Here we can see, “A Mother Cat’s Postnatal Care for Her Newborn Kittens”
After a mother cat has given birth, postnatal care for her newborn kittens is critical, and observational skills are essential at this sensitive moment. Look for warning indicators of health concerns and kitten developmental milestones such as physical activity in the first several weeks.
If the mother cat is experiencing postpartum, make sure she and her kittens are in a safe, warm location away from the rest of the house. Checking for any irregularities in behavior or physical appearances thoroughly can also assist you in identifying problems immediately so that you can seek veterinarian assistance.
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Check with a veterinarian
If you haven’t already, take the mother cat and kittens to your veterinarian for a well-check after one week. This might be an excellent time to vaccinate the mother cat if she hasn’t already. She may also be treated for roundworms to protect herself and her kittens.
Care for a New Kitten and the Mother Cat
The first two to three weeks are critical for a mother cat and her newborn kittens. The kittens should be proliferating, and any postpartum difficulties that the mother may have will occur during this time.
Allow the mother cat to set the tone for your focus. If she’s been your pet for a time, she might be used to seeing you. A stray cat that has been rescued or fostered may prefer that you keep away. They’ll be fine as long as the kittens are nursing often and appear healthy.
Keep the mother cat and her kittens in a quiet area of the house, preferably a different room. As kittens cannot regulate their body temperature until they are a few days old, make sure the room is warm enough. The mother cat can keep the kittens warm, but if she departs to feed or use the litter box, the kittens will be exposed to the elements. One of the most severe threats to newborn kittens is chilling. To keep the kittens warm, provide blankets, a heat lamp, or a heating pad.
Use a large enough box to comfortably accommodate the mother cat and her babies. To line it, clean stack towels. The top towel should be removed first to show a neat layer. As the kittens defecate, the towels will quickly become filthy.
Keep the mother cat’s litter box, food, and water bowls close by. Ensure she’s getting a high-quality canned kitten food with KMR added to it (Kitten Milk Replacement). These specifically prepared diets provide the nutrients that a nursing, postpartum mother cat requires.
Milestones in the Development of a Kitten
A kitten’s eyes open three days after birth, and the umbilical cord falls off. Their neurological systems aren’t fully matured. Thus they may twitch while sleeping. This twitching is entirely natural and signals that their nervous system and muscles develop correctly.
The kittens will start crawling around and attempting to stand by for two weeks. During this stage, their teeth will begin to emerge. You may feel little teeth nubs in their mouth if you put your finger.
After nursing, the mother cat will lick each kitten around the belly and anal area for the first three weeks to encourage waste removal. You’ll need to replicate this task using a warm, damp towel while she’s away.
The kittens should be wandering around and actively playing by three weeks. They should continue to breastfeed. You can start them on wet food and add KMR as needed. You can also show them how to use the litter box. Any premium non-clay litter or the World’s Finest Cat Litter are the best choices for young kittens. Avoid clumping clay litter at this age.
Issues with Newborn Kittens Health
Kittens are the most susceptible to intestinal parasites. Infectious disorders, including respiratory infections and congenital diseases, are other health issues young kittens face.
When a kitten fails to thrive, it is known as fading kitten syndrome. It could be a symptom of the syndrome if you notice one of the kittens is generally more lethargic and sleeps a lot more than its siblings. A veterinarian who specializes in kitten care should see that kitten right away.
Issues with Postpartum Health
Pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period are all stressful times for a new mother’s body. A new mother’s hormones are flooded, milk production begins, and the healing process from childbirth is in full flow. There are a few severe conditions in your mother cat to watch out for.
Mastitis
Mastitis is a bacterial infection of the milk ducts that arises when inflamed mammary glands limit the mother cat’s milk production. The teats swell and become heated, with visible “bruising,” The mother cat may refuse to nurse the kittens. Until the mother cat recovers, the kittens may need to be fed by hand. Mastitis is a severe veterinary problem. Antibiotics are frequently required to treat the infection in cats.
Hypocalcemia
Hypocalcemia, sometimes known as “milk fever,” is a veterinary emergency that affects only a tiny percentage of cats. A shortage of calcium during pregnancy and nursing might cause this illness. Seizures, tremors, restlessness, and excessive panting are some of the symptoms. The kittens will need to be fed by hand while the mother recovers.
Metritis of the uterus
Metritis is a severe uterine infection that can also be a veterinary emergency. After giving birth to her kittens, the mother cat has typically normal vaginal discharge. A foul-smelling discharge, on the other hand, is a red flag. Lethargy, fever, and a decrease in milk output are other symptoms.
The mother cat may need to be admitted to the hospital for treatment and an emergency spay. Feeding and caring for the kittens will fall to you as the mother cat recovers.
User Questions
How do you take care of a mother cat after giving birth?
Maintain a warm room temperature, as well as clean and dry bedding. Feeding – The kittens should begin sucking from their mother nearly right away. After half an hour, gently urge them towards the teats if they haven’t started. If the kittens do not begin to eat, consult your veterinarian.
Can you touch a kitten after it has been born?
Before touching them, do it carefully and make sure she’s comfortable with it. If you must handle them, wear gloves or thoroughly wash your hands before and after. In either case, they shouldn’t be taken much until they’re around two weeks old.
Do I have my cat’s trust when it comes to her kittens?
Your cat continues to bring you her kittens because she wants them to become accustomed to you and familiarise themselves with your code of conduct. Your cat understands that she and her kittens will be living with you, so she wants them to be accustomed to humans.
What’s the deal with my cat sitting on her kittens?
So, what’s the deal with your cat laying on her kittens? One of three things causes mother cats to spread on their kittens. They may be unaccustomed to dealing with kittens, or they may be attempting to protect them, or they may lack the space in their nursing area to dedicate a corner to them.
What’s the deal with my cat laying on her babies?
She is either naive, a new mother who is bored and cares about the kittens, or she is dissatisfied with the world and needs to conceal kids from others by sitting on them. She does not want them to become bored.
Conclusion
I hope you found this helpful guide. If you have any questions or comments, don’t hesitate to use the form below.
