Okay, so Nina gave birth on July 3rd. All's been generally well, except for the runt, who seems to have exceptional difficulty both finding and keeping a hold of any given nipple. Here's what I'm noticing:
It can't seem to keep its head from wobbling all about and shaking, and it takes forever for it to find a nipple. The other kittens are still just crawling about, but they don't seem so wobbly-headed. Should I worry?
It doesn't seem to be putting on weight as fast as the others.
I've tried bottle feeding it, but it doesn't seem to ever fix on the bottle's nipple, and I have not yet successfully managed to feed it any KMR by hand. I've managed to get the bottle nipple in its mouth, but no sucking action, just a lot of squirming, head wobbling and a bit a crying.
It makes odd snuffling sounds, maybe they are sneezes. This is the thing that most gets me - it sounds and seems like it is trying to find and suck a nipple. It only makes these sounds when on the mother's belly, and scrambling about in its wobbly way. I noticed that the other kittens also make these sounds - at least I think I've observed it in the others. But they catch and stay on a nipple much more easily, and the sound stops when they latch on.
Is this snuffling sound normal behaviour for all nipple-seeking kittens? Am I only noticing it more in the runt because of its long, difficult time in latching on to a nipple? Or should I be worried?
I think I notice a bit of clear fluid gathering around the runt's nostrils. I cannot tell if this is because of its snuffling for nipples or if it is a runny nose. Should there be any kind of fluid around a kitten's nostrils?
The mother, btw, has not abandoned or ignored this kitten, so it doesn't seem like she's particularly picked up on anything that would cause rejection, like perhaps illness.
I'm worried, and will probably take the kitten to the vet, but wanted to ask those more experienced because maybe I'm just worrying too much because it's the runt.
Also, the mom threw up some time during the night, and now won't eat her wet food (and only picked at her dry). I gave her a bowl of KMR last night to bolster her weight (she's SO skinny now!) - could that have upset her stomach?
Thanks for any advice you can give me on what's normal, what's not, and whether that snuffling sound is standard for kittens seeking a nipple.
It can't seem to keep its head from wobbling all about and shaking, and it takes forever for it to find a nipple. The other kittens are still just crawling about, but they don't seem so wobbly-headed. Should I worry?
It doesn't seem to be putting on weight as fast as the others.
I've tried bottle feeding it, but it doesn't seem to ever fix on the bottle's nipple, and I have not yet successfully managed to feed it any KMR by hand. I've managed to get the bottle nipple in its mouth, but no sucking action, just a lot of squirming, head wobbling and a bit a crying.
It makes odd snuffling sounds, maybe they are sneezes. This is the thing that most gets me - it sounds and seems like it is trying to find and suck a nipple. It only makes these sounds when on the mother's belly, and scrambling about in its wobbly way. I noticed that the other kittens also make these sounds - at least I think I've observed it in the others. But they catch and stay on a nipple much more easily, and the sound stops when they latch on.
Is this snuffling sound normal behaviour for all nipple-seeking kittens? Am I only noticing it more in the runt because of its long, difficult time in latching on to a nipple? Or should I be worried?
I think I notice a bit of clear fluid gathering around the runt's nostrils. I cannot tell if this is because of its snuffling for nipples or if it is a runny nose. Should there be any kind of fluid around a kitten's nostrils?
The mother, btw, has not abandoned or ignored this kitten, so it doesn't seem like she's particularly picked up on anything that would cause rejection, like perhaps illness.
I'm worried, and will probably take the kitten to the vet, but wanted to ask those more experienced because maybe I'm just worrying too much because it's the runt.
Also, the mom threw up some time during the night, and now won't eat her wet food (and only picked at her dry). I gave her a bowl of KMR last night to bolster her weight (she's SO skinny now!) - could that have upset her stomach?
Thanks for any advice you can give me on what's normal, what's not, and whether that snuffling sound is standard for kittens seeking a nipple.