New mother

Question
QUESTION: My bobtail gave birth to her "first" litter a week ago today.  I say "first" cause even though this is the first she has given birth to, she raised another litter after a mother cat had left the babies.  She even started lactating and feed them.  She was great and I was so proud of her.  I have plenty of experience with raising kittens as I have raised well over 20 litters but she is doing some things that are stumping me.  First she stopped feeding the "runt".  Now I know that they do this if they think something is wrong but its a healthy kitten.  I have started feeding it formula.  Other than not feeding it she takes care of it.  I have her and the 7 babies in the bathroom.  Now she keeps trying to move them.  At least I think thats what shes doing.  I let her out this morning and went into the living room to sit down.  I heard 2 of the kittens scream out.  I went into the bathroom and there was blood all over the floor.  Plus she had knocked out all her cat litter.  The runt and another were laying on the floor away from the others and had blood coming from their mouths.  The other one is okay now.  The bleeding has stopped and its breathing fine and eating ok.  The runt is not doing good.  Its nose is cold and is turning blue.  At first it couldnt catch its breath but is now breathing much better.  I am taking it to the vet this morning.  But my question is....What is going on?  What did she do?  Is she trying to move them and not really knowing what to do hurt them?  What do I need to do?  The mother seems very agitated.  I am not letting her in the bathroom with them alone.  I go in with her when they need to be feed and make her leave when they are done.  What should I do?

ANSWER: Amber,

For some reason, the mama does not like where the kittens are and wants to move them, but is not very good at it.  It is not surprising she punctured one or two.

When we have had mothers do that, we have put them in a carrier and let them cool their heels for a couple of hours.  Usually, when they were let back with their kittens, they were so glad to be with them, they forgot about moving them.

I am assuming no other pets have access to this bathroom nor do small children.

I will be interested in what the vet says about the "runt".

Please make sure the kittens stay warm, but not hot (avoid heating pads).  Kittens at a week of age cannot regulate their own body temperatures, and rely on mama to keep them warm.

Please let me know what develops.

Best regards.... Norm.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Everything checked out good with the "runt".  Sorry that's the way we have always referred to the smallest of the litter lol.  But she is doing great now.  Its kinda like Jezebel (the Queen) gave her to me.  The baby sleeps beside me in a little bed I made for her with plenty of towels and a fleece blanket to keep her warm.  Its all in a safe way to that she can not be harmed.  During the day she stays with me and goes all over the house.  Its kinda like having another baby.  The vet says that she was probably having to fight the others so much to nurse and with it being so small it just wasn't able to get in there like it should.  Now its so used to being fed with formula it doesn't want to go back to the mothers milk.  But like I said she is doing great and everything checked out with her.  Now what is funny is that I did exactly what you said to do but I hadn't read your response yet.  I gave her a "break" from the kittens and would not let her back in with them unless I was with her.  She hasn't tried to move them since.  But I agree that she doesn't understand exactly how to hold them to move them.  I think she grabbed them around the throat and it irritated their throats.  The other kitten is fine and was fine and nursing again next day.  I have been bringing out the litter twice a day to allow socialization.  It amazes me how they already recognize my voice and start to crawl towards me.  When I do this I leave Jezebel in the bathroom with the door shut so that I can let them walk around with out her becoming too upset.  I do have 2 small children but I don't think they are what was bothering her.  I raised Jezebel from birth on.  I even cut her umbilical cord lol.  She is very used to the kids and basically lets them come in and pet the kittens.  She doesn't mind this at all.  I think it may have been my mother in laws dogs.  They came over one day and ran in the bathroom.  It was right after that that she was trying to move them.  Thank you for answering me.  It helped.  Its good to talk to others who love and understand cats as much as me.

ANSWER: Amber,

I am glad all is working out well. It sounds as if all is great with the litter.  I am not surprised at Jezebel's reaction to the dogs!!!!!!!!!

I assume you will be weaning them at about 5-6 weeks of age?

I do appreciate your kind words about my kindness and understanding of cats.  I am always glad to share!!!!!!!!!!

Best regards... Norm.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Your welcome!  But we now seem to have another problem.  I think the runt may have a cold.  Not sure.  It has been crying for about an hour straight now and will not calm down.  It cant seem to catch its breath even when I rock it upside down to help clear its nose.  Not even a dropper is helping it to breath better.  Its screaming when it cries.  It sneezes but not a normal sneeze.  I don't know how to explain the noise it makes when it tries to sneeze.  I finally did get it to nurse off the mother yesterday and earlier today.  We don't know what to do to help it and get it to calm down.  I will be taking it back to the vet tomm as today is Sunday and they are not open.  Any advice would be great.  I usually start weaning my kittens around 5 weeks.  I alter them with nursing and moistened kitten food until they are 6 and a half weeks old.  Then I separate them from the mother and completely wean them.  This has always helped my kittens to adjust better with food.  It gradually gets them to eat food while still getting nutrition from the mother as they don't eat the food so great at first.  I plan on in the next couple years starting to breed and raise cats.  But I love this website and you have been so helpful.  Thank you!  Let me know what you think is going on.

Thanks,
Amber

Answer
Amber,

I am sorry for your loss!!!!!!!!!!

There was probably nothing the vet could gave done for the kitten even had you gotten to the vet on Sunday.

Sad regards... Norm.

Amber,

Let us hope there is no residual damage from mama trying to move them. For kittens that young, if there may be a cold, it is normally a virus, and it must run its course. On the other hand, secondary infection can be controlled by a little bit of amoxycillin liquid (maybe a couple of drops). The most important thing, right now, is to keep the kitten warm and, if it will nurse, let it nurse.

It is also possible it aspirated some milk and what you are hearing may be labored breathing, but, I am not a vet. If there is some pneumonia going on, antibiotics are the thing to give the kitten. It sounds as if your best recourse, if the kitten is warm and nursing, is to see your vet first thing Monday morning.

Please let me know what develops.  At the tender age these kitten are, there is not a whole can be done for them.

Concerned regards... Norm.