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Cats/mum rejecting kitten

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Expert: Ali - 3/22/2008


Question
Hi, my cat ended up having a c-section 4 days ago and is recovering very well but rejected her kitten, we have kept them together and she is slowly coming round to looking after her properly although we are still supplementing her with formula milk every 2 hours....mum is now allowing kitten to suckle a lot more but is now trying to leave her for longer periods of time, is this normal and is there any other information you can give us? Thanks

Answer
Vikki,

Sometimes cats who have delivered their babies by c-section are a bit disconnected from their young. After all, they don't remember giving birth to these kittens. I think that as long as the kitten is growing and seems content you should keep doing what you are doing. From what you describe the kitten is not getting enough nutrition from mom to sustain herself. Enjoy your new family member. Hopefully mom will come around in time and allow the kitten to nurse full time, but you have to remember she is recovering from a major surgery and she may still be painful. If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me again.

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Ali

Expertise

I am the proud guardian of 3 mixed breed cats ranging from 6 to 12 years old. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

Experience

I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

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