*update* Snowy had c-section, HELP ME!!!!**She seems interested!!!!!

[emilysgk]

Ok... so like every two hours then?

I have a heating pad under the box to keep them warm. I took care of a puppy once from 2 days old, but it was only one and so much easier all around. Theses guys I cant hardly keep them still to try and feed them, they get some and we both wear some. The silver one is already doing much better. Maybe it will make it after all. Maybe I should put a pop bottle in there with a sock (warmed of course) maybe they would like that more.

They just wont settle at all. Just cry and cry... is that normal? They dont seem to be resting at all really. Im afriad they will wear themelves out. If Snow dont take interet by tomorrow sometime, the cat next door may nurse them. Her babies are about 6wks old now.

[Lizzie]

I don't understand about the pop bottle, what is it for?

Try these web sites with lots of good information, especially on how to feed the babies and not have the stuff go into their lungs, and how to keep them warm without cooking them, and about excessive crying.

http://www.peteducation.com/category...cls=1&cat=1388
http://www.safehavenforcats.com/newborn.htm
http://www.waterloowest.com/articles...nsnewborn.html

[emilysgk]

The pop bottle is for alternate heat source. I had to travel a lot with the puppy and it worked great. Just fill with hot water and put it in a sock. I was thinking maybe it would settle them. They are looking for mom. Keep climbing up and in the blanket. I thought maybe they were too warm, its so hard to keep a good temp, that wasnt it either. Right now they are finally quiet. I took them out of the bathroom long ago in hopes of Snow resting. I dont think she has all that much still, but it has to reduce her stress not to hear them screaming at her. The silver one was doing much better and took a few steps back. Its so fast that they go either way. I havn't gave up hope for it.

In all the time with the kittens, it appears they all have 6 toes. They get it from mom who has 5 1/2.. something like that. Hers looks like two toanails growing together, and most of the babies have a full 6th, one has a half like mom. The 3 calico's are doing very well, extremely active and strong. If I didnt know any better I would want to assume that the silver one was a premie. Deffinate size difference, but also the hair... Its is much thinner and has none really on the belly and legs, you can see through the rest of it. It also looks a lot different... I dont know how to describe it. I suppose it could have something just congenital. Im sorry to ramble, but its 5am and I have not slept a wink tonight and not much more the past two nights. I know if I fall asleep I wont wake up and take care of the babies.

[sprokett]

just giv snow time and shell come around my aunties cat dint take to them for about a whole night we had to lie her down and help the babies drink the milk coz she wouldnt stay still for them but eventually she wouldnt leave them alone it probs just the anesthetic and her being a first time mother shell take to them just try and keep them warm and fed.

[emilysgk]

Well... Snow I think is mostly out of loopy land. She obviously is really unomfortable and still dont want babies. I think she wants them gone actually. See she dont like other cats, not even kittens, and she seems to be thinking of them like she does the others. Her latest is some very severe growls at a baby. It was not and had not touched her at all. She was sitting up looking annoyed at it, it happened to squirm her way and thats what she done. (I let her out of the bathroom around 6am.) Okay... she just now climed on the couch. Didnt jump, just put her fronts up and climbed the back end up. Well she is settled in now looking to the other side of the room where the babies are still crying and looking annoyed. I hope she feels better soon. But I know Snow, and im afraid that since she didnt havve the babies, just woke up feeling like crap with them here... She may not take to them. She truly detests other cats of all kinds.

[Catty1]

If you can get a bit of her milk, and rub it on the babies, it might help.

Occasionally, momcats are like that.

Have you asked your vet about this?

I know a few people on this board have bottle fed kittens - jenluckenbach, reachoutrescue, etc. It sounds like you know what you are doing.

Is there a friend who can spell you off every so often so you can sleep?

HUGS

[aki]

Poor Snow! She prolly dosen't understand what happened to her and where these alien cats came from.

I don't have much to add for advice, since i have never been in that situation, but I can offer my prayers that everything will be okay.

~Aki

[Medusa]

You poor thing. And poor Snow. My cat Pigeon was in labor when someone dropped her off in my yard. She had 3 kittens, two of which were stillborn, one survived and she kept trying to smother it, so I removed it and fed it formula that my vet prescribed. I used a little tiny bottle from a toy store that was meant as an accessory for a doll. But it was too premature and died. My point is that sometimes a mother cat knows something we don't and that could be why she's growling. So if she isn't going to take to her kittens, you'll need someone to take over for you when you need some sleep because they'll need to be fed every few hours. Check out the websites that were sent to you because it's very easy to make that heating pad too warm for them. Be sure that it's on the lowest temp. and that there is a blanket or heavy towel on top of it.

As for the expense, it sounds as though your Dad is going to help you out there, being a cat lover himself. If not, talk to your vet and explain the situation and see if you can work out payments.

I wish you all the best and mom and her kittens, too. Please keep us posted.

Blessings,
Mary