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Question
Hi, My sister in laws mixed breed cat recently had her first letter. (4 littens) Everthing seemed to ahve progressed fine howver the mother cat has not yet urinated. She is nursing the kittens round the clock and has water to drink. How long is it okay for hter not to visit the litter box after birth.
Thank you
Kathleen,
Sometimes new moms will wait a day or two before leaving the nest to urinate/defecate, after all giving birth is somewhat stressful on any mom's body and things may not necessarily work properly for a day or two. I'm not sure how long your queen has gone without urinating, but if it's in the 24-36 hour range I wouldn't be too concerned yet, however if this has gone beyond 36 hours then the cat should really see a vet soon to make sure that there's nothing serious going on. If mom has to go to the vet it's important to take her kittens along since they depend on her for warmth, protection, comfort and nutrition at this early stage in their development. Be sure that mom has access to food, water and a litter pan within the same room as she is caring for her babies in because if these amenities are located in areas of the house that make it necessary for her to leave her babies unattended and out of sight for several minutes she may be waiting until she's confident that they're safe - I realize that in all likelihood mom and kittens are safe, but cats are most often quite primal and depend on the instincts that have successfully brought them this far in terms of their evolution.
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Answers by Expert:
Ali
Expertise
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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