Waiting games

[kittyfostermama]

We just got this young mom-to-be (only 8 months old) from our local shelter. Attached is the xray as well as a pic of her. I think we still have a good 10-14 days until the kittens arrive. In the mean time, I'm always curious about coat color and the genetics of all of that. I know it's nearly impossible to say what colors she might have but are there any colors that she absolutely can't have based on her coloring (assuming grey tabby is the correct color/pattern for her?) Also, if anyone is good at reading radiographs and wants to take a guess at how many kittens are in there, I'd love some guesses. I can see three for sure but I think the radiographs were taken a bit early (the shelter does it to confirm pregnancy).

 

[Sarthur2]

Cats have 2 horns to their uterus — one on each side, so she likely has kittens on the other side also. StefanZ is good with genetics and colors, but the unknown is the father.

Have you raised kittens before? Are you fostering for the shelter or did you adopt her?

She’s very pretty and looks sweet! Thanks for taking her!

 

[StefanZ]

more photos? i think she perhaps has a bengal Ancestor. her broken mackerel pattern seems to be detoriated bengal rosettes….

 

[kittyfostermama]

Cats have 2 horns to their uterus — one on each side, so she likely has kittens on the other side also. StefanZ is good with genetics and colors, but the unknown is the father.

Have you raised kittens before? Are you fostering for the shelter or did you adopt her?

She’s very pretty and looks sweet! Thanks for taking her!

Yes, we have fostered for several years thru our local shelter. This is our 8th pregnant mama (but youngest) and we have also fostered a couple hundred kittens over the past 10 years. This little one came in as a stray a few days ago. Hoping this ones instincts kick in a dn she has an easy delivery. I've got all necessary supplies for every scenario.

 

[kittyfostermama]

more photos? i think she perhaps has a bengal Ancestor. her broken mackerel pattern seems to be detoriated bengal rosettes….

I will post more pics of her today. My first thought was that her pattern looked bengal-ish. And yes, the father(s) is a big unknown. It will be a long couple of weeks waiting until her babies are ready

 

[kittyfostermama]

Here are a couple more pictures of her.

 

[StefanZ]

For every day use and for all practical reasons; she is a grey broken mackerel tabby. Or diluted, or blue. domestic shorthair.
And so you will write in the insurance papers and papers for the vet.

But yourself you will know she has perhaps some bengal Ancestry. Quite far away, but fully possible.

Kittens will tend to be black or grey (broken) mackerel tabbies, some may be solid. This depends if she has one or two mackerel tabby genes.
Colors come usually from momma, patterns may come from both parents.
Mackerel tabby is fairly dominant.

 

[kittyfostermama]

Thank you StefanZ for the explanation. This poor girl just keeps getting bigger and more uncomfortable. I’m guessing we should have kittens sometime this weekend. I will post pics of her and babies when they arrive.

 

[kittyfostermama]

Babies are finally here! This young mama cat surprised me by delivering all 6 of her babies completely on her own. I checked on her at 1am and she seemed totally normal. Back in at 6:30 this morning to this beautiful sight. From the looks of it there are two solid white, one grey tabby with white socks and three solid grey. All are nursing well and mama cat has them and herself all cleaned up. The pic of her big belly was last night. Amazing what can change in just 12 hours. No discharge and she was eating right up until the end. The only thing that changed in her behavior was that she finally started going into her nesting area about 24 hours before.

 

[fionasmom]

What a beautiful family! She is such a good little mom and that will make things easier for both of you. She is very lucky.

 

[Sarthur2]

She’s a champ!

 

[kittyfostermama]

Question about weight gain and supplemental feeding. Kittens are one week old today. Up until today they have been gaining 10-20 grams a day. Today's weights have 4 of them at yesterday's weight and two that have gained less than 10 grams. Mama cat's "milk bags" are not full and no milk comes out when I manually squeeze. She is nursing them and they latch but are not staying on the nipple for too long which makes me think mama cat is not producing. How long until I should start supplemental feedings? Right away or wait until the next weigh in tomorrow? Is there anything I can give mama cat to stimulate milk production? She is a young mama cat at only 8 months (estimated).

 

[StefanZ]

Question about weight gain and supplemental feeding. Kittens are one week old today. Up until today they have been gaining 10-20 grams a day. Today's weights have 4 of them at yesterday's weight and two that have gained less than 10 grams. Mama cat's "milk bags" are not full and no milk comes out when I manually squeeze. She is nursing them and they latch but are not staying on the nipple for too long which makes me think mama cat is not producing. How long until I should start supplemental feedings? Right away or wait until the next weigh in tomorrow? Is there anything I can give mama cat to stimulate milk production? She is a young mama cat at only 8 months (estimated).

You can wait until next weighting, if you weigh daily. Esp as handfeeding HAS its dangers esp if you arent experienced, so better to not handfeed just because.

Lotsa of fluids, make sure its calcium rich. I suppose extra vitamine E is good here too. Nourishing food.

But yeah, good you are prepared to hand feed. You do have the gears? What kmr do you use? Goats milk is usually an OK alternative.

 

[kittyfostermama]

You can wait until next weighting, if you weigh daily. Esp as handfeeding HAS its dangers esp if you arent experienced, so better to not handfeed just because.

Lotsa of fluids, make sure its calcium rich. I suppose extra vitamine E is good here too. Nourishing food.

But yeah, good you are prepared to hand feed. You do have the gears? What kmr do you use? Goats milk is usually an OK alternative.

That you for the reply. It definitely seems like mama's milk is already drying up. Yes, I have a KMR in powder form and all of the supplies. I have bottle fed several times but just not this young. They are not gaining so I started trying last night late. I think it will take a few tries before they learn to switch over to the artificial nipple.

 

[StefanZ]

That you for the reply. It definitely seems like mama's milk is already drying up. Yes, I have a KMR in powder form and all of the supplies. I have bottle fed several times but just not this young. They are not gaining so I started trying last night late. I think it will take a few tries before they learn to switch over to the artificial nipple.

Yes kittens used to momma have often difficult to switch to bottle. a syringe may be easier.

 

[kittyfostermama]

Yes kittens used to momma have often difficult to switch to bottle. a syringe may be easier.

I'm using a 3ml syringe with a miracle nipple for now. Kittens are still nursing from mama cat, I just don't think they are getting much. It's a tough position to be in as I don't want to completely separate them if there's a chance that she starts producing milk again. But I'm keeping a close eye on their weights and will supplement as needed. Right now, mama cat wants the KMR more than the kittens. I'm giving her a small dish to lap up and get more calories and hydration.