Small very pregnant cat help

[JackSmith90]

Update: they are all growing a good bit, they are feeding faster and we tried to feed the runt but by the time the formula is ready they are eating. The non grey one and the non runt grey one keep fighting for the same nipple, and the non grey always wins. The non grey one eats the most. The kittens are roaming more the antirunt has already scaled the pool noodle. We are getting a playpen to keep them all in a better enclosed area on thursday
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The kittens seem to fill up faster and move away from the momma into their piles.

 

[JackSmith90]

Is this normal? Animated GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY
I am wondering if this is hiccups. Most of them do that little twitch.

 

[Sarthur2]

It’s normal. They are dreaming!

 

[JackSmith90]

Here are the weights.

The runt is slowly gaining weight. We changed their housing to a play pen since the antirunt was scaling the pool noodle and trying to escape. When we moved the kittens the momma took the largest kitten and brought him to a cat carrier. We think the antirunt is the favorite. Since the area is bigger we are checking that the blanket and pad are on at all times. We also noticed the momma cat is taking more breaks than usual.

 

[Sarthur2]

It would be easier to track if you made a chart on paper with each kitten’s weights day by day so we could see the daily weight gains. How much is the runt gaining each day? Is it 6-10 grams? You could take a picture of the chart each day and upload it. It’s hard to try to look back and figure it out with just weight pictures on the scale.

 

[JackSmith90]

8 then 11, 13, and 17 grams growth, the rate of growth is pretty good and the runt is seen eating more. Still slower then the other kittens. We noticed that the runt is the only one that accepts formula. We are concerned that when the others get bigger we will need to feed the runt more. The mom seems to be having a harder time feeding them all now since she is so small.

 

[Sarthur2]

That happens as they all need more and more milk. It’s good you are supplementing the runt. Eventually, they will wean to soft wet food and mom’s milk will be a supplement, but they have a ways to go yet. But a chart will help us to know if any of the others need supplementing as time goes by if mom is struggling.

 

[JackSmith90]

Haven't been able to make a graph for kittens, very busy today and tomorrow. Here are the weights. And momma using the runt as a pillow. We tried the play pen but momma took half of them out and went back to her corner. Kittens have been sleeping much more today, must be tired from all if their growing.

Momma cat has been separating the largest and feeding him alone. That's how he gained 94ish grams.

 

[JackSmith90]

Overdue kitty update:
I was away for a while and was not able to get their weights for a while. All kittens seem fine, some ears have opened and the eyes are cracked open a little bit. One of the kittens sneezed and freaked me out a bit but hasn't sneezed again. I made a graph for the weights, I cannot tell 3 of the kittens apart so I made it for the runt, black and white (average weight) and the fat one. We should be getting the miracle nipple tomorrow to help the runt get more milk. Runt like the armpit nipple which is not as swollen as the other ones.

We pretty much decided to keep the momma kitty and we have been calling her Kiwi since she is round and fuzzy. Our other cats are very curious about her but she is on "Stay away from my babies" mode and hisses at them. Kiwi is not afraid to go around the house and will follow us for kitten milk.

 

[Furballsmom]

Thanks very much for the update

 

[jefferd18]

Wow- she had quite a few kittens and they all look so healthy. When one of the cats that I fostered had kittens the runt would always be crowded out by the other ones. I would make sure to pick her up and place her next to the nipple that seemed to have the most milk.

 

[JackSmith90]

These two always fight for the same nipple.
Is there a way to stop that? I am afraid one might lose an eye. The black and white one wins most of the time, both weigh about the same.

 

[Sarthur2]

Oh my! Have you tried redirecting one of them to another nipple? Or supplementing one with formula while the other nurses?

 

[catsknowme]

Oh my! Have you tried redirecting one of them to another nipple? Or supplementing one with formula while the other nurses?

That is what I would do. Also, I try to supplement feed the stronger ones and give the runts a chance at mom kitty milk which is best for them. The Mini Miracle Nipple is great, as is the regular. All the kittens are looking chubby - you all are doing a fantastic job. Congratulations on keeping Kiwi!

 

[jefferd18]

These two always fight for the same nipple.
Is there a way to stop that? I am afraid one might lose an eye. The black and white one wins most of the time, both weigh about the same.

No, their claws aren't sharp enough to cause that kind of damage- just separate and place them at different nipples. Kittens are all bluster.

 

[JackSmith90]

We tried moving them, they seek out that one nipple. Same with the runt, just that one armpit nipple. Kiwi has some picky babies. We see the black and white kitty eat more so we move her to Kiwis back and let the other one eat.

 

[JackSmith90]

Update: kittens grew some more, the runts eyes are opening a little. We noticed kiwi likes to lick the kittens often, and the kitten closet to her mouth is the runt, poor thing gets knocked off. So when we are making sure runt is eating we give Kiwi another kitten to lick. We put runt on a fuller nipple and he just goes to the armpit.

We should have a miracle nipple deliver tomorrow and that should help runt. We fed runt two droppers full, did not gain much but went after Kiwis nipple hard, runt pushed another kitten away. We think the fake milk is giving runt the energy to eat more. One of the grey kittens has been sneezing more but there was no mucus and eyes where not runny.

Kiwi is also exploring the house more on her breaks. She seems to trust us more, before when we fed runt she would try to take him away from us immediately. Now she waits till we are done. She still asks for help when a kitten falls behind her.

 

[Furballsmom]

You-all are doing a marvelous job - I'm glad she and they have you!

 

[catsknowme]

They are all doing so very well! Bravo!!

 

[JackSmith90]

Update: more eyes are open.

We noticed the Antirunt did not gain weight today even lost a little. One of the grey kittens is heavier now. We are going to give antirunt some formula now and help him get to a nipple. We still hear some sneezing from some of them but no mucus and we noticed antirunt licking other kittens ears.