Rescue Momma and Kittens... Advice Needed Please!

Today's weights! 20 days old!

1- 370

2- 329

3- 351

4- 340

5- 328

6- 340

7- 329

8- 303

So I have a few questions/concerns as always. One: when do they start pooping on their own? This morning when I went in to get them some of them had poop on them and there was poop in the towels I have on the bottom of the cage, so I cleaned up the cage and gave a few of them baths- I know they can't regulate their body temp yet so I spend a lot of time drying them and also put them on a blanket with a heating pad underneath of them until they were completely dry. I am wondering if Mom could have possibly pooped in there (she did that before) or if it could have been some of the 8 kittens. 

Now on to my biggest concern. Is it possible that mom just stop producing milk? All kittens were VERY hungry today when I started supplementing them, even the bigger ones who usually fight the syringe. When I put them with mom they suckle on her, but how do I know if they actually are getting anything? Just keep a close eye on their weights? Everyone has gained, but I was going to start weighing every two days for times sake (won't be doing that now) so I dont have yesterdays weights, number one doesn't look like he has gained very much but he still is fighting the supplementing (he is the only one today). Moms nipples look smaller to me, but I never really paid a lot of attention to them before other then feeling them to make sure they weren't fevered. I did notice that when I went to rotate the kittens that it looked like all of her nipples has been suckled on- where before it would just be the 4- so it looks like maybe the kittens keep searching for one that is producing milk? Maybe I am stretching that. I just wasn't sure how common it would be for her to just stop producing milk... I am worried about leaving them to go to work tonight! 

The kittens are beautiful! [emoji]128571[/emoji]

Also different question. I am also getting ANOTHER mom and kittens tonight. (this kitten season is killing me). The kittens are about 6 weeks old. I know that kittens still nurse occasionally at this age. This mom and babies are staying in a different bedroom away from the other fosters. Do you think I should try to introduce Andy's babies to the new mom and see if they would nurse off of her? Or would that be a bad idea due to the age differences? 

Thanks!

I would keep the 2 litters and moms totally separate.

Number 1 is the biggest kitten, so he may not have been hungry.

I doubt that mom has stopped producing milk, but as the babies grow they need more and more, and she just may not have enough to keep all 8 full, which makes the supplementing even more important.,

In another week you can try introducing mushy solids.

They are probably beginning to poop some on their own. It's not unusual to begin finding poop and pee on their blankets. With 8, it's tough for mom to clean all of them up around the clock, so you have to help. Their bedding may need changing daily now until they learn the litter box soon.

Upon picking up my newest fosters I knew that I couldn't try introducing Andy's kittens to them. One- they are flea INFESTED. And about half of them have very goopy eyes. I went ahead and put Advantage II on mom and wiped their eyes with a warm wet cloth and gave them some of the ointment I got for the other kittens (they gave me a bunch of refills for it). They already look a lot better. There is actually 6 of them. And the mom was STARVING. you can feel every bone when you pick her up. I am not sure if is because she has been feeding 6 kittens or if they just werent feeding her enough. Good news is these kittens have started eating solids/canned kitten food. One question with them, I am giving these kittens a dawn bath tomorrow, then is there anything I can put on them to repell/kill the fleas? Or are they too young?

Back to Andy's kittens. I am just worried because they all wanted so much formula all day! Like they never fought against it, and I was giving them so much more! I was told by the lady that was feeding Andy/gave her and the kittens to me, that last year she gave birth to one single kitten and it died after a few weeks. It surprised her because it looked very healthy to her. I was just wondering if there was a thing where maybe Andy just stops producing milk after a couple of weeks. Just a thought!

Whew! It is going to be a busy few weeks here! I'll post pictures of the new kittens tomorrow!

Feed the new mom and her kittens lots. Give several wet food meals a day, and leave dry kitten chow down for them 24/7. Mom has probably not been fed enough.

At 6 weeks old, the kittens are big enough to have their own doses of Advantage II. They make a size just for kittens. The kitten dose is .23mL. Give it after a bath, of course.

It's possible that Andy is producing less milk. You'll need to keep a close eye on the situation, just in case.

Thank you for all that you're doing for these cats and kittens!

Post about my newest fosters!























I am wondering if you can tell from the pictures an approximate age of them? I was told about 5 weeks but they seem smaller, like closer to 4 weeks? But they are starting to nibble on wet kitten food and are bumbling all over the place, playing so maybe they are 5 weeks? After three applications of the eye ointment their eyes already look soooo much better! Also everyone had a Dawn bath today and seems to be feeling much relief after the reduction in fleas! 

Thank you!

I will post about Andy's litter later tonight when I get weights on everyone!

Andy's litter update! 

Today's weights (3 weeks old!)

1- 397

2- 336

3- 367

4- 382

5- 356

6- 364

7- 362

8- 319

Everyone is still gaining! I am so relieved! I really was concerned about Andy not producing because they were/are so hungry! I was especially worried because I have another reeeeally long day at work tomorrow, but I am going to have the boyfriend feed everyone before he goes to work- which will be halfway through my double shift, then when I get home everyone will be fed again. Lots of food for both Mommas. 

Thanks! I hope I am not making things confusing since I added another litter of kittens to this thread!

New fosters: What a beautiful cat family! I think 5 weeks old looks about right.

Andy's family: The weight gains are fantastic, except for #2, who only gained 7 grams, and #8, who only gained 13. Although 13 grams is okay, this is the smallest kitten, and #2 is next smallest.

Since the others gained so much, it tells me that these two are not getting as much nipple time, and are probably deriving most of their gains from the supplementing.

If possible, try to supplement #2 and #8 an extra time or two per day. The others don't need it.

In fact, all are 12 ounces or above, except for 2 and 8, and they are within striking distance. Very much on target!

This will all get easier in the next 2 weeks when the kittens begin eating soft solids. Most are ready to try at 4-5 weeks.

Keep up the nice job! [emoji]128077[/emoji]

Awesome! I was happy that they were still gaining. Their appetite certainly is growing! I will supplement more on those two! I still have been supplementing everyone- all act like they are starving except for the couple of big kittens- they fight me to take a little bit. How many times a day do you think I should keep supplementing? I don't expect great gains from everyone tomorrow since I am working a long day, but I am having my boyfriend supplement them before he goes to work, and then I will whenever I get home, and that is when I will have to weigh everyone as well.

The new kittens I decided to name with a Halloween theme (using scary movie characters and stuff) so from now on they will be my Halloween Kittens! They are doing really great, I am happy they have started eating kitten food because poor Momma is so skinny! She has had diarrhea, but I expect it is due to a diet change, so I am keeping an eye on her! So should I wait another week to put the topical on the kittens? I know in a previous post you said it was safe to do after 6 weeks. They got a lot of relief from the Dawn bath, but I know that the fleas will go right back on them, no matter that I cleaned everything.

Treat the new mom and kittens for fleas right away! Do not wait.

Get a can of plain pumpkin at the grocery, and give the new mom a tablespoon a day. It will firm up her poop. Not pie filling, just plain pumpkin. It's good mom is getting a better diet. Do watch the diarrhea though. If it does not improve soon let me know.

Have the new fosters been wormed?

Continue supplementing Andy's kittens twice a day. If the biggest one(s) don't want it, that's okay as long as they continue to gain. The smaller two kittens could use an extra round.

Ok! I did put some Advantage II on the new Momma, and flea bathed the kittens, but I was waiting to put a topical on because I didn't know if they were too young. I have not wormed them yet, I have panacur so I was going to try to figure out the doseage for that today and start them on it! Will start with the pumpkin and extra supplementing the runts!

Andy and her Toy Story Update! Today was a pretty busy day, both litters of kittens and Mommas got their first round of wormer. Plus I had to wrangle the kittens to get individual shots so I can announce their names/ try to get some interest in adopting these sweet babies since I currently have 15 kittens and two Momma cats that I am fostering. (I also acquired a beautiful solid black 10 week old kitten that I had agreed to take on before either of these litters were brought to me) So since I was so busy today I wasn't able to get weights for everyone recorded- I had weighed them to get the wormer dosage but I didn't write anything down in the hustle of it!

And now... what you have all been waiting for... the introductions to Andy's Toy Story Litter, just a little over three weeks old!


Barbie!


Barbie!


Bo Peep!


Bo Peep!


Buzz Lightyear!


Dolly!


Dolly!


Jessie!


Lenny!


Lenny!


Rex!


Rex!


Rex!


Woody!


Woody!

These little wiggle butts are getting so hard to photograph! Always on the move!

So when I was weighing the Halloween Kittens for their wormer, I noticed that they don't weigh much more than Andy's kittens... should I be concerned? They are two weeks older than them so I expected them to be much bigger. Everyone is playful as ever and nursing and eating canned kitten food and dry kitten food. Maybe I should start weighing them daily as well...

Thanks!

They are adorable! You've got your hands full, but all such beautiful kittens. [emoji]128571[/emoji]

I agree that you need to weigh the Halloween kittens as well. At 5 weeks, they should weigh at least 16 ounces, and preferably a little more. Feed them often and as much as they want. Hopefully they will soon put on more weight as they grow.

Post a picture of the black kitten when you can!

This beauty is Holly! She is around 10 weeks old (thoughts on that?) She is being wormed, vaccinated, and hopefully ready for adoption soon! As of right now all kittens adopted from me are adopted with a spay/neuter contract, but I am working some stuff out with my local vets so hopefully with an increased adoption fee I will be able to spay/neuter everyone before they go (not just the Mommas like now), this would be ideal! Hopefully I will have weights for everyone to post later! The Halloween kittens very much so HATE sitting still for anything lol so I will have to try to find a bigger bowl. 

Very handsome kitten! [emoji]128571[/emoji]

Everyone's weights for 9/28/16!

Andy's Toy Story Litter! (24 days old)

1- 410g

2- 371g

3- 390g

4- 400g

5- 390g

6- 394g

7- 388g

8- 341g

Halloween Kittens

1- 13.5 oz

2- 14 oz

3- 14.5 oz

4- 15 oz

5- 15 oz

6- 13 oz

Like is this right? Clearly the Halloween Kittens are older tan Andy's but they weigh like the same.I had to use the old scale I had to weigh the Halloween Kittens because they would not sit still enough for the digital scale.  None of the Halloween Kittens look exceptionally skinny... They are loving canned food and a little bit of dry food for now. Still nursing some when I come in the room. We are buying cake pans tonight to start trying litter training, there are tiny poops all over the room!

Toy Story kitten weights are excellent! [emoji]128077[/emoji]

The Halloween kitten weights are decent. They will easily put on more weight from eating wet food and kitten chow. Just feed them often. It sounds like they will litter train very quickly and easily once the pans are available. [emoji]128522[/emoji]

sarthur2 said:

Toy Story kitten weights are excellent! [emoji]128077[/emoji]

The Halloween kitten weights are decent. They will easily put on more weight from eating wet food and kitten chow. Just feed them often. It sounds like they will litter train very quickly and easily once the pans are available. [emoji]128522[/emoji]

Click to expand...

Awesome! I was just worried since the Halloween Kitten weights are really close to the Toy Story Litter weights and they are a couple of weeks older than them. I just figured maybe the Toy Story Litter was a little above normal for their weights and maybe the Halloween Kittens are a little under? Or they might just be small kittens. Should I also be providing the Halloween kittens with a saucer of formula? Or try syringe feeding them? I wasn't sure if it was necessary since they were eating on their own or not.

A saucer of kitten milk is good, though they still nurse mom so they may or may not drink it.

The Halloween kittens may be built smaller, or have had a poorer start in life. They will be okay though! [emoji]128522[/emoji]