How do I know if one of the kittens is getting enough milk

Hi there

I have a young cat who gave birth to 4 gorgous kittens last Sunday morning.  They all seem to be doing well, however, the last one to be born doesn't ever seem to suckling and when 'she' (I say she as the kitten is tortishell) goes to the mother cat, the others seem to knock her away.  She does seem contented, is always asleep! ???

Help ....

Weigh her at the same time each day.  You need a set of scales that will weigh to 1g (so electronic scales) which are easily obtained and cheap in the UK - under $10 from a well-known UK chain.  She should be putting on 10g per day or more.  If she is, then whatever it looks like it's not a problem. 

If she isn't gaining weight your choices are taking the siblings out a few times a day to let her feed, or supplementing her.  Personally I'd try taking the siblings out first as hand-feeding tiny kittens isn't easy to do correctly, and you also have to make sure you are feeding them something suitable.

Some weight lose in the first couple of days is normal, just as it is with babies, but by a week old she should have just about have doubled her birth weight and be clearly plump.

BTW - Google reckons that 1 gram = 0.0352739619 ounces.

I agree with Oriental.

Set her forward when the others are asleep is another common trick.

Similiar scales are of course in USA and most other countries too.  Sometimes scaled in Oz. 1/10 Oz is is the minimum precision.

Her sleeping the whole time is not sure she is contend.  She may also be more or less dying. I suspect the other, as she is scuffled from the food by the bigger siblings.

I suspect you are in hurry with her.

You can give her some momentary force so she manages to suckle by letting some white caro syrup, or honey, on her gum.  Or a couple of drops of a dextrose solution (grape sugar).

Good luck!   *vibes

ps Welcome to the TCS site and our Forums!

ps. make also sure the little one is warm enough.

If she is scuffled from the mom and the heap with happy siblings, and perhaps smaller, she may be cold.

Not warm enough is taking strengh from them, and often dangerous in itself.

Thank you to you all.  She is much better.  i think I was overreacting!  She was probably feeding okay all along but whenever I looked in she was asleep.  All well.

Welcome! I am glad the kittens are doing ok. We always like to see pictures!