- Joined
- May 16, 2015
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One of our barn cats gave birth the four kittens ten days ago. We didn't see them (or mama) the first day, but we did find them the second day. The kittens were all tangled up in dried up umbilical cords -- one even had his tiny leg (broken) and tangled in it. Some were nursing, but obviously it was a mess. I snipped the cords and lined them all up at the mom. The next day we could see that two had bad hernias -- we never saw those again. The one with the broken, shriveled leg was actually doing okay until a few days later when his whole leg was gone. Yes. Gone. He disappeared the next day. Now we have one little kitten left. Her eyes are starting to open, but her poor mom is wagging her all over the yard and just leaves her places. She hisses at the other animals (small dogs, a cat, chickens) if they get too close, but she doesn't mind me handling the baby at all. Several times today I've seen the baby in the middle of the yard, in the sun, all alone. She kind of screams. I finally put her in the kitten box on the porch -- she keeps sleeping with her mouth open and the mom is not real eager to nurse, although I have seen her do it some. Could this kitten be dehydrated? What are the signs?