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Question
My cat just had kittens all but one are dead. I took the one this morning because she just abandoned it, i fed it from a nurser bottle and then tried to reintroduce it. She seems to be trying but i had to hold the kitten to her nipple or she wouldnt try to nurse, she runs away then back again when it cries but is running all over the house freaking out. Im not sure if she is going to take care of this kitten or if i should just take it away from her.
This cat sounds very young. Not all cats are instant mothers. You need to nurse this one yourself with kitten milk replacement formula. I wouldn't even bother to get her to nurse it.
She may eventually groom the kitten but she might also growl at it. Get her spayed as soon as possible so this won't happen again.
You should also have her tested for leukemia because cats carrying this virus have a high rate of fetal deaths. If she has it, so does the baby. It is a fatal virus but one they can live with for a few years.
It ultimately ends up causing death from a variety of causes.
I hope that she and the baby are both negative, but you really need to have the mom spayed. She will get bred right away if not done soon.
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Answers by Expert:
Jana Connell RVT, CVT
Expertise
PLEASE READ BEFORE SUBMITTING TO ME: I am NOT a vet and do NOT diagnose diseases. That is only for a licensed Veterinarian to do. I will give you suggestions and steer you toward calling your vet for help. You can call the vet's office and talk to the technician there or the vet at times. Don't be afraid to call them! If you have a serious issue with your pet please post it to one of the veterinarians in here- I will tell you the same thing in my answer. IF your pet is injured or in an emergency situation, CALL YOUR VET- Do not wait and post in here. Just call the vet's office and get them in to see the vet right away. Critical treatment time is lost if you seek answers here when you should have your precious pet at the vets!! Don't sit at home waiting for an answer when your pet is critically ill or injured!! I can answer most questions about small animal and wildlife care as well as small animal nutrition. I can also answer questions about all phases of dental care for small animals. I DO NOT answer questions about birds (unless it is wildlife or songbirds) or HAMSTERS/GERBILS/CHINS/GUINEA PIGS/REPTILES/FROGS/RABBITS/PET BIRDS OF ANY KIND so please submit these questions to the appropriate sections. I, as well as other experts in here, do NOT do homework questions- that is for YOU to do! Please respect these rules for all of us. Thanks!
Experience
I have over 35 years experience in the field of veterinary medicine. I specialized in small animals and did wildlife rehab for over 25 years, mostly raptors, squirrels and opossums. I am a Small Animal Nutritional Consultant with 6 certificates from Hills Pet Foods, CNM and Purina.
I also specialized in Small Animal Dentistry which is a field I truly love.
Organizations
Audubon,World Wildlife Federation, American Society of Veterinary Dental Technicians.
Education/Credentials
Licensed with California and Oregon, RVT and CVT.
Certified Veterinary Dental Technician
Have over 500 logged hours of Continuing Education Credits(that means I keep up to date!).
Awards and Honors
Nominated for Expert of the Month for the last 5 years.
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