Young cat just went into labor help please

Handsome Kitty said:

If the kitten is crying it is hungry.  can you get it to latch on? Otherwise you may have to give it a couple mls of formula.  Reread the post #48 where I explained how to do it.  Let me know if you have any questions.

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I do get the tiny orange to latch on but it takes quite a few try's. Simba was moving last feeding and everyone was crying. She let me get me them latched. I did not supplement because the tiny orange is taking nipple but if I'm not there to guide. Please take a look at the weights. And confirm if I need to supplement or I don't for now. The weights did go up. Thank you so much

The weigh ins

August 15th Sunday

Orange 1 4.8oz
Orange 2 4.6oz
Orange 3 4.0
Black 4.8oz
Grey 4.0oz

sarthur2 said:

Please feed this little runt. It is crying for food. Have you supplemented this kitten yet? It clearly needs supplementing.

There is no time to waste. What is this kitten's weight?

Do you know how to feed this kitten?

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I agree, if there is crying going on the baby is telling you something. He's hungry and unable to get what he needs on his own.

It doesn't have to be a full 24 hours to know, it can be 12 hours weighed and double the results of weight gain/not, but a baby of 3 days old who cries so often is starving and needs to be fed.

Now, forget the bottle, it's not going to happen when a baby has mama to nurse from, so you will use a syringe.

3 day olds are TINY AND FRAGILE, this is not to scare you, but to make you very aware of the danger of inhalation when supplementing.

You will need to make up a mixture to store in the fridge for no more than a 2 day period, then it needs to be tossed and a fresh batch made.

Use an empty water bottle or gatorade, you are only going to mix up about 1/4 of the bottle, or less even so not much is wasted after 2 days.

How I do it is when it's time to feed, just pour a small amt out in to a very small cup, then take a larger bowl and fill it with very hot water so it warms it up nice, floating the dish on top of the bowl of water.

Keep it this way during feeding too so it stays warmed.

Place the baby on a towel on the table in front of you or on your lap, tummy down, one hand slightly raising the head and gently work the syringe tip into the side of his mouth until he opens it, you will NOT put the drops into the throat but into the cheek area, just one drop at a time. It's a slow process but critical. One drop, wait to swallow, then breathe, and another drop, you will soon get the rhythm down well, but the important thing is to not allow the baby to inhale any drop at all, it will get in to his lungs and cause pneumonia.

1 1/2 mls every 2 hours, or 2 mls every 3 hours plus nursing, then we will see how much he improves.

This won't be permanent, so no worries, it's just to get him/her stronger so he can nurse on his own.

So did I! I thought the baby was needing supplementing, so excuse my post. You can use it later if needed but for now things seem okay.

It helps us to post prior weight then todays to compare, your last weigh in is on the previous page.

I still think if the baby cries a lot it needs some extra. This has been a bit confusing.

sarthur2 said:

I still think if the baby cries a lot it needs some extra. This has been a bit confusing.

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I agree, I had posted previously that babies will squeak here and there, and may cry when mom leaves, but not when mom is there.

To me that sounds like hunger also.

catwoman707 said:

So did I! I thought the baby was needing supplementing, so excuse my post. You can use it later if needed but for now things seem okay.
It helps us to post prior weight then todays to compare, your last weigh in is on the previous page.

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Hi I will save the above info. Sorry let me respost side by side.

The 2 oranges that were marked the sharpie came off but then I saw a little dark spot on tail and re weighed the 2 identical orange 1&2 are confusing. They are so similar right now so I hope those 2 weights are good.

Could it be since the tiny orange did gain thankfully so happy. Maybe that it has gas or just is a crier. I just checked and everyone sleeping from mom and tiny O was latched. I feel like tiny o gets kind of shuffled and she will latch then not latch the latch when I keep placing her on a different nipple.

They were all crying when Simba was moving during the feeding and accidemtly unlatched everyone.

So here are side by side weighs

Saturday Sunday
Orange 1- 4.2oz. 4.8oz
Orange 2- 4.3oz. 4.6oz
Orange 3- 3.6oz. 4.0oz
Black - 4.5oz. 4.8oz
Grey - 3.5oz. 4.0oz

I will not supplement unless advised by you. Thank you so much. I was so happy the baby orange did gain. I was very worried. I feel like none of them really can get a sense of nipple without some help by me. Are the other weights ok with the 2 biggest only gaining .3

You want to see a minimum gain of .2 - .4 ounces daily.  More is always better.  So far so good.

sarthur2 said:

Please feed this little runt. It is crying for food. Have you supplemented this kitten yet? It clearly needs supplementing.

There is no time to waste. What is this kitten's weight?

Do you know how to feed this kitten?

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Hello weights posted below. I have no supplmented. I do not know how to feed a kitten but I will follow the thread written by catwoman707 that explains everything. .

Saturday Sunday
Orange 1- 4.2oz. 4.8oz
Orange 2- 4.3oz. 4.6oz
Orange 3- 3.6oz. 4.0oz
Black - 4.5oz. 4.8oz
Grey - 3.5oz. 4.0oz

sarthur2 said:

I still think if the baby cries a lot it needs some extra. This has been a bit confusing.

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Hi I will be through the night near and see. I agree I am very confused because today was a little troubling but there is weight gain and I am so,happy to,see that. If you advise me to supplment then I will but right now I am okay right? Thank you

Handsome Kitty said:

You want to see a minimum gain of .2 - .4 ounces daily.  More is always better.  So far so good.

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Okay thank you. No supplementing then. Today was worry some and confusing but I'm glad for now it's ok. I will report back and see how everything goes through the night.

They are fine for now!

Your earlier post confused me. I now realize you were expressing your fears and emotions, but the orange kitties seem to be gaining and good for now!

If you can always post the last weight next to the new weight it's much easier for us. Thank you for this!

The rule of thumb is if there is no weight gain at all, or a loss, immediately supplement.

They seem good right now .

sarthur2 said:

They are fine for now!

Your earlier post confused me. I now realize you were expressing your fears and emotions, but the orange kitties seem to be gaining and good for now!

If you can always post the last weight next to the new weight it's much easier for us. Thank you for this!

The rule of thumb is if there is no weight gain at all, or a loss, immediately supplement.

They seem good right now .

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Hi sorry for confusing you. I was so confused myself because if tiny orange gaining weight why cry and have issues latching. The crying and having difficult latching and crying more really scared me. Tiny orange did it today for majority of the day. I do notice at some point they all have difficulty finding the nipples. I can't imagine since there tiny eyes are closed. I felt helpless but now I feel so much better with the weights in. I am by myself and this is very new and scary for me doing this all alone if it wasn't for you all here for Simba and I; I would of not known anything. I'm trying my best. I can't thank you enough for the support and help.

If the crying continues I may encourage supplementing, as the babies may need more than they are getting, even though they are gaining. Let's see about this tomorrow. If so, we will explain again how to feed. It's not difficult, just time-consuming. You are doing a great job keeping watch!

Okay I had a thought, it is going to sound strange to you that I will ask this, but can you possibly compare the crying orange baby's chest to a bigger kitten's? 

Does his ribcage when held on his back appear flatter to you?

I just want to rule out one reason why he is crying and not latching on so well.

Simba moved her babies all scattered I found them. She keeps moving them. I know she wants a safe space but all the babies are crying. I brought the big cardboard cut it down but fleece made a lid so she can get out. put them all inside and she took them out and has them in a tiny corner that she can't even lay down they are trying to eat and crying because she is sitting up. The bathroom has no windows so that's the only space I have. There is a small room in my moms apartment but the dog and cat go there should I clean it and move them all there. They are all crying it's breaking my heart. I don't want to get near them again to scare her. The corner is a cold tile floor she has them on please help. I live in a studio and I don't want them to be scared or hurt. Haven't gone to sleep and it is 6:30am

sarthur2 said:

If the crying continues I may encourage supplementing, as the babies may need more than they are getting, even though they are gaining. Let's see about this tomorrow. If so, we will explain again how to feed. It's not difficult, just time-consuming. You are doing a great job keeping watch!

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They were all doing good around 4am all feeding then at 5am Simba started moving them. But she was putting them in between an iron clothing hanger stand. I gathered them and her put her in bathroom just so I could get the bigger cardboard box cut it make a lid put towels down I did that put the babies and her in there and she then again keeps moving them. She ended up on a corner by my shoes tile floor it's very cramped. I put a towel near so they can move onto it. All I heard Was poor scared babies so I tried to remain calm. I never been in a situation like this. It is almost 7am and I am up but don't know what to do. If she moves them or some do I bring the others to the place she brings them. The only thing I can imagine is when the babies were sleeping she was on the tile because or was warm. She Is used to air conditioner on blast. Maybe she thought they were to warm. Because all the places was on the tile. The place she is now she might. Move them again what do I do. I hear crying and I'm trying to check. This is horrible. I'm really trying to remain calm but I am worried. Please help

catwoman707 said:

Okay I had a thought, it is going to sound strange to you that I will ask this, but can you possibly compare the crying orange baby's chest to a bigger kitten's? 
Does his ribcage when held on his back appear flatter to you?

I just want to rule out one reason why he is crying and not latching on so well.

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I tried to see but I couldn't really tell. I don't know how the rib cage of a bigger kitty looks because of the fur. If you can explain more I can try.

The 430am feeding was good they all were good.

Then. 5am she started moving one by one. And I gathered them up. I don't know what to do. She keeps moving them and my studio is not kitty proof for an hour I tried to help them and safen the room. I have the big cardboard box but she took them out. She left 2 in and the rest were trying to feed so I put the other 2 by her also. And since it's a tile floor I put a towel near. All I hear is crying. I don't know what's going on. Please give me help. I am worried she is going to move them or move some of them. I am scared to fall asleep it's 7am.

If she like being under the ironing board, put a towel there and move the kittens to that spot.  She feels safe and you can see what is going on.

If Simba is that warm, put the AC on low.  See if that makes a difference.  She needs to find a spot where she is comfortable and can relax  for now let her move the kittens and leave them be, just watch until you're sure they are ok.

Please get some sleep.  You will be calmer.  Simba will pick up on your stress and it will add to hers.

Mommyofsimba said:

Thank you is there a certain brand to search for on amazon? That looks so nice. I wanted something with open top so Simba can also sleep with them. There are 3 days old today

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In the search bar on Amazons site type in Fabulous Pet Water Resistant Portable Doggie, Dog, Puppy, Cat, Kitten Play Pen.

I cannot understand why she keeps moving her babies. I guess she does not feel safe. Is she your only pet? Or is there a dog?

Will she stay in the closet? Do you have a heating pad to set on low under the fleece for the kittens and then run your a/c on low?

Do you have a table you can cover with a sheet or blanket and put the fleece on the floor underneath and put them under there and then leave them be?

This is getting absurd and you need sleep.