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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.

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Original poster

Baby sphynx kittens

28 replies

ilovesprouts · 15/03/2020 07:47

My cat gave birth in the middle of the night yesterday,i knew she was due around the 13th but when i found them they was cold i thought they was dead so i put them on a heat mat.and mummmy cat was fine.had to move her into spare room so put everything in there she'd need.but i dont think feeding is doing well and i fear they will die.gonna go to pets at home and see what substitute milk they have and maybe bottle & syringe.and has body else having to step in and feed newborn kittens see picture.

OP posts:

Careersytype · 15/03/2020 07:59

Call the vet?

Veterinari · 15/03/2020 08:03

Are you an experienced breeder with knowledge of kitten care?

I'm surprised you hadn't stocked up and prepared for this situation.
Is the mother cat well? Has she definitely finished labouring and all kittens are out?

Wolfiefan · 15/03/2020 08:04

Not pets at home. FFS. VET.

Veterinari · 15/03/2020 08:05

That bed looks very exposed and cold even with a heat mat underneath - what kind are you using? Some can cause severe overheating or contact burns as kittens cannot move away from the heat

GalOopNorth · 15/03/2020 08:05

Shouldn’t the mum be with the kittens? Surely much better chance of them being ok if she is feeding them

midnightstar66 · 15/03/2020 08:06

You need to call your vet, not go to pets at home!!!

Original poster

ilovesprouts · 15/03/2020 08:28

I was going to pets at home to ask about getting milk so I could feed them. heat mat on low yes only 4 kittens.im trying not to interfere in case she rejects them.only asking for advice

OP posts:

midnightstar66 · 15/03/2020 08:37

Pets at home staff can't give you veterinary advice and that's what you need... you need to speak with your vet immediately.

Wolfiefan · 15/03/2020 10:57

Ask your vet for advice. ASAP.

Hamsterian · 15/03/2020 11:42

You need to speak to your vet.
As said above that bed is very exposed and kittens get cold very easily. I imagine this is even more the case with sphynx kittens. Get the overall room heated up to a really nice, warm temperature. That puppy pad is also not very warm, it’s good for the delivery but not to keep the kittens warm. They need a good, warm blanket to lie on top of.
You need to be more prepared in the future! I’m a foster carer for pregnant mums and kittens for a charity. You need to have a kit at home with everything ready including replacement milk, appropriate syringes, kitchen scales to weigh the babies and check they are gaining weight, lots of warm blankets, towels, birthing box, big nice bed for mum and babies. Some of these products such as replacement milk are specialist and are difficult to get hold of, they are not stocked in all the shops and many times need to be ordered. A kitten can not wait for that long. Are you feeding the mum appropriately? She needs to have kitten food which is nutritious for her so she can produce milk for babies and recover. Pregnancy takes a toll on them.

Hamsterian · 15/03/2020 11:45

Also bottle feeding such tiny kittens is very difficult, you need the vet to show you. It is very easy to feed them wrongly and kill them by having the milk going into their lungs instead of stomachs. You also need to be very careful with the quantities.
Please contact your vet as I cannot stress enough how fragile kittens are when they are so small.

Sittinonthefloor · 15/03/2020 11:47

😢 poor cat and kittens. Why did you decide she should have kittens and then not look after her properly?

Pumpkintopf · 15/03/2020 12:23

Agree with pp advice- contact your vet.

Veterinari · 15/03/2020 21:04

@ilovesprouts
You're asking for advice but not actually giving any info that allows us to advise so it's a bit of a useless exercise.
What kind of heat mat?
Has the mother been vet checked?
Is labour complete?
Is she producing milk?
Is she eating and drinking?
Do the kittens have a non-exposed warm sheltered bed?

I don't want to sound harsh but you strike me as an inexperienced owner breeding kittens to make money. I cannot see any other reason why you'd be breeding Sphinx kittens when you clearly don't have basic knowledge about providing a proper kittening environment.

I'm very happy to be proved wrong.

Itwasntme1 · 15/03/2020 21:53

Please call your vet. You don’t seem to have much experience and your vet will be able to help.

Is money the issue? Could you contact the blue cross charity - they can help people who can’t afford to seek emergency treatment for their pets.

I am sure it is very worrying, but you really do need professional advice. I would also recommend you then get the cat spayed to avoid this situation in the future. Again charities can help you with the cost of this.

Hope it gets sorted - your cat is gorgeous.

Herpesfreesince03 · 15/03/2020 21:58

Bottles and milk should have been bought before the birth. The maternity set up is completely wrong. Get them to a vets ffs

Herpesfreesince03 · 16/03/2020 12:43

Are they still alive op?

HappyHammy · 16/03/2020 12:56

How are mum and kittens, what did the vet say would help.

Itwasntme1 · 16/03/2020 13:23

I have been thinking about this wee cat and her kittens. Hope you are all okay OP.

Please do come back with an update.

HappyHoppyHippo · 16/03/2020 20:24

How are things going OP?

Itwasntme1 · 18/03/2020 19:57

Please give us an update OP. I know you may have though you got some criticism on this thread, but people are genuinely concerned about the cat and her kittens.

gypsywater · 18/03/2020 19:59

Why did you breed from her? :(

Ylvamoon · 18/03/2020 20:23

I think she needs a "nest and nesting materials" to snuggle into. I only have experience with dogs but know that mum's like to hide their babies and keep then warm. One of my girls always kept her babies under the bedding on the basket floor... Do you have vet bed? It would help keeping them warm and protected.

Ruby8719 · 19/03/2020 17:57

@ilovesprouts it’s an absolute disgrace you are breeding without this knowledge!!! And that you’re posting on a website for advice rather than a vet!!! After this lot never breed again!!!

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 19/03/2020 23:04

AS shows up that the OP has a perchance for exotic cats .
This is the second Sphynx , also has a Ragdoll and a Bengal.
So hopefully (?) aware of the intricacies of kittens .

And has two Frenchies , one of which was going to be a Stud ( but then changed plan)

Anyway the kittens are here so hopefully the OP will do the best for the cat and the kittens . But consider there are too many cats searching for homes before introducing more into the world ( and not swayed by the price tag £500-£1000 on websites )

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