Expert: Dear Tabbi - 5/22/2008

Question
I need some help. My cat Gravy had her second litter of kittens on the weekend. Only one of them survived. I know she thinks of me as her main care giver only coming to me for affection and food, and it wasn't a problem with her first litter of two, but now it's escolated to something completely different. She wont stay in the room with her kitten, she follows me everywhere I go no matter how many times I push her to stay. I can't go to the bathroom or get food or go watch t.v without her being all over me. My worry is that she's not feeding her kitten enough or keeping it warm. The only time she'll stay with him is if I'm in the room with her, and even then it's a struggle to get her to lay down with him instead of me. I've had to sleep on the floor beside the kitten to get her to stay with him. She ignores his cries for her! I'm losing my mind! I've tried and shut the door to the room to keep her in, but all she does is scratch at the door and scream her head off. Please help me, I don't want to be responcible for this kitten dieing. And if nothing can be done about her, can you tell me how I can take care of a 4 day old kitten?!

Answer
Allison,

She may sense that something is wrong with the baby and that is why she is ignoring it. It's hard but sometimes Mother Nature knows best.
Trying to force her to take care of the baby will only stress her.

There are rescue groups and shelters that have "foster mothers" available. They are mother cats who have lost their babies but still have milk and will nurse babies who have lost their mothers. You can call the SPCA or a veterinarian's office and ask them who to call.
Or you can take the baby to a vet and let them take care of it.

You can do it but it is difficult, a lot of work and time, and not always successful. But it is VERY rewarding if you can get the baby to survive.

I am attaching some links that will help you on how to take of a newborn:
(copy and paste, or type, the whole links into your address bar)

http://www.2ndchance.info/orphankitten.htm

http://www.leblink.com/~wescom/handrase.htm#Feeding

http://cats.about.com/cs/kittencare/ht/bottlefeed.htm

I hope everything turns out OK for the poor little one. And PLEASE get your cat spayed as soon as she is able to prevent this tragedy from happening again...to her and to you.

Tabbi