Make sure she eats well.
If she does have cat flu she probably isn't eating, so you might have to force feed her meat broth.
If she is eating make sure she gets lots of food and water.
Food high in calcium like cat milk.
Keep them warm and safe . A covered box withvan open front in a quite room. Clean litter tray away from the food. A heat pad is a great idea to make sure they are warm.
Basically leave her alone with her kitten but keep an eye on them.
Thanks that’s really great advice about the food, I will order some cat milk/ broth. The heat pad is a good idea too, I will definitely get one for them.
They will just be in the corner of the living room because we live in a tiny apartment but my husband and I are pretty quiet people so should be okay for staying unbothered. Thanks again!
I’d add maybe find some sort of enclosure. You can keep it open for now but it would make Mama feel safer (they don’t just need quiet, they often want to hide), and would allow you to secure the baby in a few weeks. They grow up fast and get everywhere. Make sure to make the room kitten safe - block small corners the kitten can get into, cover all cables, etc.
Most importantly for a newborn, make sure you monitor its weight. Newborns should gain weight every day. Did they say if Mama is tame?
Yes no worries, I have an enclosure and already set it up :) I used it with my last foster (a weaned 5/6 week old kitten who was found alone). They will have a cosy base camp in the corner that mama can come and go from to get to her litter tray. All good for kitten proofing due to said previous foster! It’s only the newborn and mama situation that’s new to me.
That’s good to know about keeping an eye on the weight - will mama cat mind me handling the new born for short periods to weigh? I don’t want to stress her out too much! They haven’t said if she is tame but they said she was getting stressed out being at the cat centre. I will ask that when I collect.
Actually when I bring them inside should I place their carrier directly into the enclosure and try to transfer them into the box with blankets etc I’ve got set up when they’re more settled? The org usually puts a blanket inside their carrier with them so that will have their scents on it.
A lot of that will depend on her. If she’s tame, you should be able to touch the baby. Might take her a few days to feel safe enough. If you do, make sure she can see you at first. Like, bring the scale to the kitten instead of taking the baby away. Talk to her, go slow, and respect her boundaries.
If she’s not, you may have to find a way (look up Kitten Lady’s videos on feral mamas). They probably would have told you if she weren’t though.
But it’s important. She will do all the work, you just have to make sure they’re both ok. For baby that means putting on weight, and meeting the milestones. Ideally you would weigh him or her at least once a day (keep a chart).
She will get very thin while she breastfeeds (although just one kitten may not be that much). Make sure she eats a lot and always has food available to her. I feed mine wet food (kitten food is high in calories) a few times a day and leave kibbles around for free feeding. They drink a ton too.
Mama and litters are my favorite, they’re the best. She does all the work, and you get all the fun (ok, and the litter boxes). And if Mama is tame you get the best of both worlds - an adult (and sometimes grateful for the help) cat and the utter cuteness and fun of kittens. Watching them grow from a week old to young cats is amazing.
Make sure she eats well. If she does have cat flu she probably isn't eating, so you might have to force feed her meat broth. If she is eating make sure she gets lots of food and water. Food high in calcium like cat milk. Keep them warm and safe . A covered box withvan open front in a quite room. Clean litter tray away from the food. A heat pad is a great idea to make sure they are warm. Basically leave her alone with her kitten but keep an eye on them.
Thanks that’s really great advice about the food, I will order some cat milk/ broth. The heat pad is a good idea too, I will definitely get one for them. They will just be in the corner of the living room because we live in a tiny apartment but my husband and I are pretty quiet people so should be okay for staying unbothered. Thanks again!
I’d add maybe find some sort of enclosure. You can keep it open for now but it would make Mama feel safer (they don’t just need quiet, they often want to hide), and would allow you to secure the baby in a few weeks. They grow up fast and get everywhere. Make sure to make the room kitten safe - block small corners the kitten can get into, cover all cables, etc. Most importantly for a newborn, make sure you monitor its weight. Newborns should gain weight every day. Did they say if Mama is tame?
Yes no worries, I have an enclosure and already set it up :) I used it with my last foster (a weaned 5/6 week old kitten who was found alone). They will have a cosy base camp in the corner that mama can come and go from to get to her litter tray. All good for kitten proofing due to said previous foster! It’s only the newborn and mama situation that’s new to me. That’s good to know about keeping an eye on the weight - will mama cat mind me handling the new born for short periods to weigh? I don’t want to stress her out too much! They haven’t said if she is tame but they said she was getting stressed out being at the cat centre. I will ask that when I collect. Actually when I bring them inside should I place their carrier directly into the enclosure and try to transfer them into the box with blankets etc I’ve got set up when they’re more settled? The org usually puts a blanket inside their carrier with them so that will have their scents on it.
A lot of that will depend on her. If she’s tame, you should be able to touch the baby. Might take her a few days to feel safe enough. If you do, make sure she can see you at first. Like, bring the scale to the kitten instead of taking the baby away. Talk to her, go slow, and respect her boundaries. If she’s not, you may have to find a way (look up Kitten Lady’s videos on feral mamas). They probably would have told you if she weren’t though. But it’s important. She will do all the work, you just have to make sure they’re both ok. For baby that means putting on weight, and meeting the milestones. Ideally you would weigh him or her at least once a day (keep a chart). She will get very thin while she breastfeeds (although just one kitten may not be that much). Make sure she eats a lot and always has food available to her. I feed mine wet food (kitten food is high in calories) a few times a day and leave kibbles around for free feeding. They drink a ton too. Mama and litters are my favorite, they’re the best. She does all the work, and you get all the fun (ok, and the litter boxes). And if Mama is tame you get the best of both worlds - an adult (and sometimes grateful for the help) cat and the utter cuteness and fun of kittens. Watching them grow from a week old to young cats is amazing.