HELP! New mom hasn't eaten in 24 hours!

Emma gave birth to 5 kittens on June 30th.  Everything went perfectly.  She's been such a good mommy but I'm worried.  She licked all the moisture off the top of her wet food, drank lots of water and then ... didn't actually eat anything since yesterday!  I noticed that her side was moving in and out, like respiration was heavy, as if she'd run a long ways.  But no panting.  I do not know how to tell if a cat has a fever but she  just doesn't look right to me.  Can those kitten nurse TOO much?  They never ever seem to stop!  She came out today, and laid in the living room for about 30 minutes but was back in with her babies quickly.  

We do not have a true vet where I live although my mailing address is in Homer, Alaska --- I'm not really IN the village.  Any tips?  I can get her raw salmon if that'd help easily.  I do not want to wait longer than til tomorrow morning .. I'll have to take her in, and it's super expensive and quite the distance.  I love my Emma and her kittens are all fat and growing like weeds, but she now seems to be suffering for them.

ANY HELP, ADVICE, SUGGESTIONS would be greatly appreciated!

Emma ... and kittens yesterday:

So she was OK several days, and now all of a sudden she seems have problems?  Not good.  Yellow alert flag, probably even red alert.

Phone the vet at least.  If its long distances there in Alaska, he will understand you phone first, before rushing in...  But I suspect you will be forced to visit vet anyway... Unless the vet can perhaps prescribe something on the telephone.

You can measure the temp in the armpit of the foreleg, its less invasive than in the rectum.  The temp in the armpit is lower, about 2-3F or a full Celsius, but you will still get a decent measure.

Normal temp is 101F in rectum, 99 in armpit.   38,5C in rectum, 37,5 armpit.   If higher than just somewhat, she has fever.

Try to entice her to eat, whatever it is.  Lotsa drink too...   Forcefeed if necessary.   Look below at the needleless syringe.

Be prepared to supplemet the kittens, as she soon will have end of natural milk.

Suitable kmr, or goat milk - raw goa tmilk if you can get it, but bottled is OK...   She can also get it.

Use a needle less syringe.  Tummy down, head up, in the corner of the mouth, just a few drops so they manage to swallow safely.  Burp afterwards on your arm like a baby...

The kittens are all points, so both parents are points.  She may be mitted ragdoll.

Im going out now, but others are surely around.

Good luck!

you got answer.

Ps, if you wrote wrong datum, and she had them yesterday.   They usually ate all the placentas, so sometimes they arent hungry afterwards.  But still, what you wrote sounds not so good.

The salmon would be good for her. Are you able to get kitten formula? That would help if she can drink some of that. Give her a raw beaten egg mixed into her wet food, but if she has an infection or fever, which it sounds like she may, then you will need to see a vet. If it is a distance, take the kittens along also.

I hope your cat improves. Please give us an update as soon as you can.

Thank you all for your help!

Yesterday, Emma ate a bit of fresh fish, drank - even though I had to make her drink at first.  She also used the litter box, and wow!  I actually heard the raging river!  No fever (borrowed a therm), no sign of infection - urine, feces, eyes are all clear, normal.  She'd been practically living on top of the kittens for the previous week, coming out to gulp down food and water, then going back.  Her nipples are fine - pink, clean, no discharge.  Today, she left them several times, and took herself a breather out in the sun and fresh air on the deck!  She is meowing and rubbing on my ankles, too, wanting a petting session - which she gets~  :-)

Today, friends stopped by. When they saw Emma's feeding mat with all the containers, they said, "WOW!  That cat's got a smorgasbord!"   I had a bit of salmon, some wet Friskies, a bit of formula, regular dry food and water in two different bowls - one glass, one plastic.  I took up everything but the Friskies, dry food and water in glass bowl.  Emma drank and ate, not much but she's doing in several times a day so that's good.   I think maybe she was just wore out!  Those kittens are nursing what looks like constantly!!  Can kittens nurse TOO much??

Poor lil Emma - a kitten, then preggers, then a momma .. and only 7 months old. If cats could have postpartum depression, she'd certainly earn her's.  

  (PS -- the kittens were born June 30th, that photo was taken the day before I posted the "HELP! New mom ..." Sorry for the confusion, Stefan) 

Thanks for the update.  We love good news!

Do you plan to spay her in a few weekss so she doesn't have more babies?