Why did all the kittens die?

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Artisanwomyn - 28 Feb 2004 16:17 GMT

I had rescued a stray over a month ago that someone had tossed from a car. I
had it at the shelter for three weeks (long story) but got her back. Didn't
know she was pregnant before I got her but she did start to put on some weight.
She delivered three kittens yesterday afternoon and then one at approx. 2 a.m.
still born. I had to go to the emergency animal hospital at 3 a.m. to get the
dead cat detached from the placenta, etc. There was a runt in the litter who I
tried to feed with an eye dropper. I thought the two stronger kittens were
nursing o.k. but they were all crying during the night. It seemed that they
all had problems grasping onto the mom's nipples but the two stronger ones
seemed to be doing ok with it. Then the run died early this morning. I later
noticed that another kitten died and the latest one died about an hour ago. I
am baffled as to why all of the kitties didn't make it. I know the shelter
treated the cat with meds since she had a bad upper respiratory infection. Is
it common for all the kitties to die? I feel so badly about it and I'm sure
the mom notices they're gone. Did I do something wrong?

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MaryL - 28 Feb 2004 16:48 GMT

> I had rescued a stray over a month ago that someone had tossed from a car. I
> had it at the shelter for three weeks (long story) but got her back. Didn't
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> it common for all the kitties to die? I feel so badly about it and I'm sure
> the mom notices they're gone. Did I do something wrong?

I remember your story. I'm so sorry to hear this happened. I don't have
any answers, but I would call the vet and ask. You still may not get a
precise answer, but you may be able to learn more since the cats were seen
by a vet yesterday. It is probably hard to think about at this time, but
please also ask the vet about an appropriate time to have her spayed.

MaryL

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Mogie - 28 Feb 2004 18:33 GMT

Maybe the trama of being thrown form the car did some type of damage.

> > I had rescued a stray over a month ago that someone had tossed from a car.
> I
[quoted text clipped - 31 lines]
>
> MaryL

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Ted Davis - 28 Feb 2004 17:34 GMT

>I had rescued a stray over a month ago that someone had tossed from a car. I
>had it at the shelter for three weeks (long story) but got her back. Didn't
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>it common for all the kitties to die? I feel so badly about it and I'm sure
>the mom notices they're gone. Did I do something wrong?

Something similar happened to me.

When I first moved out here in the country, I wanted to build a loyal
population of neutered cats as quickly as practical, so I figured the
way to start was to get a pregnant female and raise the kittens to be
indoor/outdoor mouser/lap cats. I got her from the local shelter -
she seemed healthy but needed affection and good food, both of which I
provided. She had her kittens - no problem, and they all seemed
healthy, but they started dying with in a day or so. The vet said it
was probably an unidentified infection. Within three weeks, they were
all gone - all died with the same symptoms. The last one was the
hardest: I had named him.

Since then, I have stuck to taking in half grown kittens and adults.
The only loses (other than give-aways) have been run-aways and
escapes, and a couple of unexplained disappearances, but only one died
where it could be found, and she was the one that had been with me for
seventeen years.

T.E.D. (tdavis@gearbox.maem.umr.edu - e-mail must contain "T.E.D." or my .sig in the body)

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StocksRus? - 28 Feb 2004 20:19 GMT

> I had rescued a stray over a month ago that someone had tossed from a
> car. I had it at the shelter for three weeks (long story) but got her
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> common for all the kitties to die? I feel so badly about it and I'm
> sure the mom notices they're gone. Did I do something wrong?

This showed up too

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StocksRus?

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~*Connie*~ - 28 Feb 2004 23:13 GMT

> Is
> it common for all the kitties to die? I feel so badly about it and I'm sure
> the mom notices they're gone. Did I do something wrong?

It is possible to do everything right and to have the kittens die. They can
be doing well then all of a sudden go down hill.. its called fading kitten
syndrome.

Also, if they were born early, there is just no way they can survive. kinda
like human babies, but they have a much shorter gestation period, so even
born a few days early would be like a few months to a human. Their lung
functions aren't what they should be nor would their digestive systems. I
just recently had a pregnant cat abort her kittens right before being pretty
much devastated with URI.. they looked perfect, but were so small, I knew
there was no way they could live.. and unfortunately I had to watch them
die, as they were born alive.

Did you do anything wrong? I have no idea, I wasn't there. Just know, that
you gave them the best start you could, and even the experts can't save
every kitten.

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MaryL - 29 Feb 2004 00:23 GMT

I just saw the message you posted to health+behav. You said in that message
that the mother cat had been treated at the shelter with antibiotics for an
upper respiratory infection plus rabies vaccination and "a few other
vaccinations." They probably did not know the cat was pregnant, and these
were procedures that were done for the health of the cat under their care.
However, all of this (plus the stress of being in the shelter) could well
have had an adverse effect on the unborn kittens -- nothing you could do
about it and no "fault" to place, but with tragic consequences. At least,
that would be my guess.

How is mama cat getting along now? Has she adjusted to your home?

MaryL

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M.C. Mullen - 29 Feb 2004 05:35 GMT

| I had rescued a stray over a month ago that someone had tossed from a car. I
| had it at the shelter for three weeks (long story) but got her back. Didn't
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
| it common for all the kitties to die? I feel so badly about it and I'm sure
| the mom notices they're gone. Did I do something wrong?

I have read that it is not uncommon if a female cat loses some or all the
kittens of her first litter.
Please do get her spayed.
How did you eventually get the cat out of the shelter?
Does it get on with your other cat now?
How do you get on with her, is she friendly, shy, cheeky?

Carola

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JoJo - 29 Feb 2004 18:59 GMT

You did not do anything wrong, unfortunately the kittens probably weren't
meant to make it. Anything could have happened to them while mom was
pregnant, it could have been the antibiotics, or it could be she was
undernourished before then - there are too many factors. I foster kittens
for two of my local shelters, and they warn you that not all of them will
make it, despite your best efforts. I have lost five kittens, four from the
same litter, one from another. Failure to thrive is common.

How is mom doing? I would suggest getting her to the vet and getting her
fixed, or she'll be in heat before you know it. The mother and babies I was
fostering was still nursing when she went into heat again (twice). As soon
as the vet gives the ok, get her fixed. Then just enjoy spoiling mama! :)

> | I had rescued a stray over a month ago that someone had tossed from a car.
> I
[quoted text clipped - 32 lines]
>
> Carola

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~*Connie*~ - 29 Feb 2004 20:20 GMT

> I foster kittens
> for two of my local shelters,

I foster too.. have you been doing it long? Im always looking to keep in
touch with other foster families for resources when things get tough.. If
your interested, feel free to email me at kittyblog @ webwmn. com

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Roseb441702 - 08 Mar 2004 00:54 GMT

>I have read that it is not uncommon if a female cat loses some or all the
>kittens of her first litter.
>Please do get her spayed.

In a way I'm glad to hear this. My cat had her first litter when she was
around 2 years old and they all died. Like the person that posted before 1 did
manage to live a little longer and I gave it the name Squeak-Squeak!

It was hearwrenching to say the least! I heard my mother talk to one of her
friends about it and she said that our cat was depressed for a little while -
which I didn't notice - but it does sound right.

Rose
http://roseb44170.textamerica.com/
Be sure to visit (what is increasingly becoming)my cat's blog

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