My cat just gave birth, but is not nursing kittens

My cat is only 8 months old! And just went into stage 2 about 30 mins ago and has already delivered, but changed nests to MY BED mid birth and with a slimy kitten still hanging out of her!! I put her back after 5 mins of petting 4 reassurance (I admit I was a touch nervous, seeing it dangling like that between her legs!!) But after 10 min back in her hidden nest I heard the first lil wail... and I burst out giggling 4 some reason - maybe just the nervous tension of a primagravida birthing (of a kitten so petite still, I was unaware she was pregnant till 3 weeks ago!)

Mine has now decided hers are evil and not worth life, what a shame ...rejected

ABritInNY said:

Mine has now decided hers are evil and not worth life, what a shame ...rejected

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She may be distracted because she is still in labor.  She may also be unhappy with her nest location.

If she truly is not caring for them, you will need to step in.

It's not the nest she has two! She's completely clueless and also is not apparently lactating at all? Kitten couldn't feed if it wanted too! Now she just left the just born and tried to abandon nest? Went back, looked and left again!

ABritInNY said:

It's not the nest she has two! She's completely clueless and also is not apparently lactating at all? Kitten couldn't feed if it wanted too! Now she just left the just born and tried to abandon nest? Went back, looked and left again!

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It can take some time for new moms to settle, especially if they are still in labor.  She needs to be closed in a room with the kittens and everything she needs (litter box, unlimited food, and water) for the next few days.

Again, she may be uncomfortable with where the nest is.  Moms prefer a dark, quiet space, like a closet with the door cracked.  Even giving two options does not mean it's satisfactory to her.

Milk sometimes comes in only after they are done delivering.  Encourage mom to lie down with the kittens.

For now, please put a heating source in the nest with the kittens.  A sock filled with raw rice and microwave for five minutes will provide heat for a few hours.  You should also buy a scale, powdered kitten milk replacer, and a needleless syringe now in case you need them.  You will weigh the kittens every day to make sure they are gaining weight.

Her sister just gave birth less than a week ago, I hope a foster of the living kitten works... the 2nd appears either stillborn or neglected to die this is heartbreak and I was so happily expectant... first issue, in multiple births it seems I just can't handle...

I need a miracle...failing that, an inability to feel emotions would be nice...

Is your cat still in labor?  You can offer her some water or food.  She is probably exhausted.

Can you add photos?  It is possible that she delivered prematurely and that often doesn't end well for kittens.

If nothing was wrong with the pregnancy, you do not need a miracle, but you do need to assume care for this kitten.  Are you sure it's too late for the second one?  Please get involved, get supplies, and help them to thrive if you can.

The 2nd isn't visually breathing, and hasn't cried despite stimulation from both Mom n myself plus she's not nursing and didn't let the first nurse, as i said she seems not to be lactating yet so perhaps they're premature. .I just heard a third just came that DID just wail after stimulus by her...

ABritInNY said:

The 2nd isn't visually breathing, and hasn't cried despite stimulation from both Mom n myself plus she's not nursing and didn't let the first nurse, as i said she seems not to be lactating yet so perhaps they're premature. .I just heard a third just came that DID just wail after stimulus by her...

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Do the first 2 have fur all the way down their legs?  Did you try rubbing the 2nd one to get it breathing?

She seems to have had a stillborn kitten as number 2, this caused her to forget/reject kitten 1 until it almost stopped trying to crawl and was ice cold, that's when I transferred kitten 1 to the surrogate... she's now had a bigger black 3rd kitten that somehow was able to to get access to feed, but the 2nd kitten altho she's now cleaned it, still hasn't moved and she pushed it away (and didn't eat that kittens placenta 4 some reason?) I'll try 4 a picture

I think I'll remove the 2nd and it's afterbirth from the nest, and perhaps try and see if she'll accept kitten 1 now she's able to give milk, I still don't know if it's been accepted or not with the 4 day older kittens by her sister and I figure it's better with its Mom? Or should I wait a bit?

Yes, remove the stillborn kitten and placenta. And yes, you can try to place the kitten with its mom. Just be sure to weigh the kittens to make sure the kittens are gaining weight. You should also, as mentioned, place a heat source in the nest in case mom isn't attentive enough.

Do you plan to spay your cats after these kittens are weaned?

OK so her sister won't allow it in just over an hour only, its gone from almost dead and barely able to move, to feeding and squirming under its new COMPLETELY ATTENTIVE Momma who is protecting it under her shoulder and separate from her other 4 slightly larger 'siblings,' so far only 1 sad tragedy how long do I wait b4 removing the still kitten? Also if it's not alive, why no rigor?

Okay so now I'm a lil confused what to do? Fine I'll clean up the tragedy not a problem, altho I was still hoping against hope...but... kitten 1 is now spotless and happily suckling with Auntie and cousins, so when is best to return it, and know it's safe with (original) Mom who only seemed to like kitten 3 from birth? or possibly something else was going on??

Wait a couple of days.  If the mom's are friends they may co-parent and take turns feeding and cleaning the kittens.

Can you make an actual nest in a box or a drawer?  It helps the kittens to stay warm and prevents them from wandering off.  

Last update, we'll she's had a 4th and hopefully final kitten BUT it appears lifeless too, and still attached to her I think (or perhaps she's sitting on it/warming it?) I can't get near her because her living kitten is suckling vigorously and she won't let me near enough now to see, so I'll have to wait... I hope she can revive it, I'll wait 4 a wail, I guess and try and check again soon

Handsome Kitty said:

Do the first 2 have fur all the way down their legs?  Did you try rubbing the 2nd one to get it breathing?

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Yes of course, it's not my first rodeo do 2 speak, I've just never had one like this?