Pregnant Cat Advice Please

talkingpeanut

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 12, 2015
Messages
11,793
Purraise
3,600
I hope other people will weigh in, but I think I would continue treating him like a baby for now.  He is still so young, even though he's huge!  I would get a new nest for them with bigger walls and continue letting him nurse solely.  He is obviously thriving on just nursing.  If you see him trying to drink mom's water or trying to eat mom's food, that is a hint that it's time to wean.  
 

Sarthur2

Cat lady extraordinaire
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Mar 8, 2015
Messages
35,963
Purraise
17,627
Location
Sunny Florida
He's not ready for solids just because he's big for his age. I doubt he's cut his baby teeth yet. They do begin to explore around 3 weeks old, so be sure to kitten-proof the room. He may wean to solids at 4 weeks, but it's a process that can occur as late as 6 weeks. You'll have to play it by ear. Kittens then eat and still nurse. He sounds very healthy, and will probably be quite a large cat. Please share a new picture of him with us!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #63

lovelife

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Jan 8, 2016
Messages
150
Purraise
13
Ok got it! @talkingpeanut  yes he is huge! I cut up another box and made the sides of the nest taller so that he cannot get out as easily. 

@sarthur2  Yes the room and whole house is kitten proof. My 9 month old cat/kitten is still very much in the kitten stage thus we are ready whenever baby will be exploring. 

I will wait on the solids then. I just wasn't sure as he is so big for his age. He hasn't shown any readiness for solids, but he loves to be out of the nest and on our laps exploring. Since he is a single kitten, I bring him out into the living room and on my lap while watching tv. Mama is fine with it. 

He does want out of the nest though that is for sure. I do have a question, at 2 weeks and 4 days old can a kitten regulate their body temperature? I am asking as he is getting to a point where he wants to be out of the nest, but I haven't been keeping him out long as I wasn't sure about how well he can regulate his temperature. Although the house is warm, I don't want him to get chilled. 
 

talkingpeanut

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 12, 2015
Messages
11,793
Purraise
3,600
Kittens can't regulate their temperature for the first three weeks. Would love to see pictures!
 

Sarthur2

Cat lady extraordinaire
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Mar 8, 2015
Messages
35,963
Purraise
17,627
Location
Sunny Florida
They do begin getting out of the nest during the third week, and will be totally out for good between 3-4 four weeks. They love to explore! Just make sure to supervise when he's out and about for now!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #66

lovelife

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Jan 8, 2016
Messages
150
Purraise
13
Yes absolutely supervising him!. I think he may be getting a cold and am not sure what I should do. Last night and today the baby has periodically been coughing (it sounds a bit congested when he does) with no other symptoms. I took his temperature and it is kitten normal. He isn't acting sick, he is nursing great and alert, loves being out with me. He is 3 weeks old on Monday. As young as he is should I call the vet in regards to this? Or watch and see if anything develops? 
 

Sarthur2

Cat lady extraordinaire
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Mar 8, 2015
Messages
35,963
Purraise
17,627
Location
Sunny Florida
Yes, call the vet. The coughing is not normal. He may need an antibiotic. Please update us after you see the vet.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #69

lovelife

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Jan 8, 2016
Messages
150
Purraise
13
I called the vet, but the vet is out sick and there will be a relief vet tomorrow. I talked to a tech who said that as long as baby is nursing good, active and alert and such that we are ok to wait and bring him in tomorrow. But if he seems lethargic, or any fever or anything to take him to the er vet. So we will cal back in the morning, talk to the relief vet and go from there. The tech told me that with tiny kittens they often go ahead and prescribe medication that I can just go pick up, It is up to the vet ultimately, so I will call back in the morning. 
 

Sarthur2

Cat lady extraordinaire
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Mar 8, 2015
Messages
35,963
Purraise
17,627
Location
Sunny Florida
You received an excellent, caring response. I like that they will prescribe and let you pick up. Is the baby still nursing well?
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #71

lovelife

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Jan 8, 2016
Messages
150
Purraise
13
Yes I did. They are always very caring at my vet. I hope they will prescribe and let me pick up medication. It is ultimately up to the vet. The vet that will be there tomorrow is a relief vet, not my regular vet. The relief vet may do things differently than my own vet. I will find out when I call back.

Oh yes baby is nursing great! Mama decided my bed is a better place for baby to nurse. She moved him up there, he is so big it is hard for Mama to pick him up, so since I have been helping her by putting baby back up onto the bed to nurse. I am concerned he could fall off my bed, so one of us has been staying in my bedroom whenever she is nursing the baby. The kitten isn't acting sick, just the bit of cough/wheezing off and on. He had a very active day today. Was only in his nest box for a few hours throughout the day. He gets out to explore, so I bring him out of the bedroom. Mama is fine with it, and it is easier for me to keep an eye on him and socialize him. The house is kitten-proof, but that young I do not want him out of the nest box unattended. 

@talkingpeanut   I remember you said you would love to see pics of baby! I will post a few this week. 
 

Sarthur2

Cat lady extraordinaire
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Mar 8, 2015
Messages
35,963
Purraise
17,627
Location
Sunny Florida
Let us know what the vet says today! [emoji]128522[/emoji]
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #73

lovelife

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Jan 8, 2016
Messages
150
Purraise
13
@sarthur2  I spoke to the relief vet earlier today. Unfortunately the relief vet will not prescribe medication without seeing baby. She didn't seem to think it was overly urgent because they didn't work him in today. We have an appointment for tomorrow afternoon to see the relief vet. She said that it doesn't sound like a bad URI because baby is not breathing with his mouth open and that kittens do get colds too.. But did tell me that if baby starts breathing through his mouth to take him the er vet. (My regular vet has the flu and won't be back until next week at the earliest)

I am a bit bothered about this. We are having a bitter cold snap here, with daytime temperatures in the low 20's and strong winds as well. As cold as it is, I am concerned about taking baby out in that kind of weather. I don't want him to get chilled, or becoming sick from being exposed to the bitter cold. I plan to wrap baby in a blanket and carry him under my zipped up coat to keep him as warm as I can. Baby is nursing great and playing and doesn't seem to feel sick, for which I am grateful. I am really uncomfortable about taking the kitten out in this kind of weather though. 
 

Sarthur2

Cat lady extraordinaire
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Mar 8, 2015
Messages
35,963
Purraise
17,627
Location
Sunny Florida
Hmm. Is the baby still coughing? A blanket warmed in the dryer would help. Or a hot water bottle. How far away is the vet's office? I share your concern. I think the relief vet is being very cautious.
 
Last edited:

catwoman707

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 16, 2011
Messages
7,689
Purraise
2,263
Location
Vallejo, CA
Yes, most important is get the baby to the vet for med.

No way do you want to wait to see if things get worse, if they do then nearly impossible to get them well again, they are so fragile at this age.

Fill a sock with rice and heat it up, or a water bottle with hot water, etc.

No fresh air at all, keep him completely closed in, I would even start the car and blast the heater prior to taking him out so it's toasty by the time you and he get in :)

BTW, I cared for a pair of true albino babies a couple of summers ago, they were blind and deaf for their first weeks, it was quite an experience :)

Gorgeous, stunning beauties.
 
Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #76

lovelife

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Jan 8, 2016
Messages
150
Purraise
13
URGENT PLEASE HELP - the kitten stopped nursing. The last time he had a good nurse was around 5 or 6 pm. Mama has been trying to nurse him, but he won't eat. I know cats won't eat if they cannot smell. He is wheezing a bit and yes coughing off/on. His nose is runny, but the mucus is clear. I decided to start to give him KMR as he needs to eat. The most I have been able to get into him at one time is 2 ml. I am doing this every hour. What else should I do?  How can I get more kmr into him? He starts fussing after 2 ml and Mama goes ballistic. 

@sarthur2  & @catwoman707  Thank you for the great ideas on ways to keep baby warm when we go to the vet. I am definitely going to use a hot water bottle or rice filled sock to keep him warm. And the heater in advance as well. They set our appointment for 5:00 pm, but I am thinking I am just going to show up at the vet when they open. 

BTW, baby isn't a full albino the way his Mama is. He is stunning though. He has fluffy white fur and looks like a white teddy bear hamster. His eyes look like they will be green or brown though and he doesn't have the tell-tale pink hue around his eyes. 
 
Last edited:

Sarthur2

Cat lady extraordinaire
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Mar 8, 2015
Messages
35,963
Purraise
17,627
Location
Sunny Florida
Just keep him warm and give him the 2mL every 2 hours to keep him going. You can also give him clear pedialyte 2mL. You can smear some honey on his gums to perk him up if need be.

How often had he been nursing?

And take him first thing in the morning. Do not wait. Do you have an ER vet tonight? Wheezing and coughing is not good!
 
Last edited:

Sarthur2

Cat lady extraordinaire
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Mar 8, 2015
Messages
35,963
Purraise
17,627
Location
Sunny Florida
If you have no pedialyte, you make some with water, sugar, and salt. It provides electrolytes. He's clearly feeling poorly. Can you take his temperature under his arm and then add a degree. Wondering if he has fever.
 
Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #79

lovelife

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Jan 8, 2016
Messages
150
Purraise
13
@sarthur2  thank you so much for responding!  In answer to your questions, he has been nursing every 3 or 4 hours, unless Mama is sleeping with him. In that case he sleeps/eats/plays until whenever she gets up. 

His breathing isn't labored, but you can tell he is wheezing and stuffed up. He isn't having a hard time breathing, and is sleeping with his mouth closed. Coughing isn't bad at all. 

I will wait another hour then to give him more as it has been almost an hour now. I do have pedialyte and honey so good to go there. 
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #80

lovelife

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Jan 8, 2016
Messages
150
Purraise
13
Yes I did take his temperature, forgot to mention that. His temp is 100 exactly. 
 
Top