Christmas kittens (any day now)

Chelseapanx

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Hi all,
This is my first time visiting this website but I have already found some helpful advice on other's threads, so I wanted to make a post in advance of the birth of our first ever litter of kittens.
My cat is called Jojo, we discovered she was pregnant about a month after she escaped and I found her hanging out with one of the cats on the street, as soon as these kittens arrive, she will be neutered, please save the judgement, I'm doing my best and she's very happy and healthy.

Anyway... as predicted she's showing signs of labour during the week of Christmas!
Yesterday she spent hours meowing from around 3am, as though she was hungry, however we offered her a variety of foods to ear (wet and dry cat food, tuna, eggs) but she wouldn't touch any of it.
She laid on my lap for an hour purring and I decided I would male her a bed closer to me since the living room place I had hoped she would give birth in is on the other side of the room in a cupboard. All day she went from bed to bed, to the cold floor in the hallway, back to bed and so on... she ate little portions throughout the day and slept most of the day.
This morning I came downstairs (she can't sleep in our room as we have baby in a cot) but she was normal! She was hungry as her usual self and wanted to sit in the middle of the living room with the kids as she usually does in a morning.
I brought her onto the sofa and once again she was very cuddly, I've now placed her in the bed beside me and she's been there a while...
The anticipation is killing me, I'll keep this thread updated, but does anybody have any advice?
Thanks so much!
(Image of her right now)
 

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di and bob

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Congratulations, and welcome to the site! The change in her behavior indicates she is most likely very close, she may all of a sudden look smaller as the kittens drop into and line up at the birth canal. Labor may look like ripples along her sides. She should have the first kitten within an hour of active labor, if not, she may need to see a vet ASAP. Most cats need no help. First-time moms sometimes have no strength left after several kittens, be ready with a warm damp washcloth to wipe any birthing sack from a kitten's face and to stimulate it if she doesn't. She should eat the afterbirth of each kitten, you should try to count them after each birth to make sure they are all there. Most first litters are small, 3-4 kittens. The kittens will come when they are ready, I know how hard the anticipation is, it seems to go on forever! All the luck! PS make SURE she doesn't get outside after the birth, they can get pregnant again within a week of birthing.
 

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Cats are spayed when their kittens are 8 weeks old, and they need a private nest with their newborns the first 3 weeks. Children should not handle the kittens during this time as kittens cannot regulate their own body temperatures the first 3 weeks.

Here are helpful links:

Pregnant Cat? What To Prepare For The Birth – TheCatSite Articles

How Do I Know When My Cat Will Give Birth? – TheCatSite Articles

Help! My Cat Is Having Kittens! – TheCatSite Articles

Do get a can of powdered KMR and give mom a dish a day. She’ll need the extra calcium for nursing. You’ll have it on hand if a kitten needs supplementing too.

It sounds like she’s had some pre-labor pains and is close. Keep us posted!
 
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Chelseapanx

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Thanks so much to you both, she currently has 2 nests away from the children's reach plus can go upstairs when she likes with a door to stop the children from following. She is now strictly an indoor cat so will be neutered when the kittens are 8 weeks, thanks for letting me know. I think I'm more nervous about the birth of the kittens than I was with either of my 2 kids! There is no way I'll be letting it happen again.
Both kids aren't home right now, so Jojo is currently sprawled out on the living room rug! 16400075162691352613294996965053.jpg
 
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Chelseapanx

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Jojo went into labour at 9am, it's now 9.30 and we have 3 kittens! I see movement from all 3 and I'm not sure if she's finished yet!
 

di and bob

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7! Oh my goodness, I would have never dreamed she had that many in there! Make sure she gets kitten food and KMR, she is going to need it. Make sure all the kittens get to nurse too, with that many she may have to feed in 'shifts'. They usually have 8 nipples, but the weaker kittens can be pushed aside. Congratulations!
 

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Agree, 7 is a lot!

Be very diligent about weighing and making sure all kittens are nursing and gaining 6-10 grams a day each. Sometimes it’s best to put the 4 biggest on for an hour, then the 3 smallest for an hour a few times a day. Keep in mind that those not nursing must stay warm. You may need to supplement those not gaining well.
 
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Chelseapanx

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Hi everybody, I'm sorry I've not kept you updated but the past week has been rather full-on! All 7 kittens are thriving and have grown so much! Jojo has taken to them all like a natural, I was worried that the runt might have not made it, so have some kitten formula on hand but I honestly don't think I will need it!!
However, I've not been able to weigh the kittens, each time I pick one up Jojo meows and moves it back to the nest, I'm getting so much conflicted information which says I should socialise them as early as possible, but it seems to make Jojo very unsettled each time... although she still purrs, whilst taking the kitten away and let's me stroke her and the kittens in the nest... I've tried to weigh them once a day for about 3 days now but each time she will rush in the room from her food bowl and take the kitten from me. Should I stop trying?
16406835126442810339617899885575.jpg
 

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Mom's hormones haven't settled down yet. She'll likely be better about allowing you to handle them later on. Will Jojo allow you to pet them while they're in contact with her as a start to handling?

Weights would be better, but all of them look pretty healthy for week-old kittens. I wouldn't push the issue unless something looks amiss.
 

di and bob

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I would concentrate on the runt. Just weigh that one unless another fails to look the same size as the rest. I think mama is purring when she takes the kitten from you to soothe the kitten and even herself rather than telling you it's OK. Socializing will really start once they have their eyes open and can see you. Your local shelter or your vet would really appreciate that KMR too if you end up not needing it. They are precious, thanks for the update!
 

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I suggest you weigh the kittens in front of her rather than in another room. The scale must be on a flat surface so put cardboard underneath if necessary.

Kittens do not need “socializing” until they are 3 weeks old and begin to leave the nest and explore. They just need mom right now, and cannot regulate their own body temperatures until they are 3 weeks, so mustn’t get cold.

The kittens look lovely!
 
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Chelseapanx

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Mom's hormones haven't settled down yet. She'll likely be better about allowing you to handle them later on. Will Jojo allow you to pet them while they're in contact with her as a start to handling?

Weights would be better, but all of them look pretty healthy for week-old kittens. I wouldn't push the issue unless something looks amiss.
Thankyou, she will let me pet them in the nest yes, but won't allow them to be moved from the nest - clean bedding has been put on every couple of days and after moving them as quickly as possible she settles really well back into the nest with all of them.
 
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Chelseapanx

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I would concentrate on the runt. Just weigh that one unless another fails to look the same size as the rest. I think mama is purring when she takes the kitten from you to soothe the kitten and even herself rather than telling you it's OK. Socializing will really start once they have their eyes open and can see you. Your local shelter or your vet would really appreciate that KMR too if you end up not needing it. They are precious, thanks for the update!
Thankyou, I hadn't taken into account that she purrs to soothe herself, I suppose when she gets unsettled she needs to calm herself just as humans do! I'll definitely donate the kmr if it's not needed :)
 
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Chelseapanx

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Kittens are 4 weeks old and doing fantastic! Jojo is still super protective though and seriously gets the face on every time I let the kittens out to play. (Usually I do this when my daughter is asleep so they can have free reign of the living room without being squished by the giant hands of an 11 month old)
Today I've moved them into the kitchen and placed a barrier at the door so they can't get into the living room. The plan is to start introducing toileting and weaning but this is where I'm seriously out of my depth. Jojo is currently laid in the middle of the living room meowing in protest but I figure she needs to get used to this? She has easy access to the kitchen over the gate.
 

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I would not separate her from her kittens. Since they do have a mother, they may not use the litter box until they begin to eat soft foods in another 1-3 weeks. They also all may not do either at the same time.

Start with a slurry of wet pate mixed with kitten formula on a flat plate. Over time increase the amount of pate. Once eating, begin putting the kittens in a kitten-sized litter pan (with non-clumping litter) before and after meals and at other times throughout the day.

Kittens learn quickly when they are ready, but will continue to nurse as long as mom allows it.
 
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Chelseapanx

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I would not separate her from her kittens. Since they do have a mother, they may not use the litter box until they begin to eat soft foods in another 1-3 weeks. They also all may not do either at the same time.

Start with a slurry of wet pate mixed with kitten formula on a flat plate. Over time increase the amount of pate. Once eating, begin putting the kittens in a kitten-sized litter pan (with non-clumping litter) before and after meals and at other times throughout the day.

Kittens learn quickly when they are ready, but will continue to nurse as long as mom allows it.
Oh she's not separated from them! Her bed is still with theirs in the same kitten pen they had been in previously, sorry if I didn't make that clear.

Thankyou! I had seen something on Google about doing the same thing with biscuits but that didn't really work the way I imagined it should, so I'll go grab some pate from the shop now!

I think at the moment the thing I need to focus on is getting Jojo used to them being out of the nest, wish me luck!
 

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First meals with the "kitten gruel" will be quite messy. Kitties will often walk in their food, but it's not a problem: Mama and the other kittens will usually clean everything up.

The usual problem with litter training is that the kittens don't know what solid food is at first. They will try to eat the litter sometimes, and that's why you don't want to use clumping litter on these newbies. If it clumps, it may do so inside them, with bad outcomes.

To help them decide where to go, you need to "prime" their litter box with something bearing cat urine or a bit of scat to make the new box smell like the right place to litter.
 
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