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Hi. Our cat is about 2 years old. She got pregnant from our male who is now fixed. She gave birth to only one kitten 3 days ago. It passed away last night after aspirating. I believe it was also very premature -it had no hair on its chest or stomach and its legs were very tiny and fragile. His head also wobbled and it had trouble nursing and latching on. The mom NEVER produced any milk. I bottle fed the baby. She is alert and eating and acting normal. Her tummy feels a little tight still but I cannot tell if there are more babies. She still doesn't have any milk. Is it possible that the one kitten was premature due to health issues and the rest will come naturally when she's full term? She's never had a litter before. She is a smaller cat, the runt from her litter. Can they have just one baby or could there be more waiting to arrive? Her tummy is still swollen but no milk. She never got really big -her tummy looked only a little swollen, but her nipples were swollen and hanging. Thank you for your help!
Yvonne,
This kitty should see a vet ASAP as there probably are more babies inside and it isn't normal for them to deliver one and not the remaining littermates. Momma cat may have to have a caesarian to deliver the remaining babies and after 3 days have passed I'm not sure how many (if any) of the remaining kittens will be alive...I would recommend having momma spayed during her caesarian to prevent further pregnancies as she clearly has had complications with this pregnancy. If you have any further cat related questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me again at any time - I'm more than happy to help in any way that I can.
Kind regards,
Ali
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| Comment | Thank you so much for your help! We saw the vet and they said she could still be pregnant since they have two uteruses. The rest should come normally when it's time. She is in perfect health with no distress of any kind. Our male that got her pregnant has been fixed so she won't be getting pregnant anymore (all of our cats are strictly indoor). If in fact she has more kittens I will have her fixed right after, or in the next month if she isn't still pregnant. I am uncomfortable aborting kittens so we'll raise them and find them good homes -we already have some good ones lined up. We thought we had a couple more months before our boy matured -I guess not lol. Thank you so much for your help! | ||
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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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