Stressed Mother unable to feed her 8 newborns

My pedigree Ragdoll mother birthed 8 ragdoll kittens 3 days ago.

Her stomach was still lumpy so I took her to the vet that afternoon for a scan to ensure there was nothing left inside, it turns out that her intestine was a bit swollen so she has medication to relieve that.

She seems healthy enough, but I believe the visit to the vet stressed her out and she doesn't appear to have much milk, if any at all.

I've helped with the feeding from day one, Royal Canin kitten formular, and a couple of the babies accept the teet quite happily, but the others just won't!.

I wasn't too bothered yesterday as they seemed to sleep happily, but today they've been restless and whiney so I've been gently spraying the formular into their mouths (squeezing the teet a little) to ensure that they get at least some nourishment.

I also try to help them evacuate as mother hasn't a lot of interest.

She's just 2 years old, this is her second litter, no problems a all with the first litter of 4, same father.

I've tried giving her PVB homeopathic solution for milk insufficiency but so far no change. She drinks a lot, and eats Baby Cat food, which is good.

How can I help her to produce more milk, and how can I persuade the other kittens to accept the bottle?

Yes, she will be spayed after this litter, I'm an amateur breeder, not a pro.

With so small kittens its easier with a dropper.  Or best, with a dosage syringe, without the nail so to speak.

Spraying from the teat into their mouth may be dangerous!!!  If they get the fluid in wrong throat, they may get pneumonia, which is usually deadly for them.

RC kmr should be good.  I know many swedish breeders are happy with it.  Otherwise the KMR brand in powder is even better.   Goat milk is also OK if they are more willing to take it.  Fresh is best, but bottled is OK.

Do weigh them every day.  You yourself  notice you do have a crisis sailing up...  You must get more into them at all costs.

You know surely the correct position?  On tummy, head a little up.  As they are with mom.  Dropper / syringe / forcefeeding in the corner of the mouth.   If they eat themselves it will be more forrard end...

They must be warm enough!  The feeding doesnt work otherwise.   As mom is stressed / not very interested / herself sick, she perhaps cant warm them up enough...     YOu must also ensure to relieve[eliminate] them.  If they arent relieved as they should, they can come into a crisis because of that alone!

Last, if someone seems to begin to be fading, or in any other ways loses her strengh, you can perk in some extra energy by smearing a little glucose sugar on their gum (brand name may be Dextrose or Dextropur).  If you dont have it,  honey or white caro syrup are usable.

If you dont have a scale or glucose sugar at home, perhaps some neighbbour has and can lend you???

Re the mom:  Can you get Feliway diffuser or spray?   Relaxing soft music can too be useful.  Classical harp is best, but almost any may work.

Also, be sure she is somewhere quite, undisturbed, rather dark, no threats from barking dogs or shouting children.  Or similiar.   Just you her caretaker.  Other humans only if she is VERRY good friends with them.

If she has some verry friendly cat friend, or dog friend, its OK for her pal to be there too, if she wants it.

I suspect there is more than just some stress, but you had been to the vet, so there we are.  Just to hope for the best.    (you can give her too of this goat milk.  Perhaps also some vitamine paste like nutrical.  Extra E-vitamine doesnt hurt, if you know some useful source).

Good luck!   @Silkie  

Thank you StefanZ for your detailed response.

I made Rosie take a break from her kittens, ensuring that she played a little and drank. She did seem to produce a little milk in her rear glands. I presented her with 4 bottoms which she duly helped, and I think I got the rest – so hard to tell with identical kittens!

I think that helped her, she's less stressed now, and all babies are quiet.

I have France Musique playing all day (I live in France) and mostly it's soothing classical sounds.

I have 5 other ragdolls (all neutered, but I can't part with them) and a doggie that all adore.

No children until end July, and not much noise as we're not in a village.

I do have Felliway, I've never found it of much use but I'll try it anyway.

Feeding with a syringe? Not sure how to do that? I'll see if utube has a video.

I hope I can keep all 8 alive, they're such dear little things.

Would marking the kittens with food dye do any harm? As they're identical it's hard to know which have eaten / been evacuated and which not.

Silkie said:

 
Would marking the kittens with food dye do any harm? As they're identical it's hard to know which have eaten / been evacuated and which not.

Click to expand...

yes, try with this.  Be ready to renew it every day, if mom licks off or so.

If mom has little food, a way may be to set there the weakest / smallest ones at first.  While you have the stronger aside, and give them kmr / goat milk with syringe.

You seem to do it well, using nicely the resources you do have.

Good luck!

I managed to get mother out of the way so that I could weigh them, the smallest is 130g on day 4. I've lost my weight charts for the other litters, but I think that's not bad? Most are 155g. Many are still refusing the bottle, but I insist as the more I feed the less demand on Mummy. Who, I think, must have some milk or they wouldn't be growing! Very early days, thanks again for your support – I don't feel quite so alone!

When my cats milk supply was very low my vet told me to alternate between royal canin recovery and development and it worked great.

Thanks, Recovery and Development? I shall try it.

She has managed to feed them, she's developed a strategy whereby she feeds 4 at a time, waits till they fall asleep then goes after the others.

I feed them when I can, but mostly the milk goes down the drain. Even the smallest weighs over 200 grams now, so it must be working! They don't look thin, just small. Eyes are open, and purring abounds!

But it's still too soon to relax until they can feed themselves.

Another question. if anyone can help: a couple of the kittens still have their withered umbilical cords attached, this is day 11. Should I be concerned?

You seem to be doing something right as all kittens are still alive and thriving, if thin! Do not worry about the cords - they will drop off in time. I usually put a drop of Betadine on them to prevent infection, and just watch that there is no redness.

To use a syringe, get a needleless 10cc syringe from the local pharmacie and fill it with the KMR. then introduce it into the side of the mouth with kit on its tummy facing away from you. Squeeze very gently, a little at a time until the kitten seems to have had enough (usually by going to sleep!) It can be a time-consuming business -lucky the mom seems to be feeding at least some of the time.

I identify kittens using a drop of coloured nail varnish on a claw or inside the top of an ear - just a drop. It works wonders.

I am also in France, in Basse-Normandie. If I can help you in any way, please let me know. You can post here or PM me. I volunteer at a cat refuge in Caen and I take in abandoned kittens so have plenty of experience and local knowledge. Good luck.

Thank you Jenny, I shall if needs be! So good to not feel alone...