New Foster Mama and four babies - Need Advice

annec · Apr 9, 2015

I've been fostering dogs for the past few months, but decided recently to take in some cats now that kitten season is in full swing. Yesterday the local shelter contacted me about a cat that had been dropped off right before closing the prior evening. They didn't realize how pregnant she was and she gave birth to three kittens during the night and then had a fourth the next day. Mama gave birth in her litter box, so the babies were pretty filthy, but their vet tech cleaned them up the next day.

So far everything seems to be going well. Mama is very dedicated and doesn't leave her babies for long. They spend a great deal of time nursing and I plan to weigh them when I get home this evening so I can start monitoring their weight gain daily.

Right now they haven't left the carrier we brought them home in. Mama seems pretty comfortable, so I'm leaving her be. We have her in her own room where she has access to food, water and a litter box, along with plenty of space to move around if she wants.

Two questions -

I'm feeding mama dry kitten food supplemented with canned food. I read somewhere that I should purchase canned kitten food to help provide extra nutrients and aid in milk production. Is this necessary? Anything else I should give her to eat?

I've seem conflicting information about handling the kittens. Some folks say to leave them be for the first few weeks and I've also read that I should handle them a little everyday. Mama doesn't seem to mind me picking up the kittens at all. So should I try to hold them a little each day to help socialize them?

I'd appreciate any advice anyone has for helping to take care of mama and her babies. Thank you!

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annec
Apr 9, 2015
3

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annec
Apr 9, 2015

mwallace056 · Apr 9, 2015

annec said:
I've been fostering dogs for the past few months, but decided recently to take in some cats now that kitten season is in full swing. Yesterday the local shelter contacted me about a cat that had been dropped off right before closing the prior evening. They didn't realize how pregnant she was and she gave birth to three kittens during the night and then had a fourth the next day. Mama gave birth in her litter box, so the babies were pretty filthy, but their vet tech cleaned them up the next day.

So far everything seems to be going well. Mama is very dedicated and doesn't leave her babies for long. They spend a great deal of time nursing and I plan to weigh them when I get home this evening so I can start monitoring their weight gain daily.

Right now they haven't left the carrier we brought them home in. Mama seems pretty comfortable, so I'm leaving her be. We have her in her own room where she has access to food, water and a litter box, along with plenty of space to move around if she wants.

Two questions -

I'm feeding mama dry kitten food supplemented with canned food. I read somewhere that I should purchase canned kitten food to help provide extra nutrients and aid in milk production. Is this necessary? Anything else I should give her to eat?

I've seem conflicting information about handling the kittens. Some folks say to leave them be for the first few weeks and I've also read that I should handle them a little everyday. Mama doesn't seem to mind me picking up the kittens at all. So should I try to hold them a little each day to help socialize them?

I'd appreciate any advice anyone has for helping to take care of mama and her babies. Thank you!

IMG_9139.JPG

annec

Apr 9, 2015

3

IMG_9140.JPG

annec

Apr 9, 2015

question one, she needs the extra food

Question two- you don't need to handle them for the first two weeks, when they two weeks or three weeks old you can start socializing them a little as they get older you can socialize them longer.

If mama cat is alright of you picking them up, you can hold them everyday, just kept it short and keep them where their mother can see them so she will know that they are safe

di and bob · Apr 9, 2015

I would give her kitten food, it has extra nutrition that she needs right now. I've always handled the babies for short periods of time as long as mama doesn't object. But that is because I never could resist!!!

StefanZ · Apr 9, 2015

Reading. will answer soon

annec said:
I've been fostering dogs for the past few months, but decided recently to take in some cats now that kitten season is in full swing. Yesterday the local shelter contacted me about a cat that had been dropped off right before closing the prior evening. They didn't realize how pregnant she was and she gave birth to three kittens during the night and then had a fourth the next day. Mama gave birth in her litter box, so the babies were pretty filthy, but their vet tech cleaned them up the next day.

So far everything seems to be going well. Mama is very dedicated and doesn't leave her babies for long. They spend a great deal of time nursing and I plan to weigh them when I get home this evening so I can start monitoring their weight gain daily.

Right now they haven't left the carrier we brought them home in. Mama seems pretty comfortable, so I'm leaving her be. We have her in her own room where she has access to food, water and a litter box, along with plenty of space to move around if she wants.

Two questions -

I'm feeding mama dry kitten food supplemented with canned food. I read somewhere that I should purchase canned kitten food to help provide extra nutrients and aid in milk production. Is this necessary? Anything else I should give her to eat?

I've seem conflicting information about handling the kittens. Some folks say to leave them be for the first few weeks and I've also read that I should handle them a little everyday. Mama doesn't seem to mind me picking up the kittens at all. So should I try to hold them a little each day to help socialize them?

I'd appreciate any advice anyone has for helping to take care of mama and her babies. Thank you!

You had got adequate answers-

To add some, the food seems OK, as long itsn not the cheapest brands, or some funny low fat version.   Canned for kitten is prob the best, but its no hurry.

The demand will got even higher later on, when they become biggish but are still solely on moms milk.

She doesnt seem emaciated, but we dont know what she had earlier. so to be safe, you can add some nice vitamine paste they sell in good pet shops. Just a little should be enough. Also some calcium source, plain unsweetened full yoghurt perhaps, or cheese.   Goat milk is fine, if you can get it. Especielly raw goat milk. (this fine also for dogs, btw).

These extras arent necessary for a well kept home girl, like breeders have, but with her, we dont know much. A good owner wouldnt dump her.

RE handling of the kittens. Its not necessary to handle them the first two weeks, to get them socialized.   Socializing comes later on.

But some handling is useful and wished for: you look see how they are, and also you weigh them.

This is no problem as mom doesnt mind.   Apparently a friendly home girl whom got dumped or possibly got astray.

If she were semiferale, you could almost surely handle them too, but it would be much more touchy, and demand quite a good feeling of diplomatic tact.

Still, be sure mom sees you, and hears the kitten dont protest, and dont overdo it, so mom is the whole time comfortable with the situation and with you.

Tx a lot for caring and helping this our little sister and her children!

Good luck!

annec · Apr 27, 2015

I am currently fostering a mama and her litter of four kittens. In the beginning there were two that were larger than the others, but for the past week one of the stronger kittens hasn't gained any weight at all. So now she is pretty much the runt of the litter. I asked the shelter for advice and they told me that I should take the other three kittens away for a couple hours each day and leave the one that isn't gaining any weight for some special time with mama. We did that over the weekend but I haven't noticed any difference.

The kittens are three weeks old tomorrow and have just barely doubled their birth weight, with the exception of the one that isn't gaining. She is about 185 grams. Mama is a pretty petite little kitty so I don't think that these kittens are ever going to be huge, but I'm still worried. I've had concerns about mom eating enough and right now I am buying her those Fancy Feast appetizers and the broth packets in order to entice her to eat more. She also doesn't seem to want to drink much water, so I'm hoping all the liquid in those foods will help.

Other than the weight issue, the kitten doesn't seem to be any different from her siblings. They are all starting to walk around and she isn't at all lethargic. Mama gives them lots of attention. If she isn't up eating or using the litter box, she is right there with them letting them nurse, so its not an issue with rejecting any of them.

Any advice? Should I try to supplement the small one? Is it too early to try to get her to start lapping up formula on her own?

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annec
Apr 27, 2015

lemna · Apr 27, 2015

I've been worried about a small kitten before, but it seemed to work itself out. By that, I mean that the kitten either caught up with the others or stayed small and healthy. If mom doesn't mind, I would continue to let the runt nurse alone to make sure she's not having to constantly compete with bigger siblings. Kittens have a pecking order right out of the womb, with the larger ones taking the better teats. Taking away the other two may let the little one use the better teats.

I would just watch closely for lethargy, crying, and eye problems. If she's behaving fine and seems to be nursing it's probably okay for now.

jennyr · Apr 27, 2015

lemna said:
I've been worried about a small kitten before, but it seemed to work itself out. By that, I mean that the kitten either caught up with the others or stayed small and healthy. If mom doesn't mind, I would continue to let the runt nurse alone to make sure she's not having to constantly compete with bigger siblings. Kittens have a pecking order right out of the womb, with the larger ones taking the better teats. Taking away the other two may let the little one use the better teats.

I would just watch closely for lethargy, crying, and eye problems. If she's behaving fine and seems to be nursing it's probably okay for now.

I agree with this. If the kitten starts to lose weight or has any of the above symptoms then you do need to take action at once by supplementing feed and a vet check.

StefanZ · Apr 27, 2015

Do you have a possibility to get raw goat milk? If so, it could be worth a try. Cant hurt, may even help. Very healthy and nourishing...

If you do have access to a vet good at obstetrics and helping small kittens (for example one who cooperates much with breeders, or cooperates much with rescuers) - it is of course wise to discuss with this vet.

New Foster Mama and four babies - Need Advice

annec

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mwallace056

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di and bob

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StefanZ

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annec

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lemna

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