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Cats/birth of kittens and one possibly left inside?

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Expert: - 2/3/2009


Question
My young cat (about 8 months old) gave birth to four kittens last night - all healthy - she looked like she was going to have another one - but never did.  When I got home from work today - her stomach looked like it had a lump in it (laying on her side, feeding her four little ones) I petted her and it felt like another kitten - no movement - I am worried about her.  Is there any way to tell without going to a vet?  Money is VERY tight.

Answer
Marianne,

Unfortunately there is no way to tell for sure if there was a kitten left behind without taking her to the vet to be examined. The vet may be able to tell just by performing a thorough physical examination, but there is a possibility that s/he may have to take an x-ray to be sure. If there is a kitten that's been left behind this little girl will need emergency surgery to remove the fetus because leaving it there would potentially cause a serious infection as it decomposes and create a much more expensive vet bill than if she was treated sooner without the guarantee of survival of mom or babies. If I have a general idea of where you are I may be able to offer some resources that may be of help in terms of paying part or all of the cost of the vet care that's urgently needed for this cat. It's unfortunately not uncommon for such a young cat to have complications with pregnancy, labor or delivery and her nutrition has to be very high quality to ensure that she can meet the nutritional needs of her growing family as well as take in enough calories to support her own growth into adulthood. Spaying mom would have prevented this problem from ever occuring and reduces the potential for serious health and behavioral problems down the line. It's very important that you keep mom away from any intact male cats because she can become pregnant again fairly shortly after giving birth.

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Ali

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I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. 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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