my 1-year-old baby cat, Ginger, just had a litter of 6 kittens last night. I knew she was pregnant and all, and the vet said she was okay. We made her a safe place and she is there with all 6 healthy babies. I came to know that cats usually cry when they are giving birth, but Ginger didn't make a sound. is that normal? should i be worried? also, is it alright for me to handle the baby cats, i mean kittens, they have fur and everything but they are not even a year old yet? is it alright if i touch them and hold them? i tried once nad my cat didnt care but i just want to double check. and also, any suggested cat food for the new mother, ginger? what about the kittens? any food like pedigree or something? thank you for your help.
-
Too many ads? Join our community of cat lovers now to reduce ads by 90%! Click here to join for free!
My Cat Had Babies Last Night
- Thread starter iloveginger
- Start Date
Don't worry if she didn't cry. I'm glad all the babies are doing well. I have fostered 4 litters in the past two years, and they varied from 4 to 6 babies. Others have more or less, depending on the cat.
Most people try to get a scale and start weighing the kittens daily. So you may pick each one up once a day, but otherwise don't handle them much yet.
The mother should have been on a good kitten food while pregnant, and she should keep eating kitten food until she is done nursing the kittens, around 10-12 weeks old. That is when they are old enough to be adopted out, and when she should be spayed. Remember she could get pregnant again within days if she gets outside, so keep her inside for now.
There are "stickies" or anchored posts at the top of this board. Read through them for the links to kitten care...you will learn a LOT! Best of luck with your babies!
Most people try to get a scale and start weighing the kittens daily. So you may pick each one up once a day, but otherwise don't handle them much yet.
The mother should have been on a good kitten food while pregnant, and she should keep eating kitten food until she is done nursing the kittens, around 10-12 weeks old. That is when they are old enough to be adopted out, and when she should be spayed. Remember she could get pregnant again within days if she gets outside, so keep her inside for now.
There are "stickies" or anchored posts at the top of this board. Read through them for the links to kitten care...you will learn a LOT! Best of luck with your babies!
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2006
- Messages
- 673
- Purraise
- 1
Congratulations and I'm so glad everything went well and they all seem healthy.
Some cats cry, some don't. Deja vu didn't. When the first kitten started to contract, she gave out sort of a little yelp, but I think that was more from surprise. She didn't make any other sounds after that.
Feed the mom kitten food during the time she's nursing (but go back to regular for her after the kittens are weaned, which should start about 4-5 weeks.)
You don't have to worry about food for the kittens until then, unless the mom is not feeding them enough. If that is the case (and only if) then you could get something called kmr (kitten milk replacement). But if mom is doing her job, then don't interfere. Mother's milk is best for them.
Here is a link to a site with lots of articles on pregnant cats and newborn kittens:
http://search.about.com/fullsearch.h...=pregnant+cats
http://search.about.com/fullsearch.h...ewborn+kittens
Some cats will allow their people to handle the kittens. Some won't. So far seems like yours will, but take your cues from her.
As far as handling goes, there are different schools of thought. Some feel you shouldn't handle them at the beginning at all. Others feel that handling, touching and interracting with the kittens gets them used to humans and makes them better companions when they grow up.
My belief is with the latter as long as it's interracting and not interfering with Mom.
When Deja Vu had her babies, I would lay there and watch them (I loved watching then nurse), talk to them, stroke their little bellies and heads. I would only pick them up to check them over, and never lifted them very far from Mom, or for very long, just a few seconds. As they got older, a week or so, then I might pick them up for maybe a minute or two and cuddle them, but then right back in. If I saw the least bit of discomfort on their part, again, right back in. Rocky loved the attention. Some of the others didn't. You'll see which ones do and don't as they grow. Try to go by their cues too.
When their eyes open (which is about 10 days or so) be careful not to pick them up too high..they can get frightened. When I would play with them I would always be laying down or sitting on the floor.
Good luck and enjoy them!
PS: I hope after this you will have Mom spayed. That should be done as soon as possible after the kittens are weaned and Mom's milk is pretty much dried up.
Some cats cry, some don't. Deja vu didn't. When the first kitten started to contract, she gave out sort of a little yelp, but I think that was more from surprise. She didn't make any other sounds after that.
Feed the mom kitten food during the time she's nursing (but go back to regular for her after the kittens are weaned, which should start about 4-5 weeks.)
You don't have to worry about food for the kittens until then, unless the mom is not feeding them enough. If that is the case (and only if) then you could get something called kmr (kitten milk replacement). But if mom is doing her job, then don't interfere. Mother's milk is best for them.
Here is a link to a site with lots of articles on pregnant cats and newborn kittens:
http://search.about.com/fullsearch.h...=pregnant+cats
http://search.about.com/fullsearch.h...ewborn+kittens
Some cats will allow their people to handle the kittens. Some won't. So far seems like yours will, but take your cues from her.
As far as handling goes, there are different schools of thought. Some feel you shouldn't handle them at the beginning at all. Others feel that handling, touching and interracting with the kittens gets them used to humans and makes them better companions when they grow up.
My belief is with the latter as long as it's interracting and not interfering with Mom.
When Deja Vu had her babies, I would lay there and watch them (I loved watching then nurse), talk to them, stroke their little bellies and heads. I would only pick them up to check them over, and never lifted them very far from Mom, or for very long, just a few seconds. As they got older, a week or so, then I might pick them up for maybe a minute or two and cuddle them, but then right back in. If I saw the least bit of discomfort on their part, again, right back in. Rocky loved the attention. Some of the others didn't. You'll see which ones do and don't as they grow. Try to go by their cues too.
When their eyes open (which is about 10 days or so) be careful not to pick them up too high..they can get frightened. When I would play with them I would always be laying down or sitting on the floor.
Good luck and enjoy them!
PS: I hope after this you will have Mom spayed. That should be done as soon as possible after the kittens are weaned and Mom's milk is pretty much dried up.
Please send us some pictures when you can and congradulations to you and mommy.
I've handled the kits from the minute they are born - gets them used to people faster.
You can feed the mom a high quality kitten food when she's nursing - extra nutrition. I'd also get a few books out on the development of kittens so you know what to expect, litter training, weaning, etc.
And make an appointment for mom to be spayed as soon as possible when the kits are weaned. Keep her inside as nursing cats can and do get pregnant faster then you think!
You can feed the mom a high quality kitten food when she's nursing - extra nutrition. I'd also get a few books out on the development of kittens so you know what to expect, litter training, weaning, etc.
And make an appointment for mom to be spayed as soon as possible when the kits are weaned. Keep her inside as nursing cats can and do get pregnant faster then you think!
I just put Skittles on Nutro and the puppy on Nutro Ultra all natural. Do you think those are good quality foods.
Latest Posts
-
-
Palliative care cat won't take gabapentin ... painkiller alternatives?- Latest: FeebysOwner
-
-
