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Cats/Mom cat has no milk

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Expert: - 9/3/2011


Question
my cat has had 3 litters , we managed to feed/save one from the last litter, is this problem going to happen every time ? If so we should get her fixed as it's really not possible to hand rear ,

Answer
Janice,

I am trying to figure out the question?  Has your mother cat had milk for any of her litters?

In any case, there are a couple of things we do:  

(1) About 3 days before birth up until 3 days after birth, we feed the mother cat 1 capsule of marshmallow root (available from any pharmacy or health food store) two times a day.  Our cats are not easy to pill, but they will eat the marshmallow root when we mix the capsule's contents with a good strained meat baby food (only ingredients are strained meat and broth or gravy). Most cats will kill for the baby food and we find we can mix all kinds of stuff in baby food and they will eat it.

(2) When you think the mother cat is done giving birth, a visit to the vet for an oxytocin shot helps shrink and condition the uterus, flush out any placentas or kittens that may not have been delivered (one at a time), and help in milk production.

In most cats, milk can become evident a week before birth or not come in until birthing has taken place. If this is chronic from the first litter, your idea of getting her spayed has merit.

We have done hand rearing with mixed results and it is not any fun unless the kittens actually thrive.

Best regards... Norm.

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Norman Auspitz

Expertise

I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience

I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.


Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.

Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.

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