A Few Questions

This morning, my cat had six kittens. Before any comments about spaying, I do plan to get it done, I just don't have the money right now, and there is no local vet in the town I live as it is really small, so transportation fees and such would be an issue too.

On with the post. She had six kittens. There is a runt, he only has 1 toe/claw on each front paw, and I don't know if this is normal for a runt. He is half the size of his siblings and can barely nurse because they push him away very easily. Will he be okay? 

Another issue is it has been hours since my cat had her last kitten, yet I still feel hard lumps on her stomach. Could this just be because her uterus is swollen, or is there still kittens in there? As I said before, I have no way to get her to vet as it is too costly for me right now. I'm really worried about her.

Thanks for any help.

The runt, if you want it to have a chance to survive, you must help it some. A trick is to let it nurse when the siblings are sleeping.

Just one toe/nail a foot is not the usual, but being a home cat he should manage anyway, if he survives into adulthood.

And you must keep watch, so it doesnt get cold or such. When cold, they lose forces, and they cant digest food properly either.

It may be necessary to use bottle / dropper, with kmr / goat milk.

Have also dextrose (=glucose sugar) handy, useful in many emergencies.  For example if they seem to go down. White caro sirup, honey, or even common sugar, is also useful, but dextrose is best and works quickest.  -  You put some of it on their gum.  You wet a little the dextrose powder.

Good you also measure their weigh every day, and see they gain 10+ grammes a day (it will be prob lesser for the runt.

To the second big question, some left or just swellings?  This question is quite common here, and both are possible.   Moms can have a pause in labor, several hours or even days.

The answer is the same:  If mom is contend, calm, takes care of her already born kittens, you watch carefully, but dont need to panic.

It will show itself with time what it was.

If she seems in distress of any sort, watch double carefully, be prepared to contact a vet, and even - be prepared to rush her in.

I hope my answers helped you.

Keep reporting and asking!

Good luck!

 Welcome to our Forums!

Thanks for responding so quick!

The runt is nursing and doing okay with the others right now. I'll keep an eye on him and next time I find a way to, I'll get kmr just in case. They don't sell it in the town I live.

I'll be sure keep an eye on momma. She is really calm and has been since she had the sixth. Awhile after she had it, I noticed that she was also having what seemed like more contractions, but they stopped after awhile. Should I be concerned about that?

Thanks again for responding!

Some aftercontractions is quite common and normal, like with humans.

But if you notice it is really a labor, and especielly long fruitless labor, watch out!

Good luck!

ps. Yes, it is wise to have some kmr or goat milk handy, especielly if you cant easily get in if in hurry.

It is no wasted money, you can instead give it to mom as extra nourshment later on.  Or use it yourself. 

I have another question... I was carrying my cat yesterday, and when I put her down, there was blood on my shirt. So of course, I checked to see if it was from her. She was bleeding out of her vagina, I brushed it off at first because I assumed it was from awhile after giving birth. But today, she was bleeding again. Is this normal? I'm really worried about her right now.

Some red watered, even bloody, discharges is common and normal.  But we dont like to see living blood. Not more than a very few drops in any case. How much was it?

Does she seem to run any sort of fever?  Discharges with pus?

Depending on your answers, if your answers arent clearly soothingly, it is wise to contact a vet. Begin by telephone, the vet will know what follow up questions to give.

And as you cant get in there easily, the vet will understand you phone and ask, even if he normally avoid to answer telephone questions.

But yes, in some variations you may be forced to rush her in. Cant be helped if you want her alive.

Good luck!

She doesn't seem to have a fever. It wasn't much blood and it was on the fur of her leg a little too. She seems more tired, though. She'll lay on the floor and sleep for a few minutes, then get up and move somewhere else. So I guess also a little restless?

And thanks, I will get a hold of a vet today.