Surprise litter

lakooda

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My 5 year old polydactyl tabby had a litter over the summer, and surprised me with an additional litter this fall. I had planned to get her fixed, but once her kittens were ready to leave her. I think she got pregnant while still nursing, but it's hard to tell exactly when.

Anyways, I kept one kitten from her previous litter, and although the mother would growl at her, as soon as the babies arrived she was friendly towards her and even let her sleep in the kitty bin. I observed her with the babies, just to ensure they'd be safe around her. She's certainly not a kitten anymore and I wanted to be sure she wasn't going to hurt them. She did well to my surprise. She'd clean them, and when one happens to wander away, she'll take them back to the bin. (I use a large tote with a lid, lined with blankets and a doorway cut in)
This afternoon I went to check on the babies and noticed one wasn't moving. :( it had died sometime in the early afternoon and I'm not sure how. The baby was stiff but still felt warm. I immediately thought Royale might have been the cause; thinkin maybe she was laying on the baby and it suffocated. The kitten was near the corner, away from the other kittens, so it's possible. She didn't seem sick, and was well fed. There were no external injuries. It's just like she went to sleep and didn't wake up. :'(

I'm wondering if I should keep the kittens and Royale (grown kitten from previous litter) separate? I have been since I found the baby, and Royale is determined to get inside the bin either way. I have to guard the doorway and let the mother in and out without Royale slipping by. Am I being paranoid? Should I let her around them anyways? She doesn't appear to harm them, from what I've seen all she does is clean them, keep them in the bin and sleep with the group. (Mother and kittens) I feel bad for excluding her so far, she might not even be to blame but I'm being cautious. Can I get some advice?

 
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lakooda

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Royale appears overly attached to the kittens and is trying her hardest to get to them. Is it good or bad that she's so interested in the new arrivals? She's approximately 4-5 months old.

 

StefanZ

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I think its OK with Royale, the older sis, there.  In the nature they often help each other in this way.  Or two friendly females in a household.    This with older sis helping is very common in nature.

I think the kitten died of by some other reason without anyones real fault.  Pure accident, or got fluid in the lungs, and got pneumonia.  Such a pneumonia can go very quickly.  It may take literally just some hours.  A breeder may come home from work, and find a dead kitten where there were all healthy kittens in the morning..  Exactly like in your case.

Next time you spay them earlier....  If you cant quarantee they dont get out, you must spay earlier, even before the kittens are fully weaned.

Good luck!

ps.  Make sure the mom gets lotsa of nourishment, and additional calcium.  Two big litters in such a rapid succession takes a toll on her, even if she got some help with maternal care by this older dau.
 
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lakooda

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Alright, I let Royale back into the bin, she seems happy about it. Curled up beside the babies and mama. She really does act as a second mother, I think she'll do good with the babies, and help Kitkat when she needs a little getaway time. But she's certainly going to be confined to the house until she goes in to be fixed. Royale is going to be fixed as well, she's remaining Pure and litter-less. I ready have takers for the babies; they'll all go to good homes in 8 weeks time. ^_^

 
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