1 week old kittens with URI Mother suddenly not nursing

my cat had kittens a week ago yesterday. They've been thriving up until today. She had 5. She's been a wonderful mother. She has a URI which vet gave her medicine for but unfortunately kittens seem to have caught it. They are still trying to nurse sometimes but now mama kitty seems to not want to nurse and keeps getting up and leaving the nest. We will be going to the vet first thing tomorrow morning but I'm wondering what to do in the meantime? I've put them in the bathroom with the shower running to steam their lungs and help breathing which worked. Mama is acting fine otherwise and eating wonderfully but I'm worried why she wont let them nurse like she was yesterday? Everytime I've ever tried to intervene and feed newborn kittens I've wound up killing them and don't want to if I don't have to I'm terrified to lose them but I don't want to cause them pneumonia. Should I lock her and the kittens in a dog crate? In a large carrier for now? They do seem to want to nurse still. Thanks. And URI is not so terrible. Just coughing. No discharge, no running eyes or noses yet. But I'm at the vet when they open tomorrow.

It's good you're heading to the vet because the kittens will need antibiotics - poor babies. Steaming them was good.

Is there any chance mom has mastitis? If so, her mammaries might be sore, which would make her reluctant to nurse.

Regardless, the kittens must eat! You'll need to close mom in a room or large crate for tonight with the kittens so she will nurse them. Mom will need food, water, and litter in the crate or room.

Please update us on the situation tomorrow!

thank you so much I am taking them to the vet at 3 pm today. So far(knock wood) mama is doing her thing, nursing and theyre all ok???? Praying they stay that way. Still quite worried.

Glad mom is nursing them now. Take them all, including mom, when you go. They need mom to keep them warm. Let us know what the vet says!

I think you should get some KMR and a bottle or syringes without needles. You may have to supplement the kittens if one doesn't get enough.

Mom can also drink KMR as a supplement to help her calcium level and produce milk. Powdered KMR is more economical than cannned, and most any brand (BUT NOT HARTZ) will do.