11 day old kittens questions??

Hi Everyone,

I have a stray Momma that came to us at the very late stage of pregnancy.
She had her kittens on the 20th. The first days she stayed with them almost all
day only coming out to eat and use the litter box.
Now she hardly stays with them at all. I am very worried because she had them
in the coldest part of the house it often drops down to a chilly 60 and is
drafty. Where she had/has them we can't put a heating pad and I'm afraid the
kittens are getting too cold. We tried moving them just to have her move them
back. She has only been feeding them about 3-5 times a day for about 10 minutes
at a time. The rest of the time she is away from them wanting out of the room.
My question is when should I intervene and take over hand feeding and move
the babies if she likes it or not? We have a vet appointment in three days but
I am afraid that it will be too late by then if they don't get enough to eat or
get too cold.
Any advise is very much appreciated.
Amber

in article , The 11 Kitty Brats
at OSPAM wrote on 1/31/04 11:15 AM:

Hi Everyone,

I have a stray Momma that came to us at the very late stage of pregnancy.
She had her kittens on the 20th. The first days she stayed with them almost
all
day only coming out to eat and use the litter box.
Now she hardly stays with them at all. I am very worried because she had them
in the coldest part of the house it often drops down to a chilly 60 and is
drafty. Where she had/has them we can't put a heating pad and I'm afraid the
kittens are getting too cold. We tried moving them just to have her move them
back. She has only been feeding them about 3-5 times a day for about 10
minutes
at a time. The rest of the time she is away from them wanting out of the room.
My question is when should I intervene and take over hand feeding and move
the babies if she likes it or not? We have a vet appointment in three days
but
I am afraid that it will be too late by then if they don't get enough to eat
or
get too cold.
Any advise is very much appreciated.
Amber
How do the kittens look? I suggest that you get something called the Snuggle
safe.

http://www.petsmart.com/products/product_12125.shtml

I have one for my kitty with arthritis and it really does keep the bedding
warm for 12 hours.

If the kittens seem to do nutritionally well, maybe the snuggle safe is all
you need and it might keep her around a bit more too. Some kitties are more
interested in being moms than others.

Karen

in article , The 11 Kitty Brats
at OSPAM wrote on 1/31/04 11:15 AM:

Hi Everyone,

I have a stray Momma that came to us at the very late stage of pregnancy.
She had her kittens on the 20th. The first days she stayed with them almost
all
day only coming out to eat and use the litter box.
Now she hardly stays with them at all. I am very worried because she had them
in the coldest part of the house it often drops down to a chilly 60 and is
drafty. Where she had/has them we can't put a heating pad and I'm afraid the
kittens are getting too cold. We tried moving them just to have her move them
back. She has only been feeding them about 3-5 times a day for about 10
minutes
at a time. The rest of the time she is away from them wanting out of the room.
My question is when should I intervene and take over hand feeding and move
the babies if she likes it or not? We have a vet appointment in three days
but
I am afraid that it will be too late by then if they don't get enough to eat
or
get too cold.
Any advise is very much appreciated.
Amber
How do the kittens look? I suggest that you get something called the Snuggle
safe.

http://www.petsmart.com/products/product_12125.shtml

I have one for my kitty with arthritis and it really does keep the bedding
warm for 12 hours.

If the kittens seem to do nutritionally well, maybe the snuggle safe is all
you need and it might keep her around a bit more too. Some kitties are more
interested in being moms than others.

Karen

Hi Karen,

I am going to go out and get one of those today. I want to thank you for
telling me about it. I think it will work nicely to keep them warm. Now I have
half of the problem down WOO HOO!! The kittens hardly ever have the round tummy
after feeding. I will just pick up a can of KMR and do 2-3 feedings a day and
hope that she will do it the rest of the time. At least till we see the vet in
a few days. I have bottles already from a litter that we had to feed awhile
back.
Thanks so very much and have a wonderful weekend!
Amber

Hi Karen,

I am going to go out and get one of those today. I want to thank you for
telling me about it. I think it will work nicely to keep them warm. Now I have
half of the problem down WOO HOO!! The kittens hardly ever have the round tummy
after feeding. I will just pick up a can of KMR and do 2-3 feedings a day and
hope that she will do it the rest of the time. At least till we see the vet in
a few days. I have bottles already from a litter that we had to feed awhile
back.
Thanks so very much and have a wonderful weekend!
Amber

in article , The 11 Kitty Brats
at OSPAM wrote on 1/31/04 12:15 PM:

Hi Karen,

I am going to go out and get one of those today. I want to thank you for
telling me about it. I think it will work nicely to keep them warm. Now I have
half of the problem down WOO HOO!! The kittens hardly ever have the round
tummy
after feeding. I will just pick up a can of KMR and do 2-3 feedings a day and
hope that she will do it the rest of the time. At least till we see the vet in
a few days. I have bottles already from a litter that we had to feed awhile
back.
Thanks so very much and have a wonderful weekend!
Amber

Keep us posted!!

in article , The 11 Kitty Brats
at OSPAM wrote on 1/31/04 12:15 PM:

Hi Karen,

I am going to go out and get one of those today. I want to thank you for
telling me about it. I think it will work nicely to keep them warm. Now I have
half of the problem down WOO HOO!! The kittens hardly ever have the round
tummy
after feeding. I will just pick up a can of KMR and do 2-3 feedings a day and
hope that she will do it the rest of the time. At least till we see the vet in
a few days. I have bottles already from a litter that we had to feed awhile
back.
Thanks so very much and have a wonderful weekend!
Amber

Keep us posted!!

I have 4 of the Snuggle Safe pads and love them. So do my cats.
Gail
"Karen Chuplis" wrote in message
...
in article , The 11 Kitty
Brats
at OSPAM wrote on 1/31/04 11:15 AM:

Hi Everyone,

I have a stray Momma that came to us at the very late stage of
pregnancy.
She had her kittens on the 20th. The first days she stayed with them
almost
all
day only coming out to eat and use the litter box.
Now she hardly stays with them at all. I am very worried because she had
them
in the coldest part of the house it often drops down to a chilly 60 and
is
drafty. Where she had/has them we can't put a heating pad and I'm afraid
the
kittens are getting too cold. We tried moving them just to have her move
them
back. She has only been feeding them about 3-5 times a day for about 10
minutes
at a time. The rest of the time she is away from them wanting out of the
room.
My question is when should I intervene and take over hand feeding and
move
the babies if she likes it or not? We have a vet appointment in three
days
but
I am afraid that it will be too late by then if they don't get enough to
eat
or
get too cold.
Any advise is very much appreciated.
Amber
How do the kittens look? I suggest that you get something called the
Snuggle
safe.

http://www.petsmart.com/products/product_12125.shtml

I have one for my kitty with arthritis and it really does keep the bedding
warm for 12 hours.

If the kittens seem to do nutritionally well, maybe the snuggle safe is
all
you need and it might keep her around a bit more too. Some kitties are
more
interested in being moms than others.

Karen

I have 4 of the Snuggle Safe pads and love them. So do my cats.
Gail
"Karen Chuplis" wrote in message
...
in article , The 11 Kitty
Brats
at OSPAM wrote on 1/31/04 11:15 AM:

Hi Everyone,

I have a stray Momma that came to us at the very late stage of
pregnancy.
She had her kittens on the 20th. The first days she stayed with them
almost
all
day only coming out to eat and use the litter box.
Now she hardly stays with them at all. I am very worried because she had
them
in the coldest part of the house it often drops down to a chilly 60 and
is
drafty. Where she had/has them we can't put a heating pad and I'm afraid
the
kittens are getting too cold. We tried moving them just to have her move
them
back. She has only been feeding them about 3-5 times a day for about 10
minutes
at a time. The rest of the time she is away from them wanting out of the
room.
My question is when should I intervene and take over hand feeding and
move
the babies if she likes it or not? We have a vet appointment in three
days
but
I am afraid that it will be too late by then if they don't get enough to
eat
or
get too cold.
Any advise is very much appreciated.
Amber
How do the kittens look? I suggest that you get something called the
Snuggle
safe.

http://www.petsmart.com/products/product_12125.shtml

I have one for my kitty with arthritis and it really does keep the bedding
warm for 12 hours.

If the kittens seem to do nutritionally well, maybe the snuggle safe is
all
you need and it might keep her around a bit more too. Some kitties are
more
interested in being moms than others.

Karen

OSPAM (The 11 Kitty Brats) wrote in message ...
Hi Karen,

I am going to go out and get one of those today. I want to thank you for
telling me about it. I think it will work nicely to keep them warm. Now I have
half of the problem down WOO HOO!! The kittens hardly ever have the round tummy
after feeding. I will just pick up a can of KMR and do 2-3 feedings a day and
hope that she will do it the rest of the time. At least till we see the vet in
a few days. I have bottles already from a litter that we had to feed awhile
back.
Thanks so very much and have a wonderful weekend!
Amber


Don't be surprised if she stops feeding them altogether when you start
to take over. That happens often. It may be that she isn't producing
enough milk. Does she seem healthy? Also, supplement her with some
high-quality protein such as cooked turkey thighs. Make sure she gets
enough water, as well. You might want to bring Mama to the vet for a
check up with the kittens - make sure she doesn't have an infection or
is anemic. I always worry when Mama doesn't do what she's supposed
to.

-L.