URGENT!! Newborn kitten care!

This morning my cat went into labour while we were still asleep. She had 3 babies, sadly all died. She was still fat and bleeding so we took her to the vet. She had another 3 babies of which one died. She refuses to take care of the 2 that is still left.

Can anybody give me advise on how to take care of them? What do we need? We have bottles for kittens, but thats about it.

Thanks alot!

NyNy said:

This morning my cat went into labour while we were still asleep. She had 3 babies, sadly all died. She was still fat and bleeding so we took her to the vet. She had another 3 babies of which one died. She refuses to take care of the 2 that is still left.

Can anybody give me advise on how to take care of them? What do we need? We have bottles for kittens, but thats about it.

Thanks alot!

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Did you have began with bottle feeding?  Do they eat?  What kmr do you use?   observe goat milk is OK as kitten milk.  Best fresh, but bottled or even pulverised may be OK.

Or do you just have the bottles, and nothing else?

Im proceeding to write, while I wait for your answer.

Fill in reports and further questions, whenever you have any.

Good luck!

ps.  Are the alive kittens fullborne?  fur and decently round? or bits of no or very thin fur, and scrawny??   The dead one, were they fullborne or premature?    Was it visible why they were dead?  If they are visibly premature, it will be fight uphill...  Although they may have a chance anyways, if you fight vigorous enough.

A couple of useful links:   http://www.thecatsite.com/a/hand-rearing-kittens, also www.kitten-rescue.com contains a wealth of helping small orphans.  You can also google on kitten rearing raising orphans etc...  hand rearing is the proper term.

Lets hope moms instincts will kick it, it will make everything easier.  But you CAN do it yourself - people has done it earlier....

Keep them warm.  OR  swallow of them some, its summer now in South Africa no?  Warm but not too hot....

Keep they hydrated, either by diluting the milk somewhat, or by giving them some water between the feedings.  A home made pedialyte is nice.

Kmr - if you have several to choose from, the brand KMR in pulver, stage one is the best. Their ready made solution is not full so reliable. There are also others which are useful.  Royal Canins kitten mother-milk replacement  is good too.  Kmr based on goat milk are usually good.   Goat milk is useful, fresh is best, full fat bottled, or powder dried are OK too.

If they dont take bottle, use a syringe if you have (no needle).  1 or 3 ml.   If you dont have, a dropper is OK.   If you dont have anything, you can use a straw.

Let them eat tummy down, head up (the body may be raised some upwards, diagonally).  In the corner of the mouth, carefully and slowly.   Very slowly if they are weak and dont swallow actively.  You can do it a little quicker if they do swalllow actively.

Burp them afterwards,   AND do stimule their rear parts to pee and poo...

Count with 8 ml on every ounce of body weigh.  So a kitten of 90 grammes shall have about 24 ml of kmr or goat milk every day.   Somewhat more if you dilute it.

Give it at least every 3 hours.  If they seems weak, smaller portions but more often, say 1,5-2 hours, till they are stabilized.  You can take it somewhat longer in the night - you must sleep some.

Motherly warm is always welcome, so a good place is at your bosom / chest.   Have fleece in their nest, they feel flece almost as moms fur.  flannel is good too. 

If they are still alive, what you will need:  A scale, preferably measuring in grammes.

If you arent very experienced, the easiest way to see the development is if they gain, or loose...  Small kittens shall gain at least 6gram a a day, bigger 10+ grammes a day.  If so, you know they are thriving at least decently.  Its not good if they stand still more than one day, and very not good if they drop down in weigh.

I think it will be it for now.  Please come with reports.

Good luck and *vibes!*

Unfortunately, only one survived. The vet showed me how to take care of him so hopefully he will be fine.

Thanks alot!

Hey guys!

Quick update!: Olaf is doing worderfull! He is a little iver a week old and looks as if his eyes are starting to open? Is this even possible at his age??

Also I wanted to ask your help with Olaf's mommy. She almost never lies with him. We have to give him a beanbag to keep him warm. I was thinking about taking him from her completely, but I really do not want to..
When we pick him up she'll come sniff him and sometimes she takes him back to his bed and then she goes out again..
Please help

I'm doing everything I can think of but I also have to go to school.. This is my most important year and were writing exams for university so I have to study alot while taking care of Olly..

Thank alot

Some moms arent very good. In such cases, its necessary human caretakers do give supplement care, to make sure the kittens survive.

You can of course make sure you praise her every time she cares for him.  Although Im sure you do it since long.

One word:  its quite possible for them to get into heat again already after a week.  When in heat, they often try to sneak out to meet a tom.   She, not caring much, will want to sneak out even more surely.    AND get you a new litter in 10 weeks, which she will care for so so...

Sorry!

If SPAYING is possible for you, do so rather sooner than later.

Good luck!

Thank you, she has been spayed and we are giving Olly KMR. I'm just worried that he'll get cold?

He can get cold. Even though it is summer in your area u could keep  a heating pad on low at night with towels on top of it for him.  He is too little to sleep w u as you may roll on him. Do not forget to help him pee.