HELP! First time kitten mom

Yes.  That looks like the stuff.  It will make your hands soft too.

That is it! Let us know how she looks and feels today after using it!

sarthur2 said:

Isn't catwoman the best?

Rub it into her nipples and the surrounding mammary area. It should quickly sink in because she is so dry and chafed. Leave it. It won't hurt the babies. Re-apply several times daily as needed.

What do you think about supplementing each group once a day to give mom a break?

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Yes catwoman707 is the best along with the rest of you!! And I think I might start doing that so she can take longer breaks and just snuggle with the babies. She's in there with them as I speak and letting them nurse away. I'm about to throw on some decent apparel (been in p.js for the past 2 weeks :goof and run to tractor!

Sounds good! Did the oil help at all in the meantime?

sarthur2 said:

Sounds good! Did the oil help at all in the meantime?

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Yes! I think its the reason she has started to nurse like she used to again! Im back home with the balm and waiting for her to be done nursing so i can rub it on. There is always something going on in this crazy kitty household :lol3:

You are such a good cat parent!

I am glad the oil gave her interim relief. We've recommended it before, but her case was so extreme, I had an inkling that Catwoman might have a trick up her sleeve.

She should be even more soothed by the balm. Funny how cats let us know when they have a problem.

I'd like to see a picture when her mammaries look less chapped.

And two-week kitten pictures and weight and personality updates - as if you don't have enough to do!

Perfect.

I would apply it, massage it on gently so it gets absorbed, but won't hurt the babies if they nurse after, however as long as there is some heat in with the babies I would separate mom with them for a short period to allow some healing to start.

This is going to become routine for you and mom now, to prevent her from getting so sore/raw in the coming weeks.

Great job!

Hello All! I finally managed to get a scale yesterday and weigh all the babies, but I forgot to post anything! Here are the weights! (Will post Tuesdays weights later today. A little behind but will catch up!)

-Popeye (Gray Nose)-
Monday: 7.9 ounces
(1.0 ounce gain over the weekend!)

-Little Gray-
Monday: 8.0 ounces (We finally hit the big 8.0!)
(1.1 ounces gaines over the weekend!)

- Lilo (Light Paws)-
Monday: 9.3 ounces
(1.0 ounces gained over the weekend!)

-Stich (Dark Paws)-
Monday: 9.9 ounces
Right on the cusp of 10 ounces!
(.9 ounces gained over the weekend!)

-Dark Face-
Monday: 8.9 ounces
(1.0 ounces gained over the weekend!)

-Multi-
Monday: 8.1 ounces
(.9 ounces gained over the weekend)

-Stink Butt-
Monday: 9.5 ounces
(.9 ounces gained over the weekend)

-Gray Nose Tip-
Monday: 8.2
(.9 ounces gained over the weekend!)

Their weight gain has been awesome :nod: , even though i freaked out on Sunday! The 1.0 ounce gain translates into 28.4 grams! The .9 ounce gain translates into 25.5 grams! I am so proud of the babies and mama, and the babies are continuing to grow and get so big. The udder cream has been working awesome and the first time I rubbed it on Dutchess (Mama) looked at me with an expression of "Thank you soo much mom". Anything for my baby girl! I will be doing a better update later, just got my hands full at the moment with all these little stinkers :lol3:


Mama right after I applied it. So content hehe

This is "udderly" FANTASTIC - you go, girl!

The weights are great! They are on target to weigh about a pound apiece at 4 weeks when they start mush. One pound at one month is average.

I love hearing that she is so grateful for the cream. How often are you applying it?

We just had another poster whose cat delivered nine live kittens this morning, and guess what? We have shared the link to your thread with her. She's already rotating away.

Thanks for the update.

kntrygrl256 said:

I've been reading this thread and been right there with you and everyone during your ordeal. I think you are doing a wonderful thing for momma and the babies.

I am so sorry to hear that Simba didn't make it, but one thing you can be thankful about is that he passed away being so loved and cared for and you gave him a strong name to take with him to the Rainbow Bridge. He will always remember how you cared for him.

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Thank you so much for your kind words . That means a lot to me. He is defiantly always missed, but I'm blessed to have gotten to meet him and so glad he was able to pass away in a warm loving home instead of the outside.

rubysmama said:

Not sure if I've posted in this thread before, but I've been reading all the updates, and wanted to say what an amazing job you've done helping to raise the largest litter of kittens I've ever heard of.   No way could the poor Momma Cat have managed on her own. Not to mention, she was a stray until you welcomed her into your home. What a change in your home in only a couple months!

Love the photo updates for all the kittens.  I'm partial to little Stink Butt, but that's probably due to the name, LOL, as all the kittens are adorable.    And sorry about sweet baby Simba. 

Do you plan to keep any of the kittens?

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Thank you so much! It has been crazy around the house, especially because I was thinking Dutchess was going to have maybe 3 or 4 kittens (she looked so small!) and she decided to shock me with 9! I'm just so happy I rescued her so she was able to have the babies here.
Stink butt is defiantly a personality I tell ya! Always keeps me laughing!
As for keeping the kittens, if I lived in a huge house with lots of room I would seriously keep them all . I have gotten so attached to them but we already are keeping the mom and have a dog so I'm leaning towards keeping 2 (boyfriend says only 1 but every time he comes into the room to see them he gets more and more attached LOL). Haven't decided which 2 yet, but the other 6 are ONLY going to very close friends or family members because I refuse to loose track of them and want to be able to check up on them (make sure they are getting their shots and are happy). I will not be giving them away until they are around 12-13 weeks and have had all their shots and neutured/spayed. Still trying to figure out how to pay for 8 kittens and mama cat but I shall figure a way!

ellieandwinnie said:

This is my first day as a member of this site and I've been sitting on my couch for hours reading your story. This site and these people are truly a gift

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Call your local Humane Society. They offer low-cost spay and neuter services. This way you can plan for it. You can take two or three in at a time beginning around 8 weeks or whoever hits two pounds first.

My Humane Society books about a month out, so when you get 5 minutes go online or call and check.

You could also ask for a few bucks from the friends and relatives who will be taking them to help defray the costs. It's not unreasonable to ask since you are taking care of everything else.

You should keep two kittens for their sakes. They really need a playmate their own age - you'll see .

Humane Societies, SPCA, Shelters, and most of all local cat rescue groups, which I have and will always offer help to people like yourself who is taking the responsibility to get them fixed prior to adopting out, we love people like you!!

So I send them to our vet for low cost, which is $25. males and $35.00 females, can't beat that!

Vaccine is $5.00 given at 8 weeks, spay/neuter is about 9 weeks, which is usually when they hit 2 lbs, dewormed at 6 and 8 weeks, microchipped when fixed, as well as tested for felv.

However I would skip the felv testing of kits, maybe test mom when she is spayed, neg means so are her babes

In the next few weeks or so, just get started finding and contacting them to have a plan ready when they are

Fantastic weights!! Woohoo! You go girl! This is all because of YOU!~

sarthur2 said:

You should keep two kittens for their sakes. They really need a playmate their own age - you'll see .

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Haha my boyfriend and I discussed it and he was amazing and said he knows we are going to end up with two so Yay! It is going to be so hard to pick but I tell myself I will get to know where the rest of the kittens will be going and see them. Still I pretend 12 weeks wont be coming and they all are going to stay with me forever lol.

catwoman707 said:

Humane Societies, SPCA, Shelters, and most of all local cat rescue groups, which I have and will always offer help to people like yourself who is taking the responsibility to get them fixed prior to adopting out, we love people like you!!
So I send them to our vet for low cost, which is $25. males and $35.00 females, can't beat that!
Vaccine is $5.00 given at 8 weeks, spay/neuter is about 9 weeks, which is usually when they hit 2 lbs, dewormed at 6 and 8 weeks, microchipped when fixed, as well as tested for felv.
However I would skip the felv testing of kits, maybe test mom when she is spayed, neg means so are her babes

In the next few weeks or so, just get started finding and contacting them to have a plan ready when they are

Fantastic weights!! Woohoo! You go girl! This is all because of YOU!~

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I got a couple numbers written down of amazing places and going to call them tomorrow to get estimates and other important information!
Thank You for all your help! I couldn't have done this without yall

Sorry for such a late post guys, the days just keep flying by and before I know it, its Night time and Im having to set up base in the closet with my blankets and pillows. Then its time to rotate and weigh everyone, clean bottoms, put clean sheets in the box, give everyone some human lovins, feed mama, love on her, start laundry and finally get to lay down!
I will not lie and say I am not exhuasted and it is feeding time so I usually get my one hour/two hour nap in but i thought I should let everyone that all the kittens gained .3 ounces (8.5 grams today)! Not perfect but good for what happened today....

So I had to run some errands, and when I came back home the kittens had all gotten out of the box and six were still hanging out in the closet in a ball while two had made it all the way into the bathroom on grammys rug (thank god i had just washed it THAT morning). Can you guess who those two were?!
Stinker butt and Stich (Dark Paws)!
They were just hanging out like "oh hey, whats up grandma? We just decided to go on a little exploration and give you a heart attack!" i didnt get a picture because i was too worried how long they were out the box and if mom had fed them. So my box is now too small and I had to make an upgrade so they cant get out the box. Time is flying so fast and they are going to be walking so soon! Thank goodness my closet and bathroom are kitten proof. Thats my story for the day! Will do a better update tomorrow, just wiped out!
Once again thank you ALL for such wonderful advice and love. I would like to think all of your guys' love is flowing through the computer to the kittens and helping them grow big and strong!
:grphug2:


I'm going exploring!

Hey Guys! Come check this out!

This IS cool!



Oh my gosh, there he goes again..getting everyone in trouble. we are just going to stay out of this


My Big Box of Happiness! [emoji]128522[/emoji][emoji]128522[/emoji]

Never a boring day!  Love the photos.

The weight gain is fair, not bad. They are all gaining a little so that is okay.

How cute they were out exploring! There will be much more of that in the coming days!

I am assuming you are helping mama out with supplementing and applying udder balm. You and mama kitty make a great team. I know you must be incredibly exhausted. Wish I could reach through the computer to help you!

Thanks for the cute story along with your update. Looking forward to more pictures from you soon!

Hang in there!

@sweetlynn86 posted some pictures of Polka's kittens playing in a playpen w/ a scratching post and toys in it.  I think you should check it out for when you're crew is active.  It's post 514 in her thread

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/300495/approximate-delivery-day-for-this-mama-kitty

The playpen is a great idea!! I never thought of that when I had my bunch of kittens. I'll remember if it happens again.

Holy heavens! Where has this week gone?! I can't believe it's already Thursday and in 3 days the kittens are going to be 3 weeks!! Sorry for putting off doing an update

It goes fast, doesn't it? Really hard to believe. How are mama's nipples holding up?