Should I Be Worried?

[K.J.]

I'm currently fostering a mother and a litter of kittens. I'd had them since Thursday afternoon and the mother hasn't went to the litterbox. I'm not sure if she can't find it (it's in plain sight) or if she can't shake the kittens off, but she's complaining now and I worry that it could be possible she has a urinary blockage? Is it normal for cats not to go for the first few days? The kittens are three days old.

Edit: Now she's dug around in the litterbox and is lying down, but not going. I don't know if I should move the kittens next to her because I'm afraid they'll get cold. help??

 

[KathyM]

I would ring the vets for advice asap. It does sound like she could be having trouble urinating given her behaviour in the tray. Good luck!

 

[catherine896]

Yea, I'd ring the vets, you dont want her falling ill when she has kittens.

Hope she is OK!

 

[K.J.]

False alarm. She went to the bathroom at about 6:00, looks like regular pee and poo but it's sort of hard to tell if she urinated because of the fact that it's the wood litter that the shelter gave us, but it seems to be. I'm changing it to sand today, so I'll just keep an eye on her and call the vet if anything else happens.

 

[K.J.]

How many times should she be going? Like usual?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I would definately advise taking her to the vet, even if shes peed and pooped now, her behavior doesn't sound normal to me, it would be best to go to the vet and get a proper check up on her and get a qualified professionals opinion on her state of health.

 

[K.J.]

They had a health checkup at the shelters every week, unless it's just come on (?) they would have told me. Could transportation have put her under stress or something?

 

[WILDER]

Cats can get a womb infection after giving birth.

 

[K.J.]

Could you tell me a bit more about that? I looked "feline womb infection" up on google and got some things about feline leukemia? So what I'm going to do right now is call someone up about that the shelter told me to and ask them. Hopefully it's not serious.

 

[K.J.]

I've done a little research, and I think it's constipation. My mom claims she is fine so she won't take her to the vet. I've heard a higher fiber diet will help? Anything else?

 

[WILDER]

How is she in herself the cat.
If she been to the toilet don't panic to much.
But I would advise getting a check up done on her.

 

[K.J.]

She, in herself, is fine. Healthy diet, eats three or four times a day and drinks after each meal. Loves to be petted, regularly cleans herself and the kittens. She was from a bad and abused past but she's was in the shelter for a month already and they hadn't found anything except for the typical fleas and earmites, which have long been treated. The only problem is she doesn't urinate or defecate. She did urinate and defecate yesterday morning but nothing since then. Would you mean the vet coming to the house? I couldn't really bring her to the vet, since she's nursing and everything.

 

[WILDER]

Found some info for you bottom of the page nearly about toilet after birth.
http/www.persiancats4u.co.za/catbirthaid.htm

 

[K.J.]

Could you copy and paste it? I can't find the section.

 

[WILDER]

Is she straining.



Uterine problems

Uterine prolapse, or telescopinq of the uterus which then protrudes from the vulva may occur but only rarely as an acute post-parturient emergency. The appearance of the invaginated uterus at the vulva is self-evident. Initially the cat is noticed to be straining and uncomfortable despite the completion of parturition. If treatment is delayed the cat will rapidly become dull, shocked and lethargic, in a similar manner to the animal with a uterine rupture. It goes without saying that. uterine prolapse constitutes an emergency requiring immediate veterinary aid and surgical treatment.

Mastitis