Need Help With Seven Kittens!

StefanZ

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Also, something strange: This is the third time I've found one or more of the kittens outside of the box. Why would she move them? I don't want them on the cold, hard floor.
is this always the same? If so, she probably by some reason thinks he wont make it, and thus abandon it to give all her might to those whom its hope for.
If so, you must probably handraise it, if you want to give it a chance.

If they are different each time, this is another reason: I bet they are pushing and fighting at the nipples... She finds it bothersome, and thus, make her own private rotation. Some good moms take even away one, and feed it outside, next time someone else.
So your best course is to help her with the rotation.. 2on 3 off, and switch. Make an extra little nest with heating pad and furry toy companion, where these on off watch may take their midday nap.

The smallest may theoretically add somewhat less, perhaps 8+, and its still OK. But I have seen many minors whom added as if they were twice as big in bithing weigh...
 
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TheWebExpert

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I think it's a different one; I'm keeping an eye on them. Last time, there were two. I looked at her and discovered that she does indeed have eight nipples; there are two smaller ones just behind her front legs. However, I'm not sanguine about their efficacy; they're much smaller, and don't look like they have much (if any) milk in them. The others are FAR more pronounced. But I'm keeping an eye on all 7; if I need to rotate them, I will. If I find I need to hand-raise one or two, I will do that, too - it's just seeing what happens over the next few days.
 

ArchyCat

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T TheWebExpert -- You might look for Kitten Milk Replacement at your pet shop. Buy the powder form. Then you mix it as needed. It would be a good supplement for the mom cat while she is nursing. It has a lot of fat, protein and such. The kittens might even like it when they are older. Might help ease the \nipple shortage. Keep us updated! Thanks for the rescue(s)!
 
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TheWebExpert

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Day two weigh-in: They've gained 4, 5, 14, 9, 6, 23 & 10 grams respectively. 23?? Yes, I weighed it twice. Unless I really screwed up the weighing yesterday, we've got a nipple hog on our hands.

The main problem I'm having is between #3 and #4, and #5 and #6, telling them apart. They are SO close in coloring. The others are easy. I don't want to put a ribbon on them, as I'm afraid they'll get tangled in it. Any ideas on making them easier to identify?
 

catapault

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The blogger at Love & Hisses currently is fostering a litter of 5 look very much alike tabby kittens (plus mom and dad!) I believe she put a tiny dab of colored nail polish - blue, green, pink - on one ear. If you didn't want to buy all those different colors I guess you could put a dab on the left ear of one, right ear of another, both ears on a third, none on a fourth. If I did that I'd have to make notes of who got what / which.
 

StefanZ

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Ah 7 preciouses! By some stupid reason I thought it was 5... With 7 its very often they need to rotate, And I think its what is called for here. Momma herself tells us this too, so its not just me.

Yes, healthy kittens may add even 20+ grammes a day, not unusual.
But these 4-5 grammes, although better than nothing, isnt very good. If it continues, you must do something about it...
 
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TheWebExpert

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Well, the 4-5 grams doesn't seem to happen often. In one week, they've doubled in both length & weight - all 7 about equally. Today (day 10) they started opening their eyes. However: While some have both eyes open, there are at least two with one eye open, and the other eye partially open.

1). Is this normal?
2). Is there anything I can (or should) do about this?

Thanks!
 

lutece

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It's totally normal for one eye to open before the other, and it can take several days for the eyes to gradually open. Once the eyes start to open, you do want to check on the kittens regularly to make sure the eyes continue to open, and don't become runny or stuck shut again.
 
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