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I took in two cats from someone who couldn't take care of them a 6 month old boy and a 6 month old girl 9brother and sister). I had the cats for 3 weeks. The boy was nuetered and shots last week but the female was pregnant. The poor thing is a kitty herself and I've spent the day in my closet with her.everytime i left she would come out and meow till i followed her back in. She has had two kitties so far and it has been about 4 hours since last kitty. She cleaned them up and I just watched and never touched the kittens but it looks like she didn't chew off the cords. I'm not sure if that is something they do right away or if it takes several hours ( I really am squimish and don't think I could do it..in fear of hurting them) Should I give her more time or ???? Also how do you know when they are done giving birth? she is only 6 months so she might just have a small litter....I'm soooooo new at this and any tips or help would be appreciated. BTW.......the two kittens she had are adorable and it was a pleasure that she wanted me there to see. thanks, Chrissy

Thank you to the person who emailed me, I really appreciated it. Although I didn't get the reply til this morning and I already cut the cord......I tied it off with thread and cut it last night. The kitten who still had the cord was the first one born and was the largest kitten. He seems fine and having no trouble eating, she only had two kittens. the second kitten is half the size of the first and don't seem as strong as the first.......not sure if its eating. I will try to help the little one find her milk today and see how it goes. I have a scheduled appointment tomorrow for my own 2 kittens 12 weeks old for their shots so I will talk to the vet. Geesh I went from no cats to having six cats......lol. Chrissy

Congradulations on six new cats. You will fit in nicely around here. If you have a scale to weigh mail on or a meat scale you should get the kittens weights daily. This will let you know if they are getting enough food. If one of them is not you can suppliment the mother's milk with KMR. It's a replacement milk. You can find it at most pet stores.
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Jaime owned by
Mya the dog
and the cats:Crash, Moxie, Gabby and sometimes Tucker

Thanks......although I'm sad to say the little gray one (pee-wee)died today. I kept checking on them every half hour or so and they seemed ok then the mother cat was scratching on the door (I need to keep them in my room with door closed because of the other cats) I went in and she ran back to her box so I thought she wanted some company. I started petting her, she loves to be pet/rubbed then I noticed the gray guy was not moving I picked him up he was still warm to the touch but not moving or breathing. I tried rubbing him for several minutes and noticed what appeared to be a bite mark (not sure it was hard to tell) I think the mother may have killed him, I hope i'm wrong. I have been in there every 5/10 minutes checking on her with the other one.......I would hate for her to hurt him. she has been purring excessively and loudly all day and looks exhausted but her appetite is huge. She seems to be ok with him but I thought she was ok for the other one......should I seperate them or just keep checking on him often? I will try and get a scale tomorrow (the black one seems to be feeding on her quite abit and seems quite strong). This site is wonderful I'm glad I found it.

I am so sorry to hear about the loss of the little kitten.
It is not unusual for a mother cat to kill a kitten that may not survive due to some unknown illness.
I would keep going in to check on the other kitten. Making sure he is getting enough food. Also, it is good to go in to just spend time with the mother cat. With just one kitten the mom cat may get bored. You are going to have to try and keep her interested in the only baby. Also, when you go to the vet tomorrow I would ask the vet about what he thinks you should do.
The KMR is probably a good idea still just in case mom decides she doesn't want to feed the kitten any more.
The powder KMR would be better since there is only one kitten, then you can make the amount you need and not have to waste any.
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Jaime owned by
Mya the dog
and the cats:Crash, Moxie, Gabby and sometimes Tucker

I also wanted to say not to feel bad about lossing the kitten. It's not your fault. And thank you for saving the mom and brother!
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Jaime owned by
Mya the dog
and the cats:Crash, Moxie, Gabby and sometimes Tucker

Ok, sorry that it took me a while to respond but just got home from work. Don't separate Mom from the kit as long as she is licking him and nursing him. She is very young to be a Mother and I would bet her brother is the father so that is not the best start in life. She may have killed the runt by accident or perhaps instinct told her that he wasn't going to make it and she needed to concentrate on the other one. Or he may have just died. It happens. She sounds very attentive but unsure of herself. Keep checking on her and the baby and keep us up to date. I would also take her into the Vet to be examined but be sure and take the baby with her so the Vet can check him too.
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PHWildCat/Tessa and 18 cats, 1 dog and even a hamster
Cat Board Monitor and Chat Host
Pet Hobbyist
A house without cats is like a garden without flowers

for your help! Well my own two kitties went to the vet yesterday (lol, yes even though the snow was coming down.....I was too excited to cancel the visit!!) He is sooo nice he must of spent an hour and a half talking to me(Gosh my own doctor don't spend that much time with me), answered all my questions about Mommakitty. He said he thought there was no need to see them until baby is ready for first shots (8 weeks) and mommakitty was ready for her surgery (spay and shots). He gave me alot of useful info. and Mommakitty looks like she is being a good momma afterall and kitty looks great. My two got their 2nd distemper, he showed me how to clean their ears, and he thought with their weight that they were a little over 12 weeks and that they were ok to have their rabies so he gave it to them, and full check-up. They were two little boys Skittles an orange tabby and Blade a black kitty(named because of his nails) .......he smiled at me and told me I might want to rethink Blades name ...congrats Blade is a little girl. I got them from a rescue shelter and they told me they were brothers so I had no need to check down there. hehehehe Although she does look more like a girl...so now I am changing her name to "Bella". I'm hoping to get my pictures onto the computer soon so I can show pictures of my cute little crew. I also have a guinea pig "James bond, kids named him" and I have a cute picture of 2 kitties checking out JB when they first arrived. Again thanks for all the helpful info. and thoughts! Chrissy

That is funny you changed Blade's name because of her gender. I had a cat I named Blade. But my ex didn't like the name so he changed her name to Harley because she purred alot. He kept her.

I have Crash my 6 yr old coon look alike, Moxie our three yr old coon look a like, and Gabby my orange baby cat (who will be two in May).
I also have a dog Mya she is a mixed breed.
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Jaime owned by
Mya the dog
and the cats:Crash, Moxie, Gabby and sometimes Tucker

that is sooo funny because when we first got blade "bella" her name was Harley.....she was a frisky kitty running through the house going crazy, climbing up my curtains, poking at my guinea pig, waking us up at wee hours of the night by poking us in the face with her paws until we sit up, clawing everything that moved or not, I called her "trouble" but my son said "blade' would be a better name because of her sharp claws. Then the vet told me it was a girl so thought a girls name she should have.......we all laugh in the house because she has only been with us for 5 weeks and is known as "the cat with many names". hehehehe My little orange guy is so different I call him my love bug......he is so gentle and lovey. They are a joy and its amazing and so much fun watching each of their personalities develop. Chrissy

That is kind of funny!
It is fun watching them grow! How is the baby doing? Are you going to keep him/her also?
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Jaime owned by
Mya the dog
and the cats:Crash, Moxie, Gabby and sometimes Tucker

Well it looks like baby kitty is doing well. Maybe a little too well as far as eating, it looks like it is getting fat/pudgy. It don't have to compete with other kittens finding a nipple so I think it's taking advantage of mommakitty, she is such a good mommy....you rarely hear baby kitty cry. It is moving around and quite active (well as active as a newborn can be). I actually called momma out yesterday a couple of times so she could play with her mouse toy and get some excercize, and she loves drinking water right from the faucet instead of a bowl water so we did that yesterday. I figured it would be good for momma to have a little time on her own. When she was pg I had no desire to keep any kitties......we have enough. Going through the birth with her was such a different experience and where she only has the one I can't bring myself to give it up (even though a few people asked for it).......I'm calling the baby "Lucky".

Well then congradulations on your newest family memeber! Lucky is a good name. What color is he/she?
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Jaime owned by
Mya the dog
and the cats:Crash, Moxie, Gabby and sometimes Tucker

Knew that baby wasn't going anywhere. He was in the minute he was born. Lucky is a good name for him. What is Mom's name?
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PHWildCat/Tessa and 18 cats, 1 dog and even a hamster
Cat Board Monitor and Chat Host
Pet Hobbyist
A house without cats is like a garden without flowers

My mother laughed when she seen that post, she said the same thing. Hey its not everyday you get to help deliver a kitty. The momma's name is "Tabbitha" she is a pretty, long haired, gray domestic cat with mega Queen attitude. Although I call her mommakitty. The baby is all black short haired and sooo chubby. As far as the sex I'll wait til it makes its first trip to the vet to find that out. hehehe

That is funny the baby doesn't look anything like the mother. What does Tabbitha's brother look like? That is who you think the father is right?
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Jaime owned by
Mya the dog
and the cats:Crash, Moxie, Gabby and sometimes Tucker

If the kitten is a boy, he could be Darrin and a girl could be Samantha from the Bewitched TV Show. Darrin was Tabitha's father and Samantha's husband on the show. I have a Tabitha and a Samantha here
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PHWildCat/Tessa and 18 cats, 1 dog and even a hamster
Cat Board Monitor and Chat Host
Pet Hobbyist
A house without cats is like a garden without flowers

You are welcome, glad all is going well with all the babies. Really glad that Mom has decided to love and nurture her remaining kitten. Can't wait for pictures
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PHWildCat/Tessa and 18 cats, 1 dog and even a hamster
Cat Board Monitor and Chat Host
Pet Hobbyist
A house without cats is like a garden without flowers