Advice please...

Leia is 65 days pregnant we know the exact date she mates so know our dates are correct this is leias and mine first litter but leia is showin no signs whatsoever of goin Into labour and I am gettin quite worried about her as all she does is meow constantly and won't leave my side. I've also tried to seperate her from her sister but she screams till we let her back in the room...any advice would be so helpful thank you

It is not unusual they go a couple three days over the time, so dont worry as yet.  With cats, better some day extra then too short, while with humans some day short doesnt matters.

Of course, make sure you know which vet to contact and when, so to speak, as it will be hurry when the time comes.

If the sisters are best friends, and mom wants her company, you may consider letting them be together.

Its OK.

Playing safe you will separate them, but having company and help from such a best friend, isnt unusual. Such a best friend is even sometimes a male.

Good luck!

 Welcome to our Forums!

I was starting to worry as all I've heard is horror stories about cats goin over but if its normal I can relax a bit. Yes mum and sister are very best friends they have always been together so will leave them for now. Should I remove her sister once she does go into labour? Thank you for your advice and fingers crossed she doesn't go to long over

leiaandgizzie said:

I was starting to worry as all I've heard is horror stories about cats goin over but if its normal I can relax a bit.

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I can at least read our forumites are often high anxious their high pregs going over time, they contact their vet, who tells them they can wait a couple of days more, and so they deliver without problems.

Some emergency vets did make the cesarean, although I never got sure it was because it was really necessary, or because it is what emergency vets are supposed to do... The owner is of course relieved, mom and kittens well, so nobody is complaining, even if it costs a minor fortune.

Anyway, consult your vet - it is really the safest, instead of asking on a forum.  

I wonder, WHAT horror stories you did heard about?  Not just one, but apparently several differnt, from different persons??

I havent.  There happens more difficult deliveries than others, that is why it is so good the owner is near and observant, help is sometimes necessary,

but  I havent noticed it had big connection with extra long pregnancy.

But on the other side, a too short pregnancy (or too early cesarean) makes kittens automatically premature.  And premature born is always dangerous for kittens. Always.

Humans manage premature delivery well, but most kittens dont make it, even if the owner helps them.

Yes, I believe you can let the sis be present also at delivery, and help the mom with cleaning and so.  You look and watch of course.

In the wild sisters or female relatives often help each other.

Home cats have sometimes such help also from males - even studs are not unheard of, if that stud is such a best friend with the mom.

Good luck!

I have contacted my vet and they don't seem to concerned I just thought I would ask others of their experiences. I have heard of the kittens gettin stuck and the mum not making it as well as the kittens and one person I know very well her cat went 3 days over and the kittens didn't survive..also of one cat havin a c section and the kittens not surviving anyway. I check on her all the time although most of the time she follows me around and just meows at me unless she is sleepin or eating which is all she seems to do these days I've never seen a cat eat so much.

leiaandgizzie said:

 I have heard of the kittens gettin stuck

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A couple of our forumites had recently such experience, the kitten stuck halfways out.  They had resolutely to help to draw out. Dangerous of course, but what to do?  The trick is to draw carefully, and  simultaneously as the mom push.   Ended well in both cases.

If the kitten is stuck deeper inside, the only to do is to rush in to the vet.

Being there, and being mentally prepared, makes often the difference.   

So having the tel number handy to the vet (also at outside office hours), and knowing exactly where the emergency vet is, to be able to drive in in shortest possible time, in very useful.

Yes, pregnancy and deliver is not undangerous. Quite a some percentage has always perished at birth, both humans and cats.  It is first in our modern time, with good caretaking, the death rates had gone down to be relatively low.

The vets are 2 minute drive from me and we have the emergency telephone number so we are all prepared there have been since we knew she was havin kittens. Thank you for ur advice

Leia had one kitten today very unexpectedly no warning just out it popped..she is happy to feed and clean him but she keeps sitting on the kitten and we have to move her..why does she do this we've not touched the kitten but were concerned leias suffocate the baby

You touching the baby is NOT dangerous, she wont abandon it.  Most breeders and rescuers do weigh them every day, for example, and mom doesnt mind it as long they do it respectfully, so the mom sees what they do. But why she sits on the baby Im not sure.  She perhaps thinks it is too cold??  Or she is simply unexperienced. Good you do try to show her, and help the baby.

Good luck!

Thank you for ur advice think she is gettin the hang of it now but she still tries to sit on it baby seems to get out its self she let us touch the kitten last night so at Least she is trusting us were hopin we can weigh today. Kitten makes a funny little squeak and is feedin well

So today leia started attackin the baby and won't feed him so the vet advised we bottle feed which we are doin but leia keeps cryin for the kitten but when we let her she just just tries to hurt him again what would u do? Vet says keep her away but any experiences would be great

If she wanted to hurt it for real, she would have done so already. It is a tremendous force in a cat bite if she decides to bite for real.  So whatever she thinks she is doing, it is NOT real attacks nor hunting.

But if it her inexperience, or some sort of delivery shock - I dont know. 

Playing it safe is you take charge, hoping she later on will catch on.

A lot of job for you of course, and not entirely riskfree either, but it sounds like it the better chance...

You know how to give bottle/dropper?  on the tummy, head up, like with mummy.

Also do weigh her every day to know if she gain properly.

Good luck!

We have tried to take mum back to her and now she just walks away so we are havin to take over yeah vet has gone through the whole process with us but baby doesn't seem keen on bottle so preservence is needed..will weigh baby to keep on track thank you for the advice

leiaandgizzie said:

We have tried to take mum back to her and now she just walks away so we are havin to take over

yeah vet has gone through the whole process with us but baby doesn't seem keen on bottle so preservence is needed..will weigh baby to keep on track thank you for the advice

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I do paste in my answers in another thread, they  may be useful here too

"

Good you do have goat milk, it is fine as kmr.  Raw goat milk is good..

Now, they are probably too cold and a little too weak.

1. Warm them up, and keep them warm. You can also massage them a little.

This is important, not only beccause not warm enough takes forces from them, but also

they cant process  the milk, it gets sour inside them so to speak.

2. Their blood sugars are surely low. Put in some sugar on their gum!

Dextrose (glucose sugar) is best, but white caro syrup or honey should also be OK.

This will perk them up.

3.  A dropper is easier than bottle and nap, especielly if they are a little weak.

If you dont have dropper, just a bottle, try with making the hole a liiittle bigger, so it will be easier for them to suckle.

4. Last, but not least,  giving them bottle or dropper; they shall lie on tummy, head a little up. It seems awkward, but it is the postition they have when they nurse mom.

Wrong position makes a big risk they get the milk in lungs...

Good luck!

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Some sites for care of orphans and hand rearing:

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/hand-rearing-kittens

www.kitten-rescue.com

http://www.fabcats.org/owners/kittens/handrearing.html

It is lots of job, you are fighting uphill, but there are good chances anyway if you fight on and work hard enough...

And with a little luck, who knows, the moms maternal instincts may kick in, and you will help each other.

For now you must take charge yourself if you want them to have any chance at all.

Good luck!  "

Kitten is now 48hrs old and drinking 2.5 every 2hrs thanks for the links were really helpful

Just thought I'd update this post...the kitten turned three days old today and has passed away this evening...she was a poorly kitten and nothing we done could of saved her...saddest moment watching her take her last breath