Mom sick and on meds, how to stop kittens from nursing?

Hi, my cat has been having stomache and digestive issues for a week or so, so I finally took her to the vet, they believe she has a bacterial infection in her intestines, they gave me some medicine and told me not to let the kittens nurse. The kittens are 9 weeks old, and eat hard food, with the occasional nursing. Because they were 9 weeks old, I gave two out of 3 of the kittens away to new homes. We decided to keep one, but we have tried keeping her in a separate room, the problem is that she doesn't like this, she cries all day and the moment someone visits her or opens the door, shes running all over the place. We can't let her roam the rest of the house because we have other bigger, outdoor cats who keep pouncing on her and playing too rough with her. We tried to let her visit her mom a few times but everytime she tries to nurse, which we can't let happen because the mom cat is on medicine. The mom cat also seems to miss her baby very much. 

I would like to find this 3rd kitten a home, but my mother really wants to keep her, so thats not an option, but I feel bad that shes in such a small room by herself all the time, is there some way I can keep her with her mother, without her nursing? I read about putting a tube sock over the mother's midsection, does this work? 

huntersmom said:

I read about putting a tube sock over the mother's midsection, does this work? 

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Yes, I was going to give this advice, thinking on what it is called in english.  Tx for helping me!  

If it works to stop a spayed female from licking herself, it should surely stop her kitten from nursing!

Extra plus here it will keep her warm.  I imagine warmth is good for fighting against inflammations, and thus also infections.

Good you send the kittens to their new homes already now, as they had new homes waiting.

Usually we recommend to keep the kittens with mom and together a little longer, but 9 weeks is OK, and in this case when mom needs comfort and be left in peace as much as possible...

I hope she doesnt miss them too much, and is stressed because of this!   (another reason it is good to keep one kitten).

Welcome to our Forums!

            Good luck!

yeah, we were planning on waiting 12 weeks but the mother is sick, so we figured this was best.

I have never heard of putting a tube sock over the midsection but it sounds like Stefan has. I was even thinking you could try getting a shirt that they would make for dogs and putting it on her- of course make sure it covers all of her nipples! She will probably hate wearing it but if it keeps the little one from nursing so that they can be together it may be worth giving it a try. 

Also, do you have plans to spay her yet? I don't know if the vet can do it if she has an infection but as soon as you are able I would highly recommend getting her spayed. The surgery will help with her hormones and make it so she doesn't want the kitten to nurse. Also, are the other outdoor cats fixed? If not you want to be really careful not to let her around them until after she is spayed. Her crying could be a sign she's lonely, but also a sign that she's back in heat. Keeping her confined until she's fixed is the safest way to go. 

Even though it's best to keep kittens with Mom as long as possible I think given your circumstances you made the best choice. If one of these ideas does work to cover the nipples I would still watch them closely. Cats are very determined and if that baby wants to nurse she's not going to stop trying until she gets to! That brings up another thought: maybe get a SnuggleKitty for the kitten? Perhaps if the kitten was able to "nurse" away from Mom she would be less tempted to nurse on Mom? May be worth looking into: http://www.snugglepetproducts.com/snuggle-pets/snuggle-kitties . You may also want to call the vet's office and ask if they have any ideas/suggestions. 

If nothing works I do think your best bet is just to keep them separate until the Mom is off medication and/or can be spayed. Make sure there are toys in the room where the Mom is alone and visit as much as you can. She will be distressed but it's a better alternative then the kitten getting sick from the medication. 

Let us know if you have any success. If I think of anything else I will let you know. Good luck and congrats on the new addition! 

I wouldn't have rehomed them, even if separated from their mum by being kept as a litter for the remaining weeks they learn valuable 'good kitty' lessons.

But being a registered breeder with rules to follow I have no choice in whether I can rehome underage kittens anyway and would have just kept mum in one room and kittens in another.

Baby grow suits can be used in very early stages, such as incompatible blood type, but 9 week olds would be far more determined to suckle. 

Very normal for the kitten to be crying, she's been taken away from her littermates and mother, spent lots of time with her don't just leave her in a room all alone - she's just a tiny baby. She will try to nurse if put with her mother as it's what she's meant to be doing at this age.