Hello all
I have some worries about my cat and am hoping you guys can help out. I'll give as much detail as possible.

I have a cat named Toodles. She is nearly 3 and has just given birth to her third and final litter of kittens.
Her first 2 litters were 4 in number and were very smooth births. She was an excellent mother and everyone was happy and healthy.
She was due to be spayed last month and although kept inside was discovered to be pregnant. We think maybe someone else inadvertently let her out as we have no other explanation. Anyway, she went into labour and i knew something wasn't right.
This time there was lots of blood and mucus at least 9 hours before kitten number 1 came along. A healthy boy. Then after another 6 hours she gave birth to a stillborn.
I waited with her until we could call a vet and her labour appeared to have stopped although i could feel one moving kitten inside her.
On taking her to the vet they said they would have to give her a c-section and that by a scan they could tell that the last kitten had no heartbeat.
Miraculously the last kitten actually survived!
Toodles coped well with the op and the vets did a fine job of the needle work.
The little surviving kitten is a girl. She had trouble latching on but with a little help over the first day has now got the ability to latch on and stay on.
Both gained about 30 g in the first day
However Toodles behaviour is skittish and I'm unsure of what to do.
She has had all of her litters in our kitchen but this time she is adamant that she wants to take the kittens to our bedroom and be on our bed.
I have tried to move her back twice to the kitchen without success, so i let her have her choice. However she only moves the little girl not the boy.
Also she seems not to be so attentive to the kittens and I'm finding she only gives them a good feed when I am there to pet her. She is very affectionate and seems to want a lot of attention and petting.
I am worried that she is abandoning these kittens.
Am I doing right by trying to encourage feeds?
I put the nesting bedding at the foot of my bed but this morning I woke to the baby girl next to me on the bed and Toodles elsewhere.
When she does feed she seems restless and keeps getting up. I'm guessing because she is in pain from the surgery??
As I said she has always been a very attentive mother so this behaviour is strange and worrying.
I would welcome any advice or tips on what to do with this situation so that these gorgeous little kittens live healthy and happy lives.
Thanks in advance

I should imagine the mother cart is feeling odd and sore - did they spay at the same time? Is there anything you have that you can put her in with the kittens that will keep her there - an indoor rabbit cage or a puppy crate? Are the kittens still gaining weght? You may need to hand feed and stimulate them to wee and poo if mum is adamant she won't look after them - feeds every 2 hours day and night for about 3 weeks I believe, clean them with a piece of damp cotton wool that you carress their bits with until they poo and wee. Quite a few cats like you to be with them during mothering - with all she has been through she is probably needing you more. It might be worth a quick chat wioth the vet to see if she might need antibiotics. They will also be able to give you a milk replacement formula (don't use cows milk or commercial kitten milk like whiskas) and a syringe or bottle to feed the kitts with.

Good luck.

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Ooh I forgot to mention!
That we kept a beautiful little boy from Toodles' last litter. He is now nearly 5 months old.
He is being very attentive to both mum and kittens. Sleeping next to them and cleaning them. He rarely wants to leave them but as he sometimes tries to play with them I don't let him near them at night or when I'm not around. It's just a bit too rough for my liking.
Toodles seems more than happy to have him around and has shown no aggressive behaviour to him whatsoever.
I'm just wondering if it's causing any harm to let him do as he's doing.
Thanks.

Hello Spid
Yes they did spay at the same time.
We're more than happy to hand rear if it comes to that but at present with encouragement we are getting in enough feeds to keep the kittens gaining weight.
I too thought that maybe she is very sore and tired.
The vets did say they couldn't give her pain meds because she would be breastfeeding.
I have no kind of crate or cage but I am restricting her movement around the house.
So just keep encouraging feeds every few hours? Glad to know I'm doing the right thing so far
Thanks for the help

If you can i'd try to keep the boy away - he won't recognise them as his brother and sister and much as he seems to be being gentle a) he is putting his scent on them when he lies next to them and washes them and that might put mum off, and b) there is no guarentee his hunting instinct won't suddenly kick in and he'll see them as mice/ prey! Once they are older maybe reintroduce him.

As long as the kittens keep gaining weight (10-15g a day is good) then mum is doing well enough. They should double their birth weight by 2 weeks. If mum isn't lying with them a lot make sure they are keeping warm enough - use a heat pad, or a hot water bottle - make sure they can move away if they want if they get too warm.

__________________
please look at my website - www.finesthourcats.webs.com - for gorgeous GCCF registered RagaMuffins and Selkirk Rex

I agree, she should be left alone to deal with her kittens, his influence could be upsetting her, he is her kitten too so this whole older kitten weaned and fending for himself and younger kits totally dependant may be disturbing her in that she is not sure what she should be doing. I would definitely separate at the moment.

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Lauren

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Ok so little boy kept distant and more encouragement during feeds.
Will ask the vet later today (they all have a check up) to see if there is anything else I can do.
Thanks guys