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

1 year old cat gave birth to kittens -advice please

40 replies

ohdaysb · 10/06/2023 15:16

I rescued a 1 year old cat 4 weeks ago
Totally unaware she was even pregnant
I walked into living room and a kitten was on the floor.
It wasn't alive and was tiny
Took them both to the vets straight away in a panic and the vet said she was pregnant with 3 more kittens.
1 was born with a limb missing and not alive the other two were born and the vet didn't think they would survive and only way was to hand rear at vet for a chance.
I agreed and took my girl home.
She's only 1 and since then she's been sleeping constantly.
She's had food and drinking and going to toilet as normal but she's so tired.
Also when she's falling asleep she's twitching a little but only when falling asleep.
When she's awake no shaking or twitching

I'm so worried for her
I love her so much
Is it normal for her to be so tired?
I've booked her in to be neutered in a month (she's a house cat anyway )
Not sure how she got pregnant with previous owners
She has no temperature /no discharge/breathing fine

OP posts:
Allergictoironing · 10/06/2023 16:48

Oops just typed a long reply then realised there are 2 threads on the same subject! Here's my (slightly amended) reply again. OP I suggest you ask MNHQ to delete the other thread.

There are plenty of cats who successfully have litters at that age without the issues that yours has had, and also manage to raise the kittens. I would suspect that she may have an illness that could have impacted the kittens and/or is making her so unwell afterwards, or possibly a nutritional deficiency. She also could have an infection e.g. mastitis which affects the milk ducts. THis leads to red swollen teats so fits in with one of her symptoms.

Sad to say an awful lot of people get cats thinking they can just feed them anything, don't get them immunised against illnesses, if indoor only don't neuter (as in this case) or take enough care to keep the animal in/keep others out (again as in this case). I know someone who rehomed a cat from a neighbour and was assured the cat was vaccinated, neutered, chipped, and a couple of years old. Cat was around 9 months, no vet care in it's life at all. Not saying this is common, but people will say almost anything to get rid of an unwanted pet.

You need to ensure she's eating plenty of high quality food e.g. kitten food to help her recover. She's following you around for comfort. If no kittens survived, she needs you to reassurance and also because she will be confused as to what's going on - this even more so if she's younger than you've been told.

Get advice from your vet on how soon you can take her in to spay. If you have papers with her check she has immunisation dates and if not take your vet's advice on how soon you can start a course. Also get them to scan for a chip, and get that done if she hasn't got one - I have indoor only cats and I'm exceptionally careful they don't get out, but I still have mine chipped, immunised etc.

Hand holds to you and paw holds to her that she recovers.

TheShellBeach · 11/06/2023 00:06

How's your cat, OP?

Pudmyboy · 11/06/2023 21:05

Another request for an update, and a 💐for taking in the cat in the first place. Does sound like she may be ill, my friend's cat had a litter of 5 when 6 months old and all thrived, including mum, though she was tired too. I do hope your kitty recovers!

Leafy3 · 11/06/2023 21:10

Poor little thing, what a horrible shock for you, op.

I hope she's OK- definitely call the vets again. You might find some advice on the Kitten Lady you tube channel.

caringcarer · 11/06/2023 21:48

As soon as baby kittens are feeding ok maybe you can get them back and let them suckle from your cat. She will be happier with her 2 kittens. Feed her plenty of wet good quality cat food and you can get cat milk for calcium. Just give her lots of fuss until she can have her kittens back.

Florissant · 11/06/2023 22:04

flyingtherag · 10/06/2023 15:48

The OP is here asking for advice about something that isn't her fault at all.

Why can't people answer the question and take a day off from judging?

I'm rooting for you and your cats OP. I have no good advice but offering support until you get more knowledgeable posters and less judgement

Seriously. The OP has just gone through a distressing experience with a cat she's had for only a few weeks and posters are putting her on the defensive.

ohdaysb · 15/06/2023 09:41

Hi everyone sorry for late update
Unfortunately the other kittens passed away as the vet said were too premature
My cat is okay now tho thank god
The shakiness has stopped and she's back to her mischievous self
She still walks over to where she gave birth and can clearly smell where kitten was
I'm just so pleased she's okay

OP posts:
Florissante · 15/06/2023 10:56

I'm sorry to hear about the kittens but I'm glad your cat is recovering and is back to her old self.

Papergirl1968 · 15/06/2023 20:54

Aww, so sad, but glad your cat is ok.

pointythings · 15/06/2023 22:18

I'm so sorry you lost the kittens, but glad your girl is on the mend. Get her spayed as soon as she is well and up to weight/age so this doesn't happen again. They can go into heat and get pregnant again 6 weeks after having kittens!

ohdaysb · 16/06/2023 07:05

Thanks everyone -this is my girl
She's loving the cuddles recently and is my little shadow

1 year old cat gave birth to kittens -advice please
OP posts:
Florissante · 16/06/2023 07:43

She's a cutie.

sashh · 16/06/2023 07:54

Oh such a cutie.

OP Thank you for giving this girl a good home.

The pic you posted is what is known here as, "the kitty tax" normally you have to pay this before you get any replies.

ohdaysb · 16/06/2023 08:22

Ha ha I love her so much
She's the sweetest girl

OP posts:
Allergictoironing · 16/06/2023 10:53

Lovely to hear she's recovered now, and I think the photo says everything about how content she is. To be fair I doubt if the kittens would have been terribly healthy if they had survived, as not only were they premature but from the sounds of it your poor girl probably hadn't had the nutrition a pregnant cats needs to keep the kittens healthy & herself alive.

Thank you again for taking on this poor waif when she needed it, I think she's already repaying you with her love.

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