cat won't stay with kittens

A friend of mine called me today and said that their cat had a kitten in the middle of the floor. The mother did not try to clean the kitten or anything. I told them to try to move the mother closer to the kitten, it had been about 5 minutes between the time the mother birthed the kitten and i was called. My friend did end up opening the amniotic sac and keep bringing mother back. She licked it a couple times but left it again. I told my friends that the kitten needed to stay warm and laying in the middle of the floor was not good. If he could find an older towel that they didn't care if used. And bring the mom back again. He called me again 10 minutes ago and they have another kitten. Mother won't do anything with them. Another friend got kitten formula at the store. My friend said she doesn't know anything about kittens. I said they can't keep their temperatures regulated right now, they need to feed at a minimum of every 1.5-2 hours. I suggested they call the vet (my vet) but they are closed. And there is no rescue places around her. It is not a good sign the mother won't have anything to do with the kittens is it? Any ideas can be helpful I don't even know how old the mother is or anything. I don't know what to tell him to do. They do not have money either.

psychocat0604 said:

A friend of mine called me today and said that their cat had a kitten in the middle of the floor. The mother did not try to clean the kitten or anything. I told them to try to move the mother closer to the kitten, it had been about 5 minutes between the time the mother birthed the kitten and i was called. My friend did end up opening the amniotic sac and keep bringing mother back. She licked it a couple times but left it again. I told my friends that the kitten needed to stay warm and laying in the middle of the floor was not good. If he could find an older towel that they didn't care if used. And bring the mom back again. He called me again 10 minutes ago and they have another kitten. Mother won't do anything with them. Another friend got kitten formula at the store. My friend said she doesn't know anything about kittens. I said they can't keep their temperatures regulated right now, they need to feed at a minimum of every 1.5-2 hours. I suggested they call the vet (my vet) but they are closed. And there is no rescue places around her. It is not a good sign the mother won't have anything to do with the kittens is it? Any ideas can be helpful I don't even know how old the mother is or anything. I don't know what to tell him to do. They do not have money either.

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OK, your advices were good as far as they go.  Im sure you know quite a lot, and can proceed to guide them.  The problem is, the owners must apparently step in and help these kittens, them being de facto orphans at this moment.  It doesnt no good to hang there helpless and uwilling to do their share.   I suspect they hope somebody, perhaps you or this other friend, will take over and relieve them from the burden.

Who knows, it may be the best solution...  Coocoo birds´ nest and all that, but somebody must do it, if you want the kittens alive and well.

OK, the philosophical thoughs aside.   (observe, I may be totally wrongly and misreading the situation you describe)

Mom not caring may be bad motherhood, which motherhood instincts  perhaps will spark in with time.  Or it will not.

But it may be, the mom is not well, some problems with the mom.  You yourself mention she wasnt done with the birthing as yet...   Lets hope its nothing more serious than that...   Anyway, for the moment, yes its necessary to step in.

Observe, its not enough with an old towel.  Kittens that young cant keep up their own body temp, they must have an external warmth source.  Be it moms body, or some heat pad on low warmth.

RE rushing to the vet:  Nay, not with the kitten.  Very few vets would take over the raising in this situation.  Very few.   Also, few vets are good helping with weak kittens.

At best they will come here with good advices, and sell the suitable gears, but they will expect the owner will take care of the main part of raising the de facto orphan.

What is this kmr your friend got hold of?

You know how to feed? for example using a needless syringe or a dropper?   The kmr or goat milk body warm.

Tummy down, head up. May be 45 degrees up.   Syringe / dropper in the corner of the mouth,  and slowly and carefully.  If the kitten swallow actively, it goes fairly guick.  If it doestn swallow activey, it will take its time.

Burp afterwards.

the need is 8 ml /oz030grammes body  every day.   So, a smallish but fully normal kitten of 90 grammes body werigh, will need at least 24 ml  kmr a day.

Say it get 12 feedings every second hour, so each feeding shall be about 2ml...

A good site for helping orphans ar

http://www.kitten-rescue.com/
http://www.kittenrescue.org/index.php/cat-care/kitten-care-handbook/
http://www.hdw-inc.com/glop.htm

We too have some articles on hand rearing / hand raising.

Good luck!

ps.  As hinted, its perhaps mom is not well, and its with mom they perhaps should go to the vet.

NOT the kitten.  But the vet may have suitable gears to sell, needleless syringe, good kmr, etc...

Thank you so much for replying, I'm not sure how motivated this girl is to be a kitten parent. But i will offer what help i can. I believe the kmr is the generic formula that it's sold at Walmart. I am hoping the mother will not continue to avoid the kittens. She may very well still be in labor because as far as i know there are only 2 kittens so far. My friend said the only difference in the mothers behavior today was her pacing some and some meowing. Yeah i know the vet wouldn't do much for the kittens but i was hoping for maybe advice. I will see if they have a hearing pad, if not i can give them mine. I would try to take them in but i have 3 cats currently and 2 of them do not handle different animals in the house and i know from experience that some cats can harm or kill a litter if they get so upset. (My youngest is the only surviving of her liter die to a territorial male)

Good news, the mother is feeding the kittens, there are 4 now. The mother has not done anything with the amniotic sacs but i told my friend right now as long as she is with them and feeding hold off on trying to remove them and trying to cut the cord. I know generally mothers will consume the sacs. I did find out she is a young mother too.

psychocat0604 said:

Good news, the mother is feeding the kittens, there are 4 now. The mother has not done anything with the amniotic sacs but i told my friend right now as long as she is with them and feeding hold off on trying to remove them and trying to cut the cord. I know generally mothers will consume the sacs. I did find out she is a young mother too.

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Tx for the report! Very good news! 

But what is it with the cords to cut and such?

StefanZ said:

 
Tx for the report! Very good news! 

But what is it with the cords to cut and such?

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I am talking about the remaining umbilical cord that is still attached to the amniotic sac. I know when the mother generally consumes the sac the umbilical cord is partially eaten so it is not long and attached to the sac (because it was eaten). The remaining umbilical cord falls off. 

psychocat0604 said:

 
I am talking about the remaining umbilical cord that is still attached to the amniotic sac. I know when the mother generally consumes the sac the umbilical cord is partially eaten so it is not long and attached to the sac (because it was eaten). The remaining umbilical cord falls off. 

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OK, if the amniotic sac or placenta is still hanging attached with them, its just to cut it off, preferably with a blunt scissor, or even fingernails.     Sharp scissor is dangerous when doing it at birth - but now several hours later it probably doesnt matter.  Although, who wants to risk anything?

Although if she is very afraid and unsure, it can probably be left some time.

But if you mean there are just some cord still hanging out, yes, she can leave them be, no problem.

It will dry off, and fall of itself in a couple of days.