Stray had her babies and I'm lost

We live in the country where some irresponsible people drop off animals.  This is the third stray that has found and adopted us.  She started coming on and off in June, and I kept hoping she belonged nearby and was just visiting with our other (four) cats.  Nope.  The last few weeks she showed up every day, clearly pregnant, so I got her kitten food and started getting ready.  

Night before last, she had 6 kittens.  I made a nest for her in our sunroom (not heated, but not cooled, either) and she did great.  I slept nearby, and what woke me up was the mewling of the first two.  She barely made a grunt during the whole rest of the births, and cleaned up kittens, ate the placentas (yuck!), and nursed away.  All six seem to be doing well.  But I have lots and lots of questions, and need help.  I've been searching google, calling the vet, calling neighbors who have been through this... and I'm still confused.  So here goes:

1) When should I change the bedding?  I haven't yet, because of not wanting to handle anyone too much (mama was a stray, and accepts some attention, but is skittish)

2) How hot is too hot for the room?  For example, is 90 (Fahrenheit) too hot?

3) Should I panic if mama cat gets out of the bed and goes in a corner for a while?  She did this when kittens were sleeping.

4) Should I panic if mama cat (kids have named her Hidey, because she hides) is breathing fast and looking for a cool place to stretch?

That's it for now.  Here is a picture from the first morning (kittens were 3-5 hours old)

Yellowhouse said:

 
1) When should I change the bedding?  I haven't yet, because of not wanting to handle anyone too much (mama was a stray, and accepts some attention, but is skittish)

2) How hot is too hot for the room?  For example, is 90 (Fahrenheit) too hot?

3) Should I panic if mama cat gets out of the bed and goes in a corner for a while?  She did this when kittens were sleeping.

4) Should I panic if mama cat (kids have named her Hidey, because she hides) is breathing fast and looking for a cool place to stretch?

That's it for now.  Here is a picture from the first morning (kittens were 3-5 hours old)

Click to expand...

1.  With your own cat you could change now, and change at least a couple times a week. Many breeders change every day.

With a shy half stray it may be touchy, so perhaps prepare a nest nearby, and let the mom move them over herself...

I mean, its not dangerous in any way, if you respectfully move them over with a clean hand, and she sees the whole time what you are doing, but many tells, there is no real haste with changing bead.  If mom is happy, so its still OK.

2.  Im no expert on Fahrenheit, but as I understand it 90F is a shade too hot.  Which may explain why she goes aside to find somewhere more cool.

High pregs do often seek some cooler floor, but moms arent renowned for it.

3.  Its entirely natural the mom is streching herl legs a little, as long as she is coming back to the kittens after a while, or  when they begin to whine.

4.  As said, its perhaps to warm.  But its also fully possible she has some after labor, and thus, is in some pain now and then...

She seems to be a good momma, as you seems to be a good grandmother!

OK, she was out eating, and I gently placed the kittens on an old (clean!) cloth diaper, pulled off the top towel, put a new one in and put diaper and kittens back in.  Hidey is back in the box, but panting a lot.  I also started all the fans and opened windows.  I'm not blowing air directly at the box, though, should I?  I'm so scared there is something wrong with her.  

But she was back in and nursing, just panting.  Kittens were so soft!  When can I handle them regularly to socialize them?  

It's hard because I have three boys who would really like to be involved, but that freaks out mama even more.  Every second time I go in the room (it's the only place we can keep our other cats out) I am followed by a child.

Yellowhouse said:

 
OK, she was out eating, and I gently placed the kittens on an old (clean!) cloth diaper, pulled off the top towel, put a new one in and put diaper and kittens back in.  Hidey is back in the box, but panting a lot.  I also started all the fans and opened windows.  I'm not blowing air directly at the box, though, should I?  I'm so scared there is something wrong with her.  

But she was back in and nursing, just panting.  Kittens were so soft!  When can I handle them regularly to socialize them?  

It's hard because I have three boys who would really like to be involved, but that freaks out mama even more.  Every second time I go in the room (it's the only place we can keep our other cats out) I am followed by a child.

Click to expand...

Re the panting, I dearly hope its the warm... Or some aftercontractions...  But you must continue to have your eyes open, there are easily complications after the birth...

You did the change as a pro!   The self handling and socializing of the kittens  is about week 3 onwards.  Before them you handle them to weigh them, to look see, to help change the bedding... such...

Otherwise, keep mama calm and happy as much you can.  No unnecessary stress...

Nay, dont blow directly at them, unless its grossly hot.

But open windows have risks: about one week after the delivery, the mom may come into heat again.  And if so, she tend to try and sneak out...

The fans are a good idea, as is opening the windows if they are screened.  Is there some way you can provide shade if the box is in a sunny location?

Make sure there is plenty of water for mom, and food.  Nursing moms need a lot of wet food,  Kitten food is best, it has more nutrients.

Cats frequently appear to be panting or breathing heavily when nursing. She should be fine and this aspect will diminish over time.
Nursing is hard work.

Make sure she has shade, and if possible, set up a fan to circulate air.

Mama cats frequently leave the nest to relax nearby while the kittens sleep.

You'll want to give her extra protein and calcium while she nurses. Lots of wet food, and an occasional egg yolk mixed in is good. If you purchase some powdered kitten formula she can get her calcium from drinking a dish daily.

I would try to explain to your boys that mama kitty needs to be alone with her babies for now, except when you go in to serve her needs, but that as soon as the kittens are big enough they will get a chance to visit them.

You are very kind to care for this kitty!

OK, I added a third fan.  She is in the shade.  Fan is blowing over her, but not on her.  The other two fans are ceiling fans.  All windows are screened (we are in the US - when I lived in Europe, screens were uncommon, though, so I understand the concern).  She's still panting, but seems OK.  I'll keep watch, and keep the boys out.  Three weeks?  Bummer.  I was telling them at least a week.  Guess I better adjust the expectations.  Without handling them and scaring the mama too much, is there a way to check for a runt?  Right now they all seem to be content and have bulgy bellies.  Is this enough?  All seem to be nursing, and there seems to be one that's a bit of a bully, but no extra tiny one.

The mama has an extra toe on her front paws, and several of the kittens do, too.  It's funny to see such a huge paw on a tiny kitten.  I wish I could get pictures, but I don't have a good camera and need to leave her alone for now.  Most kittens are sleeping now.  Hopefully they don't get too hot, either.  I managed to cool the room down a bit (we opened up the doors to the inside and kicked our other cats out.  Fingers crossed.  I had to close the doors again though, because Hidey was getting big eyed and the four year old has limited boundaries.  Thank you, all of you.  It is very calming to read your advice.

You do need to give her formula for calcium. A calcium deficiency can be fatal. She's got a lot of nursing to do and she will need calcium.

The kittens will not be too hot. Do keep an eye out. If one of the kittens begins to get rooted out by a bully you'd need to supplement with kitten formula. We generally recommend weighing the kittens each day to make sure they are gaining weight, but mama may not like that.

So let's just see how it goes for a day or two.

What's formula for calcium?  I should be doing more than kitten food?  I'm totally panicked right now, she's still breathing fast and shallow, with a couple open-mouthed panting sessions.  She is still nursing. It's not as hot in there as it was, I managed to cool it down.

I called the emergency vet, but they are an hour away, and right now it feels like it would be worse to move her and the kittens than just to watch and see.   But I hate this.  I don't want to lose her (or the babies), even if I didn't want her at first.  If I do have to move them for the hour drive, is there any advice on how to do so?  Put the whole tub in the van and go?

I hate this.  Why can't it be simple and worry free?  I also have no idea if this is her first litter, but I suspect so (she seems quite young).  I dunno if that makes any difference, but other people have asked.

The vet mentioned that she may have another baby coming, because some cats do that.  This seems unlikely, because she already had six!

OK, she's eating now.  Can I stop panicking?  Sorry for the serial posts, I'm new to this.

Kitten milk replacer (KMR). Like infant formula only for kittens. Available at the pet store. It will give her calcium. If you needed to supplement a runt this is what you will use. The powder is best. You mix it with water and give her a dish to drink.

She's probably fine. You do not need to take her to an emergency vet today. She is probably having after pains. She's on overload. Many cats pant during nursing.

Cats can have delayed labor and birth another kitten. Your vet is correct. We recently had a cat who birthed 11 kittens!

If you did need to go to the vet you would need to put mama in a pet taxi or she might run away.

Please try to relax.

Thank you, thank you for getting back to me so quickly.  I will try harder to relax.  After pains make sense.  I remember those with my kids (ugh!).  I really hope there isn't another kitten.  Poor mama.  I feel so blessed to have been a part of this, and so worried about something going wrong.  I never expected to be around for the birthing of kittens.  I have always gotten adult cats, and been emphatic about having them spayed/neutered.  All other strays that have shown up have gone to get fixed before being let in the house.  But this one showed up pregnant.  It was amazing, truly.

Anyway, one last question (for now):  If I put mama in a pet carrier, the kittens will be OK without her for the hour or so it takes to get to the vet?  Or should I try to fit everyone in the carrier?  Maybe not, actually - she has sat on them already more than once.  OK, never mind, they will have to be OK.

I will soon return to my regular calm-ish self.  I'm so glad I found these forums.  

We are glad you found us too .

No, if mama really needs to go to the vet you leave the kittens at home. They would be okay for a couple of hours.

But I do suggest that you pick up a can of powdered KMR, and a kitten bottle, and a 1 or 2 mL syringe, to have on hand in case you need to supplement a baby.

I'm glad you feel better now .

Pick up some unflavored pedialyte too.

We live an hour from the nearest emergency vet.  Figuring an hour at the vet, if lucky, that makes it three hours kittens would be without mama.  If she needs longer, then it would be longer.  I think I will need to bring them along.  Hopefully it won't come to that.  She was back in the box, nursing and panting.  Then one of the other cats came to the window (the sun room has two window-doors to the rest of the house) and she hopped out and was right by the door.  I moved the other cat (a former stray, too, named Dray-Dray), but he wasn't happy about being moved.  He started to hiss, she stared with big eyes, I moved him, she kept staring but her pupils went back to normal.

The panting and eyes are like what she did in labor two days ago.  Uh oh. 

And a picture of Dray-Dray, just because.  He was a stray that kept hiding on days that I made the appointments to get him fixed.  Until he got hit by a car, which broke his pelvis and back hips.  I took him to the emergency vet, and was prepared to feed round the clock (at that point I was up nursing, anyway) and even give him an enema, but he didn't need it.  He's been on the roof since then, and the only current after-effects are that he's quite fat (probably because he was starved when younger) and when you pet him, you can tell where his hip-bones were broken.

You are really focused on the vet!  It's kind of funny, usually we like 'go to the vet!' and the person will wait.

Pros and cons of taking the kittens to the vet:  Pro Mom can feed the kittens, Con Kittens can pick up whatever is floating around the er vets office since they don't have any antibodies yet.

Have you considered calling the vet and asking them what they think?   Do you have an after hours number for the vet you usually use?  Could you call them for an opinion?

Here is an article that may have some ideas you can use

 [article="29648"]How To Keep Cats Cool​[/article]  

You will still leave the kittens at home. If your cat is sick enough to go to the vet, she's too sick to be nursing, or she will be getting tests done.

Worst case scenario, you leave the cat and come home and feed the babies yourself - hence the reason to have supplies on hand.

Your cat should stop panting in a day or two. She's also on high alert against predators (your boys and your other cats) in order to protect her babies. Is there a table in your sunroom that you could put them under covered by a tablecloth? She would feel "safer"!

I like the idea of a tablecloth and putting them under a table.  I will do that tomorrow.  For tonight, the boys have gone to bed and the adults are leaving her alone.  One of the other cats is upstairs, one is outside, and another is ignoring everyone.  The fourth will be outside if he can't ignore the sunroom window.  Hidey was drinking earlier, and her room is at a very comfortable temperature now.  I also read the 'keeping cats cool' hints, and will be careful to do that.  It was actually cool last night, so I was worried about cold.  I really, really do NOT want to have to go to a vet.  First, weekend vets are pricey.  But more than that, it is so far, and such a hassle.  I tend to just call, ask for signs to watch, and wait.  I do that with the kids and ER, too, when they are sick.  But, I will go if needed (We've been to ER 3 times in 10 years, I think).

Anyway, thank you for all your help, all of you.  I will update in the morning after everyone hopefully gets some sleep.

And here is a third cat (Albert) who adopted us.  We went to pick up a cat (one we actually wanted) and he walked into the open cat carrier and came home with us.  Yep, we are suckers.  My friend thinks the neighborhood cats have a network... "having trouble?  Former owner drop you off?  Head to the yellow house - they are suckers!"  Could be.  I'm babbling now.  Goodnight, and thank you all!

Haha! That still is my joke! The cats all know to come to my house. They really do seem to have a sixth sense about who will care for them!

That kitty looks so sweet!

All my cats are and have been rescues. And all are incredibly sweet.

You could always tack up a sheet or towel at the window(s) to keep prying eyes out and allow the kitty her privacy so she can relax even more. No need to put the others out!

Cats really feel a need to hide their kittens, so under a table with a cloth will help. That's why so many cats hide their kittens in drawers and under beds and behind couches. I put mine in a nest in a closet in a spare bedroom and she loved it!

She was also a pregnant stray I took in. She's my avatar with one of her kittens. She had four. I'm a crazy cat lady because I've kept all of them.

Ho hum! Get some rest tonight and we'll get your update tomorrow .