Elsa's babies

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irishmammy

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Yes it's just after 10pm here. I don't think there will be any issue from Elsa. She's shown nothing but gentleness towards the kitten, gave him a good wash when doing her own. He did try to feed but it was like he couldn't find his "favourite" nipple so gave up looking. Maybe when he's really hungry he'll accept a different nipple.

I wonder should I put a second kitten in for warmth? Elsa's kittens don't necessarily sleep in a nest now. They move around a lot and fall asleep wherever. He might be better with a sibling to snuggle with. He's on a hot (warm) water bottle.
 

maddies momma

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Yes another kitten for support and warmth would be good. Maybe be you could rub a cloth along silky's nipples and then rub it on just one or two of elsas. Not all of them Cuz you don't want to throw off elsas kittens but a couple would encourage silky's kittens to feed
 

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Thank you Sarthur2 Sarthur2 for asking my opinion here.
I do have some input.
If she is behaving this way to one particular kitten then she detects something wrong and wants it gone away, instinctual behavior says it puts her and the others at risk of predators.
If she is randomly this way with any/all of the kittens, the problem is her.
2 reasons, first of all she is young and has not fully developed the maternal instincts yet. She gets restless and won't want to be with them constantly, she has much energy herself and just struggles with how needy they can be.
The other thing that will cause this is stress, is the other mama in the same room with her and her kits?

I would NOT put 2 with the other mom. It's not the number of babies she has, it's the full time responsibility she is against.
So the solution is, to first of all be sure that she has her own private space, away from the other mom and older kittens.
It should be the least trafficky area such as a closet floor, etc. Give her some privacy when she is with them.

The other thing is, get a heating pad under the area to keep the kittens warm and get her away from them, giving her breaks, playtime and one on one interactions.
Wear her out if possible.
She should be away from them for at least an hour, 1 1/2 hours is better still.
Several times a day.
You will notice when she does go back to feed them she will be much calmer and do her job better without this rough behavior. Not only rough but to the point she is nipping at that baby and can easily cause injury or worse.
She's definitely agitated.
 

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The fact this kitten tried to feed and gave up tells me he needs to go back with his mama. It's not good for the kitten not to feed and to get stressed.
 
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irishmammy

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Thanks for the input.

I'll try and answer all the questions.

It's not a particular kitten, it's whoever is in her sights at the time.

No the other mama is in a bathroom and Silky is in a bedroom. Her babies are in a large crate (like you use for a dog) with a heating pad at one end. The kittens move around in the crate so can get off the heat pad if too warm.

The crate is left open and everything Silky needs (food, water, litter tray etc) are outside the crate.

The crate is covered for privacy. Silky has free run of the room and as soon as she's finished feeding she comes out and sleeps on the floor nearby or sometimes a bit further away. She likes to mooch about the room. She doesn't spend a lot of time with them. I didn't think to give her any toys as I thought she was tired from the babies.

The room is quiet with really only me coming in to check on her. And sometimes my daughter who helps with feeding and litter trays but knows not to touch the babies yet.

I can see she wants my attention as she keeps starting to feed the babies and then leaves them to come sit by me.

She seems to be grooming herself a lot, and the kittens. She spent ages licking Pippin's bum just now to the point where I had to distract her with another kitten. It just seemed obsessive.

She's farting big smelly farts and although her poop was perfect this evening, I'm wondering has she a sore tummy?

Even when her babies are finally feeding, she starts vigorously licking them and knocks them off.

She's breaking my heart. I really want her to be a good mama and one I can trust with those babies. :frown::bawling:
 
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irishmammy

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I will when I go back upstairs. Had to come down to lock up the dogs for the night and lock up the house. It's almost midnight so I'll get them settled and head for bed.

Night all!
 

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I wonder if she might be stressed from knowing there are dogs?
I hate to say but I'm rather stuck on this one.....

I do think that she is needing attention and affection, I know it's not so easy when you don't know or have a bond with her yet. At least maybe not to the point that she's looking for is what I mean.

If your other mama cat will allow them to nurse, I suppose you can always alternate, but I wouldn't advise it if her 6 week olds have access to her at the same time.
They will not be having it at all anyway, they wouldn't let the babies nurse.
 

Sarthur2

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How are Silky and the babies today? I know yesterday was stressful. I'm hoping today is smoother for you and your charges. Are babies still gaining well?
 
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irishmammy

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Well, today's update is much better.

Last night I returned her 2 kittens to her and even though she had been messing about most of the evening (grooming the kittens and herself, not lying down to feed, getting up and leaving as soon as they'd only started etc) when I put the two back in, she just lay down and fed.

Today she is like a different cat. She's calm. She's lying to feed and all is good with the world!

Now, the only explanation I have is last night she did a whopper poo. Perfectly formed (Not hard/dry or soft/runny) but really smelly. She's also been farting a lot - smelly farts! And this morning, she did another big stinky poo.

That can't have felt good in her tummy. I wonder was that bothering her? Maybe that's why she wouldn't lie down - it was hurting her to do so.

She's really so calm today, I can't get over it.

I've spoken to the shelter and I'm going to change her food a bit as I think the one she is on might actually be too rich for her. Elsa didn't do well on it either. (It's a premium hypoallergenic food, but if these strays are used to eating *whatever* it might just be too rich.)

The weights are good too... I'll post in a second.

Here she is now
20170420_133204.jpg
 
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irishmammy

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Day 6 weights
#1 - 177g [+17] - Oreo
#2 - 191g [+13] - Maverick
#3 - 202g [+19] - Mac
#4 - 130g [+25] - Pippin
#5 - 212g [+21] - Bruce
#6 - 194g [+17] - Ranger

Go Pippin!!
 

Sarthur2

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Wow! Go Pippen is right! :clap2:

I'm so relieved to hear this lovely report. I agree that gas may be the culprit - it can be very painful and downright uncomfortable.

The food is probably too rich, and the meds she is on may play a role too.

None of this appears to have affected the kittens' weight gains though - hallelujah!

:vibes:Here's to a hopefully better day!
 
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irishmammy

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I'm silently doing a happy dance so as not to wake all the sleeping beauties!

Those kittens, especially my little Pipsqueak (haha) seem to be super resilient. Pippin has always shown determination.

Silky is asleep beside my bed now, smiling.
20170420_140517.jpg
 
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irishmammy

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No, unfortunately I won't as we have 3 cats already and I know if I adopt one, there'll be another and another... and my husband would probably leave :lol:

What I do try do is ensure my fosters get loads of love and cuddles and are well socialised so they make lovely pets for whoever gets them. I also post lots of photos on my Facebook page so my friends end up falling for them. ;)

So far all the kittens I've fostered have been offered forever homes before they are even old enough to leave me.
 
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