Litter Born Dead

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shelzbells

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My friends Manx cat just had a litter of kittens today, she had 6 babies and every one of them was born dead. Her actual due date was in 2 days, so she wasnt too early. All of the kittens appeared to be a little underdeveloped, and they didnt have any hair on them. Why would a full term mama deliver still born kitties with no hair even???? She said she never did feel the kittens moving in the last 2 weeks of the pregnancy, which I thought was strange in itself. So if the kittens had died in utero 2 weeks prior, wouldnt they have been expelled before full term??? This is a true mystery to me, and we really want to know what could have happened. Anybody have any experience like this?
 
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was this a planned pregnancy or a backyard breeding? I am sorry the kittens were born to soon but it does happen. Please tell your friend to get the momcat spayed quickly, it will help her get over the grief easier and be better all the way around, especially in light of how the first litter was born early.
 
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shelzbells

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I didnt think 2 days early was premature. No this wasnt a planned breeding, the cat was out in the breezeway at her home and jumped up on the ledge and took her paw and pushed the door handle down on her screen door and got out. She didnt even realize she had gotten out, or knew where or what happened to the cat.The next afternoon the cat showed up back at her house and was tapping on the door to get back in. She had originally planned on spaying her once she went out of heat. Since she knew by getting out that more then likely she got preg. she decided to let her go ahead with the pregnancy. Shes pretty devistated about what happened. She had homes lined up for the litter before they were born.
 
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beckiboo

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That is just horrible. How sad for your friend. I agree with the advice to spay as soon as possible. This poor kitty should never have to go through such an experience again. So so sad, I am very sorry for your loss!
 
tnr1

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Originally Posted by Shelzbells

I didnt think 2 days early was premature. No this wasnt a planned breeding, the cat was out in the breezeway at her home and jumped up on the ledge and took her paw and pushed the door handle down on her screen door and got out. She didnt even realize she had gotten out, or knew where or what happened to the cat.The next afternoon the cat showed up back at her house and was tapping on the door to get back in. She had originally planned on spaying her once she went out of heat. Since she knew by getting out that more then likely she got preg. she decided to let her go ahead with the pregnancy. Shes pretty devistated about what happened. She had homes lined up for the litter before they were born.
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I understand your friend is devistated. I do recommend she still have the cat spayed. What she can at some future date if she wants is to foster for a rescue group. Right now I am fostering a mom cat and her 2 kittens that would have been euthanized had I not fostered them. The benefit of working with a rescue group is that they will usually cover the costs of the spaying and neutering and find the mom and kittens good home.

In the meantime, your friend can have the individuals who wanted to adopt her cats kittens go to the local shelter or rescue group. Since it is kitten season, I'm sure they will be able to find a kitten.

Katie
 
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If you do some research about Manx's, you'll find that about a high percentage of them die in-utero. Manx's are absolutely wonderful cats, but their altered genes make them susceptible to birth defects which causes them to self abort before birth.

I am so sorry to hear this. When I adopted a Manx many years ago I read up on the breed and was surprised to hear about their genetic problems. Because of this I am against all breeding for Manx's.
 
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Manx Genetics.

The manx gene is dominant.

All Phenotype manxes (ie cats that look manx) are the heterozygous genotype Mm where M=manx tail and m=full tail.

When two manx cats breed you get Mm x Mm.

The kittens will be any one of the following: MM, mm, or Mm.

Kittens born Mm will be manx like their parents.

Kittens born mm will have normal tails.

Kittens with the MM genotype (ie they are Homozygous) will not survive as the MM genotype is fatal.
 
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shelzbells

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As far as we know, the male cat that bred with her was just a neighborhood tom cat- regular cat with a tail. I do know that 2 of the kittens had tails and 2 didnt.We didnt look at the others.Even though the kittens went to term. None of them that we looked at had any hair. Very sad deal.
 
tnr1

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Originally Posted by Shelzbells

As far as we know, the male cat that bred with her was just a neighborhood tom cat- regular cat with a tail. I do know that 2 of the kittens had tails and 2 didnt.We didnt look at the others.Even though the kittens went to term. None of them that we looked at had any hair. Very sad deal.
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Shelzbells.....It is sad...but it is probably best now to have your friend's cat spayed. Also...it would benefit the neighborhood tom cat to be neutered.

Katie
 
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