Mom keeps leaving her kitten

sumerbryant · Mar 15, 2017

My cat got pregnant a week before she was set to be spayed. She went into labor not yesterday, but the day before. So Monday night. She only had one kitten as she was young and small! We have a nice room set up for her that she had her babies in as well, she was in a crate with blankets that was covered with a black blanket and she's kept her kitten in there until now. I worry because we have 3 dogs so I shut the bedroom door when we are gone (she has food, water, windows, and litter box) but she freaks out every time. She just moved her baby into our closet today but has left it constantly alone and will go back only when we make her to feed it, but other than that she will sit in our hallway meowing and making noises until our other cat (the father) comes to her. I feel so bad for the kitten

should I turn a heater on low and put it towards the closet so it doesn't get cold? Should I start bottle feeding it? Should I put her back in the room and shut the door? Help

StefanZ · Mar 15, 2017

sumerbryant said:
My cat got pregnant a week before she was set to be spayed. She went into labor not yesterday, but the day before. So Monday night. She only had one kitten as she was young and small! We have a nice room set up for her that she had her babies in as well, she was in a crate with blankets that was covered with a black blanket and she's kept her kitten in there until now. I worry because we have 3 dogs so I shut the bedroom door when we are gone (she has food, water, windows, and litter box) but she freaks out every time. She just moved her baby into our closet today but has left it constantly alone and will go back only when we make her to feed it, but other than that she will sit in our hallway meowing and making noises until our other cat (the father) comes to her. I feel so bad for the kitten

should I turn a heater on low and put it towards the closet so it doesn't get cold? Should I start bottle feeding it? Should I put her back in the room and shut the door? Help

Re the heater and such, it depends on if its cold in the house. If its not cold, and the kitten has blankets, it should manage. Even if small kittens cant keep up theri own warmth, and must have additional heat. After all, out in the nature momma must often leave them to find food. Even hours. And its not always nice and cozy places they are in...

How are teh dogs to her? are they friendly or do they use to chase her?

If she is that friendly with the other cat, the male, you can perhaps let them be together. There IS some risk he may make her pregnant again, but he shoulndt be no risk to the kitten. Of course do supervise the first meeting, its foolish to take stupid risks.

Do weigh the kitten every day - best is an electronical scale measuring in grammes. You can borrow one from some neigbour. If the kitten gains minimum 6g a day, but prferably 10+ grams a day, you dont need to supplement.

Otherwise, yes, you must supplement, use a kmr or goats milk.

sumerbryant · Mar 15, 2017

2 of the dogs just like to rough house and play with the cats, but one of our dogs always snuggles with the cat and she's let the kitten cuddle her as well. My female and male are brothers and the male is fixed so she won't get pregnant, he's shown a slight interest in the kitten but not too much. She actually has moved the kitten again out of the closet and into our bed. She nursed the kitten until it was asleep and just left it with me. I had a cat give birth years ago and she didn't want any human intervention, which I respected. But Peach wants me to almost co-parent with her.

talkingpeanut · Mar 15, 2017

sumerbryant said:
2 of the dogs just like to rough house and play with the cats, but one of our dogs always snuggles with the cat and she's let the kitten cuddle her as well. My female and male are brothers and the male is fixed so she won't get pregnant, he's shown a slight interest in the kitten but not too much. She actually has moved the kitten again out of the closet and into our bed. She nursed the kitten until it was asleep and just left it with me. I had a cat give birth years ago and she didn't want any human intervention, which I respected. But Peach wants me to almost co-parent with her.

When was the brother fixed? Is he the father?

kittylover100 · Mar 15, 2017

I actually do wonder that same thing are they related, is it a friends cat, die she get out, etc. Can you please maybe if you can give us more data or info on that[emoji]128522[/emoji]

Primula · Mar 15, 2017

sumerbryant said:
. But Peach wants me to almost co-parent with her.

Sounds like a first-time inexperienced mother. Bottom line is the kitten needs to be consistently warm, bottle-fed & stimulated to eliminate. How are things going today?

StefanZ · Mar 15, 2017

sumerbryant said:
2 of the dogs just like to rough house and play with the cats, but one of our dogs always snuggles with the cat and she's let the kitten cuddle her as well. My female and male are brothers and the male is fixed so she won't get pregnant, he's shown a slight interest in the kitten but not too much. She actually has moved the kitten again out of the closet and into our bed. She nursed the kitten until it was asleep and just left it with me. I had a cat give birth years ago and she didn't want any human intervention, which I respected. But Peach wants me to almost co-parent with her.

Yes, that is quite common. She sees you as her Momma, and in nature, momma is often helping her dau. And vice versa, daus may help momma and act co-caretakers.

Sometimes a friendly male may do it too, if momma accepts.

Mom keeps leaving her kitten

sumerbryant

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StefanZ

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sumerbryant

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talkingpeanut

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kittylover100

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Primula

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StefanZ

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