I didn't get kitties to vet this morning.

[conuly]

Oops. I decided not to make the same mistake again of oversleeping, so I brought them all upstairs as incentive. There turned out to be four kittens, just about to open their eyes (one has them barely open). Very cute now... and quieter than I'd expect given that I picked them up and manhandled them. That's a bit strange.

Gave mama cat some food and water, which she devoured, so I'm going out to get her more.

Comments

[moggymania.livejournal.com]

If the mother isn't nursing them enough, it could be that they are weak (malnourished) -- if there is a 24/hour vet anywhere near you, I'd get them to one if possible.

(I saw this kind of thing happen with another LJ person about a year ago, and IIRC around half the litter died one at a time.)

[conuly]

That's possible, given this cat's history. That's why I'm so determined to get her to the vet and fixed, because I'm not letting her abandon another litter. However, after watching them for a while in the box, I think I can safely say that they are being fed right now, and that they're not in any imminent danger. Also, they're very *large* kitties for that age - I was a bit surprised, tell the truth, so any starvation must be terribly recent.

I'm checking on them periodically. If it looks like she's actually refusing to let them nurse, I'll take them to the vet immediately, but... I can't afford the vet. My big plan is to do the cowardly thing and drop them off in the middle of the night. Unless it's a life or death situation, I probably can't con *another* free vet visit out of them.

[conuly]

Incidentally, when I say "quieter than I expect", I don't mean that they were silent, I mean that they took a few seconds to get up to full yowl, when I'd expect them to be yowling from the get-go. Just checked them again. Skin isn't sticking up when pulled, so they're not dehydrated, so... they're being nursed, right?

[wodhaund.livejournal.com]

They may very well just be startled, and not know how to react initially. I've helped bad mommas raise litters before, and that's happened to me. The reaction almost seems to be one of "Hey, what's going on he--OH MY GOD!!!!"

*laugh* Bad description, but you get the general idea, I think.

[conuly]

That would make sense. The vet's got 'em now, anyway.

[moggymania.livejournal.com]

If the mother isn't nursing them enough, it could be that they are weak (malnourished) -- if there is a 24/hour vet anywhere near you, I'd get them to one if possible.

(I saw this kind of thing happen with another LJ person about a year ago, and IIRC around half the litter died one at a time.)

[conuly]

That's possible, given this cat's history. That's why I'm so determined to get her to the vet and fixed, because I'm not letting her abandon another litter. However, after watching them for a while in the box, I think I can safely say that they are being fed right now, and that they're not in any imminent danger. Also, they're very *large* kitties for that age - I was a bit surprised, tell the truth, so any starvation must be terribly recent.

I'm checking on them periodically. If it looks like she's actually refusing to let them nurse, I'll take them to the vet immediately, but... I can't afford the vet. My big plan is to do the cowardly thing and drop them off in the middle of the night. Unless it's a life or death situation, I probably can't con *another* free vet visit out of them.

[conuly]

Incidentally, when I say "quieter than I expect", I don't mean that they were silent, I mean that they took a few seconds to get up to full yowl, when I'd expect them to be yowling from the get-go. Just checked them again. Skin isn't sticking up when pulled, so they're not dehydrated, so... they're being nursed, right?

[wodhaund.livejournal.com]

They may very well just be startled, and not know how to react initially. I've helped bad mommas raise litters before, and that's happened to me. The reaction almost seems to be one of "Hey, what's going on he--OH MY GOD!!!!"

*laugh* Bad description, but you get the general idea, I think.

[conuly]

That would make sense. The vet's got 'em now, anyway.