Hairless Sphynx due 2/18. need advice for problem of moms teeth breaking skin and causing injury to

My hairless sphinx is pregnant again. We have had two letters in the past year. I lost several kittens in the past litters due to the mom puncturing the skin of the kittens when she tried to pick them up. Teeth are sharp, and hairless kittens have paper thin skin mostly the first week of birth, which gradually thickens daily thereafter.

I promised the cattery when I imported them from Russia , that I would breed the odd Eyed male sphynx and the red/white eyed bloodline female. They are outstanding and genetically perfect spanks hairless cats. This due to the outstanding genetics of my hairless breeding pair, and the declining genetics of the breed here in America. My breeding pair is genetically screened and the blood work shows there are no genetic abnormalities such as HCM and heart problems typically found in US breeder cats. This what caused my former two sphinxes to die - leaving me heartbroken. And I am on a crusade to uphold my word to her.

My queen is due around February 18 and I shutter to think about losing anymore kittens. She prefers to have her kittens in my bed under my covers as she is super attached to me, although I do have a great nursery set up in my bedroom for her.

Can anyone help me with my problem of keeping the mom in her nursery and not move her kittens to be with me. Her sharp teeth puncture their delicate skin and I have lost several due to lacerations and infection. The last litter I spent over $800 in vet bills trying to save the two kittens. Only one survived, and she has scars on her porcelain white hairless body.

Any help is appreciated. Thank you,

Christine

Well, you have only one option here if you don't want to lose anymore kittens. That is to confine her to either a kittening pen or a large dog cage. Obviously let her out often so she can stretch her legs and give her a break from the babies. Also some cats will not go toilet in same room as kittens, so toilet breaks will be needed.

I know it not nice to confine her but sometimes it's in the best interests of the cat. Yeah she won't like it to begin with but she will soon get use to it when given no other choice.

You will probably only need to do this for the first couple of weeks until the idea of moving them doesn't appeal to her anymore or the kittens skin as thickened up enough.

It might seem cruel but it either this or lose more kittens the same way as before

PS. Check out my avatar of my naked boy !!

GemsGems advices are surely sound.   I want also to add the practical advice of having a Feliway diffuser and or calming soft music on, so the mom feels safe and confident where she is, and doest feel any need to move her kittens or nest to your bed.

Also, you do mention two litters in the last year.  So this seems to be the third litter in the year??   It is very tight, way too tight!   even if the litters were small, and together it will be a little more than one year, it is still tight.

Are they sphynxes sphynxes or are they Don sphynxes?

Good luck!

Thank you! I confined her a week before she gave birth to litter of 6 kittens. She stays confined and is good attentive mom.
No problems with her moving kittens. They are 5 days old!
I soooo appreciate your advice!

Not Don, Canadian.

I imported dam and sire from Russian Cattery Solyaris as they were screened for the Genetic deficiencies my former 2 sphynx had inc HCM and feline aides.

Litter has 3 odd eyes!

Actually is Umkas 3rd litter in 1 /2 yrs and her last for this year. I do not want to shorten my girls life...I love her!

Thank you. Diffuser worked! Calm as ever!

Best,
Christine

Oops 1 and 1/2 yrs

Any pictures of those little bundles of...er...umm...skin? :-)

Christineski said:

Thank you! I confined her a week before she gave birth to litter of 6 kittens. She stays confined and is good attentive mom.
No problems with her moving kittens. They are 5 days old!
I soooo appreciate your advice!

Click to expand...

Yeah !

I'm glad everything went well and no more mom moving kittens.
Please do post some pictures. I love little wrinkly sphynx babies