Need Advice

**smokey the elder** · 03-17-2006, 06:42 AM

Boy, you have a tough case for your first foster. Supplementing the mama's milk with KMR is a good idea. A few years ago I had a mama who was caring for two litters! There were 7 kittens in all, but 2 died right away. The other 5 did fine.

**heidiv** · 03-17-2006, 06:01 PM

She seems like she is doing better today. I went to the humane society and got her some antibiotics for the respritory infection and they also supplied me with subcontaineous fluids for her dehydration. The only thing that I noticed today is that she seems to have a discharge coming out of the her from having the babies is this normal???? If its an infection would the medicine that I am giving her help with that. She has been coming out and talking to me all day. She is a pretty special kitty I think my sister has decided that she is going to take her when she has weaned her babies she really fell in love with her the moment she saw her. She told me that she is going to come and be with her tomarrow because she misses her. Isn't that really neat?? I will get to see her all of the time then. That way I can foster another mommy. She is a really neat kitty. She is going to have wonderful loving kittens I am sure of it.

**catnapper** · 03-17-2006, 08:49 PM

Yikes, a discharge? From what I've read here, it could signal an infection of her uterus -- very life threatening!

**Craftlady** · 03-17-2006, 09:43 PM

Could the discharge be afterbirth spotting?

**smokey the elder** · 03-18-2006, 08:23 AM

I'd be worried about pyometra (sp?) We almost lost a mama cat to that, and all but one of the litter died since she couldn't nurse. I think she should go to the vet.

**heidiv** · 03-18-2006, 10:32 AM

Well she seemed more irritated this morning so I took her to the humane society so she could be checked by a vet the kittens were just barely hanging on I think I cried all the way to the hospital and all the way home

I did tell them that if something should happen to the babies that I wouldn't mind if she came here to be spoiled rotten and fattened up it still didn't make me feel any better though. I feel like such a failure. I lost two of the babies probely because of hand feeding and I have managed to take all of the blame for everything yet my husband said they really didn't give you very good odds the mother was malnutritioned and really ill. I really did get a bond with her though. She was a really honey. I don't know girls, I am don't know if I am cut out for this stuff I have a hard time getting a thick skin. I am going to miss momma kitty. I might go and vist her next week if she is doing better?? I just hope and pray some momma kitty will take those babies in. Real momma just didn't have the instinct to help the babies along. The one kitten must have not gone to the bathroom at all because when I barley brush its rear it just unloaded so I don't think she knew what to do?? She was really young about the same age as my youngest kitty Chloe. I can't imagine that little maniac with kittens she has so much growing up to do? Thanks for everything I am still thinking about what I will do.

**smokey the elder** · 03-20-2006, 06:29 AM

Please don't give up. This is not a typical litter. You said it yourself; mama was very undernourished. She can't feed herself and has trouble feeding the kittens. I don't think bottle feeding the baby did any harm. {{{Hugs}}}