Rescue cat possibly pregnant?

[GSMMY]

You seem very anxious and worried about your gorgeous girl. Why don't you just take her to the vet for a quick health check, then you and she can relax and just enjoy each other - pregnant or not.

 

[GSMMY]

You seem very anxious and worried about your gorgeous girl. Why don't you just take her to the vet for a quick health check, then you and she can relax and just enjoy each other - pregnant or not.

Ignore that

 

[Kittycatcat]

They are precious!

Will you be getting the kittens spayed and neutered before they go?

Just the little boy if my vet will do it, the friend who is taking the two girls will be getting them done at 5/6mths, as will I with our little girl.

 

[white shadow]

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Kittycatcat - you might be interested in this: Two years ago, TCS put on one of its "Expert Forums", when feline veterinary specialists come in and to make presentations, have discussions and reply to member's questions.

Well, in August 2018, the Expert Forum's topic was early spay and neutering. There are about 25 threads from then right here: Experts from "Feline Fix by Five" Talk Spay/Neuter - TCS Expert Forums

The experts are some of the folks from the Fix by Five organization: Feline Fix by Five.org

You might pass that along to your Vet too - that site has a section of "Vet Resources".

.

 

[Kittycatcat]

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Kittycatcat - you might be interested in this: Two years ago, TCS put on one of its "Expert Forums", when feline veterinary specialists come in and to make presentations, have discussions and reply to member's questions.

Well, in August 2018, the Expert Forum's topic was early spay and neutering. There are about 25 threads from then right here: Experts from "Feline Fix by Five" Talk Spay/Neuter - TCS Expert Forums

The experts are some of the folks from the Fix by Five organization: Feline Fix by Five.org

You might pass that along to your Vet too - that site has a section of "Vet Resources".

.

I honestly don't know why some vets are reluctant to spay/castrate until 6mths, my old vet wouldn't do our boy until he was 6mths, I'm with a new vet now so hopefully he'll be happy to do it.

 

[Kittycatcat]

So Mama cat has now gone into heat!! It's another 5weeks until her spay! Was really hoping this wouldn't happen until the little ones were at least 7/8wks.
The most frustrating bit about it all is she has very little interest for them now, its actually really sad to see them following her about and her refusing to feed them.
What should I do? I'm really worried for her babies.
Out of the four kittens only one is eating some wet, one eating some dry and the other two haven't even attempted to try anything.
I put some kmr out today in a bowl and they was lapping it up, but don't think it is even close to how much milk they are used to having.
Should I continue to encourage them to drink from the bowl or should I bottle feed?
They are still getting alittle from mama when she is eating but clearly not enough.
I just know what more I can do, I'm offering food by hand, bowl, plate but they ain't interested. Do you think hunger will get the better of them soon? Surely they will eat if mama continues to keep brushing them off! Its so frustrating when I can see she looks full of milk but won't allow them any.
Would it be wrong to put her in her vet carrier cage with two kittens at a time so they can feed?

 

[Sarthur2]

Putting her in the carrier to nurse is exactly what I was going to suggest. And nursing actually has a somewhat calming effect on a mom in heat. Also, continue offering the KMR in a dish for them. Heat cycles last a week, then she’ll be back to normal again for awhile.

 

[Kittycatcat]

Well I'm pleased to say Mama gave the kittens a good feed this morning, it was so lovely to see
She's still recovering from her illness and with being on the onset of heat (not full blown yet, thankfully) its no wonder she's tired out and doesn't want to feed them. Hopefully she'll feel better soon.
I will pop her in the carrier occasionally when kittens are really hungry but obviously if she gets too stressed then I will take her out. I will also continue with the bowls of kmr, I just wish weaning would take off, if they were eating food it would be far less of a worry.
Its also not been easy weighing them this last week, they just don't stop moving about and it just makes the scales go up and down and I can't get a true reading.

 

[Kittycatcat]

The kittens are now all feeding kmr well from the bowl however since giving them that its gave them diarrhoea (dark brown poo) when they was on mama's milk it was a mustard colour and toothpaste consistency.
I'm making it accordingly to the instructions, do they just need time to adjust? What can I do?
They all been de wormed only 2wks ago as was mama who is still feeding them occasionally.

 

[Kittycatcat]

The kittens are now all feeding kmr well from the bowl however since giving them that its gave them diarrhoea (dark brown poo) when they was on mama's milk it was a mustard colour and toothpaste consistency.
I'm making it accordingly to the instructions, do they just need time to adjust? What can I do?
They all been de wormed only 2wks ago as was mama who is still feeding them occasionally.

I'm also thinking maybe the diarrhoea is a side affect to the medication that Mama was given, the antibiotics and anti-inflammatry??

 

[Sarthur2]

Yes, their poop will change on the KMR. How old are they now? Try softening kitten chow with their milk and feeding that. Or mix the milk with pate-style wet food to makes a mush. If they will eat this their poop should firm up.

 

[klunick]

I honestly don't know why some vets are reluctant to spay/castrate until 6mths, my old vet wouldn't do our boy until he was 6mths, I'm with a new vet now so hopefully he'll be happy to do it.

My vet also wanted to wait until my kittens were six months old but with hearing that females can get pregnant by 4 or 5 months, I opted to go to a low cost clinic that specializes in spays/neuters when they were just over 4 months old. I ended up taking the paperwork to my vet for Boone and Gracie's files but since we can't go in, I don't know how the actual vet reacted to me getting them fixed prior to her recommendation.

 

[Kittycatcat]

Yes, their poop will change on the KMR. How old are they now? Try softening kitten chow with their milk and feeding that. Or mix the milk with pate-style wet food to makes a mush. If they will eat this their poop should firm up.

They will be 6wks tomorrow, Im going to the pet store later and will pick up some kitten pate to mix with the kmr. I'll be happy when their bowel movement returns to normal, its difficult trying to watch all four of them for pees and poos and trying to get them in the litter box in time.
They are running round like crazy now.

 

[Sarthur2]

They are at the perfect age to begin weaning to soft food! Let us know how it goes and if their poop firms up soon.

 

[Kittycatcat]

I'm pleased to say weaning is well and fully established, they now love food
Something I have noticed the last couple of days is they are have itchy ears, could it be ear mites? But how is this possible? Mama isn't itching at all.
They definitely don't have fleas, I've checked them through thoroughly.
I've got a vet appointment for them tomorrow, they still have runny poos, is there anything the vet can give them to clear this up??

 

[Sarthur2]

Be sure to have them treated for ear mites tomorrow at the vet, and yes, it sounds like they need a round of metronidazole to clear their diarrhea. Ask about that too. Good to hear they are eating so well. Let us know how it goes at the vet.

 

[Kittycatcat]

Be sure to have them treated for ear mites tomorrow at the vet, and yes, it sounds like they need a round of metronidazole to clear their diarrhea. Ask about that too. Good to hear they are eating so well. Let us know how it goes at the vet.

Thankyou, I'll ask the vet about this 2moro. Just really want to get this diarrhea sorted as soon as, they are using the litter tray but sometimes they don't get there in time. I think its a combination of them starting food plus drinking kmr and mama's meds. Really upset their tummies.

 

[Kittycatcat]

Vet check went well, all fit and healthy.
No ear mites or fleas etc.
Their stools are firming up today however still got some probiotics to help them on there way.

 

[Kittycatcat]

When is it safe to use a clumping litter?

 

[Sarthur2]

It’s safe when you no longer see the kittens trying to taste or eat the litter.