Help! Mommy cat having a kitten...what to do next?

[ChristineL]

Hi @Dr. Jean Hofve, @Dr. Jeff and @Dr. Christina ,

One of my cats delivered one kitten around 12am today . We currently have both the mommy and the kitten in the office. It's around 3:50am and I haven't seen additional contractions. Is it normal for cats to have just one kitten? She seems calm and is constantly cleaning the kitten.

I have two other resident adult cats whom are very eager to participate in the process...How long do I need to keep the mommy and the kitten separated from the other two cats?

What good food should I feed the mommy. She is already on raw food (Greenjuju goat, pork and beef and Smallbatch turkey, pork and beef), goat's milk and broth.

She typically eats 3 times a day but due to labor, she didn't have her 3rd meal today. When should I feed her? How often should I feed her now that she is nursing? [Update: around 4am - we feed Mommy 1 piece of Greenjuju raw beef and she ate!]

What other things do I have to watch out for? Do I have to weigh the kitten to ensure she/he is growing properly? I read online that it's better not to touch the kitten in the first 2 weeks...is that true?

It also seems like the kitten cannot find Mommy's nipple. How do I help?

We have a bowl of water for her by her nesting area (it's a wool cat cave) and a litterbox nearby.

Eager for your guidance. Thank you.

Best,
Grandma Christine.

 

[Dr. Jeff]

Congratulations Christine!

We'll address all your questions in 1 hour when we speak...

 

[ChristineL]

@Dr. Jeff thank you for the much needed call. Here’s a photo of our mama girl and our baby …

 

[ChristineL]

Boy or girl?

 

[DayshaG]

@ChristineL Congratulations to Mama cat and you! I am totally guessing here as a community member but that may be a little scrotum sack?? Maybe a boy???

 

[Dr. Jeff]

???

 

[ChristineL]

@Dr. Jeff, @Dr. Jean Hofve and @Dr. Christina,

Mommy Sophie and the baby are doing well.

I have a few follow-up questions:

How long can a mother cat be away from her kitten?

Tonight, while I was playing with my two other adult cats, Sophie heard us and wanted to join in. She loves to play, so she scratched at the door, wanting to leave the office and join the family for playtime.

I let her out but reminded her that her baby was still in the office. She sniffed around, took a quick bathroom break in the litter box, and then returned to her kitten. The second time she came out, she had a few treats from the snuffle mats (another one of her favorite activities!) before heading back to her baby.

I understand that mother cats in the wild need to leave their kittens to hunt for food, but I'm not sure how long they typically feel comfortable being away from their babies. Sophie stayed by her kitten's side almost constantly until yesterday, when she briefly left to get a drink of water. Today, she ventured out for a quick litter box break and twice to spend a little time with the rest of the family.

Is this a normal progression? How long can I comfortably let her spend away from her kitten, and are there any signs I should watch for to make sure the baby is still getting the care he/she needs?

Play: Are there any physical activities we should avoid during playtime? For example, should we limit high jumps, vigorous running, or any other movements?

Supplements: Are there any we should avoid while Sophie is nursing?

All of her supplements are food-based, including Adored Beast's PhytoSynergy and Ion Biome, as well as CBD Dog Health's mushroom tinctures. Even though these products are food-based, I'm unsure whether all of their ingredients are safe for a nursing mother cat.

Would you recommend contacting each company directly for guidance, or are there particular ingredients or types of supplements I should avoid while she's nursing?

Thank you!

Best,
Grandma Christine

 

[Dr. Christina]

Trust nature Christine. Several hours is fairly common. Note how the kitten feels and observe what he is doing to prompt her to return.

Play - no need to restrict.
Supplements - all are fine as far as I know.

have you named Baby yet?

Keep having fun.

Dr. Christina

 

[Dr. Jeff]

I understand that mother cats in the wild need to leave their kittens to hunt for food, but I'm not sure how long they typically feel comfortable being away from their babies. Sophie stayed by her kitten's side almost constantly until yesterday, when she briefly left to get a drink of water. Today, she ventured out for a quick litter box break and twice to spend a little time with the rest of the family.

Is this a normal progression?

Yes! And as the kitten gets older Sophie will probably spend more and more time away from her.

Are there any physical activities we should avoid during playtime? For example, should we limit high jumps, vigorous running, or any other movements?

Supplements: Are there any we should avoid while Sophie is nursing?

Nope. Just continue the play, and the high quality food and treats that you're using.

Would you recommend contacting each company directly for guidance

Sure, it can't hurt. Usually good quality companies will include on the label if they don't advise using the supplement for pregnant or nursing mothers.

 

[ChristineL]

Trust nature Christine. Several hours is fairly common. Note how the kitten feels and observe what he is doing to prompt her to return.

Play - no need to restrict.
Supplements - all are fine as far as I know.

have you named Baby yet?

Keep having fun.

Dr. Christina

It's "Oliver" if a boy or "Olivia" if a girl, nickname "Olive" (I do enjoy a dirty martini from time to time, ha ha). Thank you, Dr. Christina!