new baby is searching but won't latch on

momsnickers · Apr 28, 2014

How long do I wait before intervening?

Baby is about 4 hours old now and is actively searching, but hasn't latched on. Other two are sucking away. How long can this little guy wait?

catwoman707 · Apr 28, 2014

I would try to guide the baby where it needs to go to find it.

Block around the area so it leaves basically just the nipple and hopefully he will 'get' it soon!

He needs the colostrum.

momsnickers · Apr 28, 2014

Well, we've finally got a latch! I was definitely getting worried. I did give him a little white Karo and that got him to licking his lips. Then the latch was pretty easy after that. Poor fellow was getting tired. Hopefully now they can establish a good routine. Mom doesn't mind me touching. In fact she won't let me leave her sight. If I leave she gets up and calls for me. When I return, she will settle again. She literally had these babies on a blanket in my lap. Not sure either of us knew it was actually time for them to come out. I just thought she was warming up! Guess I'm sleeping with her tonight?!

catwoman707 · Apr 28, 2014

Aww, wonderful news!

It can be a bit scary at times, waiting hours for this one to finally go for it and latch on, that's stressful for sure!!

I love that your cat calls for you, she must be very attached to you

momsnickers · Apr 28, 2014

She is panting again just like she did during labor. Could there be another round after an 8 hour break? She just gave herself and the babies a thorough cleaning. Now lying there panting. Of all the kittens I've rescued and raised, I've never had one have kittens before. This is so new/exciting/scary all at the same time!

catwoman707 · Apr 28, 2014

MomSnickers said:
She is panting again just like she did during labor. Could there be another round after an 8 hour break? She just gave herself and the babies a thorough cleaning. Now lying there panting. Of all the kittens I've rescued and raised, I've never had one have kittens before. This is so new/exciting/scary all at the same time!

She absolutely can be having more.

Keep a close eye on her for this, the delay in labor may mean she might have a hard time delivering, or perhaps the baby is not alive.

Not necessarily, just want to watch her.

She may have another 1, 2 or 3 even!

momsnickers · Apr 29, 2014

Just the original 3 babies. I slept on the couch with her and checked on them through the night. The baby I was concerned about is a pro now. No problem latching on. New mama is being a good girl and taking care of them

. Now I need to figure out if I have males or females.

lolasky · Apr 29, 2014

Good luck with sexing them...I won't have a clue either when Lola EVENTUALLY produces her babies....she seems to be hanging onto them for dear life!

catwoman707 · Apr 29, 2014

Easy way to tell, is first of all if there are any torties or calicos, you know theyre females.

The space between a males butt and penis is a bit bigger than the space between a females butt and vagina. They are closer together

momsnickers · Apr 29, 2014

Well, from reading, I know what they SHOULD look like....easier said than done!

Two of them were pouching at the urinary area so I wiped with a towel and they peed immediately. I've seen mom clean them a couple of times, but maybe not enough? Is it normal for them to bulge out like that?

Mama finally got up today and left her nest or a while today. I wonder if/when she will move them off the couch?!

While she was up she visited the food/water bowl. She vomited and had diarrhea in the litter box. Maybe from eating the placentas yesterday? She also ate 2 tiny cans of wet food. Or perhaps because of the "trauma of birth" that her system went through yesterday?

Maybe I'm overthinking it all :0 )

Sure do love those babies!

I'lll see if I can figure out how to post pics from the phone.

catwoman707 · Apr 29, 2014

Yes I've had moms vomit after eating the placentas, it also makes her not very hungry for a couple days too.

Diarrhea is seen often as well, she will get back to her old self in the next day or two.

Sometimes when she doesn't feel so hot after delivering and eating placentas, she might not be quite as attentive, but she is surely doing her job enough not to worry about them though

momsnickers · Apr 30, 2014

Well apparently today is moving day. I was wondering if the couch in the center of our house was gong to be too much traffic for her eventually. There is no way our family can avoid going through that room, but she hasn't really seemed to mind.

Today when I got home for lunch, one of the babies was missing! I looked around the couch think it may have fallen off. Then I realized Snickers is nowhere to be found either. A quick survey of the house and I can't find her. I checked under beds and furniture. Thought I might have heard a baby mew in my bedroom. I've turned that place over and no mama or baby.

About an hour later she caught me napping and jumped up on my stomach and laid with me so I could love on her. She stayed with me a long time and didn't appear to be concerned about the other 2 kittens. I was thinking she might grab another one to take to the new nest and I could casually watch her.

After about an hour of loving, she decided to go check the babies. She grabbed one and took off running to the new spot..in my master bathroom cabinets. She jumped up on the sink, then opened the door and put the baby in with all of my towels. Baby #1 was on a lower shelf sleeping. Baby #2 is in the middle shelf and she is lying there feeding him. baby #3 is still on the couch.

I'm thinking this is not a great spot to move the babies. First of all it is chest high over a tile floor. If one of them wanders out it will be a long fall for sure and possibly fatal.

Guessing I need to move them? Where to? what about baby #3..put him wherever I put the other 2, or let her get him and move him herself?

catwoman707 · Apr 30, 2014

MomSnickers said:
Well apparently today is moving day. I was wondering if the couch in the center of our house was gong to be too much traffic for her eventually. There is no way our family can avoid going through that room, but she hasn't really seemed to mind.

Today when I got home for lunch, one of the babies was missing! I looked around the couch think it may have fallen off. Then I realized Snickers is nowhere to be found either. A quick survey of the house and I can't find her. I checked under beds and furniture. Thought I might have heard a baby mew in my bedroom. I've turned that place over and no mama or baby.

About an hour later she caught me napping and jumped up on my stomach and laid with me so I could love on her. She stayed with me a long time and didn't appear to be concerned about the other 2 kittens. I was thinking she might grab another one to take to the new nest and I could casually watch her.

After about an hour of loving, she decided to go check the babies. She grabbed one and took off running to the new spot..in my master bathroom cabinets. She jumped up on the sink, then opened the door and put the baby in with all of my towels. Baby #1 was on a lower shelf sleeping. Baby #2 is in the middle shelf and she is lying there feeding him. baby #3 is still on the couch.

I'm thinking this is not a great spot to move the babies. First of all it is chest high over a tile floor. If one of them wanders out it will be a long fall for sure and possibly fatal.

Guessing I need to move them? Where to? what about baby #3..put him wherever I put the other 2, or let her get him and move him herself?

No, definitely don't wait on her, they need to be together soon for warmth, etc.

Try to find a spot similar to the one she chose, but that's much safer.

Inside cupboards, she obviously wants some privacy with them now.

What about the same cupboard but all on the bottom shelf? Or is this still up high?

momsnickers · Apr 30, 2014

That cupboard is too high. I could put her in one at floor level but we are so busy in that room. Always in and out. Here's a pic of her in her chosen spot. Scary!

image.jpg

momsnickers
Apr 30, 2014

lolasky · Apr 30, 2014

Aren't they funny choosing random places!? Could you open the cupboard at the bottom and try and persuade her its better down there, easier said than done I know

momsnickers · Apr 30, 2014

I have her a nice place in my closet. Much less traffic there. I'm just afraid that all if the opening/closing of those cabinet doors will just cause her to move them again. I got baby #3 and reunited him with the family in the new spot. We will see if they are all there when I get back home

momsnickers · May 3, 2014

Concerned that snickers is still vomiting and has diarrhea. Today is day 5 since she had her babies. She is visiting the food and water bowls regularly so that is encouraging. Just don't want her to get dehydrated. Is it normal for her stomach to still be upset this long after giving birth?

catwoman707 · May 3, 2014

MomSnickers said:
Concerned that snickers is still vomiting and has diarrhea. Today is day 5 since she had her babies. She is visiting the food and water bowls regularly so that is encouraging. Just don't want her to get dehydrated. Is it normal for her stomach to still be upset this long after giving birth?

Well, you know, not really at this point. She should have settled down by now, digested the placentas fine, and shouldn't be vomiting.

How often does she vomit?

momsnickers · May 4, 2014

Vomiting at least 1x day. Usually at the litter box when she has the loose stools. There's not usually any food or solids in the vomit. Just a clear-ish, slimy liquid.

Maybe the wet knitter food is too rich for her system? It is science diet. She was eating the science diet hard kitten food before the babies came. I still have her a bowl of that available round the clock and I see her nibbling on it

catwoman707 · May 4, 2014

MomSnickers said:
Vomiting at least 1x day. Usually at the litter box when she has the loose stools. There's not usually any food or solids in the vomit. Just a clear-ish, slimy liquid.

Maybe the wet knitter food is too rich for her system? It is science diet. She was eating the science diet hard kitten food before the babies came. I still have her a bowl of that available round the clock and I see her nibbling on it

So she is vomiting stomach fluid/bile. This pretty much rules out the chance of it being food, as you would see food in the vomit.

So getting graphic here, tell me about her poop. How often, how soft, color, smell. By smell I mean poop is poop of course, but is it really super smelly, sickening sweet smelling, moth ball smelling?

new baby is searching but won't latch on

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