Inexperienced Cat Daddy!!

Hi All, it was father's day in the UK yesterday and my cat Rosie celebrated by delivering us a lovely Kitten! The birth was witnessed and she has decided to have her kitten under my daughter's bed which is problematic as I don't trust my daughter not to mess with mother and baby when I put her to bed at night.

Now ... I'm very inexperienced with all this and need some help and advice!

Firstly .. She's only had one kitten so far, her abdomen is softer and smaller than it was but I'm unsure if there are more to come! Rosie is using the litter tray, eating and drinking, and shows no signs of bleeding. She's very vocal however.

My questions are

1) it must be at least 24 hours if not more since the birth, is she likely to have any more? ( its rosies first litter)

2) how do I go about making a comfortable nest / bed for Rosie and the kitten? What do I use?

3) how do I go about relocating mum and baby?

4) is there anything is should be or .. should not be doing at the moment?

5) what age will the kitten start to independently explore the house?

6) have I not asked anything that's important ha ha ha

1.  She is PROBABLY not going to have any more kittens if it has been 24 hours since the birth.  However, it is not impossible for kittens to be born several days apart.  Since it is her first litter, having only one kitten is not unusual. 

2.  The best place for newborns will have a cave-like atmosphere.  That is probably why she has chosen under your daughter's bed.  If you have a closet in another room that you could give her, that would be great.  It's even best if the room the closet is in is kept closed for awhile and her food, water and litter pan are in that room.  That way she is not able to move the kitten to another room without you knowing about it!  I always put down a quilt and then cover it with a folded bed sheet.  Towels are not good because the kittens claws get caught in them.  You can change the bed sheet every couple of days.  Keep the door mostly closed so the closet cave remains dark.  Kittens eyes open around 10 days of age and at that time they need to avoid bright light.  After that they will venture out of the nest.

3.  To relocate mum and baby, after preparing the closet space, pick up baby and call mum to follow you.  She will likely follow you if the baby is crying but possibly not if it is quiet.  If she doesn't follow you, place the baby in the new nest and then go and get mom and place her there too (after closing the door to the room)/  You can sit with her a bit until she seems settled.  I have never had one that did not like the closet cave!

4.  I will attach a link to information about what to watch for in terms of complications.  Chances are that all will be well, and if you weigh the kitten every day and it is gaining weight, then all is well.  If it is not gaining weight, or crying excessively, or she is not staying with the baby almost 100% of the time during the first three days, that can be a problem and you should contact your vet.  One thing that is a little different than a normal litter, if this is an only kitten, when they are that young they cannot control their own body heat so they need mum to keep them warm (normal temperature of a cat is 101 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit).  If there are several kittens, they pile on top of each other to keep warm when mum is out of the nest.  You may want to place a hot water bottle wrapped in a pillowcase in the bed area once mum starts leaving the kitten for awhile.  The kitten can snuggle up to it to keep warm if it needs to. 

5.  There are many stages to go through before that time arrives, and you should control where the kitten can and cannot go for a long time.  They can get in things, under thins, stepped on, fall over a stair railing etc.  Mostly they will follow their mum.

6.  Here is the link I promised you.  Post-Birth Complications in Cats

Happy Father's Day!

red top rescue covered all the bases outstandingly!

Best wishes to you and ask questions as needed!