Mother cat doesn't care for her own.

bernii123

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Good day. I am fostering kittens and a pregnant cat. The kittens are about 7 weeks old.The momma cat had her babies last night but since yesterday she started carrying the others to her nest. Today I've noticed that she doesn't want to look after her own and keeps on running after the other kittens meowing and trying to take them to her nest. But the strange thing is she grabs them under the neck. What can I do so that she will stop trying to get the other cats attention and start looking after her own?
 

StefanZ

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Good day. I am fostering kittens and a pregnant cat. The kittens are about 7 weeks old.The momma cat had her babies last night but since yesterday she started carrying the others to her nest. Today I've noticed that she doesn't want to look after her own and keeps on running after the other kittens meowing and trying to take them to her nest. But the strange thing is she grabs them under the neck. What can I do so that she will stop trying to get the other cats attention and start looking after her own?
You should probably isolate her and her newborn kittens from the older kittens....   And encourage her as well you can, to take care of her newborns...

I suppose she got friends with the older kittens before her delivery, and sees them as her protegées...

Also, be watchful - you perhaps got to step in and handraise these newborns.  Its touchy now, and hours counts.   During the time, get home some KMR or goats milk, a needleless syringe of 1-1,5 ml, or at least a dropper.    A make up sponge may be an alternative to suckle from!

Get home a scale too,  and begin to weigh them, so you know exactly how much they gain.

Some heating pad.  You can make one from rice stuffed socks, and nike them in micro - about 5 minutes.  Works nicely as heating pad.
 
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bernii123

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Thank you so much for the response. She actually did not like the other kittens she usually hissed at them and avoided them as much as possible.The same day she gave birth. Just a few hours before she started taking them to her nest and followed them. I almost thought that she was thinking that's the kittens she gave birth to. She was in labour from the morning and she started doing that and only gave birth late at night.
 

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Have you tried closing mom in a room with everything she needs and the new babies?
 
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bernii123

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Yes I have.. Then she will just stand in front of the door and meow or just lay in front of the door.. She is almost never with her babies. Usually they stay with them the first few days. They will only go if it is necessary. But as soon as the kittens sleep she is somewhere else. And I have to force her to lay with them and she will only start relaxing when they all start drinking. But the moment I leave she will stand up and go to the door so I have to sit with her
 

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Started feeding them Royal canine replacement milk
Good.  Even if they do take some from momma, but we dont want to take any risks.  Weight them everyday to s ee they gain properly.  It should be 10+ grammes a day for healthy kittens. - ie  0,3+ Oz a day.

Be also sure they have warm enough, as momma is ofte leaving the nest.   How many are the kittens?  Are they in a warm and cozy heap when she leaves them?

Does she wash them properly (including helping with elimination)?
 
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bernii123

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She has been walking around whole morning meowing. Then she goes to her babies lay down and meow again and look at me and meow [emoji]128584[/emoji] If only I can speak cat language . Yes they are in my closet with lots of blankets and a fluffy teddy and a heating pad.
 

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It often takes new moms about 48 hours to settle down. Her hormones are raging, and she needs to adjust to her new situation. Continue to reassure her and she should become calmer soon.

Make sure mom has wet food, dry food, and water nearby, along with a litter box.
 
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bernii123

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I'm not sure if this is her first litter . She seems about 2 years old. She is a stray. Didn't seem scared or hissy so don't think she wa's a feral.

Yes the litter tray is next to my closet and the food in front of the closet door. The other side is open so that she can get in but didn't want to leave both open (to much light ) want it to be as dark and secure as I could.

I have been feeding them. I've noticed that the blanket they are laying on has splashes of stool as well as urine stains. She hasn't been with them a lot today
 
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