looking for advice for kitten and mom
looking for advice for kitten and mom
Hi I came home last night to discover that my cat poucer had a kitten. I just got pouncer about a month ago from a friend at work. Shes nine years old and very sweet. Pouncer is my first pet and I diddnt know she was pregnent (I just thought she was getting fat). I'm a bit bewildered as to what I should do. The kitten seems fine but from what I can tell its the only one she had. Is that normal? Also she gave birth in a box full of some stuffed animals I had and I was wondering if I should move the cats. Also any advice on what to expect with a kitten as to behavior would be welcome as well (Like I said never had a kitten before). I was thinking about going to a vet but I wont have time to do so until tommorrow at the earliest. Any advice at all would be welcome. Thank you
Re: looking for advice for kitten and mom
Please take the time to read our Kitten Care pages to familiarize yourself with birth, feeding, health issues, complications, etc.
Look around your home carefully for signs of other kittens. It is highly unusual for a queen to only deliver one kitten. Look in warm, dark, hidden areas for other kittens, and watch the queen carefully, she may lead you to the others (if there are any). If she truly had this kitten yesterday, chances are, there are others, or she may yet be in delivery stage. (you should call your vet anyway, you need to monitor her for any complications). Since you haven't found other kittens yet, you need to watch her closely for any signs of canibalism (watch her interaction with her newborn, if she is neglecting him, biting him, pushing him away from nursing her, etc, in which case, seperate them immediately and get both to your vet ASAP)
Provide a safe area away from heavy traffic in your home for her and her newborn. Make sure you have a box high enough the kitten cannot get out of, line it with soft towels and keep it clean. Make it a private area and if you have other pets (or small children), don't let them near or to disturb her, queens prefer privacy and safe areas in which to nurse their young ones. Make sure the area is warm and free from drafts. Do not use the box full of stuffed animals, this can suffocate the kitten. The box should only be big enough to allow momma kitty room to stretch and nurse.
Ideally, you need to get her and her newborn checked by your vet right away. Since she is 9 years old, you need to make sure she is in excellent health and that the newborn is not suffering from any ill effects. If, and this is a very big if, she only had one kitten, this could be an indication she is not well or has a health problem or even has yet to deliver more kittens. Since you are new to this, pregnancy and kitten care, it would suit mother and baby (and yourself) to get them checked immediately by your vet. A 9-year-old with a newborn(s) requires special attention and care. He can also schedule a spay for her in the near future.
Look around your home carefully for signs of other kittens. It is highly unusual for a queen to only deliver one kitten. Look in warm, dark, hidden areas for other kittens, and watch the queen carefully, she may lead you to the others (if there are any). If she truly had this kitten yesterday, chances are, there are others, or she may yet be in delivery stage. (you should call your vet anyway, you need to monitor her for any complications). Since you haven't found other kittens yet, you need to watch her closely for any signs of canibalism (watch her interaction with her newborn, if she is neglecting him, biting him, pushing him away from nursing her, etc, in which case, seperate them immediately and get both to your vet ASAP)
Provide a safe area away from heavy traffic in your home for her and her newborn. Make sure you have a box high enough the kitten cannot get out of, line it with soft towels and keep it clean. Make it a private area and if you have other pets (or small children), don't let them near or to disturb her, queens prefer privacy and safe areas in which to nurse their young ones. Make sure the area is warm and free from drafts. Do not use the box full of stuffed animals, this can suffocate the kitten. The box should only be big enough to allow momma kitty room to stretch and nurse.
Ideally, you need to get her and her newborn checked by your vet right away. Since she is 9 years old, you need to make sure she is in excellent health and that the newborn is not suffering from any ill effects. If, and this is a very big if, she only had one kitten, this could be an indication she is not well or has a health problem or even has yet to deliver more kittens. Since you are new to this, pregnancy and kitten care, it would suit mother and baby (and yourself) to get them checked immediately by your vet. A 9-year-old with a newborn(s) requires special attention and care. He can also schedule a spay for her in the near future.
..........Traci
Re: looking for advice for kitten and mom
Thank you for the reply. Ive looked everywhere and I cant find any other kittens. Im going to ask my friend at work who gave her to me if shes had small litters in the past. (I think I remember him mentioning that shes never had more than two kittens but I wont be sure til I ask him) Im taking them both to the vet first thing tommorrow. (Vet is on vacation til then And I dont have a car so I dont have much choice of vets right now). She seems very friendly with her kitten. Purring and cleaning almost constantly she lets the kitten nurse fine. I removed the stuffed animals from the box and replaced them with towels. (The box is pretty big so there is plenty of room for them both and its high enough so poucer can get out to eat and use the litter box but the kitten cant get out. She picked a pretty out of the way area for her nest So I havent moved it.
-
candylilacs
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 2:15 pm
Re: looking for advice for kitten and mom
Surprized:
When cats are stressed out or not getting the food/water/shelter they need they can have small litters...less stress on the body. My yowly five-month-old kitten was the sole product in a litter. Of course, she was born in June in the desert when it was 105 degrees. Also 9-years-old is not a young thing anymore.
Anyway, congratulations on your blessing! Just make sure there won't be any more surprises and make sure you spay mama cat before she goes into heat again.
c.
When cats are stressed out or not getting the food/water/shelter they need they can have small litters...less stress on the body. My yowly five-month-old kitten was the sole product in a litter. Of course, she was born in June in the desert when it was 105 degrees. Also 9-years-old is not a young thing anymore.
Anyway, congratulations on your blessing! Just make sure there won't be any more surprises and make sure you spay mama cat before she goes into heat again.
c.