its so sad, she wasthe weakeast hardly gained any weight, she was alive at 4 30am but barely took any food. just found her under mum dead, not sure how long she s been gone. i dnt know what to do with her body she s so frail
she was half the size of the others i did my best
other 4have gained weight and seem ok mum seem to have her milk at last
i weighed them last night and just now and they have gained a couple of grams overnight the curly gilr is doing the best she s 129g now she was 104 at birth
others are 98g thats the 2nd weakest another girl the boys weight 114g and 117g

are these good weights? there now 56 hours old look healthy.

they are gaining and that is good. So is mum feeding them now? That should help. Still keep an eye on them as you may need to top up as well. Well done you for keeping them going.

Sorry about the littlest one - she was very tiny to begin with and you did your best. The other tiny one seems to have gained weight well. Hopoefully he/she will continue to do so well.

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Not sure what kittens weights should be but if they're gaining that's a good sign surely....sorry to hear about the little one...not nice when this happens is it...hope the rest do well and continue to thrive xx

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Staffy x Lab almost 10...Fizz
Ginger Tom 2 1/2...Tilly
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Bichon x King charles spanel 1 yr 10 months
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How can I forget my fish..i have 13 tropical fish too...err...2 cats 2 neon and one lemon tetra...2 err...will have to go look and get back on that one i can't remember the names lol
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its so sad she was the runt
yes i think mum is feeding them there all under her and they have gained weight overnight one especially the smallest now is another tortie girl 98g only i l keep weighing them and may still give cimicat as well as mum to her

i spoke to vet andim taking mum and babies in later for a check up, as im there with the dad of them anyway vet asked me to bring in dead girl too she is so tiny i cannot see any sign of diesease on her so dnt know why she died

Hi Maryrose

I am sorry about the little girl but, I am afraid, deaths so soon after birth in kittens that are being hand reared is quite common. It is not always size that is a factor, some of the smallest kittens thrive and the biggest leave us. It is the desire to live. Some have it and others don't. The vet will be able to check for cleft but not much more than that.

If they are all snugged up to mum, quiet, not crying all the time, then I suspect she is feeding them. Hungry kittens are restless. Once you know for sure she is feeding let her do the work. She can do it far better than you can - mums milk is the best.

When raising kittens a weight gain is a weight gain, no matter how large or small. If they stay the same for a day, don't panic. if they lose then be prepared to step in. Sometimes we can get too hung up on the scales. Just weigh once a day at the same time, if you can. always put the scales in the same place on a solid flat surface.

You have done very well to keep them going until mum's milk has come through. You can be proud of yourself.

Margaret

thanks, but i still feel so bad that one had to die. ive been feeding them since birth and not had hardly any sleep, buti had to put them first i feel a failure

the others are latched on and under mum quiet with the odd sqeal so i presume theynow have milk
i shall see what the vet says tonight.
so i dont need to weigh them every 3 hours?

No way are you a failure. Gosh you have done remarkably well.

I don't think you need to weigh them every 3 hours if they seem to be feeding and are all okay, just check on them, make sure they are okay.

Don't beat yourself up. Sometimes it just happens this way.

Hi Maryrose

No, don't weigh them every three hours. Let mum bond with them and settle. They sound as though they are coming on fine now.

Only weigh once a day. You won't get a true reading if you don't. You will hear the odd squeak as they fight over a teat (they always seem to want the same one) but as long as she is happy and they are happy, let nature take its course. Time for you to have a rest.

You are not a failure, you have done really well.

Margaret

oh bless you, what sad news, fingers crossed that the others are ok, xxxx

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thank you ALL for your kind words i just wish i could have saved her
mum is alseep and there all under her happy
she s been out for a walk she sat by firefor 5minsthen went back to them
shes not eating much nor used the tray yet i noticed a littleblood/discharge coming from her behind i dnt think she has washed herself
il see what vets says
i keep checking on them to see if there still breathing id hate to lose anymore