bit worried, advice please!!!

OUr Kittens are now 7 days old, they are becoming more vocal when they want mum and are moving about alot more eventhough their eyes are still closed.
Tinkerbelle keeps trying to get outside and doesn't seem to be spending as much time with them as she did before, is this normal??
SHe seemed an excellent little mummy last week but now it is like she looks after them under duress.Anybody shed some light on this, i would be very grateful

Originally Posted by lucyloo

OUr Kittens are now 7 days old, they are becoming more vocal when they want mum and are moving about alot more eventhough their eyes are still closed.
Tinkerbelle keeps trying to get outside and doesn't seem to be spending as much time with them as she did before, is this normal??

SHe seemed an excellent little mummy last week but now it is like she looks after them under duress.Anybody shed some light on this, i would be very grateful

Click to expand...

I'd keep at least two doors between tink and the outdoors until she can get spayed, if possible. cats can go into heat and get pregnant again as soon as a week after birth.

yeah i have been told, so far we have made sure that she cannot escape, i am more worried about her not spending as much time iwth the babies as she did last week.
Thanks for your reply

At 7 days old, it is alright for the eyes not to be open yet, it seeems our kittens generally open at 10 days, but it can happen sooner or later.
She does need to be with them. When they vocalize, does she come back to them and feed them? Are they gaining weight daily?
If you can buy a weight scale, you can make sure they are gaining properly, and if so, the Momma cat might just be getting a little break from them. Of course, inside only.
If they are not gaining properly, then enclosing her in a bathroom with her kittens, is the best idea. If that is not possible, then a large dog kennel works well.

Sometimes first time moms don't get the hang of things right off. It might be best to do a tougher confinement, like a bathroom where she really can't leave them. Keep food and litter close by so there is no excuse. That should help her get the hang of things again.

I agree with the idea that it's imporant to make sure she stays inside, and I'm glad you're doing that!

A few questions...

Assuming up until now she was spending almost 24/7 with them, only leaving to eat, use the litterbox, or take very short breaks, how much less time is she spending with them? It's normal for her to spend a little more time away, more and more as they get older, so I would think the amount of time would make a difference as to whether or not to worry.

Is she feeding them enough? Are they eating and then sleeping peacefully, or do they seem to be crying and fighting for food constantly?

Is she responsive to them? If they cry, does she go over to check them out most of the time? If she sees someone else go over to putter with the kittens, does she go over and keep a watchful eye?

Is she eating enough? Assuming you're feeding her kitten food, are you feeding her 3 or 4 times a day now? She could be following instincts by going out to look for food, even if she really has enough. Was she an outdoor stray or feral before?

Some of these things might explain some of it, and some of these behaviors might be within the range of normal. Depends on the extent sometimes.