Abandoned kittens and newly spayed pregnant cat

Good morning everyone! I am a new member so bear with me please. About 6 mos ago I captured a stray kitten (Mouse). She was young (maybe 6-8 wks old) and about 2 weeks ago I was able (financially) to have her spayed. A week AFTER I had her spayed I heard some serious mewling under my trailer. A week previously I found a dead cat and she looked to have had babies recently. I managed to retrieve 5 kittens (eyes barely open n still doing to "weeble walk"). I brought them into the house, set them all up in a box and tried desperately to feed them (milk replacement)and they REFUSED to eat. Went to bed n woke up the next morning to find Mouse in the box nursing them! After just being spayed the week before. I know they r eating because they aren't crying when they try to feed. BUT Mouse has gotten extremely raw and will cry when feeding them. To where it hurts my heart. When I take the kittens away to try n bottle feed them again she goes NUTS!! Tries to take them from me from whatever part she can get her mouth on. And if I try to separate them she cried all night (and I do mean ALLLL night!). I have tried giving them kitten food (they have teeny tiny razors in their mouth so I know they can eat!) But again they refuse to eat...anything! There are only 2 kittens left (the others were simply too week) n they r growing like weeds.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE help Mouse! And myself...I love her so and I am proud of her for trying to help these babies but her being in ANY type of pain is hurting my heart.
Sorry for the length... Thank you for your help in advance.

So her mammary glands are swollen and she is producing milk? How old are the two kittens you have left?

Did you try to feed the kittens with a bottle? Kittens who are nursing will almost never take a bottle. They are accustomed to mama. To give Mouse a break, you can supplement each kitten with formula and a needleless syringe. Tummy down, head up, couple drops in the side of the mouth, let them swallow, breathe, and go again. Be careful they do not aspirate the formula because it will kill them.

You could try rubbing something natural and non-toxic on her nipples, such as olive oil, for moisture since they are sore. Mouse thinks these are her babies, which may be a good thing, since kittens cannot regulate their body temperature the first three weeks, and need to be stimulated to potty (they can't do that on their own either) and cleaned up after by mom.

Kittens who are around 4-5 weeks old can begin to transition to wet food - Fancy Feast classic or pate is easy to swallow. They also need kitten chow. Mix up some formula and give it to them in a dish to lap. It's full of vitamins and minerals they need. As they transition, put the litter pan nearby and show it to them so they learn to use it. Mouse will teach them social skills.

Sarthur2, thank you so much for your advice! I was literally just going to ask for advice for what I could put on Mouse's nipples to give her some relief.
I am not sure of the kittens ages. I found them about 2 weeks ago and the mother cat (I'm assuming) about a week before that. They have teeth (as Mouse can attest to!) And from having kittens before they should be able to eat soft food. But from my thinking they may have been without their mama for at least a week. I don't know if that would have any bearing on whether or not they want to nurse off of Mouse longer...having never come across this particular situation before!
Again, thank you for your help! I'm off to put olive oil on my previous Mouse and to look for a needless syringe!

You did not say how much milk Mouse is producing. It may not be enough if they are biting her. A syringe can be obtained from a pharmacy or vet - preferably 1 or 2 ml. Let us know how it goes!

Keep trying soft food when they are hungry. Let them lick it from your finger initially. They sound about 3 weeks old to me. Good luck!

KimmisKitties said:

Good morning everyone! I am a new member so bear with me please. About 6 mos ago I captured a stray kitten (Mouse). She was young (maybe 6-8 wks old) and about 2 weeks ago I was able (financially) to have her spayed. A week AFTER I had her spayed I heard some serious mewling under my trailer. A week previously I found a dead cat and she looked to have had babies recently. I managed to retrieve 5 kittens (eyes barely open n still doing to "weeble walk"). I brought them into the house, set them all up in a box and tried desperately to feed them (milk replacement)and they REFUSED to eat. Went to bed n woke up the next morning to find Mouse in the box nursing them! After just being spayed the week before. I know they r eating because they aren't crying when they try to feed. BUT Mouse has gotten extremely raw and will cry when feeding them. To where it hurts my heart. When I take the kittens away to try n bottle feed them again she goes NUTS!! Tries to take them from me from whatever part she can get her mouth on. And if I try to separate them she cried all night (and I do mean ALLLL night!). I have tried giving them kitten food (they have teeny tiny razors in their mouth so I know they can eat!) But again they refuse to eat...anything! There are only 2 kittens left (the others were simply too week) n they r growing like weeds.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE help Mouse! And myself...I love her so and I am proud of her for trying to help these babies but her being in ANY type of pain is hurting my heart.
Sorry for the length... Thank you for your help in advance.

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This means they seems to have survived a whole week without any food...  No wonder 3 of them didnt make it.  But still alive after a full week...  I didnt even knew it was possible.

You had already got good advices by SArtur.

What EXACTLY  kmr are you using?    Goat milk is also always an alternative.

Tx for caring!

Good luck!

Hi! Thank you for the post. I was amazed as well that the babies were still alive after that length of time...and so saying, I'm not exactly sure how long they were without their mama. Part of my disability is time distortion (for want of a better description! Lol). I just knew in my heart of hearts that I was going to do my best to help them survive. And even knowing that the potential was there that they wouldn't they were going to know a gentle n loving touch.
Yuck. Reading back over my posts it seems like I may sound as if I am patting myself on the back....and that is the furthest from the truth!!
The two kittens that are still with us (T.J, for Tigger Jr, and Blot, short for "ink Blot" *giggle*) have taken some mushed up kitten food from a syringe (thank you again sarthur2!) And have seriously enjoyed smushing it between their little toes...n their ears...n tails...ya get the picture? Lol
And the milk replacement that I was giving them (threw the can away last night) was in a silver can with red writing. I can't remember the name brand but when I pick some more up tomorrow I will let you know!
Thank you for the advice on the goats milk. Where would I be able to purchase that? I usually keep a can of the replacement milk on hand (just in case!) But find that I wind up giving most of it to a shelter (which I don't mind!) Because of the shelf life!
I can't tell you how blessed I am to have found this site where there are so many knowledgeable people who are willing to share that knowledge and love cats as much as I do!
Thank you from Kimmi's Kitties (Baby, Pa, Mouse and for now...T.J. & Blot)
Have a blessed day!

KimmisKitties said:

Hi! Thank you for the post. I was amazed as well that the babies were still alive after that length of time...and so saying, I'm not exactly sure how long they were without their mama. Part of my disability is time distortion (for want of a better description! Lol). I just knew in my heart of hearts that I was going to do my best to help them survive. And even knowing that the potential was there that they wouldn't they were going to know a gentle n loving touch.
Yuck. Reading back over my posts it seems like I may sound as if I am patting myself on the back....and that is the furthest from the truth!!
The two kittens that are still with us (T.J, for Tigger Jr, and Blot, short for "ink Blot" *giggle*) have taken some mushed up kitten food from a syringe (thank you again sarthur2!) And have seriously enjoyed smushing it between their little toes...n their ears...n tails...ya get the picture? Lol
And the milk replacement that I was giving them (threw the can away last night) was in a silver can with red writing. I can't remember the name brand but when I pick some more up tomorrow I will let you know!
Thank you for the advice on the goats milk. Where would I be able to purchase that? I usually keep a can of the replacement milk on hand (just in case!) But find that I wind up giving most of it to a shelter (which I don't mind!) Because of the shelf life!
I can't tell you how blessed I am to have found this site where there are so many knowledgeable people who are willing to share that knowledge and love cats as much as I do!
Thank you from Kimmi's Kitties (Baby, Pa, Mouse and for now...T.J. & Blot)
Have a blessed day!

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Raw goat milk is the best of them, our forumites tells shops  selling Natural Food - groceries, do often carry them.  Otherwise the usual shops dont carry unpasterurized milk...

And not everyone has a goat farmer among friends.

But bottled (ie pasteurized) goat milk you can find in many places.  Walmart has it in its diary shelves, surely other chains too.  Take a full fat version if you have several to choose among.

If you dont need to use all goats milk for the kittens, you can have the rest in your own coffe, instead of the usual cream.  

I was asking about the brand of kmr, because some brands are inferior, or, at least, with uneven quality control.   I myself prefer to not write it out in clear.

But there are many brands who are good, some even excellent.

You dont need to be shy for patting yourself some.  You are well worth it.   We do  happily and wholeheartly applaude  your praiseworthy deed, but being on internet, its difficult to pat your shoulder physically.  

Although it happens Im sending warm hugs, when so is needed.  

You are very kind. Thank you for saving these little ones. And so glad to hear that they are doing well and eating some mush through the syringe.