Pregnant Cat

[slenderisthenight]

I'm on the fence about whether to start this, having just seen a thread where a woman has been slated for knowing a dog who is having puppies and it wasn't even her dog.

My cat is due to have kittens any day. I'm not an experienced cat owner and haven't cared for a cat going through this experience. I'll say at the outset that this is a completely undesirable situation and it won't be repeated.

We've talked to the vet and read what we can about what to do, but thought it would also be helpful to start a thread in case further questions come up. If you have some experience and are happy to share it, I can't thank you enough.

If you wish to chastise me for getting into this situation in the first place, please don't bother as it will achieve nothing for the cat or anyone else at this point. I will simply hide the thread and not return to it (unless, of course, there is specific need for urgent information relating to the cat's welfare and it's impossible to get it anywhere else).

The cat is a Maine Coon and only ten months old. The vet wouldn't neuter her over the summer because she was being treated with antibiotics for a long-running gut infection that lasted months (now recovered). She came into heat at the tail end of that illness and unfortunately managed to escape my clutches (that is, the place where she was being confined) for long enough to mate. It shouldn't have happened and was an unfortunate one-off resulting from a unique set of circumstances that I won't go into here. She's a sweet natured, beautiful animal and we're upset that she is carrying a litter and at such a young age.

She didn't have the 'pinking up' symptom so we didn't know she was pregnant until the vet confirmed it two weeks ago. Apparently there are at least five kittens there. He estimated that she would give birth anytime from Monday to Friday of this week. (So she is a day late).

Don't urge me to spay her at the first opportunity because that is exactly what I am planning to do. In the past we have rehabilitated rescue dogs and never imagined we would end up contributing to the problem of overpopulation - very humbling experience and the priority now to is to get this right for the cat.

Thanks very, very much to anyone who has constructive advice.

Mum has an elevated temperature so is now on antibiotics suspected urinary tract infection. She's been eating boiled chicken and is angling for the kitten milk we've brought back from the vet today.

Please be honest - is a urinary tract infection likely to wipe out the kittens?

The vet said there is no possibility that mum is producing enough milk and recommended supplementary feeding. He did say the kittens aren't a bad weight and vigorous enough at the moment. So far we only have bottles with teats - and couldn't persuade any kittens to suck. We then tried dropping milk in using a syringe (will use a dropper next time).

Proper syringe and tube are in the post but won't be here for a few days.

as promised

We're now losing one despite our best efforts at bottle feeding. It's not easy.

No, it's not. 9 is a huge number of kits for any cat mother.

:( OP. You've really tried your best.

Oh no but nine is a lot of babies to look after. You're doing a good job helping her.

You can acquire 5ml syringes from most chemists, if you fear waiting for waiting for them to arrive. I expect your vet already provided them though?

I'd be inclined to let her have the kitten milk if she's hankering for it - more calories and liquid for her.

In this instance, I'd give her what she wants as long as it's not going to be actively bad for her. Many many cats only have 3 or 4 kits. 9 is a massive number. In fact, and sadly, I would almost be resigned to losing one or two if I were you.

I think this is natures way sadly.

Thank you for the posts, I appreciate them.

We got nowhere with a bottle but are using a little syringe with a teat on the end from Amazon, which arrived yesterday (mercifully fast!).

The bigger ones are gaining 20g or so daily. They are the ones who are easy to 'bottle' feed - but don't really need it.Feeding them in the hope that this will allow the smaller ones to get some of mum's milk, as they aren't nearly so good at sucking. Still persevering though - determined not to lose another if we can help it.

I'm stupidly gutted about the tiny one. She gained 10g the first day and if I had just got the hang of feeding her more quickly... She is still with us but I haven't tried to feed her today - swallowing would be beyond her I think. She moves her mouth but can't make a sound.

On the plus side, there are four very solid little kittens who are getting stronger every day. One little one has an eye open, like a pirate :)

Sending you get strong quickly vibes for the kittens, hugs for the little one and well done you keep going thoughts for you....

Well done for keeping going.

I'm afraid that it sounds as if the littlest one is about to go. There will likely be people around here to talk to if you need to at any time. Don't forget to eat and drink yourself.

Despite many hours of bottle feeding we lost this little chap. Once the weight begins to drop, there doesn't seem to be anything I can do to turn it around.

However, seven healthy kittens are feeding happily and putting on 10-20 grams a day. Mum doesn't seem to be producing a huge amount of milk but she is eating a lot. I'm giving the seven surviving kittens three supplementary bottle feeds (3-5ml) which seems to be working for them. Some would drink more but I don't want to overfeed. If anyone knows more, please enlighten me! Also, Mum's teats are a little red looking.

Very sorry to lose the two little ones but I'm hopeful that we will hang onto the others.

Thank you as always :)

I'm sorry about the little one you lost. I think it was probably on the cards, I'm afraid - the poor lass just had so many kits. He died in love.

Are you suffering from sleep deprivation yet?

Thank you cozie.

We're not feeding the big kittens through the night so since the two little ones passed away, it's been easier. TBH there is usually some sleep deprivation going on because my children are little.

That said, the house is a tip because of the time spent bottle feeding! We are a cautionary tale...

Just wait until weaning stage - trampling the slop all over the house. I'd start investing in kitchen towel now!

You're not serious! I thought this was the worst of it :(

In one sense it is - but it's a good idea to cast your eye over things now and temporarily remove e.g. breakables. (Unless you're going to keep them sequestered somewhere they can't escape, like a separate - and nicely bare - room.)

You must feel so sad for the littlest ones that were beyond saving. You did all you could.

Forgive me if this has already been mentioned, after feeding, are you stimulating them to pee and poo? This involves stimulating their "intimate areas" with a damp flannel (to simulate mum cat licking). Usually mum cat does this, but as there are 7 kittens for her to deal with, and mum isn't quite an adult cat herself, she could probably do with a helping hand.

Thank you rubbish and cozie. I do hope we stick at seven.

I saw the stimulating technique on youtube but wasn't sure if I should also be doing it because we've noticed the mum licking them in this way. What do you think?

Do you recommend keeping these kittens until they are thirteen weeks old? I've noticed that seems to be the age at which breeders feel they are ready to go.

They are nine days old today and lots of eyes are opening!

I think it comes down to them being weaned. We brought our little guy home at eight weeks but in hindsight I'd have left him with his mum a bit longer. He's fine though, and settled quickly.

I feel the same. We brought one home at 8 weeks and there was just a feeling she wasn't ready - can't put my finger on it.

I'll see how they go.

Please advise. Should I take this kitten to the vet? (first picture) Her eye doesn't look like the others do - there seems to be a bit of a bulge and a light brown patch over the eye. It's not wet or oozing.

Thank you.

Sorry, picture fail. Here is the eye.