Momma cat chewing her kitten (kinda urgent)

toritinha

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Hi

First of all, SORRY FOR MY ENGLISH!

Isnt very good, but I think I can get myself explained.

So, my cat (3 years old) just got pregnant, had the kittens, 1 of them died, 1 is alive. She got pregnant other times, but they all died. This is the first time she is a mom.

The kitten has born yesterday (31 October), my cat had the kitten, it passed 30 minutes, the kitten started to cry, and I guess she got really nervous and started to bite the kitten's head..
I got really confused, so I grabbed the kitten, put the kitten away from her, while she was giving birth (this was the first kitten, the other one died).
Okay, she stayed alone 1 hour? And I put the kitten next to her, she was calm. Everything was good, great night. (she chose my room to have the kittens, so I have a box with blankets for her and her kitten).
The day was calm and stuff, and then today (2 November, it's 5 am now), she started to biting the kitten, out of nowhere, I was like "oh okay, maybe shes trying to grab him by the neck to put him close to her", but she was so agressive. She was biting the kitten's head, back and legs. (of course I say "NIKKI!" so she stops). And her eyes arent full black, but half of them. I don't know if she's nervous. She meows at me sometimes. 
She did that 5 or 6 times. I've been reading all of the internet since 2 or 3 am, reading about that. People say its normal, its called discipline, but I don't think so... 
She cleans the kitten, she sleeps with him, when she goes outside of my room just for pooping, if the kitten starts to meow, she runs and goes to the box to sleep with him.
I don't know if this is normal. I'm scared to go to sleep, I don't want to wake up and see a dead kitten. (I read that momma cats can kill them or eat them just because)

Please help :(
 

StefanZ

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is the kitten wounded??   If not its probably just her trying to do the materintiy clumsy....

If she wants to bite for real, so she does it - pach!   gorgy open wounds....

If the kitten is whole, it was something else....  What, I dont know being in hurry, but somehting else
 

StefanZ

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continuing.  So, I gather the kitten is NOT wounded, and whatever the mom did, it werent real doing for harming.

She perhaps tried to carry it, but did it clumsy, not getting in the proper grip.

Or, dont realize really its a tiny kitten, and tries to discipline it - as you mention.

Still.  Its fully possible the maternity hormones arent in there.  If so, its not sure her milk has come in either...

So, you MUST observe closely, if the kitten is nursing and getting milk.   The easiest way to see the changes is by weinghing the kitten on a scale, every 12 hours till the situation has cleared up and the kitten is stabilized.  Later on every 24 hours is enough.

Also, you must be prepared to give her food yourself - by the same reason - even if mom takes care of warming, washing, licking, even some nursing...

Get home a good kmr or goat milk - whichever you find - a kitten whom also nurse will prob not take a bottle, so get home a needleless syringe of 1 or 1,5 ml too.

So you are prepared.

IF the kitten IS wounded, you shall of course immediately separate them, and you must continue yourself with the taking care, as with an orphan, hand raise.

We had recently a similiar situation - it was the maternity hormones not kicking in.  They did kicked in after a while, but the owner  was forced to raise them herself anyways...  No milk did come.

Please continue to report, and please do ask whenever you need.   Usually here is somebody here to answer.

Good luck!

ps.   Im reading anew your first post.   I see she does take care of him, the maternity intincs are essentially there.  But its not sure the milk is there.  Not so few cats, female or male ARE good caretakers, even if not biological moms.  @toritinha
 
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toritinha

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Thanks for the reply. And yes, the kitten is getting milk. And i guess my cat is just clumsy. I just remembered between the "attacks", she left the box 4 times to get on my bed. And now (its 7h43am) she grabbed the kitten on the neck and jumped to my bed with him. Still im not comfortable. I may need to change the box i made for them. Maybe they feel cold on the box. Any ideas? (Btw right now the mom is on the end of the bed, under my blankets and the kitten is close to me sleeping)
 

StefanZ

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Thanks for the reply. And yes, the kitten is getting milk. And i guess my cat is just clumsy. I just remembered between the "attacks", she left the box 4 times to get on my bed. And now (its 7h43am) she grabbed the kitten on the neck and jumped to my bed with him. Still im not comfortable. I may need to change the box i made for them. Maybe they feel cold on the box. Any ideas? (Btw right now the mom is on the end of the bed, under my blankets and the kitten is close to me sleeping)
I dont have much ideas now.  Its of course important the nest is comfortable, warm (not too warm, if its very warm at your place), and she is unstressed.  Being unstressed is very important.

Quite a few unsecure cat moms choose to be with their human mom, ie having babies and all in the owners bed.

As its now, it sounds quite normal, and the queen apparently matured in some in her maternity.   Lets hope it remains normal.     :)
 
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toritinha

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I dont have much ideas now.  Its of course important the nest is comfortable, warm (not too warm, if its very warm at your place), and she is unstressed.  Being unstressed is very important.

Quite a few unsecure cat moms choose to be with their human mom, ie having babies and all in the owners bed.

As its now, it sounds quite normal, and the queen apparently matured in some in her maternity.   Lets hope it remains normal.     :)
Yep, all good hehe. But I'm scared if I fall asleep I mighty hurt the kitten. They are always under my blanket with me. I try to put tbem in the box, but she does the same thing, grabs the kitten on the neck and jumps on the bed. :( tomorrow ill try to do a more comfortable nest, the thing is, is winter here (im from portugal), and my house is kinda cold. But i dont have any ideas for nests. I already put 2 blankets on the box, but she really wants my bad :(
 
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StefanZ

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Yep, all good hehe. But I'm scared if I fall asleep I mighty hurt the kitten. They are always under my blanket with me. I try to put tbem in the box, but she does the same thing, grabs the kitten on the neck and jumps on the bed.
tomorrow ill try to do a more comfortable nest, the thing is, is winter here (im from portugal), and my house is kinda cold. But i dont have any ideas for nests. I already put 2 blankets on the box, but she really wants my bad
@StefanZ
If your place isnt too cold inside,  a couple of blankets in a cardboad box or similiar should suffice as such.   If the kitten is warmed by mom, its usually enough, even if the room temp isnt very comfortable for a human.  As long its not freezing....   :)

The problem arises only, if its cold in the room, and mom isnt much with the kitten - in such cases they need something extra heat source.
 

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If your cat wants to be on the bed with her kitten, then just make sure they are on top of the covers. Since your house is cold, I suggest you put an electric heating pad set on low under the blankets you have set up for the nest. Or you can make a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel and set nearby. Or a rice sock warmed in the microwave. I think your cat is on the bed because she is cold.

You must not let your cat outside to get pregnant anymore. She needs to be spayed when the kitten is about 8 weeks old.
 
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toritinha

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Hi

My momma cat wants the kitten (he's only 3 days old) on my bed, it's all good for me.

But today he fall out of bed, and I'm worried about him. Like, I do I know if he is hurt or something?

He was not meowing or anything, and he usually meows when I carry him.

Sorry, but it's the first time I have kittens, so I'm a noob, and I get scared easily. hehe
 

Sarthur2

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Perhaps it's time to put them in a proper nest away from the bed now. Hopefully the kitten is okay. He should be nursing, sleeping, and crawling. Did you add a heat source?
 
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toritinha

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Hi

My kitten with 1 week old has fleas. His mom was with fleas already, but the product didnt work and then it was too late to put something on her, since she gave birth.

Any ideas how i can kill them? Im scared that kitten might get sick. Thanks
 
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talkingpeanut

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Fleas on a kitten are very serious.  There are flea medications that can be given to the mom that should help the kitten as well.  Someone else will have to advise but I believe Capstar and Advantage are ok.

The baby and the mom should be combed every day with a fine metal comb, which can be dipped in dawn dish soap and water.  The solution should kill the fleas.

Their bedding should all be washed and changed daily.

Your home should be vacuumed daily and anything else the mother touches should be washed.  You have to clean the whole environment so they don't get reinfested.

Good luck!
 
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toritinha

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Fleas on a kitten are very serious.  There are flea medications that can be given to the mom that should help the kitten as well.  Someone else will have to advise but I believe Capstar and Advantage are ok.

The baby and the mom should be combed every day with a fine metal comb, which can be dipped in dawn dish soap and water.  The solution should kill the fleas.

Their bedding should all be washed and changed daily.

Your home should be vacuumed daily and anything else the mother touches should be washed.  You have to clean the whole environment so they don't get reinfested.

Good luck!
I dont know if here where i live hás dawn dish soap. Im from portugal. It really has to be that one?

The kitten hás like 3 fleas. But yeah.. Still dangerous.
 

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I've used advantage II on moma cats with kittens around that age and it eliminated the fleas without harming the kittens and kept them away for two to three weeks which gives the kittens time to get old enough to produce their own blood. @sarthur2

@Handsome Kitty

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Dawn is in the us and the blue is the most effective but for that I think any kind of non toxic soap will work. You just need it to break the surface tention on the water so the fleas will sink and drown. I find an eyebrow comb works better for kittens as it's tiny and so are kittens.

I paged a few people who where amazing at helping me with my flea problem.I'm sure they can do the same for you.

anyone know anyone in Portugal that can help this person?Thanks.
 

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Bathing the kittens in any mild shampoo will work too but if the mother still has fleas it won't help because they will jump on the kittens. The best way to get them off of the mother is to comb them out with a flea comb. If you can't find a flea comb, a comb for lice will work too. Have a cup with water and put a drop or two of dish soap in the water. Comb one or two strokes with the comb and you will notice cat hair on the comb plus the fleas and their flea dirt. After a couple strokes, pull the hair off of the comb and push it into the water, the fleas will drown in the water with the soap in it. Vacuum the area they sleep and wash the bedding too. The kittens will be alright also if you just comb them but it may be tricky because the fleas may jump off the flea comb.
 

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What brand of flea medication did you put on the mom?

If you can get Advantage, it is safe to put on mom and it will kill the fleas on the kittens.
 

Sarthur2

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Please do not bathe a one-week-old kitten. You can put Advantage II on the mom's neck and it will kill her fleas as well as the ones on the kitten.
 
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toritinha

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Errm, hi

I read that normally they open between 7 and 10 day. He is already 13 days old and they still close. I already see just a little bit of the eye, but im scared that they mighty be "glued"? Dont know if the momma cat helps with that or nah. Help DD:

Thank you!
 

StefanZ

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Errm, hi

I read that normally they open between 7 and 10 day. He is already 13 days old and they still close. I already see just a little bit of the eye, but im scared that they mighty be "glued"? Dont know if the momma cat helps with that or nah. Help DD:

Thank you!
I would say, normally around day 10, with some variation.  So your boy is a little late, but not extremely so.

This with glued - if they do have an infection and pus, yes they may be "glued".  But you would prob notice such an infection.  The pus will either be flowing, or making the tissues bulging out...
 
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