Advice for a large litter - 9 kittens!

laceyloowho

They are doing so well! [emoji]128522[/emoji]

It's great that you have provided a bigger tub for the growing family!

I think supplementing once a day is still a good idea, especially with 2 & 3, and if anyone else falls behind, like you suggested.

I think the help you've given mom has enabled the kittens to flourish. We just need them to continue to gain, and mom not to get too exhausted. The 3-week goal will be 12 ounces.

I'm so pleased with how these nine are doing!

Awesome! I will definitely keep supplementing at least once a day. I may try to do the smaller ones twice a day It is how I get my precious kitten snuggle time. I also like to check them over to make sure there are no problems. At least 5 of them will definitely hit (or have already) the 8 oz mark. We should get there with all but 2 or 3 by Wednesday. Thank you so much for your help everyday! It has made all the difference for me and my furry family

I'm amazed at what you are doing. I fostered a pregnant mother for the 1st time last September. I was a nervous wreck & she had only 3 kittens!

Thanks @Primula!
I got super lucky to get a mama cat that is taking such good care of her litter. She has some oriental lineage and they are known for large litters so perhaps it is just in her blood but she is super special! Her belly feels like an 8 pack of water balloons, lol.

Weight update
Still doing good, everyone is healthy and happy! Only my biggest boy #6 and my runt #3 (almost at 9g!) did not hit the 10g gain goal. I have noticed with #6 that he will gain a bunch then have a slow day and gain a bunch more so I am not worried and will re-evaluate his progress tomorrow. 4 have passed the 8oz mark with several just behind them. Tomorrow afternoon will be their 2 week birthday Still supplementing once a day.
#2 - birth (67.5 g) yesterday (173 g) today (184 g) +11g
#3 - birth (58.6 g) yesterday (161 g) today (170 g) +9g
#5 - birth (77.7 g) yesterday (192 g) today (202 g) +10g
#8 - birth (82.5 g) yesterday (214 g) today (227 g) +13g
#1 - birth (76.9 g) yesterday (204 g) today (218 g) +14g
#4 - birth (93.6 g) yesterday (221 g) today (232 g) +11g
#6 - birth (111.7 g) yesterday (238 g) today (244 g) +6g
#7 - birth (85.6 g) yesterday (190 g) today (201 g) +11g
#9 - birth (94.0 g) yesterday (216 g) today (229 g) +13g

Awe, I'm happy to see they all seem to be doing fine

They are all doing beautifully. Everyone is above 200 grams except #2 and #3, and they appear to be doing well too.

Are you still rotating them every 2 hours in groups?

@sarthur
I have not rotated for a few days. They seem to be working it out although I had to trim their nails for the 2nd time since birth because they scratch each other sometimes. I noticed this morning a couple of them were laying belly to belly and attempting to play fight with each other. Mouthing the others head Pretty cute! Do you think I should be rotating them still? I felt like they gained better when I stopped that. Mom usually is nursing them for 45 mins every hour and takes a 15 minute break then gets back in the box and does it all again.

I think you know best at this point. That's why I asked if you were still rotating. I think with supplementing just once a day they do need to all be with mom, as long as she's not overwhelmed.

If the gains fall off, I would recommend rotating and supplementing more than once a day again.

I think you are on top of it and will know what to do! [emoji]128522[/emoji]

Ok great Mom seems to be handling everything really well. We have moved their nest to the living room where they can start getting used to the family. Mom seems much happier not to be confined to the bathroom anymore. She is eating and drinking and using the litter box like she normally would.I am definitely watching them and their weights and will adjust accordingly I will post some weights a little later and see where we are!

Sounds good! [emoji]128522[/emoji]

OMG, the photo is killing me. The little angels!

Weight update
Today is their 2 week birthday!
Still doing well. Everyone except my runt #3 are over 200 grams and #3 is getting so close! I still feel like my once a day supplementing is working well. Mama is providing plenty of milk it seems as they are growing like little weeds! Love these little love bugs so much!

#2 - birth (67.5 g) yesterday (184 g) today (202 g) +18g
#3 - birth (58.6 g) yesterday (170 g) today (183 g) +13g
#5 - birth (77.7 g) yesterday (202 g) today (213 g) +11g
#8 - birth (82.5 g) yesterday (227 g) today (237 g) +10g
#1 - birth (76.9 g) yesterday (218 g) today (229 g) +11g
#4 - birth (93.6 g) yesterday (232 g) today (249 g) +17g
#6 - birth (111.7 g) yesterday (244 g) today (253 g) +9g
#7 - birth (85.6 g) yesterday (201 g) today (222 g) +21g
#9 - birth (94.0 g) yesterday (229 g) today (236 g) +7g

They are just precious - so sweet looking!

It looks like they are doing quite well! Weights are excellent today.

Keep up the awesome job! [emoji]128522[/emoji]

When I fostered & the mom had 3 kittens my favorite thing was checking on them 1st thing in the morning. I was always afraid something happened to them overnight & it was so fun to find them all happy & comfy each morning.

Primula said:

When I fostered & the mom had 3 kittens my favorite thing was checking on them 1st thing in the morning. I was always afraid something happened to them overnight & it was so fun to find them all happy & comfy each morning.

Click to expand...

Yes... they are so sweet and sleepy in the morning I definitely know what you mean about being scared that one did not make it through the night. I too worried a lot about that at first, especially since like half of them were so much smaller than average. I worry less and less about that as the days go by. They are just as healthy as can be. We take really good care of mama and she does the same for the babes
I think they will all be just fine but I was guarded for a bit. I honestly have not seen a newborn birth weight as low as #3 that has survived and even thrived like he has. 56 grams was so so tiny, I really did not think he would make it but he is growing like a weed and doing everything that everyone else is doing It is going to be super hard to not just keep them all *sigh*

I know how hard it is to part with them after you raise them! I took in a pregnant stray last year who had 4 kittens. I kept her and all 4 of her kittens! [emoji]128571[/emoji]

It's best if you can rehome them in pairs, but not before 10-12 weeks. And keep one for mom! [emoji]128522[/emoji]

I'm convinced that the reason kittens are so cute is so we will take one. But remember they all grow into CATS. Imagine your house with 10 full grown cats running around.

I have 5. My high was 7. [emoji]128571[/emoji]

Haha... ya, we definitely will not be keeping all of them. We are keeping 2 of them though for sure. We only have the one cat so her plus 2 babies does not seem too crazy I have found a couple homes already and am pushing the idea of them going in pairs although I am sure that will not be possible for them all. We are keeping them all till they are 16 weeks. I want to make sure they get shots and clean vet checks and plenty of socialization before they go. It will be hard to let them go but I want to do what is best for them