- Joined
- Jul 14, 2018
- Messages
- 9
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First time poster and a first time kitten mama, so please forgive me for all that I am most likely doing wrong.
So the story is that last month, my boyfriend and I decided to take in a friend of a friends cat, since she was moving and couldn't take the her, even though we already have a male cat and a female cat that are both fixed. The new cat, Princess, wasn't spayed so we decided that we'd give her a month or two to settle into her new home before we'd take her to the vet and get her check up, schedule her to be spayed, etc.
Well, imagine our surprise when she had a single kitten on the 12th! We had ZERO clue she was pregnant and the previous owner had no idea at all either. Princess was TERRIFIED during the birthing experience, even getting up when the kitten was about half-way out and running to the litter box, because she was confused and thought she might have to use the bathroom! That being said, after the baby did successfully come out (when she calmed down finally) she did what she was supposed to do; she ate the placenta, cleaned the baby, nursed, etc.
However, only one kitten arrived and three days later, still just the one. Princess doesn't seem to understand how to be a mother, either. She often leaves her baby until it cries, then she comes back. If I'm not in the room with her or nearby her, she'll meow and cry until I come in and often still cry when I'm in the room, just not petting her. She doesn't clean the baby anymore, which I discovered today when I was putting out a warm water bottle for the baby to lay against. The baby's back end is filthy and I did what I could with a damp, warm washcloth and the baby crying and freaking out while Princess did the same.
Does anyone have any advice for me? I've read it's a bad idea to give a kitten a bath but.. I might really have to give this three day old a bath, because Princess isn't cleaning it at all and honestly, I don't want it to get an infection or get sick from not being cleaned. I have washed the bedding as well, and will continue to wash the bedding every day or every other day.
Sorry for the long read, I'm just really worried. Should I take them to the vet? I really wanted to avoid moving the kitten (and Princess) around as much as possible. Again, advice would be greatly welcomed and before anyone says anything, yes, I do believe in spaying/neutering your animals and she will be spayed ASAP!
Thanks
So the story is that last month, my boyfriend and I decided to take in a friend of a friends cat, since she was moving and couldn't take the her, even though we already have a male cat and a female cat that are both fixed. The new cat, Princess, wasn't spayed so we decided that we'd give her a month or two to settle into her new home before we'd take her to the vet and get her check up, schedule her to be spayed, etc.
Well, imagine our surprise when she had a single kitten on the 12th! We had ZERO clue she was pregnant and the previous owner had no idea at all either. Princess was TERRIFIED during the birthing experience, even getting up when the kitten was about half-way out and running to the litter box, because she was confused and thought she might have to use the bathroom! That being said, after the baby did successfully come out (when she calmed down finally) she did what she was supposed to do; she ate the placenta, cleaned the baby, nursed, etc.
However, only one kitten arrived and three days later, still just the one. Princess doesn't seem to understand how to be a mother, either. She often leaves her baby until it cries, then she comes back. If I'm not in the room with her or nearby her, she'll meow and cry until I come in and often still cry when I'm in the room, just not petting her. She doesn't clean the baby anymore, which I discovered today when I was putting out a warm water bottle for the baby to lay against. The baby's back end is filthy and I did what I could with a damp, warm washcloth and the baby crying and freaking out while Princess did the same.
Does anyone have any advice for me? I've read it's a bad idea to give a kitten a bath but.. I might really have to give this three day old a bath, because Princess isn't cleaning it at all and honestly, I don't want it to get an infection or get sick from not being cleaned. I have washed the bedding as well, and will continue to wash the bedding every day or every other day.
Sorry for the long read, I'm just really worried. Should I take them to the vet? I really wanted to avoid moving the kitten (and Princess) around as much as possible. Again, advice would be greatly welcomed and before anyone says anything, yes, I do believe in spaying/neutering your animals and she will be spayed ASAP!
Thanks