HELP! My cat doesn't eat for 6 days

catbats · Mar 23, 2017

[Sorry about my English but I'm from portugal]
I'm going desperate because of my cat "Bolinhas"

She's 9 years old and gave birth to 3 beautiful kittens last friday.
She experienced lots of pain and for the birth of the 3rd kitten she took about 5 hours to finish the job. My mother took her to the vet who said she didn't expelled the placenta of the last kitten but the vet said she would naturally expel it after that and that we shouldn't worry about it. She made an ECO for us to be sure there was not an unborn kitten inside her.
During the weekend she started getting swollen tits and the kittens were always screaming day and night. On sunday I bought them milk and tried to feed them cause they were skinnier than in the day they were born.
My cat still didn't eat and didn't have milk so we took her to the vet again on monday. The vet said she has an infection and gave her painkillers and antibiotics, and promised us al the kittens would be fine and the mother as well.
She still didn't have milk to feed them on that day [monday], we tried to give the kittens some formula (only one accepted so we didn't forced the other two) and about 8pm one of the kittens died.
My mother went to the vet again on tuesday and yesterday cause our cat still doesn't eat!
Yesterday around 7pm she started having a really fast breathing and still doesn't eat or drink anything! She only goes pee when we force her to get up, she's really skinny and I'm really worried about he way she's breathing now! My mom will take her again to the vet today (I'm working so I can't go) but I'm worried they don't really know what they have in their hands and I'm afraid of losing my cat cause she's more than a sister to me. I don't know what to do and I'm losing my mind, I try to act calm around her but I'm really really worried. Did someone experienced something similar to this? Can you help me?
Thank you <3
By an animal lover, Catarina

StefanZ · Mar 23, 2017

catbats said:
[Sorry about my English but I'm from portugal]
I'm going desperate because of my cat "Bolinhas"

She's 9 years old and gave birth to 3 beautiful kittens last friday.
She experienced lots of pain and for the birth of the 3rd kitten she took about 5 hours to finish the job. My mother took her to the vet who said she didn't expelled the placenta of the last kitten but the vet said she would naturally expel it after that and that we shouldn't worry about it. She made an ECO for us to be sure there was not an unborn kitten inside her.
During the weekend she started getting swollen tits and the kittens were always screaming day and night. On sunday I bought them milk and tried to feed them cause they were skinnier than in the day they were born.
My cat still didn't eat and didn't have milk so we took her to the vet again on monday. The vet said she has an infection and gave her painkillers and antibiotics, and promised us al the kittens would be fine and the mother as well.
She still didn't have milk to feed them on that day [monday], we tried to give the kittens some formula (only one accepted so we didn't forced the other two) and about 8pm one of the kittens died.
My mother went to the vet again on tuesday and yesterday cause our cat still doesn't eat!
Yesterday around 7pm she started having a really fast breathing and still doesn't eat or drink anything! She only goes pee when we force her to get up, she's really skinny and I'm really worried about he way she's breathing now! My mom will take her again to the vet today (I'm working so I can't go) but I'm worried they don't really know what they have in their hands and I'm afraid of losing my cat cause she's more than a sister to me. I don't know what to do and I'm losing my mind, I try to act calm around her but I'm really really worried. Did someone experienced something similar to this? Can you help me?
Thank you <3
By an animal lover, Catarina

Oh dear. Try another vet if there is one. This is apparently Red Alert, both for momma and kittens.

You mentioned bough milk, what sort?

Goats milk is good, or kitten mothermilk replacement. kmr.

You give both kittens and momma this!!!! Forcefeed momma, and feed the kittens with it.

You must prob handraise the kittens on your own.

I cant write much at this moment, but its what you got to do. Kittens will need about 30 ml kmr or goats milk every day, say 10 feeding every second hour, 3 ml each time.

Be sure they are warm, ie use a heat pad or something.

Momma must have fluids - pedialyte for babies is good, otherwise, have water, honey and ´little salt. Mix up, give at body temp with a dropper or something....

Asap, you dont have no minute to lose. Begin now, you can get more detalis later.

Oh dear, its really danger.

catbats · Mar 23, 2017

Thank you

I'm not at home and my mother is the one who's taking care of them, she keeps saying that I'm making things worst than they actually are but I really think that mommy doesn't having appetite is not a good sign at all...
We bought a special formula for kittens at the vet. She's taking them again to the same vet instead of taking them to the vet hospital, I'll have to wait until 8pm (when I leave work) to take them there. She's forcing the momma to eat she's afraid she's having a depression but I think that its the infection that keeps her without appetite. Thank you for the answer, as soon as I know something I'll post it here!
Thank you very much <3

jtw87 · Mar 23, 2017

StefanZ said:
Oh dear. Try another vet if there is one. This is apparently Red Alert, both for momma and kittens.

You mentioned bough milk, what sort?

Goats milk is good, or kitten mothermilk replacement. kmr.

You give both kittens and momma this!!!! Forcefeed momma, and feed the kittens with it.

You must prob handraise the kittens on your own.

I cant write much at this moment, but its what you got to do. Kittens will need about 30 ml kmr or goats milk every day, say 10 feeding every second hour, 3 ml each time.

Be sure they are warm, ie use a heat pad or something.

Momma must have fluids - pedialyte for babies is good, otherwise, have water, honey and ´little salt. Mix up, give at body temp with a dropper or something....

Asap, you dont have no minute to lose. Begin now, you can get more detalis later.

Oh dear, its really danger.

I agree! Find a new Vet and fast. Swollen glands my be a sign of an infection but no milk production is not a symptom of infection that is much more serious.

Sarthur2 · Mar 23, 2017

catbats

She may need a C- section to clear her utuerus of infection. She should be spayed as well at that time. She may need sub-q fluids and stronger antibiotics. Your cat is too old at age 9 to be having kittens anymore!

This is not depression. She is very sick. Please get her to an experienced vet as soon as possible.

In the meantime, the kittens must be fed around the clock - every 2 hours - with kitten formula if they are to survive. If you post their weights we can tell you exactly how much formula they need each day.

I hope your cat can be saved. Please update!

catbats · Mar 23, 2017

Hi there!

My mom went to the vet again (the same one) I can't convince her to go to another place...

The vet said she needs to take injectable antibiotics cause they're not making anything orally (she's too fat although she's skinnier now).

She gave supplements to the momma and to the kids and said we need to keep giving the babies some milk formula.
She made an ECO and the doctor said that the uterus is already retracting and that is normal that she keeps expelling partum tissues during a month.

As the antibiotics weren't making any effects she got fever and that's why she was with such a quick breathing.
She also gave her meds for her to gain some appetite.

I was about to leave work to take her and the kitties to somewhere else but now I'm stuck again in my own mind..
I'm afraid because the doctor keeps failing the diagnostics, let's see if she gets better until noon or not. If not I won't wait any longer, I don't want to lose my girl!
Yes, that's really strange that she got pregnant at this age, specially cause she always go out (to the rooftops, never to the street) even when she is on heat and didn't got pregnant even without taking contraceptives.

Thank you very much for all the support :') I'll keep you up to date hope next time I come is to give you good news!

StefanZ · Mar 23, 2017

catbats said:
Hi there!

My mom went to the vet again (the same one) I can't convince her to go to another place...

The vet said she needs to take injectable antibiotics cause they're not making anything orally (she's too fat although she's skinnier now).

She gave supplements to the momma and to the kids and said we need to keep giving the babies some milk formula.
She made an ECO and the doctor said that the uterus is already retracting and that is normal that she keeps expelling partum tissues during a month.

As the antibiotics weren't making any effects she got fever and that's why she was with such a quick breathing.
She also gave her meds for her to gain some appetite.

I was about to leave work to take her and the kitties to somewhere else but now I'm stuck again in my own mind..
I'm afraid because the doctor keeps failing the diagnostics, let's see if she gets better until noon or not. If not I won't wait any longer, I don't want to lose my girl!
Yes, that's really strange that she got pregnant at this age, specially cause she always go out (to the rooftops, never to the street) even when she is on heat and didn't got pregnant even without taking contraceptives.

Thank you very much for all the support :') I'll keep you up to date hope next time I come is to give you good news!

The vet may be right or not, what you wrote now sounds a little better.

But re the kittens, they dont need to be taken to a hospital, they need to get pretty normal raising care.

Unless the place you want to take them to, is specialized on takin care of orphans, they will be put to sleep as the most probable. Or neglected to death alike "angel makers" of the old times.

As momma is sick, Im sure she cant take care of them. And thus, you do have de facto a bunch of orphans to raise on your own. And time is running out for them now. Its not easy, it takes a lot of work time and love, but its nowhere impossible. People had done it again and again. Just do it decidedly enough. alike you would do with a sick child, as your mother surely did with you once upon a time..

She can join your Forum herself, so she will be able to communicate directly with us.

Sarthur2 · Mar 23, 2017

Are the kittens being fed?

You really need a second opinion on your cat.

foxden · Mar 23, 2017

catbats
There are two things you need to do

1-Take your mama cat to the ER hospital. Bring all the paperwork you have from the exams the regular vet did. I believe she will need surgery and not just antibiotics at this time

I'm not a vet, but your kitty sounds very sick and it would be very good to get the opinion of a second vet.

2- You need to start feeding the 2 kittens who are left. They need to be kept warm, fed, and be stimulated to eliminate at least every two hours

You should either feed raw goats milk or powdered kmr formula. Also buy pedialyte -- this is sold in the baby section for babies with diarrhea.

You can make the KMR liquid using pedialyte. You will need a blunt syringe and put one drop at a time in the kitten's cheek. Make sure he swallows before the next drop. They need to be eating 3-4 ml every two hours, or even more often if they won't take that much.
Hold the kitten on his tummy with his head slightly high. Think about the position they would be nursing from mom. You can wrap them in a towel to hold them while you are feeding.

If they seem too weak to swallow, rub a bit of honey on their gums. That may give them enough energy to swallow.

The kittens need to stay warm. Set up a box with a heating pad underneath part of the box or with a heating lamp. There should be a cooler corner, as well

Please let us know how you are doing and how your cat and kittens are doing.

Ask us any questions --there are lots of people here who can help

catbats · Mar 23, 2017

Thank you! *

catbats · Mar 23, 2017

Thank you so much for everything!

On monday she took the injectable antibiotics for the first time and the two babies started eating, I almost cried when I saw them sucking the mother's titties (since they were born they never did it).

Yesterday she took oral antibiotics instead of injectables and caught fever again so the milk production dropped and the babies had the formula. We don't need to clean them after because the mother is always worried about them and she does everything for them but not for herself, that's what leaves me most worried because she used to be hungry all the time.

But we still offering the babies the formula we bought for them, my mother bought teats (I don't know how to say it properly) and they grab them and suck them by their own.

We're giving them Royal Canin Baby Cat Milk, we always sterilize the bottle before each use (I think I already searched all the internet).

My mom says that the momma was getting weaker because the antibiotics weren't having any effect on her but hopefully she'll get better after the last dose of medicine.

I'd love her to come here and have your help but she doesn't understand English so it has to be me explaining her everything. She's the one who's having most of the troubles cause I leave home early and only comeback at night. The kitten's nest its in my mothers room and she wakes up every two hours to check them and feed them if needed.

Anyway as soon as I get home I'll check on them and if I see that the mother is not ok I'll take her to the veterinary hospital where they have 24 hour service.

I wish I knew this forum before, you have been amazing, thank you so much.

I'll post here as soon as I have any news about them

Thank you so much once again to everybody*

foxden · Mar 23, 2017

You can feed the kitten milk to momma cat as well. The nutrients will help her, too.

That could give her enough energy to eat wet cat food. If you give her a small plate, you can put some on your finger and put it in her mouth. When she tastes this, it could be enough to encourage her to lick the kmr milk.

That would be a first step to get her to eat. You can also add a little of the kitten milk to wet food so she gets more nutrition.

It is a good thing that momma is taking care of the babies as you describe. She is still quite sick, but not as much as I thought she was.

By the way, your english is VERY good.

talkingpeanut · Mar 25, 2017

How are they doing now?

catbats · Mar 25, 2017

Hi.

The kittens are ok, growing fast and already with their eyes open (after only 6 days) maybe due to everything they've been through since they were born they're getting stronger.

The mother cat went to an emergency surgery after I finally convince my mother that the other vet didn't knew what she was doing. Unfortunately it was too late already, the infection got to her blood and consequently to her brains.

Her spleen was already with 2 tumours so they had to remove it too... We're about to go to the animal hospital to give order to switch off the machines that are keeping my sweet baby alive...

I can't believe this is happening and you were all right about her condition.

The other vet keeps telling us that the antibiotics would do their effects just fine and would keep her alive. She was wrong all this time and just kept giving us fake hopes.

I don't know what to say, I'm feeling really empty and I don't know how it will be from now on. She left us her beautiful babies and trusted us to take care of them.

Forever in our hearts after 9 years of true and faithful love, at least I know we gave her all the love and care we could and she has been really happy during her life

Thank you all for everything

Sarthur2 · Mar 25, 2017

I am so very sorry to hear this! I am glad you finally took her to a competent vet. Please do not return to the incompetent vet again.

Like you said, you enjoyed mama kitty for 9 wonderful years. This is a reason why we recommend spaying and neutering though. It protects the health of the cats from situations just such as this.

It is wonderful that you now have her babies to cherish!

RIP sweet Bolinhas! [emoji]128149[/emoji]

talkingpeanut · Mar 25, 2017

I'm so sorry to hear this. I hope the new vet will help you with the health of the babies moving forward. Please do make sure to spay, neuter, and vaccinate!

foxden · Mar 25, 2017

I'm so sorry to hear about Bolinhas. She was very special to you, and I know you will miss her

She left you her two kittens, so you can take care of them in memory of your special girl

You did all you could do for her. You didn't have any reason not to trust the vet

Unfortunately, not every vet has enough experience with pregnant cats who have trouble with delivery.

This is the most difficult thing any pet owner has to do for their loved one.

She took a piece of your heart with her, and has forever left pawprints on your heart.

You will never forget the wonderful times you shared with her. The hurt of this loss will fade with time.

Please know you have done the right thing by letting her go.

She did not fear her passing and she is now in peace and no longer in pain.

Please let us know how you are doing, and how your two lovely kittens are doing

HELP! My cat doesn't eat for 6 days

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