CAT WITH POSTPARTUM CRAZY

i have 2 momma cats right now.  The first one delivered with blissful ease, is a wonderful attentive mother and her babies are beautiful and plump.

The second cat was 3 weeks behind her.  Was extremely hostile throughout the pregnancy, scary hostile during labor, afterward trying to abandon her babies, we had to hold her down and make her feed them. Then she put them in the basket with the other cats kittens and has taken on near full responsibility for all 10 kittens.  She wont let the other cat help, and has now taken to hiding the kittens. The other momma is distressed and tries to recollect the kittens back to the basket. I was up all night with them all in my room relocating and fighting over the kittens.

exhausted.   but I am worried those kitten will be hurt with all the relocating and tug a war of kittens.  the second litter is less than a week old. they look too thin. With her feeding the 3 wk old litter I am afraid the little ones didnt get enough colostrum, and now have to compete for tits.

I think the best is to separate them as it is.  If they were friendly to each other, it would be different case, but not really here.  Although it may be better after a few days.  We had a somewhat similiar case not far ago...

Had you tried with soft, calming relaxing music? Almost any is ok, but classical harp is best, they say.

A feliway diffuser may also help the "severe" mom.

Welcome to our site!

Good luck!

Okay a friend brought over a large crate. Covered it with dark sheet in a quiet corner of the living room.  I gave her 4 kitties back. Gave her some milk, made a cozy home for her.  The howling panic has stopped. And the babies are eating.    Aaah  Peace.

Harp music of any kind drives me nuts.  Agree that separating the two queens and their kittens is the only sensible way forwards.

QIMBY said:

Okay a friend brought over a large crate. Covered it with dark sheet in a quiet corner of the living room.  I gave her 4 kitties back. Gave her some milk, made a cozy home for her.  The howling panic has stopped. And the babies are eating.    Aaah  Peace.

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Ah, that was apparently the trick. It WAS feeling of safety and cozines she needed... So with a little luck also her own fostering should go forward on.  Deep learning doesnt work if you are stressed.

4 kitties back, I  interpred this she had more kittens? So why 4 but not all?  And how are the remaining kittens doing? I presume they are with the other queen and her bigger babies?  Dont they have problems with these bigger foster siblings?

Sorry, she has 4. The other litter was 6, 3 weeks old. So now each cat is with their own kittens.

I wonder how long I should keep her crated with the babies?? Until they seem adjusted somehow.

QIMBY said:

I wonder how long I should keep her crated with the babies?? Until they seem adjusted somehow.

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The crate will prob be her safety zone for a good time now, even if she isnt locked in.

But for the time being, let her be locked in there, so you are sure she dont comes out at the others.

She is happy and contend there, so you dont harm her.

when her kittens wants out, at latest than you must have the door opened. 5 weeks age perhaps?

Have of course supervised leg strechers now and then if she wants it.