Stray cat abandoned by neighbors had kittens in our house today!

maryinboise

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I'm not going to go into the circumstances of how she was abandoned because that's a separate issue.  Suffice it to say that I noticed this tortie inside an apartment window and then a few weeks ago they tenants moved but the tortie was still hanging around.  I tried to coax her over with some food, and slowly got her to come to my patio but not inside at all.  When she got closer to me I realized that I was almost certain she was very pregnant. (I suspect this had something to do with her former "people" leaving her behind.)  Low and behold, today, she came up to me purring and rubbing on me and being very affectionate.  I was able to take her to a the birthing area I had set up for her in the back bedroom closet.

Now here's my concern.  The mama isn't a very big cat and I don't know what her nutritional intake was before these irresponsible people just dumped her a few weeks ago.  Meantime we've been giving her Blue Buffalo and I give her Fancy Feast for extra calories.  I would guess that pre-pregnancy, she weight somewhere around 7 pounds.  She started birthing her babies at about 3:30 PM and then I had to go to work. My husband was able to check in on her every so often while I was gone.  When I got home, there were two live ones and one still born.  He looked liked he wasn't as well developed as the other two.  It was very sad.

So I'm wondering if a litter size total of 3 is normal for a cat this size?  Is there a way for me to tell if she still has another kitten or afterbirth that hasn't come out?  She has been purring contentedly and nursing her babies so they seem to be all right.  They are latching on to the nipple well.  She did let me feel her belly somewhat, and she is still a little fat and I can feel that her milk glands are enlarged, but is there a way to tell if she has a kitten still in there?

When I was a kid, we had a dog pass away from a stillborn puppy that gave her blood poisoning, so I'm extra paranoid about this.

Any advice is appreciated!
 

StefanZ

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This question returns quite often. Our forumists dont know if there is one kitten inside to deliver, or if it is just the usual somewhat swollen inside.

Sometimes there is, sometimes it was just swollen.

So, if you arent a vet or verry experienced, you cant know. But cats CAN pause, several hours or even a couple of days. Not very common but happens.

3 kittens is quite normal.  It varies videly.

So, how to know if you must do something asap, and when you can wait and see?

If she is contend, calm, happy busying herself with the kittens, no visible problems - observe and watch, but you dont need to panic.  You can wait and see quite confidently.   (You CAN phone your vet, but the vet usually gives exactly this advice).

If she has prolonged labor, or is in any distress, has higher temp, or anything - watch very closely, be prepared to phone your vet (=usually you shall phone asap), and be ready to rush her in...

You do have a kitchen scale measuring in grammes?  Do weigh them every day, so you know exaclty their weigh development. If everything goes well, it will be a nice memory. If it dont goes well, the weigh will often be the best way to know something is amiss.

Tx for caring about this little sis of ours!

Good luck!
 
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orientalslave

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Fine while she is fine, and kittens should put on 10g each most days.  She might also get pregnant again very soon after birth so don't let her out again until she's been spayed.  Have you checked for fleas?  She probably needs worming as well, there are wormers that are effective and safe for lactating females.
 

katluver4life

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Boy this story sounds so familiar! Except in my case abandoned momma had already delivered when we found her.

As already stated 3 kittens is not abnormal, especially if it was her first. I just wanted to add to put her on kitten food. this will give her the extra nourishment for nursing.

Good luck and keep us posted. Welcome to TCS!
 

tillycallie

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Feel her stomache it's what I had to do yesterday when my cat was in labour I had no idea how many she was carrying, you should feel a lump or/ and movement it can take a while my cat was in labour for 30 hours!! Vet said it can happen xxx
 
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maryinboise

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Thanks for all the great advice.  She seems to be content.  She is letting me pet her and even rolled over and let me pet her belly a bit.  She is purring and "making biscuits" while the little ones are nursing. Nothing feels distended--just a little swelling around each nipple.  She is nursing the babies fine and they are making healthy sounding mewing noises when not latched on, so I think everything is going to be OK.

I did look at her fur closely and don't see any sign of fleas--no bites or itching or anything.  Fleas tend not to be a problem in my area until later spring and in summer.  I definitely don't plan to let her out until she is spayed.  There is a low cost spay/neuter program for strays in my area and when the kittens are big enough, Mama and babies will all get fixed.  Then it will be time to find homes for them because I already have 3 other cats and can't keep them.  (Mama and babies are isolated in a separate room from the other kitties.)

What's really interesting is all of the kittens, including the one that didn't make it are orange tabbies and Mama's a tortoiseshell!  I did look at the kittens and I'm pretty sure both of the survivors are little boys, but I'm not 100% positive as that can be hard to tell at so young and I didn't want to handle them for too long and freak Mama out.  

I do have a kitchen scale, so I will weigh them--that's a good idea.  I will also get kitten food for Mama.

Thanks again for all the advice!
 
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bombay momma

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Could you post some pictures of mama and babies? I love seeing the pictures! 

it's so great that you took her and her babies in. I'm sorry you lost one, but if she went awhile without eating or being underfed its not uncommon. 

I would LOVE to not have to worry about fleas!! Lucky duck.
 
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maryinboise

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I will try to get some photos posted.  I can't find the cord that connects my camera to the computer, so I have to round that up first.

I do have another question.  One of the babies is quite a bit smaller than his brother.  I haven't been able to weigh them because my kitchen scale broke.  He is acting lively. When you pick him up he wiggles around and mews loudly, but I am worried he may not be getting enough milk.  When I place him on his mama's belly near a nipple, he doesn't seem to want to latch on.  Obviously he's getting some milk or he wouldn't be so active.  I'm wondering though if I should get some KMR and supplement his feedings. If so, how often should I feed him, and will I need to help him eliminate like you would with an orphaned kitten?
 

StefanZ

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I do have another question.  One of the babies is quite a bit smaller than his brother.  I haven't been able to weigh them because my kitchen scale broke.  He is acting lively. When you pick him up he wiggles around and mews loudly, but I am worried he may not be getting enough milk.  When I place him on his mama's belly near a nipple, he doesn't seem to want to latch on.  Obviously he's getting some milk or he wouldn't be so active.  I'm wondering though if I should get some KMR and supplement his feedings. If so, how often should I feed him, and will I need to help him eliminate like you would with an orphaned kitten?
Here you do see why you shall weigh them.  Go around your neighbours and see if someone has one scale and can borrow.  If you explain and ask, they can hardly refuse if they have. such are the rules of sociale behavior.  Even if you usually dont talk so much with each other.

As you are unsure if he gets enough, and he is little with thin margins,  safest is to give him extra now before he begans to go downhill. Some good sort of KMR or goat milk.  If mom still takes care of him, you prob dont need to eliminate him. But if not - you must.

Normally, newborns shall have every second hour. Here, as you are sure he gots some from mom, perhaps every 3 or 4:th hour.   But look out if he continues to take from mom. It is easier for them to be manually fed, so some quits eating from mom...

Good luck!
 
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maryinboise

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Well I just went to check on the babies, and discovered that the smaller one had passed away.  He was fine the last time I checked him an hour ago. I knew something was wrong as soon as I saw he was laying about a foot away from Mama.   :(  I'm pretty heartbroken and so is my husband.  I wish I knew what went wrong.  So now we have just one kitten left.  We will do everything we can to ensure this little guy's survival.
 

StefanZ

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Ow! That was a pity...  RIP little guy.  It went at least quickly.
 
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maryinboise

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Yes, I'm glad he didn't seem to suffer, but it still makes me very sad.  I just wish I could save every stray cat and kitten, probably like most everyone on this forum.  

I was able to borrow a scale and the surviving kitten weights 102 grams.  Is this a normal weight for a 2 day old kitten?
 

StefanZ

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I was able to borrow a scale and the surviving kitten weights 102 grams.  Is this a normal weight for a 2 day old kitten?
Difficult to say as we dont know where he started from, and how it developed.  In a newborn it would be a good normal weigh.   If he was born a smallish but OK  80-85 gr, then 102 day two would be normal and good raise on the third day.

Weighting works best as comparison day to day to day, so you can see the development up or down.
 
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maryinboise

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Well the little bug is up to 130 grams today!  So I think he is gaining weight just fine.  
 
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maryinboise

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The little guy weighs 190 grams now!  We are calling him Mars because we have another ginger tabby named Jupiter, and because he's a feisty little survivor.  I will post pictures soon; right now I am just leaving Mama and baby alone except to check on them, feed Mama and scoop the litter box, because I don't want to scare Mama and have her move him.
 
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