i need some help with newborn kitten

I don't really know much about kittens or kitten care. We were given a cat and later found out she was pregnant. She had 3 kittens on Tuesday, 2 were stillborn..
She had been nursing the one baby and caring for it. When I got home today I couldn't find it. I heard it meowing under the bed. So I put her back with momma. She keeps hiding her under the bed. She stays under there long enough to nurse the kitten and then comes out and sleeps in her own bed. If the baby cries, she goes back and nurses it, but then comes right back out..
Why would she be doing this? Is this normal? She only stays with it to feed it, then ignores it.

Look how cute [emoji]128525[/emoji]

I don't have any experience with raising kittens. Someone else will be along who can help you.

I will come back in an hour and write more.   In any case, the kitten shall not become cold.  that is your main concern for now...

As mom is nurising it, she is not actively rejecting it.  so I suppose she also washes it (=stimulates etc).  so cold is the main probleme...

StefanZ said:

I will come back in an hour and write more.   In any case, the kitten shall not become cold.  that is your main concern for now...
As mom is nurising it, she is not actively rejecting it.  so I suppose she also washes it (=stimulates etc).  so cold is the main probleme...

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I figured out why she was acting weird. I went to say goodnight and she have birth to two more kittens. How is that even possible 3 days later?!? One was stillborn [emoji]128546[/emoji]

Ah, it IS possible with delivering hours or even days apart.  As you yourself can see and witness.

The first one wasnt even premature, a premature woulndt make it so far with a so so mother care.

Does she nurses them both kittens alive as she shall??   If so the problem is essentially solved.

If not, you must try and find something to trick her to have  them in the nest.

Why the stillborn kitten was stillborn, we cant know, unless it was visibly premature, after all...

It could be in there too long. Or it could be alive but too cold  (warming up seemingly stillborn does save them sometimes).   Or one of these "it happens sometimes" - the most probable.

Good luck!

StefanZ said:

Ah, it IS possible with delivering hours or even days apart.  As you yourself can see and witness.
The first one wasnt even premature, a premature woulndt make it so far with a so so mother care.

Does she nurses them both kittens alive as she shall??   If so the problem is essentially solved.

If not, you must try and find something to trick her to have  them in the nest.


Why the stillborn kitten was stillborn, we cant know, unless it was visibly premature, after all...
It could be in there too long. Or it could be alive but too cold  (warming up seemingly stillborn does save them sometimes).   Or one of these "it happens sometimes" - the most probable.


Good luck!

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Is it possible that we can be expecting more?? How on earth do I know when she's done?

Alwayskisa said:

Is it possible that we can be expecting more?? How on earth do I know when she's done?

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I suppose it is possible there are more to come...  Such a question returns now and then with our forumites.

Usually, you dont really need to know for sure.

If she is fine, no problems, happily busying herself with the kittens, you observe, but can wait and see.

If she is in distress of any sort, you contact your vet, asap.

There are ways to know. If you arent experienced with palpitating: you perhaps know someone who is experienced, who can come over and help you palpitate. A rescuer or a breeder.  Or even a breeder of dogs...

Of course, a vet is best, if  you do afford or are on good speaking terms with a friendly vet.  

How is it now, does your mom cat take care of the kittens in 100%, or just in 51%?   If 51 percent, you must step in and help them, hoping her maternal instincts will kick in.

Look at the site www.kitten-rescue.com for ideas.

Good luck!

StefanZ said:

I suppose it is possible there are more to come...  Such a question returns now and then with our forumites.

Usually, you dont really need to know for sure.
If she is fine, no problems, happily busying herself with the kittens, you observe, but can wait and see.

If she is in distress of any sort, you contact your vet, asap.

There are ways to know. If you arent experienced with palpitating: you perhaps know someone who is experienced, who can come over and help you palpitate. A rescuer or a breeder.  Or even a breeder of dogs...
Of course, a vet is best, if  you do afford or are on good speaking terms with a friendly vet.  


How is it now, does your mom cat take care of the kittens in 100%, or just in 51%?   If 51 percent, you must step in and help them, hoping her maternal instincts will kick in.

Look at the site www.kitten-rescue.com for ideas.


Good luck!

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She does need a little persuading to stay with the kittens. But right now they are both nursing fine. The one that was born first looks so big compared to this new one.
Mom looks comfy and content, buy then again that is how she had looked up until a few hours ago!
I'm afraid to go to bed. I have noticed that when she gives birth to a stillborn that she gets preoccupied with it so if she has another one, I want to move it out as soon as I can.
Btw, I really appreciate your responses and help! Thanks.

Alwayskisa said:

 when she gives birth to a stillborn that she gets preoccupied with it so if she has another one...

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If the stillborn isnt apparently very dead, you can try and warm it actively up.  Warming and massageing. Sometimes they do perks up.

You know this scene in Disneys film "The 101 dalmatinians"?   There is is exactly one such scene.

Its almost the same with piglets, they pigfarmers simply submerge them into a bucket with warm water, quick and easy.   with a little luck, they come back.

It sounds like she is nervous about leaving the kitten out in the open. Can you give her a more private nesting area that she would be more secure leaving her kitten in? If you just got her a little while ago, she just may be a little on-edge herself and that could make delivery more difficult, too. If you have her a nesting and nursing box, maybe drape a towel over the opening for more darkness and privacy for her... it will still be accessible to you. 

I do think it is normal, though, for mothers to leave their kittens between feedings, especially ones that have spent more time outdoors. (I don't know about indoor-only cats). I think all of the mother cats I've 'assisted' during labor and nursing did this to some degree and there were always these little instances where I would have to fish for kittens, or hunt them down after they'd hid them away. :-) Instincts drive them to do it if they don't feel the kitten is out of harm's way.