My cat has just had kittens

Hello my cat has just had three kittens first born about an hour ago and third was just born, I'm just wondering when they should start nursing the kittens are trying but mummy keeps moving away from them, I'm not sure if she is done giving birth yet but just to be on the safe side how long is okay for the kittens to go without nursing ?? Thanks in advance

Just wanted to make an update my cat has now had 6 kittens and has been nursing.

jinn said:

Just wanted to make an update my cat has now had 6 kittens and has been nursing.

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Splendid!  So we know now why she didnt wanted to nurse them - she was busy.

Make sure the mom has good, nourishing food!

I hope you do have a scale and can weight them every day?   As you didnt wrote their delivery weights I suspect you dont have one as yet.

Best to use a scale measuring in grammes, electronical is easiest.

A kitchen or a mail scale, they dont need to be costly.  You find them cheap on Walmart or the equivalent.

Or you can even surely borrow one from some neigbour.

Good luck!

Thank you and yes I don't have a scale but will be sure to get one as soon as possible what is a good birth weight and how much should they gain a day ?? Thank you for the reply

Birth weights are quite individual and depends on circumstances.  But about 100 grams is nice and quite common.

The rule of thum on daily average gain is 10+ grammes.  It is not seldom more, but shouldnt be less.  Which is one of the plusses of using a scale measuring in grammes. You see immediately what is what, no need to retranslate anything.

Weights below 80 grammes = watch out carefully! 

The record for surviving seems to be 49 gram - made here before our eyes.  Earlier I though it was about 55 grammes...

Weights above 120 gram = difficult for mom to deliver them...  But if she succeeds - good start for the kitten.

Small kittens, these -80, adds less in grammes, and it is still OK.  Very big kittens, these born 120+, may add quite a lot more, even 30 grammes a day.

Thanks for the reply I really appreciate it I won't be able to get a scale until
Tomorrow and an I little worried, I know it's hard to tell from a picture but do they seem a good Size ? B

It's impossible to tell from photos, plus 'normal' is quite variable for cats.  If they are feeding and you see her keeping them clean & toiletting them they should be OK.  Weighing them every day and seeing them gain weight will help you be confident they are doing well.  I took photos of each kitten on the scales each week of the last litter of kittens I fostered, it was amazing seeing how much they grew each week.

What a darling bunch

They look to be a decent size. Expect one or 2 in a 6 kitten litter to be smaller.

Those are the ones to watch out for until you have a scale.

You will quickly see there are more stronger, aggressive nursers than others.

These not so strong/big kids get bumped off regularly, and this is why many runts don't make it. Rough start, then rough time eating. Oftentimes you will see someone give up and just go to sleep. That's usually the smaller one.

Do lots of watching, you will quickly get familiar with who is who, and you can assist the weaker ones in finding and maintaining a nipple without getting kicked off by a bigger one

Have fun!

If you find that a couple of them are not gaining as much weight as the others try making sure these go to the teats that are nearest to Mums back legs as these teats are more productive. If necessary seperate Mum and the needier kittens for a short while so that they can feed without being disturbed by the bigger ones.

Hi and thank you for your replies, I did weigh the kittens today they are all doing well and weigh around 150 grams each with no one weighing worrying less, they all seem to be thriving feeding well and sleeping well I check on them regularly and have not notice anyone being pushed out or sleeping more then the rest although they are all pretty similar but I'm already starting to see the difference in them just have one question even after mummy cat has feed her babies and they are sleeping if she leaves the box to eat/drink or use the bathroom they will start to cry is this normal behaviour ??? It's like they wake instantly and start crying as soon as she leaves and she is only ever gone for 5 mins tops

That was supposed to be not a

Best of wishes! Give her kitten, can, and milk replacer ( that's what I did for mine, but we tried to get her spayed but she died. She got sick, but we really did't notice.) That will really build her milk up to support them. What a large litter! All beautiful and heathy looking. Good size to.

kittycatlovemew said:

 Give her kitten, can, and milk replacer

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Meaning kitten food, canned (wet cat food) and kmr  milk replacer.    All three excellent suggestions, with such a big litter at least 2 of them should be given, to cover her nourishing needs.

Kittycatlovemew.  Im sorry for your loss. Sometimes you lose, although you are doing the right things.  As you yourself said in another post.

Good luck!

I have been giving her kitten wet food since I noticed she became pregnant and will be sure to get some kmr for her also. I'm so sorry for your loss. Thanks again to everyone for the replies I have found this site so helpfully and supportive here is a pic off one off the little babies I took today little fuzzy sorry.

Okay that pic is cuteness overload! I just adore new little kids )

Mom's nutrition is so important, not only to help her recuperate and replenish her own body after the babies sucking so much from her during their development, but also for the babies.

She will drink a ton of water, so be sure she has a fresh clean supply always, and giving her canned cat or kitten food (canned cat is cheaper and come to find out just is not as high in fat, basically the same)

Dry food, and canned at least daily is perfect for her.

I used to think giving her KMR was a good thing, until I realized it was giving her diarrhea, which is NOT a good thing now especially, dehydrating her, so if you really want to give her kmr, water it down more.

That should keep her from getting runny poop.

awwwww! the cutest! there's a buet right there! that little fuzz ball is adorable! awww!

Just wanted to share some photos with everyone and say thank you for the replies here are the babies now with eyes open sorry the photos are very fuzzy but didn't wanna upset them so took the pics fast and please excuse the mess in background its our spare room so has some un used furniture in it ATM,

More Baby pictures

Awwww! There growing up to be some handsome kittens! So cute... can't. .. handel...it..uhhhh! To cute

Where is mama?