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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Please help: Newborn kitten can't/won't suck - is it doomed?

45 replies

HenriettaBarnet · 12/04/2015 08:41

My cat had kittens on Friday night. One is much smaller than the others and doesn't feed from its mum at all. even if we put her to the nipple she doesn't know what to do.

On the advice of the vet we've bought some kitten milk and are trying to drop milk into her with a pipette (she won't/can't suck from a bottle either). We're also trying to keep her warm and have tried to get honey into her gums.

I'm wondering if she's doomed because she can't suckle? We've been up all night with her (in shifts) trying to keep her warm/fed. but she's very pitiful - often left on her own away from mum and clueless about feeding.

Vet said the odds are stacked against her, so I'm wondering whether all this effort (no sleep!) is worth it. Sorry that sounds heartless - I really want to keep kitty alive, but if it's a losing battle, I'm wondering whether to just leave her to her devices. Also need to prepare the dc for the worst.

She did seem to put on weight after yesterday's efforts.

OP posts:
WinterBabyof89 · 12/04/2015 08:47

Poor kitten :(
I would have to do all I could for that little one, despite it having shitty odds. I would feel like an awful human being if I sat back and watched it die.. But it's understandbLy your choice as it's affecting your life, not mine..
Hope it pulls through though x

Original poster
HenriettaBarnet · 12/04/2015 08:52

I won't let it die either - I couldn't do it.

HOwever, I'm a lone parent of young children and I work full time so it's not easy to stay up all night!

If I do carry on trying to get milk down it - how long until it gets a bit stronger?

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 12/04/2015 09:42

It doesn't look good, I'm afraid. Have you checked for a cleft palate?

Original poster
HenriettaBarnet · 12/04/2015 11:22

We can't get in her mouth to have a look. She is more lively this morning and is 10g heavier than yesterday. There is another one that seems to be struggling too. The other 4 are doing well though (including a massive ginger one that's feeding all the time).

OP posts:
RubbishMantra · 12/04/2015 11:41

I was thinking that too, possible cleft palate.

Have you taken mum and kittens for a check-up at the vet?

Springtimemama · 12/04/2015 11:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

noddyholder · 12/04/2015 12:06

Good luck HB this is all you need atm. Have been thinking of you and hope things are ok x

Original poster
HenriettaBarnet · 12/04/2015 12:11

No, I spoke to the vet yesterday who said it was better to leave the kitten at home with her mum - she'd be pretty much doomed if she was separated even if they can feed her on a glucose drip which I can't.

I can see her swallowing milk now when I feed her with the pipette. Hopefully enough is going in to build her up.

I'll see how they are in the next few days - I don't drive so would have to get a taxi to the vet which I'm happy to do, but I got the impression from the vet I spoke to that they can't do much more than I can, and the cats are less stressed at home/with their mum too.

I'm at home for the next week with the dcs so I can do more -and older children are helping out too - one did the late night shift while I fell asleep on the sofa (cat gave birth under my bed!) , but after that I have to go back to work and the children are back at school so it will be more difficult to do this hourly feeding thing.

OP posts:
noddyholder · 12/04/2015 12:12

Can you sort of smear the milk around its mouth to see if it licks it?

Original poster
HenriettaBarnet · 12/04/2015 12:12

Yes noddy!!

Cat missed being spade because of all the chaos at home, and now dealing with this situation instead. It does take my mind off other stuff though. And they're very cute!

OP posts:
Original poster
HenriettaBarnet · 12/04/2015 12:13

yes she does lick it now. She seems to like it. I also gave some to the other small cat and she likes it too. I can see them both swallowing it which is good.

I have been googling though and it doesn't look particularly promising. Sad

OP posts:
noddyholder · 12/04/2015 12:15
Smile
CMOTDibbler · 12/04/2015 12:17

If you contact your local Cats Protection League they may be able to find a fosterer for the struggling kittens after next week

cozietoesie · 12/04/2015 14:31

Good point, CMOT.

RubbishMantra · 12/04/2015 14:40

Maybe try them again with the bottle, if they seem to be enjoying the milk now? Sort of drip it into their mouths, see if they'll latch on?

Original poster
HenriettaBarnet · 12/04/2015 14:57

it's just so sleepy. No energy at all. I went up just now and it was under the blanket - mum cat doesn't seem to care at all.

I'll phone Cats Protection tomorrow and see if there's anything they can do, but she/he doesn't know how to latch at all and/or doesn't have the energy to feed.

OP posts:
VanitasVanitatum · 12/04/2015 14:59

Just keep feeding every few hours. Yes you will miss out on sleep for a while but if I was you I'd think it worth it. Have done this in the past with a runt the vet said was doomed and she made it :) of course warn the kids she might not make it, I would always be realistic with them.

cozietoesie · 12/04/2015 15:14

Female cats often have an instinct that there's something wrong with a kitten and abandon it. I'm not saying that it's necessarily 'doomed' but as with Vanitas, I'd be warning the kids not to become too attached.

Original poster
HenriettaBarnet · 12/04/2015 17:02

the kids don't seem too attached to it - it's me that will be the most upset!

How often should I be feeding it Vanitas? It just seems to take a little bit each time - maybe one or two pipettes if we're lucky.

I don't mind doing the hourly feeding (although did feel a bit tired this afternoon) but I just feel so worried for it.

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 13/04/2015 00:03

How's it going?

sashh · 13/04/2015 06:18

I can't help but just wanted you to know I'm thinking about you.

My local CP has a lady who specialises in hand rearing kittens, she has chronic insomnia so isn't missing out any more sleep than she would without kittens.

Springtimemama · 13/04/2015 08:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cozietoesie · 13/04/2015 09:42

Maybe contact a local rescue and offer, Springtimemama ? They're in kitten season now and could probably do with some help.

There are many people on this board who foster and I think they all find it worthwhile - if hard work at times.

Jenda · 13/04/2015 12:04

Sounds like you're doing a good job but a fosterer might be a good option if it is (understandably) too much. Poor little mite

Qwebec · 13/04/2015 14:18

When our breeder gave us our cat (breeding queen) she said the she had 6 kittens each time which is v stressful bc a cat has 4 easily avalable nipples but the 2 others are harder to reach so it regularly arrives that a cat takes less care of some kittens in a big litter. My cat was a devoted mother but became skin and bones when BF. Breeder was worried as she had never seen a cat give so much of herself.

Maybe your cat is saving her energy by taking care of the four more energetic ones.