Help! something is not right!

My Cat got pregnant-  We have an indoor cat only - so we've been relaxed about getting her fixed while I was on vacation our cat sitter "lost" her. Anyways- YES were are getting her fixed..

Betty Beau is now a year old and current on all of her shots.

More to the point - she went into labor yesterday around the 67 day-  she gave birth to 3 kittens -

TWO died or were still born.

After the first two I helped her with the third. clean it and clear the airway.  The third one was much smaller and  seems to only suckle for a min or two and then sleep (only if I attach it- Mom cat doesn't seem to know what to do or care much). She lets baby suckle but does not encourage the kitten.

Mom is fine now- looks and acts herself and will lay with her baby but sometimes on it and sometimes a foot away- I have to lift the kitten to her mouth to get her to lick the baby - so it may go to the bathroom. 

I don't know what Betty is thinking, but she seems relieved when I come in the room. Almost- like she is waiting for me to do it for her.

What should I do? I don't know if baby is getting what she needs. I don't know how to get mom to be well a mom.. At what point do I take over? Please help me.

I see you have also posted in the pregnant cat and kitten forum, that is probably where you will get the best answers to your concerns.  I have never cared for newborn kittens.  The people there are a very good resource for information.  Your not being ignored I am sure.

Hi lettchen13,

Sorry to hear you're having so much trouble with your kitten. I'm by no means an expert in these matters, but I've heard that if the mother cat only has one kitten she is likely to give up and abandon the baby. You might have to give the kitten a lot of help.

Is the kitten warm enough? I think that not letting it get too cold is one of the most important things at such an early age. Could you put a hot water bottle in the nest with the kitten and the mother? As long as she is letting the baby suckle and cleaning it, the kitten should be OK for a while. It would be a good idea to get some kitten formula, just in case you have to take over.

I'm sure one of our advisers will be online soon with some more tips for you.

Good luck with the kitten and Betty

Thank you-

We made her a cat room when we first learned of her pregnancy - Which I suspected from what the sitter told me. We moved everything out of the guest room and put the bed on the floor ( no kittens under the bed theory).  There is a heating blanked under the comforter and two more soft blankets on mattress. We gave Betty 3 more choices - empty closet with blankets, a laundry backed with a cat bed and a dome looking thing also with a cat bed.

Baby is on the mattress with the heating blanket. She feels warm.

I been checking on them every hour or so. Last time 30 min ago. Mom was laying across the room from kitten. In one of the other cat beds. Betty is vocal and chatting with me ( this is very usual- as we talk everyday) When I moved her to baby and used a rag to make her pee - she was interested and licked a few times but tried to take off again.  After, "Baby" (her name currently) started crying and mom was more interested in the food I put out. I brought food dish over to where the Baby was and mom laid down let me attach baby to nipple and while she ate herself. I left the room about 15min later. Baby was still attached to her nipple, but from what I can tell not suckling- like baby did for the first few minutes.

I might be paranoid, but I just cant get myself to let nature take its course. *** my neighbor just recently found small kittens (from we guess to be 3 weeks old) I got some KMR from her and a new bottle just in case it should come to me having to feed baby. Right, now I am just helping mom along........

OH- When is milk suppose to come in??? She still has clear fluid ... Its been about 20 hours since baby was born.

Thank you.

 She'll have colostrum for the first 24-48 hours.   it 's not without nutritional value but it also has antibodies which is very important.    But then she'll get milk that has more calories in it. 

Try putting her on a back nipple  since those often have the most milk. 

 I would start to weigh Baby every day at about the same time on a scale that weighs in grams  ( or small fractions of an ounce)  so you can make sure she is getting enough milk ,   that way you know if you need to encourage her to nurse more,  or even if you would have to supplement.   Mother's milk is best for her as long as her mom does allow her to nurse.   

Kittens should put on at least 10 grams a day (about 1/3 ounce)   ,  better yet 15  grams ( about 1/2 ounce).      However,  don't panic if one day she gains less than 10.    she will likely make it up the next day.   

 Not all cats  are the most attentive moms.   and  it is true that sometimes if a cat only has one kitten survive ,  she may be less involved.     Fortunately Betty IS allowing Baby to nurse.      so just try to keep encouraging that even if it means you have to go in every couple hours and pet her and sort of hold her still while the kitten does nurse.  

It's good you are thinking about stimulating the kitten to pee & poop  since if the mom doesn't do that, you will need to do it several times a day 

Good to hear Baby is keeping warm!   Make sure she also has  a way to crawl away from the part with the heating pad if she gets too warm. 

Thank you!

Baby just pooped and seems to be perking up. I hope this is a good sign. So far Baby will only let me attach her to one nipple (thankfully the last one).  

Keeping my fingers crossed.