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Cats/new born kittens

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Expert: - 9/15/2011


Question
My persian cat had kittens 2 nights ago, the first she cleaned and ate the afterbirth  the second she left so I broke the sack and rubbed the kitten but it died I noticed a open wound from the tail up the spine about 2 inches long. Do you know why, and
She doesnt want to spend any time with the kitten and I am trying to put the kitten onto her to feed but she wont let this happen.
I have some kitten milk and I am trying to feed the kitten but it doesnt want to suck. Please can you offer me any advise
Thankyou

Answer
Sara,

I'm a little concerned that something might be wrong with momma or her kitten, it's a good idea to have her assessed by a veterinarian. Sometimes mommas do know that there's a problem with their baby and will simply reject them as a result but other times momma has a medical issue happening that's causing her discomfort or simply making her feel poorly so she doesn't want to care for her kittens... The only way to know for sure what's going on is to have a qualified veterinarian assess both momma and her kittens.

The kitten that died was likely stillborn. This may have been as a result of the wound you noticed where the skin failed to close completely over the spinal cord or the kitten simply may have had other defects that weren't compatible with life outside of the womb. There's no way to know for sure exactly why the kitten died unless your vet performs a necropsy (animal autopsy) on the kitten's body.

I am extremely concerned that the remaining kitten doesn't seem able to nurse and momma doesn't seem interested in caring for him/her so I would advise medical assessment by a veterinarian as soon as possible to determine exactly what's happening.. If momma only had 2 kittens it's quite possible that she has retained one or more in her womb that she is unable to deliver vaginally for whatever reason. If this is the case she may require a caesarian section to deliver her kitten and save her life.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please don't hesitate 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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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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