Hi

My Bengal went into labour today & had her first kitten by Breech at 2.40 this afternoon. I had to deliver it. Seems strong & healthy weighing 68g.
The next kitten was born at 3.00 head first. Much smaller weighing 45g.

Mum has made no attempt to feed either. The bigger kitten is actively looking for nipples but I don't think it's latched on yet.
I've tried syringing the smaller kitten with kitten milk as it's so weak.
Both are sleeping now.

I would say there are more kittens to come but active labour has stopped.
Gem is not crying or distressed she seems to be resting.

Should I be worried about the kitts not feeding yet?

I am mindful of the problems Chrissy has just had with her litter not latching on so I am prepared for the worst.

Any advice appreciated.

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Christina

http://www.sungold-bengals.co.uk

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent - Eleanor Roosevelt 1937

I would expect them to be latching on by now. Are any of them trying to feed? Have you tried expressing milk from mum? If you can express milk and then pick up a baby and place him/her at the nipple, holding the head gently and running the mouth/nose over the nipple, the smell of the milk should be enough to make them want to try and suckle. You could also give Nutri Drops if you are worried as this will help sustain them until you can get them latched on.

I do hope they start to suckle soon and will be praying that the remainder of the labour goes well.

__________________
Purrs and best wishes
Kat
http://www.schimmelorientals.com

__________________
Emily



Star.


"Cat people are different to the extent that they generally are not conformists - How could they be with a cat running their lives?"

Thanks for that I've just rung our vets & they don't have any nutri - drops.

They also said that the queen wouldn't feed until all kitts were born.

I've tried expressing but nothing seems to be happening.

Is there anything else we can give in the absence of Nutri-drops?

I remember reading about condensed milk & honey. Or am I way off the mark?

__________________
Christina

http://www.sungold-bengals.co.uk

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent - Eleanor Roosevelt 1937

Your vet is wrong actually as we have mothers who are happy to feed babies while still giving labour. Are there any other breeders in your area? If so, see if any of them have Nutri Drops, might be worth a try if someone is close by?

Here's the evap. milk mixture. I use it on any of our newborns (and older kittens) that need help.
1 tin 400g Evaporated Milk
200g of boiled or bottled water
Mix together in a bowl
lightly beat 1 or 2 egg yolks
Add egg yolk to bowl and mix in
2 tablespoons of honey in a bowl, mix in a small amount of boiling water until the honey becomes a liquid
pour honey into mixture
mix all together.

Pour the mixture into a thermos flask and keep it in the fridge and then just pour out the amount you need for each feed. This way you don't have to keep making up new mixture for every feed.

__________________
Purrs and best wishes
Kat
http://www.schimmelorientals.com

Oh, rt, mine was feeding kittens while giving birth

Kat has recipies, i'm not sure if she's online ??

I've tried expressing milk, but nothing.

We have the special kitten milk but I know that trying to feed newborns can be quite risky. Obviously if it comes to it, I will have to risk it.

Thanks

__________________
Christina

http://www.sungold-bengals.co.uk

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent - Eleanor Roosevelt 1937

Yep I'm online and I beat ya to it lol

__________________
Purrs and best wishes
Kat
http://www.schimmelorientals.com