Zoey's kittens (labor, kitten weights, etc)

zoeykotah

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I wanted to open up a separate thread for pics and info. I found other people's experiences useful so I thought someone might benefit from ours.

So anyway, Zoey has been huge for a while, and I've been seeing kittens move for 3 weeks now. She didn't go off food, I didn't notice a change in her affection or personality, in her bowel movements, nothing. Then yesterday morning, around 9:30, my daughter told me Zoey was spotting a bit. I went to check and sure enough, dark red mucuousy blood was dripping out of her. I got worried but was reassured with a bit of googling :D

The spotting lasted for about 20mins, then everything went back to normal. I figured it was just her mucus plug and decided not to get my hopes up. Around 17:15, I realized she was nowhere in sight so my daughter and I had a mini search party through my house. Zoey was under my bed with my other cat. I just wanted to get her out of my room, but then I noticed she was contracting. Wee! I took her into the bathroom and things went quickly from there.

So now I have a question about their weights.

Baby #1 was born at 17:50, weighing 90g. At 2pm today, he was 111g.

Baby #2 was born at 18:30, weighing 110g. At 2pm today, he was 131g.

Baby #3 was born at 21:15, weighing 107g. At 2pm today, he was 128g.

Baby #4 was born at 21:25, weighing 95g. At 2pm today, he was 115g.

Baby #5 was born at 22:25, weighing 105g. At 2pm today, he was 120g.

That's good, right? When can I stop worrying about one of them dying suddenly?

Also, I think #3 and #4 might have been twins, is that possible? They look absolutely identical (I have no problem telling the other ones apart, but with these two it's impossible), they came within 5mins of each other, and I only saw one placenta for them both.




 
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StefanZ

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the weights are good, and the raises really excellent, well above average.

You dont have any 100% security, so sorry.  but such is life and you and they are way better situation than most.

"just" to take care of the mom, so she has plenty of first rate milk for them, and the strengh to take care of them.

Thwins arent not common with cats, but I  admit there must be some, especielly if they had just one placenta between each other...

Congrats and

Good luck!
 

GemsGem

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Oh so cute :clap:

Weights look good !
Not sure on the twin thing - I always thought they had to share the same sack to be identical twins.

I don't think you ever stop worrying about them, until they are up and walking and starting to eat solids :lol3:
 
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zoeykotah

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Haha, I guess so. I hope they continue gaining this well! Is there such a thing as gaining too much, when they're exclusively breastfed?
 

lolasky

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Great idea Zoey, here is Lola's story:

Sunday 11th May, business as usual until around 5pm when I noticed some waters where she had been sat.  A little bit of meowing which she doesn't normally do, and briefly saw a little white stringy mucus that she quickly cleaned up herself, then she went behind the settee.  Around 7pm I shone a torch behind the settee (haha) and realised first had arrived:

No 1 : black and white (stillborn) weight 127g at 7pm

Two hour wait, Lola moved behind a different settee

No 2: black and white (stillborn) weight 127g at 9.30pm

She was amazing with both the kittens, cleaned and cleaned (we assisted in giving them a rub to see if we could help, but it was not to be).  She did not seem distressed.  She was silent throughout the entire birth.  My husband assisted with 2, 3, 4 and 5 in case she had struggled to get the sac off the first one that didn't make it (also unfortunately the 2nd didn't either) and she was happy for the help!

Fortunately very quickly after:

No 3: Tabby happy and healthy 120g  10pm

No 4: Tabby happy and healthy 120g  10.15pm

No 5: Black happy and healthy 115g   10.30pm

Lola has been a wonderful, natural Mama.  All placentas eaten and all kittens were cleaned and fed.  9 days later and their eyes have been open for 2 days.  Weights for tabbies 260g and the black one 250g!

The jury is still out on whether they are male/female!

I realised that the two black and white that didn't make it, the first borns, were actually bigger than the 3 survivors which surprised me.  They seemed perfect so have no idea why they didn't make it.  RIP little babies.

And now its just heaven in our house watching Mama care for her triplets!  
 
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zoeykotah

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Day two weights, in comparison with birth weight and yesterday:

Baby #1 90g -> 111g --> 120g

Baby #2 110g --> 131g --> 142g

Baby #3 107g --> 128g --> 141g

Baby #4 95g --> 115g --> 131g

Baby #5 105g --> 120g --> 137g

That's a 30g - 36g gain for everyone in less than 48hrs! I'm very happy! :D
 

lolasky

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Day 1 weights for Lola's:

Black one: 115g

Tabby one: 120g

Tabby two: 120g

Day 11 weights for Lola's:

Black one:  287g

Tabby one: 300g

Tabby two: 316g

I thought they were supposed to double their birth weights by 14 days old, so Lola's are little piglets! 


Hoping to get more pictures soon, though Lola has gone a little more protective the last few days so am giving her some peace and quiet with the kittens.
 
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zoeykotah

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Updated for day 3:

Baby #1 90g --> 111g --> 120g --> 140g

Baby #2 110g --> 131g --> 142g --> 157g

Baby #3 107g --> 128g --> 141g --> 159g

Baby #4 95g --> 115g --> 131g --> 147g

Baby #5 105g --> 120g --> 137g --> 160g

I think they'll double by the time they're a week old, by the looks of it
 
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