Kitty Baby Blues

Last year I took over a friends small cattery and have Ragdoll's, Maine Coons and Savannah's. My 3 year old Ragdoll Janus had 8 babies but two were very preemie and didn't make it. They are now 3 weeks old and it looks like Janus has baby blues. Her sister Katy had 7 babies a week before. I have them side by side in my patio cat room and Janus would go into Katy's queen cage and steal a few of her kittens for the first week. I thought is was adorable they would share their babies! Her last litter she was an awesome mom. 

Then a week ago Janus stopped cleaning them, no purring or loving on her babies. She just lays there and lets them nurse staring into space. I have bathed them every  48 hours to clean them and am stimulating their bottom to be sure they go potty.I have moved them ito my living room to keep a hawk eye on them today. Janus obviouly loves them because she wants to move them back to the patio. She is laying next to the crate as I type this. She doesn't want to stay with them once she is done nursing. She doesn't even talk to them when they cry for her. They are all health but the little runty is getting bony. And her boobies are half the size of Katy's so I think she is drying up. So tonight I am bottle feeding and will keep this up twice a day.

I have bee giving her calcium suppliment and multi vitamis with prebiotics the past three days to help her but she is just plain sad. She lays on her tummy on the cool concrete patio with her back legs kicked out sideways like a frog and her nose between her front paws, face down. This is heart breaking. My vet has never heard of this.  Any Idea's??

Hi Celtic Rags and welcome to TCS

I feel really sad about Janus .  I'm thinking you will get more help in Pregnant Cats and Kitten Care as there's a lot more experience there with mums.  I'll ask a mod to move your question.

First, what is "baby blues"?

Second, your overall thinking and doing seems OK. 

You must of course be double watchfull with this runt who got bonier, if you dont want to lose it...  Feed it more often, etc.

Can you get goat milk, preferably raw?   Its nourishing...

You do weight them kittens?  If not, do so, a must for every breeder. Use a scale measuring in grammes, best electronical one.  Kitchen or mail one.  they can be quite cheap.

You were in contact with your vet with Janus, yes?  so it is nothing apparent like  inflammation in the teats...

Seems to be a depression for real!

You are cuddling her as much you can?   Play relaxing music?

Try with Feliway adapter!

Some  flower essences, from the dr Bach series could also work. There are also other series, with similiar idea.  The cat whisperer Jackson Galaxy has a firm, selling these. google on it.

Good luck!

Mani explained what "baby blues" is. Tx!

So my advices stands on as far as they go. there may surely be said more.  Celtic and others, welcome with suggestions and ideas, it will help with a brainstorming / reminding us.

Good luck!

Celtic,   How is Janus and the  kittens?  

 When you said your vet had not heard of  "baby blues" ,  do you mean you have had her to the vet to make sure it is not a physical illness like an infection ?     

Also check to make sure she is not dehydrated. which can happen with nursing moms and could make them feel very sick and  lethargic.  

 You mentioned bottle feeding twice a day.... if they are not getting milk from her,  or are getting very little,  they  must be bottle fed more than twice a day.   at this age should be more like  5 feedings a day .    Kittens  cannot get enough nutrition on 2 feeds  per day,  and also could not maintain their blood sugar level without more frequent feedings.  

Thanks for all the reply's. After two exams including fecal floats the vet could not determine the problem with Janus and her 7 kittens. Her sister Katy took over nursing duty along with me and occasionally Janus. I changed the formula , administer biometrics and Sub-cue IV fluids in the shoulders of all kittens. 

After all 7 of Janus' and 5 of Katy's 7 slowly died, one every other day, I finally determined the only other issue must be the well water. the test results should .9 nitrate contamination. Deadly to baby humans and animals with undeveloped immune systems. Human babies develop blue lips and are put on oxygen to recover. This was HORRIFIC to say the least!

My property was an old Turkey Farm for a hundred years, so the water tables are contaminated with loads of dead carcuses, pesticides, growth hormones, etc... We are all on bottled water until I can get a filtration system on the well. Still not sure if I can be a cat breeder after this experience. Thanks again. Anna