No milk

Hi
I am new and i have got a real legnthy bak stroy but wont berden u with it now.

Sorry like i said i'm new.

My 2 year old girl gave birth at 5:55pm today (well yesrday now) to a lovly blue kitten but she hasnt dropped her milk yet. I alreaady had some kitty milk. Lacktol. So i waited couple of hours and fed it with a surige.

At about 12:56am she let out a horrible scream and proply dropped another kitten on my knee. But still no milk. As luck would have it her sister has a litter of kittens bout a week old so i was able to getthe first one a meal at least.

My question is wll her milk ever drop she is tryin so hard to b a good mum.

If not how do i hand feed a kitten (i've only ever hand reared puppys)
Thanks for all the help in advance.

bikerblossom said:

Sorry like i said i'm new.

My 2 year old girl gave birth at 5:55pm today (well yesrday now) to a lovly blue kitten but she hasnt dropped her milk yet. I alreaady had some kitty milk. Lacktol. So i waited couple of hours and fed it with a surige.

At about 12:56am she let out a horrible scream and proply dropped another kitten on my knee. But still no milk. As luck would have it her sister has a litter of kittens bout a week old so i was able to getthe first one a meal at least.

My question is wll her milk ever drop she is tryin so hard to b a good mum.

If not how do i hand feed a kitten (i've only ever hand reared puppys)
Thanks for all the help in advance.

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Is the mom done with delivering, or is there still someone left??   Horribly screaming at delivery isnt the common, so she must have been in difficulty with that second kitten.  No wonder she hadnt no milk to deliver!

That said, if she is OK, no problems, the kittens not premature, she will probably get milk, soon.  Its very seldom when a cat mom doesnt get any milk.

Good you do have another mom, who is willing to help out some.

Although it may be tricky to let the small ones come to.  Wait perhaps till the older are asleep, and then let the small ones come to.   You can even let them older be in their own little nest, with a warm heater pad, etc, sleeping contend and cozy.  So you are sure they wont protest and get mommy nervous.

If you must handfeed these kittens.

It isnt that difficult, as long as you know how.  You must be accurate, because its deadly danger for them to get milk into lungs.

Tummy down, head up, the body may be diagonally up.    Alike when they nurse from mom.

Syringe or dropper in the corner of the mouth, at cheek.    If she swallows activiely, its not big business, but if she is weak and has difficulty with swallowing, be verry careful and slow.

Make sure the milk is of body temperature.

Burp afterwards.

A syringe (without needle of course) or a dropper may be easier, if they are weak or dont take bottle.  Kittens who can nurse the mom are often relucteant to bottle.

Re lactol.  Lactos is OK, but are you sure its lactol for kittens?  I suspect you have lactol for puppies, as you are doing dogs elsewise.

Im not sure these milks are interchangeable.

Best is to use kmr made especially for kittens. The brand made by PetAg, commonly called for KMR, in pulver, is the best.    Although I know some forumists mention Lactol.

Goat milk is also useful.  Raw / fresh is best, but bottled is OK too.

Good luck!

She had another 2 in the night. So we r both trtin to relax.

Still cant see no milk but her sister and her r now shareing beds(their idea not mine.lol.

I bought some beaphar kitty milk when her sister gave birth just incase and just to boost her milk flow etc.

Still un sure if pinky has finished yet with soo long between the births.
But both her and her kittens r doing well.

The thing i am worryed bout is the kittens will b missing out on vital colostrum.

Small update. Went to shop and got a proper bottle newborns all had feed bout 2 n half oz. I stopped when they were just chewin the teat.
Now they r with their antie enjoyin another feed.
Bless dinky and their mum they r god sends for pinky who is tryin sooo hard to be a good mum.
She a great team behind her.

She was due thursday by me reckoning( wrote it down when i caught them at it)
If they r premature dose tthat mean she wont get milk at all?

Dinkys kittens r tryin to suckle her so i left them hopin that that might encouge her milk to flow.

I will leave the advise to the experts, but I just wanted you to know there are people here rooting for you and that new family, and will pray that she gets her milk in and everything goes well. It sounds like you are doing well, I would imagine you feel blessed that you have a surrogate mom there too!  All the luck, I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers! PS, years ago I had a mother cat that never looked like she got her milk in either, but she must have had something, the kittens all thrived, so don't give up hope!

Thank you soo much for them kind words. It means soooo much.
I did post this on another site but just got told to take them all to vet and get mum spayed and kittens put down due to the fact that the litters were a mistake thanks to a bodged castration on our male cat.(he had a extra testle inside him).
Theyr all doing soo good. And kittens r feedin off their anut and their mum is keepin dinkys kittens warm and cleaned.

Dont know bout pinky but i'am shattered.lol

bikerblossom said:

She was due thursday by me reckoning( wrote it down when i caught them at it)
If they r premature dose tthat mean she wont get milk at all?

Dinkys kittens r tryin to suckle her so i left them hopin that that might encouge her milk to flow.

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How many days did you counted with?

Anyways, one  or two days early isnt  SO much early.  With any luck they should do OK.  Which they apparently do!

Did I said get yourself a scale weighting in grammes? This way you will more easily see how they are doing.

Mom should too get milk.   Nice trick to let them suckle...You mean, its the older kittens actually suckling on her?  Wow, splendid idea to be sure they ARE suckling!

Good luck!

I worked out 62 days from the time i caught them being *naughty* which was the 25th dec. Yeah i gave her one of her sisters kittens to opupie her while i made she they had a feed from her sister. With the idea that if dinkys kittens suckle pinky it might encourge pinkys milk to come through.

bikerblossom said:

I worked out 62 days from the time i caught them being *naughty* which was the 25th dec. Yeah i gave her one of her sisters kittens to opupie her while i made she they had a feed from her sister. With the idea that if dinkys kittens suckle pinky it might encourge pinkys milk to come through.

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Yes, good idea.  And the extra benefit, is this kitten is occupied and doesnt cry, thus making mama nervous.

Earlier I mentioned you could let the bigger / older sleep in their own little nest.   Letting them be warm and comfortable with your no-milk momma is at least so good.  

You mention, no colostrum.  True, its very good to get colostrum.  But it is perhaps not that necessary.  After all, quite a few orphans do survive on other sorts of kmr.

I suppose, out in the harsh, merciless nature, colostrum is more important.  Being in human care,  shielded from most problems and difficulties, the pressure isnt as great.

If you can get raw goat milk, I suppose part of the benefit of raw goat milk over bottled milk, is, in raw goat milk are some natural antibodies.

What is good for small goats, may be good for kittens too.

For some of our forumists getting goat milk is no big deal.  Quite a few manage it in USA.

They have survied another night so musr be gettin good a at part hand rearing.lol.

They r all asleep at min shhhhhh.
And i think pinky milk finaly dropped. Whooooo well they r suckleing and seem content.
Will get so pics on here asa i can.

Oh not sure if i meationed it before but she stopped at 4 and they r stunning

Her milk has defo dropped . Bit worryed bout 1 of her her kits i've not seen it suckle so been giving it bottle feeds. I tryedd to get it to suckle but it dosent seem to want to lach on.

bikerblossom said:

Her milk has defo dropped . Bit worryed bout 1 of her her kits i've not seen it suckle so been giving it bottle feeds. I tryedd to get it to suckle but it dosent seem to want to lach on.

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Use a syringe or if you dont have, a dropper.  Its much easier for the weak ones.  Be sure she is warm enough.

If she is lethargic "not interested", smear some glucose sugar on her gum.  White caro syrup, or honey, are useful if you dont have real glucose sugar at home.

Good luck!

I have been given her feeds with the bottle every time is see her strugglun for a teat.

At the min i feed her when i get up bout 6am then though out the day till bout 2am.

Always use freashly made milk. Getting scales in morning.

Shes had bout .6 onuces acourteding to the bottle. She sucks away for a bout a minute and loses intrest.
Dont want ti lose the little thing.

lost the little b n w kitten i was worryed about . She just went so flat wont feed.

I'am so gutted poor little thing. Dont know what i did wrong.

bikerblossom said:

lost the little b n w kitten i was worryed about . She just went so flat wont feed.

I'am so gutted poor little thing. Dont know what i did wrong.

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If you did your best, so you did your best. The soul  of the little one will remember it.  And so will you, your conscience is clean.  So dont remorse yourself.

It could be much causing her death.  Internal problems, somewhat premature,  pneumonia.   Even just her fate.

Pneumonia is the most common killer of healthy born kittens.  She could get  fluids in her lungs during the birth.  Or happened to get some milk in her lungs when she got bottle.  This is one of the dangers of  feeding - mom is safer...

RIP little one.

And you must continue to fight for the three left alive.  Perhaps also for the mom.  I think she had a difficult birthing.

Thank you. She did sound like she was gurgglein a bit. But i did the gentle hold and move the kitten down teknic to clear mucus.

I just feel so useless i was up every 2 hours feedin her etc . Didnt think u could get soo attached that quick.

We buryed her under our tree.

ok pics as promised try 2.

mum and babys.


pinkie had the help and surporrt of her mum during labour.


 time to relax.


 pinkie and her sister share the load.


more on the way.(pics i mean dont want more kittens.lol.)