My cat is about to have her babies and I need help

Sarthur2

Cat lady extraordinaire
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Mar 8, 2015
Messages
35,984
Purraise
17,674
Location
Sunny Florida
Hopefully you'll get to the bottom of it by day's end. It's just curious that they are ALL sneezing. The environment does not sound healthy, whatever it is that may be blowing in. Glad your vet is willing to work with you. If she has cat/kitten experience that's great.

Did you mention herpes to the vet?

Keep us posted as to what happens!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #102

theda

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Feb 3, 2016
Messages
83
Purraise
12
Hmm, I spent some time with them now and they actually all start to sneeze when they got to mum for food. I woke them up when she was not in the nest and no sneezing....

Will prepare some chicken for mum so she will like me again after the wet towel thing. :)

This black powder blowing in comes from the sea, it is sticky and and it lasts for the duration of wind season, about 2 months. I protect them as best as I can, the bedroom is closed and in the back. Not much more I can do about that.

I did mention herpes to the vet, she is just not willing to give antibiotics unless we are sure it is not environmental. She said something about antibiotics being hard on their bellies since they are only a week old today.
 

Sarthur2

Cat lady extraordinaire
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Mar 8, 2015
Messages
35,984
Purraise
17,674
Location
Sunny Florida
The black powder sounds nasty. Does it bother you at all, or people in general? Sounds like "allergy season" in the states.

Curious they would sneeze only around mom.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #104

theda

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Feb 3, 2016
Messages
83
Purraise
12
I does not bother me at all but I don't have any allergies. It is just annoying to have to clean all the time. A lot of people do get colds during wind season.

Did I mention how much I love this kitten? I cleaned Zoé and she let me do it, looking pretty unsure about it all. When I finished drying her with a towel, she attacked the towel, not me. :)

Now it is time for some chicken and I hope the next feeding will be soon so I can see how they are doing.
 

Sarthur2

Cat lady extraordinaire
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Mar 8, 2015
Messages
35,984
Purraise
17,674
Location
Sunny Florida
Sounds good. Let us know if the cleaning is helping with the sneezing.
 

catwoman707

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 16, 2011
Messages
7,689
Purraise
2,263
Location
Vallejo, CA
Kittens born outdoors in the US often have uri's, herpesvirus is the most common at about 80% of all uri viruses.

Calici is 2nd, which in kittens turns in to pneumonia and basically impossible to turn that around unless they are older and stronger, which is why the antibiotics are started early on in symptoms.

Both uri's start out with sneezing only, but once it grabs hold it gets dramatic fast. They won't nurse, etc.

If your vet is not good with starting them until you clean and wait to see if it goes away, it is risky, but I suppose not much you can do otherwise.

I would be cleaning right away and give it 1 day, if sneezing continues then call back and let the vet know.

I know you love them and would sure hate to see things get worse for you, it's hard and stressful to try and make them well once the stuffy noses start.

Hoping for the best!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #107

theda

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Feb 3, 2016
Messages
83
Purraise
12
Thanks @catwoman707 ! I cleaned and cleaned the mum as well. I just put her in the box for a feeding and heard only 2 little sneeze, which is way better than this morning. I will see how it goes later on today.

Vet has 24 hours emergency service so if they are not doing good tonight, I can still go there. Will see how their weight is doing tonight. Bellies do look round and nice, at least something.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #108

theda

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Feb 3, 2016
Messages
83
Purraise
12
I just came back from the vet and she gave Mom and kittens fluimucil nebulizer treatments. She wants to give one more tomorrow. It was very traumatizing for Zoe, as well as for me. I do hope it helps.

As I thought, in this part of the world they do not want to give antibiotics to such small kittens unless absolutely necessary. Vet thinks the neb should do the trick, if not, we will see.

I am exhausted and not sure I am cut out for this.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #109

theda

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Feb 3, 2016
Messages
83
Purraise
12
Oh, and she has mastitis because the kittens are only eating on one side, so they have to change that. Any idea how to persuade them to give up their favorite spot? Redirecting is not working so well.
 

Sarthur2

Cat lady extraordinaire
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Mar 8, 2015
Messages
35,984
Purraise
17,674
Location
Sunny Florida
You need to see a vet who will give you antibiotics. If Zoe has mastitis, the treatment is antibiotics. The kittens would then get antibiotics through mom's milk. Are the infected nipples red, warm, and swollen? You can apply a warm, wet compress to those nipples. It will help.

I have never heard of giving kittens a nebulizer treatment! I'm not sure you should take them back again tomorrow.

Hoping catwoman707 catwoman707 will weigh in here.
 
Last edited:

catwoman707

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 16, 2011
Messages
7,689
Purraise
2,263
Location
Vallejo, CA
I haven't either.

If she saw that mom has mastitis, why in the world didn't she give antibiotics today?!!! That's how it's treated.

Is it hard to get where you are or something? Strange.

You can't change the fave nipples, that is established in their first few days/week and they stick to that one, that is why you see kittens scrambling at another kitten in case one got on that one by mistake, they take it back!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #112

theda

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Feb 3, 2016
Messages
83
Purraise
12
Good evening,

They are all fine and settled for the night.

Mastitis: nipples are a bit swollen but not badly, it is more that the others are unused. I actually got two kittens to give them a try tonight and they did well. Keep in mind that Spanish is not my first language and I tried to understand everything while wrangling Zoe and keeping the kittens from rolling around a table.

Nebulizer: I did some research and it looks like vets in Europe do that too, they seem to avoid giving antibiotics to kittens that young as long as they are not in distress and not infection is proven. It opens their airways and keep them breath better. This afternoon, the boys started both breathing through their mouths and panting, which has stopped tonight.The vet's approach is to try this and if it there is no improvement, she will give them antibiotics. She seems very involved and caring, so I will give her a shot.

The fun part: Vic and Cotton are officially boys, Pepita and now Bobbie, are girls.

All of them gained a lot of weight today besides Cotton who just managed 7g.

Pepita: 14g, 189g

Bobbie: 14g, 180g

Vic: 14g, 220g

Cotton: 7g, 203

It has been an exhausting day and I am amazed at Zoé who did not bite or hiss at any point of this ordeal but just let me do whatever was needed to her. And mostly, since we are back home, she still trusts me and seeks my company. It breaks my heart to put her through this and I really hope this vet does now what she is doing. I went with the most recommended in town, for knowledge and caring. There is not a lot of choice, this is basially a small town in the Caribbean. The capital would have many other options, it is the size of New York. But this is what I have here.

Zoé is an amazing Mom and I hope that the kittens will perk up. The weight gain is already a positive sign I hope. :)
 

catwoman707

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 16, 2011
Messages
7,689
Purraise
2,263
Location
Vallejo, CA
So this means you have to drag them out again and put poor momma cat through that stress again?

What about getting antibiotics for mom and her mastitis?

Hang in there, you're doing a great job!

They will automatically go for their faves unless you are plugging them in to the other ones and they latch, which is great, but on their own they will keep going for the oldies but goodies :)

At least this nursing will give mom a break from sore nipples.
 
Last edited:

Sarthur2

Cat lady extraordinaire
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Mar 8, 2015
Messages
35,984
Purraise
17,674
Location
Sunny Florida
The breathing through the mouth to me means they need antibiotics, unless it was a reaction to the steroids in their system. I guess you have to jump through hoops to get antibiotics there. I'm not comfortable with the treatment plan, but I guess you have to do what you have to do.

Are they still sneezing?

The weight gain and suckling from the other nipples is very good to hear. 2 females/2 males - perfect!

You've had a big day! Thank you for the update. [emoji]128522[/emoji]
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #115

theda

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Feb 3, 2016
Messages
83
Purraise
12
The breathing through the mouth was before the vet visit, it stopped after.

Again, here, no fever, no signs of infection, just sneezing, no antibiotics.

Cultural differences I guess....

I just know about Europe, but living in Austria for 18 years, I got antibiotics maybe 3 times for a proven strep throat. Everything else was treated this way: I can give you all this and your cold will last 8 days. I can give you nothing and your cold will last 8 days. Let me know what you want.

I freaked out the first time I went to the States and saw what kind of things you could get in a drugstore. :)

I will see how they are all doing tomorrow and play it by ear. If I see any worsening, I will just insist that I want antibiotics STAT.

For now, they all look ok and the sneezing is way better, only heard one.

Thanks so much for your help!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #117

theda

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Feb 3, 2016
Messages
83
Purraise
12
Hell, if anybody would have told what it involved, before I just fell in love with a stray kitten, I am not sure I would have signed up for this. But now, I have these 5 kittens here and I am learning :)
 

catwoman707

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 16, 2011
Messages
7,689
Purraise
2,263
Location
Vallejo, CA
I'll bet you're not the only one who thinks that too! It can get worse, believe me!!

You're doing fine, and in the end when you have spunky fluffy healthy bouncing kittens running around, you will feel it was all well worth it :)
 

Sarthur2

Cat lady extraordinaire
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Mar 8, 2015
Messages
35,984
Purraise
17,674
Location
Sunny Florida
You're doing great! Glad you signed up!

The steroids will open passageways, but will not cure infection. So time will tell if they have a URI.

It really does boil down to cultural differences. Vets here tend to treat these issues with an antibiotic right off the bat.

Keep us posted, and have a good evening. [emoji]128522[/emoji]
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #120

theda

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Feb 3, 2016
Messages
83
Purraise
12
Thanks ladies! Yes, I am very much hoping for healthy fluffy kittens! The soon to be parents are already very much involved and ask for pics everyday.

I just want to keep my sweet Zoe and spend the next years spoiling her :)

Now off to bed, tomorrow is another day full of surprises^^
 
Top