't fixed, I spoke with their previous owner again and he said she's had two other litters in the past and Marley would sniff the her kittens, but he never provoked or anything. That's not to say the possibility doesn't exist however a male cat might also be the least of my problems considering my brother and his wife have a little chiuahua. Marley is getting fixed this week and hell be staying with his old owners for a few weeks. Today is the day. When I get home from work, I plan on moving those babies with Diva in the other arm. Marley doesn't date go into the closet so far and we've also been keeping him out of my brothers bedroom. No kids in this situation so noise is pretty minimal and honestly, Diva has been great with her kittens. I think she just went into a panic and has been trying to tell me she made a mistake.

take care

Greg
 

Willowy

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 1, 2009
Messages
31,886
Purraise
28,287
Location
South Dakota
Good that he's getting fixed. . .I'm surprised you could live with him being unneutered (especially without knowing it)! The tomcat odor alone would have put me out of the house. I'm sure everyone will be much happier after that's taken care of.

Plus, if they aren't fixed she'll just keep having babies every 6 months, and it's really hard on the mama cat. Not to mention how difficult it is to find good homes for kittens, and with the shelters being overrun with the kittens from accidental litters, it's just not a good situation all around.

It's good that he'll be going on a little "vacation" for a while. Ii'm sure Diva will be more relaxed with him out of the house. Although toms don't usually kill their own kittens (but will often kill other males' offspring), there's always the possibility that his prey instinct will kick in.

Make sure to have her spayed as soon as the kittens are weaned. It's hard on a female to remain unspayed, she'll be much happier without having to worry about all that.

Have fun with the kittens! And post pics!
 

aprilyim

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Jan 20, 2011
Messages
772
Purraise
2
Best wishes with the moving Greg! It's so nice of you to be taking responsibility for these cats and kittens.
 
Top