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Sarthur2

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Did you order Miracle Nipples? Those are most like mom’s. The best way to increase milk production is for baby to suckle.

Can you get a digital kitchen scale that weighs in grams? That’s the only way to know precisely how much baby is gaining daily.
 
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Mluby62987

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Did you order Miracle Nipples? Those are most like mom’s. The best way to increase milk production is for baby to suckle.

Can you get a digital kitchen scale that weighs in grams? That’s the only way to know precisely how much baby is gaining daily.
Yep, I’ve had much better luck using the miracle nipples with previous litters I’ve raised. I hate using the hard rubber ones, the babies always hate them too. I don’t blame them, I wouldn’t wanna have a hard piece of rubber stuffed into my mouth either lol. I don’t currently have a scale but will be getting one as soon as I get paid in a few days. I have a postage scale but I’m figuring that isn’t the same as a food scale.
 
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Mluby62987

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So glad to hear the kitten is doing okay. Do you feel comfortable sharing pictures yet? I for one would like to see this kitten that I've been rooting for.
Yes! I was going to ask if pictures are allowed because I’d like to share some. I will post some as soon as I get home :D
 

cmshap

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This is my sweet Maisy girl and her little nugget:
Wow, the kitten is so black! In the first pic, I didn't even see him/her at first!

I hope somebody can give you good advice on stimulating milk production. Maisy clearly loves her baby and it would be great if you could figure out how to help mom do the rearing herself.

I have done lots and lots of research on cat behavior, but kitten care and breeding-related issues are way out of my knowledge area.
 

StefanZ

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Yep, I’ve had much better luck using the miracle nipples with previous litters I’ve raised. I hate using the hard rubber ones, the babies always hate them too. I don’t blame them, I wouldn’t wanna have a hard piece of rubber stuffed into my mouth either lol. I don’t currently have a scale but will be getting one as soon as I get paid in a few days. I have a postage scale but I’m figuring that isn’t the same as a food scale.
Perhaps some neighbour could lend you a scale? Or sell second hand cheaply?
 

cmshap

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I don’t currently have a scale but will be getting one as soon as I get paid in a few days. I have a postage scale but I’m figuring that isn’t the same as a food scale.
A postage scale might work! They are meant to be pretty accurate up to increments of 0.1 oz.

Kitchen scales are often accurate to a gram, which is 0.0353 oz. So more accurate than a postage scale, but I don't know how important such a difference would be (can anyone else chime in on this?).

Otherwise, there are cheap kitchen scales available...
https://a.co/d/6ApUwNa

I would start weighing the kitten right now using the postage scale. You will at least get a baseline and be able to see increase/decrease. I know little about kitten care, but one thing I've seen emphasized is that weighing is always important.

Also, I've seen tips where if the kitten squirms too much, put it in a bowl before placing on the scale (and then subtract the weight of the bowl, of course).
 

Sarthur2

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Use a kitchen scale that weighs in grams; not a postage scale.

Kitten is adorable and appears to be suckling, which is good. Continue supplementing until you know for sure that baby is growing well and getting what it needs from mom. Kitten should gain 6-10 grams per day, or more.
 

cmshap

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Use a kitchen scale that weighs in grams; not a postage scale.
You don't think the OP should start weighing now, on a postage scale, before acquiring a kitchen scale? I don't see why that is anything other than a good idea, for the meantime.

As I mentioned above, a postage scale measures in 0.1-oz increments. That means its finest increment, 0.1 oz, is equal to 2.835 grams.

I fail to see how using simple math, and an imperfect tool for the meantime, is a bad idea.
 
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