Mummy's teats are dry

My cat gave birth to 3 furbabys yesterday evening, we had to do 2 manual cord cuts. The kittens have been crying non stop and have all lost weight/not gained. All were over 100g on birth but this evening we have realised her teats are completely dry , we have used a warm cloth, massaged them and nothing. We aren't sure as yet wether she may still be pregnant but have given the three milk hand reared but she seems upset and has tried hiding one. My question is can Queens milk be delayed, could this be a sign of another furbaby and should we keep her separated from them whilst hand rearing for fear she may hide them/hurt them?

One of them this morning had a few breathing issues which it seems to have overcome

natandtom said:

My cat gave birth to 3 furbabys yesterday evening, we had to do 2 manual cord cuts. The kittens have been crying non stop and have all lost weight/not gained. All were over 100g on birth but this evening we have realised her teats are completely dry , we have used a warm cloth, massaged them and nothing. We aren't sure as yet wether she may still be pregnant but have given the three milk hand reared but she seems upset and has tried hiding one. My question is can Queens milk be delayed, could this be a sign of another furbaby and should we keep her separated from them whilst hand rearing for fear she may hide them/hurt them?

One of them this morning had a few breathing issues which it seems to have overcome

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hi and welcome to TSC!

it's very good that you're feeding the babies yourself, in fact it's vital for their survival right now with momma cat not having milk. it's best to use KMR (kitten milk replacement) or goats milk (canned is okay as long as it isn't lowfat, but fresh is great) to feed the babies.

when feeding the kittens, hold them tummy down with their head slightly raised, like how they'd be when nursing from momma cat. make sure they're warm when fed, if i understand correctly a cold kitten cannot keep food/milk down. use an eye dropper or a small syringe (without the needle) to feed the babies. it's slow going feeding them this way, so be patient. feed the milk by inserting the eye dropper or syringe end into the side of their mouth in the cheek area, then give milk one drop and let them swallow it, and continue on. you want to be careful not to let any milk get into their airway, then into their lungs as this will cause pneumonia. feed the babies every 2-3 hours round the clock, as much as they'll take. weigh them once each day around the same time. they should gain between 8-10 grams every day.

you don't want the momma cat moving her babies right now, not with her not having milk for them. i'd keep momma and babies in one room, providing a nice nesting box with fresh clean towels in it for them. the babies will get their needed warmth from momma cat, but if she's not staying in with them much then you could place a heating pad on low temp under a layer or two of towel to help keep the babies warm -- but make sure to leave an area where they can move off of the heating pad, should they feel too warm.

i'm not experienced with newborn kittens or queens, so i'll request the assistance of some members here who are experts in this area --

@StefanZ, @catwoman707 may i ask for your expertise for the OP (original poster)?

You got excellent advices here above.

What milk had  you used so far?   The brand KMR in powder is best, but there are also others who are OK.  Some are less good...  Goats milk as mentioned is OK too.

A small syringe (3ml) is easiest and best, but if y ou dont have a syringe, a dropper will do - most people DO have a dropper at home.   Many kittens dont like bottles - especielly if they can still nurse some from mom...  But if you began with a bottle and it works for you, proceed of course.  

And its true, kittens cant process properly the milk when too cold.  So warming up the kitten (and the milk!)  properly is very important.   Give milk in small protions (to lessen the risk for reflux or similiar) but often.  Milk and water you give shall also be body warm.

Also, often  till they are stabilized properly; 1,5-2 hours.  When they ARE stabilized and you are sure they will prob survive nicel, and they  sucks and swallow themselves activelyy, you can take it more easy feeding once in three ours.

Also, be sure they have enough with fluids - dehydration is a danger - so some drops of water or some nice basic pedialyte,  between the feedings, may be useful.

A trick necessary to know with weak kittens, or who are in danger of going downhill, is this.  If they seem lethargic, "not interested" and so: giving them some glucose sugar on the gum, gives them extra energy!  Glucose sugar  comes directly into blood already in the mouth.  This trick works also when they are too cold for  feeding.

You can get glucose sugar in your usual shop, brand names may be Dextrose or Dextropur.   There are also  plavored glucose pills for sports, or in the sweets compartment, made of glucose sugar.  These are also useful, although flavored.

Crush these pills and wet them...

If you dotn have glucose sugar proper, you can try with white caro syrup or honey.

Of course, such a kitten must also be actively warmed up (or chilled down if apparently too warm), and must also get enough with fluids - dehydration is a major danger.

I see you had already began with weighting them every day...

@natandtom

Continuing.

Re the mom.  I think its best to consult a vet.   There are hormon injections to cause the milk to produce...

Also, the vet will see if there is perhaps another one inside, and if it is alive...

It is seldom a mom doesnt has milk at all, not even after the kittens are born.  The most common exception, if she hastnt milk, is if the kittens are premature.  But these here dont seems to be premature, with weights over 100 grams.  Also, if preamature for real, they would perhaps be dying now...  Its usually at best a fight uphill with prematures...

So, there is some other reason why she hasnt milk, and a vet  consultation is proper here.

Does she otherwise take care of them??

If so, try and cooperate with her...

Continue to report and ask!

Good luck!

Excellent advice!!

Just to add, each NEEDS to get 8 mls per ounce of weight daily, so if one weighs 4 ounces it will need a total of 32 mls per day, every 2 hour feedings now, next week you can go to every 3 hours.

Meanwhile I'd get mom to the vet for some stimulation hormones to get her able to care for them properly, as it's alot on people to suddenly have 3 round the clock babies to care for.

Do you know the basics of syringe feeding? Position is always on their tummy, into their cheek, warm baby, etc?

Thank you for all your kind replies.

She is being taken to the vets today just to see wether her milk may well be there or not,
She's is doing well in looking after them otherwise and they are suckling, she's massaging to help them poo and urinate and cleaning them, they seemed to have a "full" night until about 4:30 when I had to hand feed them , I weighed them BEFORE feeding at 4:30 and we have had some weight gain which has taken the to their birth weight although the lathargic one is actually the biggest in terms of birth weight and weight gain... This is my weight gain chart so far

At birth : number 1. 109g
Number 2. 118g
Number 3. 116g

5 pm yesterday number 1. 102g
number 2. 122g
number 3. 114g

4:30 am number 1 104g
Number 2. 131g
Number 3. 114g

So they have only just started to go past their birth weight.

That is after one hand feed so I'm sure she may have a little milk in there just maybe not enough for the 3.

Pets at home advised kitten treat milk but my partner has just gone to get to some proper milk for them.

Should I continue topping them up when they seem hungry or unfed as well as letting her try ?

Sorry number 3.117g at 4:30

And yes, grip around the syringe and not between fingers and thumb to control the flow better, kitten on belly which is always wrapped in the towel she had just after birth ( unwashed so not to disturb the scent too much) and not head raised. Corner of mouth although number 3 seems to like taking the whole tip in its mouth lol and then I put it straight in with mummy cat after feeding. She seems to know I am helping and not taking them

We have Beaphar kitty milk now to feed them

natandtom said:

We have Beaphar kitty milk now to feed them

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Beahpar should be OK, we have it here in Sweden too.

Cat treats milk may be better than nothing if desperate without anything else, certainly better than plain cow milk, but not enoug!   Wise of y ou and your other significant to get home real kmr.

And yes, even if they apparently get some from mom, you must add.  As Catwoman wrote, 8 ml / ounce / day, ie a kitten of 120 grams shall have its  32 ml milk...  You see by them gaining if they have enough.

Very excellent mom is taking care of them.  It helps very much.  also, it means, she is at least  somewhat OK.  Moms in real distress usually dont manage to care for them - understandably enough.

Good luck!

We couldn't get kmr where we are the beaphar was all they had, I keep checking to make sure they are ok and they were suckling on her and seem to be settled for now , they are taking 1.5ml each feed, is that ok or too little/much?
She doesn't seem too stressed or upset and think she's thankful for the help and a bit of a break.

She's still being fed kitten food and kitten milk too incase she is feeding them a small bit

natandtom said:

We couldn't get kmr where we are the beaphar was all they had, I keep checking to make sure they are ok and they were suckling on her and seem to be settled for now , they are taking 1.5ml each feed, is that ok or too little/much?
She doesn't seem too stressed or upset and think she's thankful for the help and a bit of a break.

She's still being fed kitten food and kitten milk too incase she is feeding them a small bit

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That is on the little side.  Depends also on how often you are giving it.   And on how much the mom is giving them.

Of course, I myself said better small portions (and slowly), not to risk refluxes.  But if the kittens not very weak, and seems to accept the milk, swallowing actively, you can  increase the portions somewhat.  Double for a beginning.  Increase stepwise if you feel safer.

Its not any exact science when the mom is also giving some, so you being there must try and exercise some  gut feeling for it.  

Bearphar is OK, as said, so dont worry you didnt got the  KMR-brand.   But if you get some good goat milk, this may be an realistic alternative.

The 1.5ml is all they are taking at the moment, they have been suckling her all day as far as I've seen (I've been checking every hour to make sure they aren't hungry) and today is the first day they all seem to be happy and quiet and wriggling around quite happily and she's been in there allowing it all day not even getting up when I open the door

natandtom said:

The 1.5ml is all they are taking at the moment, they have been suckling her all day as far as I've seen (I've been checking every hour to make sure they aren't hungry) and today is the first day they all seem to be happy and quiet and wriggling around quite happily and she's been in there allowing it all day not even getting up when I open the door

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Excellent!  This is a verry verry good sign!  Apparently her milk is flowing better now.   

Just thought I'd update you all , she is now feeding completely solo and this is the fur babies weight gain chart, they are weighed morning and evening at the same time. We were a bit concerned about number 1 but she seems to have caught up, number 2 is male which I've heard gain faster ?