Runt kitten care

My cat gave birth 8 days ago. 4 kittens. I just need to ask a few questions about the behaviour of the runt, just so I know if it's typical runt behaviour or if I need to do something to help the little thing along.

My other cat had kittens a few years ago. There was a runt but it wasn't that much smaller than the others.

However this little one is much smaller and much weaker than the others, being that she doesn't move around as quickly or use her legs as prominently as the the others. She also hasn't opened her eyes yet, and her siblings opened theirs 2/3 days ago.

As for feeding she favours feeding at the top of mamas chest (it may be so she doesn't have to fight with her siblings as they are all now twice her size) although I worry there is not enough milk in those sacks, so when all is quite in the nest I put her on mama at a bigger sack although most times she's not that interested. I'm just worried she isn't getting enough milk and or is getting weaker by the day.

Any advice would be greatfully appreciated

Thanks

Niamhie said:

My cat gave birth 8 days ago. 4 kittens. I just need to ask a few questions about the behaviour of the runt, just so I know if it's typical runt behaviour or if I need to do something to help the little thing along.

My other cat had kittens a few years ago. There was a runt but it wasn't that much smaller than the others.

However this little one is much smaller and much weaker than the others, being that she doesn't move around as quickly or use her legs as prominently as the the others. She also hasn't opened her eyes yet, and her siblings opened theirs 2/3 days ago.

As for feeding she favours feeding at the top of mamas chest (it may be so she doesn't have to fight with her siblings as they are all now twice her size) although I worry there is not enough milk in those sacks, so when all is quite in the nest I put her on mama at a bigger sack although most times she's not that interested. I'm just worried she isn't getting enough milk and or is getting weaker by the day.

Any advice would be greatfully appreciated

Thanks

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 You are doing it right, closely observing and trying to let her get access to a good nipple, when its unocuppied.

Yet it seems to be not enough.

The question is, does she not gets enough - the remedy is easy, you step in and supplement feed her.   - I write more about it soon.

OR, there is some real fault on her - and she is possibly a gooner whatever you do.     But this is not easy to know.  Especially as a kitten with a fault can sometimes make it with vigorous care from the owner.

I want to mention, most vets arent very good with small weak kittens. So very often its not a big idea to go to the vet with such a kitten.  Better to have contact with some experienced rescuer or breeder.  Or as here, a good helpsome Forum.  

But if you KNOW your vet is good with small weak kittens, or  plainly see there is a real fault on the kitten, its another matter.  Even so so vets are often good when they do see what is the fault.

So the recipe for both question is so far essentielly the same: you do supplement feed her.

Where do you live, which country?

Do you have access to a good kmr - kitten mothermilk replamement?  If so, which?   An alternative is always full fat goat milk, if you dont have good kmr.

Glucose sugar / dextrose?  or other source for glucose sugar, alike white caro syrup, or honey...  or even overcooked rice.

Kittens whom have access to momma, are often very difficult to take bottle. Also, if the fault is a weak suckling, it may be easier with a needleless syringe or dropper.

Another alternative may be such a make up little sponge... So they can suckle kmr from this sponge.... It works sometimes, and is safer than  this with syringe or dropper.

Please come back with these answers, and reports, so somebody will guide you further.

Ah, i almost forgot.  A scale is a must here.  You see her siblings grows more, but the most important is to know if SHE does grows.  Being small, 6g a day may be enough, but not anything less.  So an electronical scale, measuring in grammes (or 1/10 of Oz) is what is needed. You dont need to buy any costly and fancy variation, some cheap kitchen scale is OK.  You can surely borrow one from some neigbour?

How much does the kitten weigh? Weighing daily will let us know for sure if she's gaining the minimum 6-10 grams daily needed to grow on.

Since she's a runt, you should probably supplement her with kitten formula 1-2 mLs every 2 hours. Powdered by PetAg is recommended, using a needleless syringe. Do you need feeding instructions?

Her eyes will open, but perhaps a few days later than her litter mates. [emoji]128522[/emoji]

Thanks for the advice guys. I have started the search for digital scales, so will hopefully have some in a few days.

I live in Northern Ireland and have heard of KMR mainly on this site and know it is not available in the UK. I have bought kitten milk in a carton although I don't want to give it to her as it says for 6-8 weeks so I'm guessing it would make her sick. I'm going to try the rice water (preparing advice would be much appreciated) as I've heard it gives them energy, I'm hoping at least enough to compete with the others while feeding and enough so I can get some better supply's tomorrow.
Also I just witnessed one off the other kittens completely knock her off a good nipple very roughly it was heart breaking I'm just hoping she can get strong enough to compete with thee others.

Also the weaking sucking suggestion maybe be the case as she seems to be awfully noisy when feeding and the rest are quite quiet.

I work full time so hand feeding her until she is weaned is unfortunately not an option

If you cannot find KMR, you can make your own kitten glop. Here is a recipe:


Gelatin is not a necessary ingredient. You can substitute honey for the syrup.

Even supplementing before and after work would help her out if she is weak and not gaining.

Niamhie said:

Thanks for the advice guys. I have started the search for digital scales, so will hopefully have some in a few days.

I live in Northern Ireland and have heard of KMR mainly on this site and know it is not available in the UK. I have bought kitten milk in a carton although I don't want to give it to her as it says for 6-8 weeks so I'm guessing it would make her sick. I'm going to try the rice water (preparing advice would be much appreciated) as I've heard it gives them energy, I'm hoping at least enough to compete with the others while feeding and enough so I can get some better supply's tomorrow.
Also I just witnessed one off the other kittens completely knock her off a good nipple very roughly it was heart breaking I'm just hoping she can get strong enough to compete with thee others.

Also the weaking sucking suggestion maybe be the case as she seems to be awfully noisy when feeding and the rest are quite quiet.

I work full time so hand feeding her until she is weaned is unfortunately not an option

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You can surely find a scaly with some neighbour, phone around and ask.  Or even better go around knocking doors. Its nothing shameful.  The rules of social behavior the rules are, if you are in need and ask for help, they are forced to help you.  If they dont help, its they whom are unsocial brutes, not you ridiculous.

And the little one does needs a scale.

Now, the PetAgs KMR is not the only decent kmr.  There are others. GNC is excellent. Royal Canin kmr is excellent.  Its almost only Sargeants and Hartz products which are really inferior.

If you can get raw goat milks its THE solution. but canned or bottled full fat goats milk is OK.

Even sheeps milk should go - preferably raw as the pasteurizing process do destroys some goodies alike some useful enzymes

The easiest way to get a fluid with glucose sugar, is you overboil some rice.  That water will contain glucose.  Add some salt (common kitchen salt OK) and you have a home made pedialyte.

As SArthur says, the kitten does get some from momma, so you dont need to give it 100% procent.  Just do it in the morning and twice in the evening, which will be extra...

Thanks for the advice guys. Will certainly be trying them all if necessary to keep this little lady going. Weighed her there and she is 180g. Her biggest sibling is 260g. Mama seems to have come to terms with me always letting her suckle when she's in the box provided she herself gets lots of cuddles. I will up date you in the coming days. Thanks again

Hey guys, the kitten is doing really well (phew). She is now 208g @ 12 days old and is getting a wee fat belly just like thee others. Also her eyes have started to open, I'm guessing this is a runt thing to be a few days behind.

Again thanks for the advice.

I now unfortunately have an issue with all of the kittens and mama, being that they have fleas.

I took mamas collar of when I knew she was pregnant, and tbh never thought this would be an issue but yesterday I found 3 fleas on one of the lighter coloured ones.

About 15 minutes ago I took a baby wipe to each one and found not flea on any of them (strangely) but I wiped them over anyway juat to be safe. Alhtough half way through cleaning them mama came in and started to get very distressed trying to move them (we had issues trying to get her a safe suitable area to nest as we have other animals, after being fussy for a while she finally settled for my room) I then quickly rubbed though the rest and dried them as best I could, they where still dampish when I put them back in the nest (a large box that has fresh warm blankets and a hot water bottle) but then mama wouldn't go back in the box and I thought it might be because the water bottle stinks of rubber (as they do). As soon as I removed it and left the room dark and quite mama went straight back to her babies. Although I'm quite worried about the fact that two of the kittens at least where still damp. Went in there and mama and babies are nice amd toasty. What I want to know is if the kittens being damp will make them sick or are they OK. I may be over reacting but I'd feel horrible if the fact that I didn't want fleas in my room be the reason come to any harm

They should be fine! [emoji]128522[/emoji]