Most interesting day.... ever???

Quote:

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Originally Posted by adizziedoll

Okay, mom is spending her time with them, but I really dont think she is lactating. I searched everywhere for more reading on this , and im having a hard time.

She was bone thin when she came in, and it wouldn't suprise me if she wasn't nutitionally sound enough to lactate.
I squeezed one, and im not getting any milk, I dont think the kittens can find them underneath all that fur. And if she were lactating and the kits were feeding, wouldnt her belly hair be wet or something? Im freaking out

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No, not necessarily wet. After a day or two the fur is parted around the teat and there's a ring of skin where the fur is parted and laying sort of flat around her teats.

If the kittens are mewing a lot and rooting around, acting like they're having difficulty, then maybe she's not letting down or milking, but if they're nursing and quiet, or rubbing her belly, the milk bar is just fine.

Be sure to give her lots of protein and calories. Maybe put the food bowl and always fresh, clean water RIGHT NEXT TO the nursery bed. Treats that will encourage her to eat will help her with the lactation, too. She'll need the extra calories and water to help both her emaciated condition & her milk production.

Thanks for all the replies.


After posting, I did some more research and found that these babies were premature - extremely premature. They are supposed to be around 100-110 grams when they are born, and anything uder 85 ish is underweight. These were 52, 52, 62, and 76 grams.
I read that they rarely survive at these weights
And they were right.
I lost 3 out of 4, coincidentally, the 3 smallest ones. They didn't even have the intinct to swallow food.
I do have the biggest one, and he is eating and gaining like a champ. I love him, he is my miracle kitten, and I cant wait to watch him grow.

52 grams each.

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...s820.07008.jpg
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...s820.07007.jpg

So sad looking
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...s820.07014.jpg


This is the only one I have left. Part siamese???

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...s820.07002.jpg

I buried them all together underneath a nice jap.maple in my yard :tombstone

poor babies! think it was mom's stress over the new place, etc, that made her go into premature labor? so sad! at least there is some good out of this though! are you going to keep both mom and baby? i love his coloring! gorgeous! be sure to keep us updated!


btw- i love watching kittens grow.... maybe some pictures along the way to healthy big, healthy kittenhood?

Sorry to hear about the loss of the babies.:( They are so tiny. Kudos on saving the mother cat and remaining baby.:sunny:

What a sad story... I had to share it with some people at work and they loved your pictures.

We all wish you the best with you new little baby, and will keep him in our prayers.

Thanks for sharing!!!

I am sorry about the loss of the other kittens, but I am glad that the one left seems to be doing well. I hope that you keep him, he deserves a loving forever home after struggling his first days of life. And definately keep us all posted on his progress!!

Well, i am astonished on how FAST this little kitten is growing!! I'm used to snakes growing at 100 grams a month. This little guy was 152 grams this morning! 8 days and he has more than doubled his weight!

My little chunker this morning:

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...l/P8290005.jpg
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...l/P8290003.jpg

see the difference from before?? :


http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...s820.07002.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by python.princess

poor babies! think it was mom's stress over the new place, etc, that made her go into premature labor?

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That's what I was thinking, along with the fact that she was just a kitten herself and she was skin and bones when she came to me.

I def. want to keep the kitten, and I am hoping that my other cat sammy will learn to love it as it grows up around him. Momma cat, on the other hand, is a big jerk to sammy, and she will probably be placed. She is such a sweetheart, someone will be more than happy to bring her home with them.

Thanks for all the comments and support everyone!

looks like he's definitely doin good! still love his coloring...

Glad to hear momma and kitten are doing well with the exception of momma being mean to sammy. :( Maybe she is protective of the kitten. The kitten is just precious.:gj:

The coloring is out of this world on him- im trying to figure out if his skin is black under the white hairs. I think he's going to turn out to be a very handsome boy.

I did post some "found" posters on the momma - someone came yesterday, but it wasnt his. He said she looks just like his missing one, and if I dont find the owner by the time she is done nursing, he will take her home. :D