Kitten weight gain slowing. Mum thirsty?

gingerozzy

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Hi my cat had kittens 10 days ago (this is her second litter, her first was problem free).

Up until now their weight gain has been good, averaging 15g a day often higher. But in the last couple of days it's slowing to around 11g, with the runt only gaining 5g since yesterday. In addition, today mum has been following me and meowing a lot.
She is still eating, and has drunk some KMR milk, but I gave her a tin of sardines and she licked up the sauce leaving the fish. I added water to the leftover and she drank some of that. She has left her second bowl of milk and she has fresh water down. She is still following me and meowing. Kittens are currently sleeping peacefully, but have been a little noisier than usual at feeding time in last 24 hours...
 

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I am not sure what is going on, but will offer some suggestions. Your cat may be in heat already, so please do not let her outside.

Have you checked her nipples and mammary glands for infection? If she has mastitis, one or more of her nipples and surrounding areas may appear red, puffy, inflamed, or have pus.

If she has mastitis she will need an antibiotic from a vet, and you would need to supplement the babies while she heals.

Mastitis makes nursing very painful for mama cat, which may explain the kittens lower weight gains. It may also explain her meowing at you and going off her food! You may want to get her checked at the vet regardless. If she has mastitis, a warm compress can help relieve the pain while you get to the vet.

If no mastitis, she may just crave some extra attention from you, so you may want to sit with her more frequently while she nurses, to encourage her to nurse longer.

Barring any other problems, you may need to close her in the room with her kittens for periods of time to encourage her to stay with her litter.

Good luck and let us know if she has mastitis.
 
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gingerozzy

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I have checked her nipples and I think they look fine. The kittens still seem very relaxed, but mum just looks worried and vocal...
 

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I am glad she is not showing signs of infection. It may be that she simply wants you - her special human - close by her and her babies. :)
 
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gingerozzy

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I did have another thought... My partner told me she sounded like she was coughing up a hairball this morning so he moved the treadmill out the way to get to her (she moved her litter behind the treadmill) so could she just be upset that she feels less secure?
But that doesn't explain the runt only gaining 5g...
 

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Could be that she's upset about the move. Do you have a closet you could put them in but leave the door cracked? Cats really like to feel like their babies are hidden.

Watch the runt. If the gain goes lower you'll need to supplement.

Are you giving mom wet food? You mentioned sardines, but she also needs wet cat food and dry kitten chow as well.
 
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gingerozzy

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Yeah the sardines were just a treat. She's eating wet kitten food and some dry food.
 
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gingerozzy

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Yes she is eating ok still, but hasn't yet drunk her kmr milk. She is still meowing after being fed... But the kittens have all gained good weight since yesterday and the runt gained 14g so I am assuming there is nothing to worry about...
 

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Everything sounds good overall! Do you leave a bowl of fresh water for mom?

Sounds like mom is just talking to you about her babies. My cat became very vocal after she had kittens, and it continued for about three months. She had never meowed that much before, and has since quieted down now that her kittens are older and she is spayed.
 
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gingerozzy

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Yes she has constant supply of water milk and food. I also sometimes add a small amount of water to her food as she doesn't drink from a bowl (preferring the toilet)
 

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My cats would love to drink from the toilet but I keep the lids down, however; they do love getting in the sinks! ;)
 
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gingerozzy

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I have been offering my 3 kittens solid food for a week now. My usual technique for weaning is mashed up and watered down wet kitten food which I let them lick of my finger and lead them down to the bowl. 2 out of 3 licked my finger. 1 out of 3 even ate a small chunk of meat. I have had no success since. They won't lick my finger even! So I tried playing with a dried biscuit (tapping it to get them interested) 2 kittens ate a biscuit. Not succeed since. I have now soaked the biscuits in kmr milk, and 2 kittens licked the milk (not the biscuits) but now they don't even seem interested in that! They are 5 weeks tomorrow and really don't know what else to try! They are just more interested in playing!
 
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gingerozzy

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Yes they have a mum, and she has done very well. Since posting I think I had a break through with the two who tried other things earlier, but one kitten has still not eaten anything solid. He seems smaller than the other two now (he used to be the biggest).
 

Sarthur2

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Weaning is a process. If they are not eating the mush it's because they are not ready.

Though some kittens will wean early, many do not until around six weeks old.

Good luck :)
 
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