Why did all the kittens in one litter die?

I am baffled why all the kittens born yesterday didn't make it. Long story
short, the cat was a stray I found outside about a month ago after someone
tossed it from their car. I had no idea kitty was pregnant until she had the
kittens yesterday. I suspected she may be pregnant as her tummy had gotten
larger, but I had no idea it would be yesterday. She had been at a shelter for
three weeks and they had treated her with antibiotics for an upper respiratory
infection as well as rabies shot and a few other vaccinations. The fourth
kitten was born approx 12 hours later and was stillborn. One kitty in the
litter was the runt of the litter and she didn't seem like she would make it.
I tried using an eye dropper to feed them but they continually cried and
couldn't seem to find their niche to nurse from their mother. I tried holding
their little bodies and and gently press face near nipple but they seemed to
fall off. Even the two kittens who seemed the biggest and able to nurse didn't
make it. Is it common for all kittens to perish. Did I do something wrong. I
feel so badly about it but I did all I could. I even went to emergency animal
hospital at 3 a.m. this morning to have the stillborn cat's placenta tied off
and mother checked out. My dad came over today and picked up the three kittens
and buried them in their backyard. Any advice on what may have triggered this
would be appreciated. Thanks.

On 29 Feb 2004 00:03:09 GMT, ojunk (Artisanwomyn)
wrote:

I am baffled why all the kittens born yesterday didn't make it. Long story
short, the cat was a stray I found outside about a month ago after someone
tossed it from their car. I had no idea kitty was pregnant until she had the
kittens yesterday. I suspected she may be pregnant as her tummy had gotten
larger, but I had no idea it would be yesterday. She had been at a shelter for
three weeks and they had treated her with antibiotics for an upper respiratory
infection as well as rabies shot and a few other vaccinations. The fourth
kitten was born approx 12 hours later and was stillborn. One kitty in the
litter was the runt of the litter and she didn't seem like she would make it.
I tried using an eye dropper to feed them but they continually cried and
couldn't seem to find their niche to nurse from their mother. I tried holding
their little bodies and and gently press face near nipple but they seemed to
fall off. Even the two kittens who seemed the biggest and able to nurse didn't
make it. Is it common for all kittens to perish. Did I do something wrong. I
feel so badly about it but I did all I could. I even went to emergency animal
hospital at 3 a.m. this morning to have the stillborn cat's placenta tied off
and mother checked out. My dad came over today and picked up the three kittens
and buried them in their backyard. Any advice on what may have triggered this
would be appreciated. Thanks.

I'm so sorry for the sad ending to this story. I am not an expert on
birthing kittens, but it would seem to me that the illness, shots, etc
would not be condusive to a successful birth. I hope you have her
spayed when she is well and that she will become a wonderful pet for
you. MLB

On 29 Feb 2004 00:03:09 GMT, ojunk (Artisanwomyn)
wrote:

I am baffled why all the kittens born yesterday didn't make it. Long story
short, the cat was a stray I found outside about a month ago after someone
tossed it from their car. I had no idea kitty was pregnant until she had the
kittens yesterday. I suspected she may be pregnant as her tummy had gotten
larger, but I had no idea it would be yesterday. She had been at a shelter for
three weeks and they had treated her with antibiotics for an upper respiratory
infection as well as rabies shot and a few other vaccinations. The fourth
kitten was born approx 12 hours later and was stillborn. One kitty in the
litter was the runt of the litter and she didn't seem like she would make it.
I tried using an eye dropper to feed them but they continually cried and
couldn't seem to find their niche to nurse from their mother. I tried holding
their little bodies and and gently press face near nipple but they seemed to
fall off. Even the two kittens who seemed the biggest and able to nurse didn't
make it. Is it common for all kittens to perish. Did I do something wrong. I
feel so badly about it but I did all I could. I even went to emergency animal
hospital at 3 a.m. this morning to have the stillborn cat's placenta tied off
and mother checked out. My dad came over today and picked up the three kittens
and buried them in their backyard. Any advice on what may have triggered this
would be appreciated. Thanks.

I'm so sorry for the sad ending to this story. I am not an expert on
birthing kittens, but it would seem to me that the illness, shots, etc
would not be condusive to a successful birth. I hope you have her
spayed when she is well and that she will become a wonderful pet for
you. MLB

in article , Artisanwomyn at
ojunk wrote on 2/28/04 6:03 PM:

I am baffled why all the kittens born yesterday didn't make it. Long story
short, the cat was a stray I found outside about a month ago after someone
tossed it from their car. I had no idea kitty was pregnant until she had the
kittens yesterday. I suspected she may be pregnant as her tummy had gotten
larger, but I had no idea it would be yesterday. She had been at a shelter
for
three weeks and they had treated her with antibiotics for an upper respiratory
infection as well as rabies shot and a few other vaccinations. The fourth
kitten was born approx 12 hours later and was stillborn. One kitty in the
litter was the runt of the litter and she didn't seem like she would make it.
I tried using an eye dropper to feed them but they continually cried and
couldn't seem to find their niche to nurse from their mother. I tried holding
their little bodies and and gently press face near nipple but they seemed to
fall off. Even the two kittens who seemed the biggest and able to nurse
didn't
make it. Is it common for all kittens to perish. Did I do something wrong.
I
feel so badly about it but I did all I could. I even went to emergency animal
hospital at 3 a.m. this morning to have the stillborn cat's placenta tied off
and mother checked out. My dad came over today and picked up the three
kittens
and buried them in their backyard. Any advice on what may have triggered this
would be appreciated. Thanks.

So sorry to hear this, but I don't think YOU did anything wrong. I'm sure
that she had no good nutrition through the pregnancy, she was sick and
simply didn't have the ability to have healthy kittens. Please don't feel
bad that you did something. It sounds like you did what you could and I am
so glad you had the mom checked out. I hope she is feeling better and I'm
glad she has found a home, yes?

Karen

in article , Artisanwomyn at
ojunk wrote on 2/28/04 6:03 PM:

I am baffled why all the kittens born yesterday didn't make it. Long story
short, the cat was a stray I found outside about a month ago after someone
tossed it from their car. I had no idea kitty was pregnant until she had the
kittens yesterday. I suspected she may be pregnant as her tummy had gotten
larger, but I had no idea it would be yesterday. She had been at a shelter
for
three weeks and they had treated her with antibiotics for an upper respiratory
infection as well as rabies shot and a few other vaccinations. The fourth
kitten was born approx 12 hours later and was stillborn. One kitty in the
litter was the runt of the litter and she didn't seem like she would make it.
I tried using an eye dropper to feed them but they continually cried and
couldn't seem to find their niche to nurse from their mother. I tried holding
their little bodies and and gently press face near nipple but they seemed to
fall off. Even the two kittens who seemed the biggest and able to nurse
didn't
make it. Is it common for all kittens to perish. Did I do something wrong.
I
feel so badly about it but I did all I could. I even went to emergency animal
hospital at 3 a.m. this morning to have the stillborn cat's placenta tied off
and mother checked out. My dad came over today and picked up the three
kittens
and buried them in their backyard. Any advice on what may have triggered this
would be appreciated. Thanks.

So sorry to hear this, but I don't think YOU did anything wrong. I'm sure
that she had no good nutrition through the pregnancy, she was sick and
simply didn't have the ability to have healthy kittens. Please don't feel
bad that you did something. It sounds like you did what you could and I am
so glad you had the mom checked out. I hope she is feeling better and I'm
glad she has found a home, yes?

Karen

From: Karen Chuplis

So sorry to hear this, but I don't think YOU did anything wrong. I'm sure
that she had no good nutrition through the pregnancy, she was sick and
simply didn't have the ability to have healthy kittens. Please don't feel
bad that you did something. It sounds like you did what you could and I am
so glad you had the mom checked out. I hope she is feeling better and I'm
glad she has found a home, yes?

Karen


I agree, and I am also sorry you lost all the kittens. I think a combination
of vaccinations and antibiotics probably contributed to the death of these
kittens. As in humans, there are certain things that should not be given to a
pregnant cat.

Lauren
________
See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe
Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html
http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html
Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm

From: Karen Chuplis

So sorry to hear this, but I don't think YOU did anything wrong. I'm sure
that she had no good nutrition through the pregnancy, she was sick and
simply didn't have the ability to have healthy kittens. Please don't feel
bad that you did something. It sounds like you did what you could and I am
so glad you had the mom checked out. I hope she is feeling better and I'm
glad she has found a home, yes?

Karen


I agree, and I am also sorry you lost all the kittens. I think a combination
of vaccinations and antibiotics probably contributed to the death of these
kittens. As in humans, there are certain things that should not be given to a
pregnant cat.

Lauren
________
See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe
Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html
http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html
Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm

I am so sorry about this cat's kittens. I don't know why they didn't make
it, but perhaps there was a problem that had developed before you found &
rescued her, since the gestation period for cats is a little over two
months; 63 - 65 days, IIRC.

Cathy

--
"Staccato signals of constant information..."
("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon

"Artisanwomyn" wrote in message
...
I am baffled why all the kittens born yesterday didn't make it. Long
story
short, the cat was a stray I found outside about a month ago after someone
tossed it from their car. I had no idea kitty was pregnant until she had
the
kittens yesterday. I suspected she may be pregnant as her tummy had
gotten
larger, but I had no idea it would be yesterday. She had been at a
shelter for
three weeks and they had treated her with antibiotics for an upper
respiratory
infection as well as rabies shot and a few other vaccinations. The fourth
kitten was born approx 12 hours later and was stillborn. One kitty in the
litter was the runt of the litter and she didn't seem like she would make
it.
I tried using an eye dropper to feed them but they continually cried and
couldn't seem to find their niche to nurse from their mother. I tried
holding
their little bodies and and gently press face near nipple but they seemed
to
fall off. Even the two kittens who seemed the biggest and able to nurse
didn't
make it. Is it common for all kittens to perish. Did I do something
wrong. I
feel so badly about it but I did all I could. I even went to emergency
animal
hospital at 3 a.m. this morning to have the stillborn cat's placenta tied
off
and mother checked out. My dad came over today and picked up the three
kittens
and buried them in their backyard. Any advice on what may have triggered
this
would be appreciated. Thanks.

I am so sorry about this cat's kittens. I don't know why they didn't make
it, but perhaps there was a problem that had developed before you found &
rescued her, since the gestation period for cats is a little over two
months; 63 - 65 days, IIRC.

Cathy

--
"Staccato signals of constant information..."
("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon

"Artisanwomyn" wrote in message
...
I am baffled why all the kittens born yesterday didn't make it. Long
story
short, the cat was a stray I found outside about a month ago after someone
tossed it from their car. I had no idea kitty was pregnant until she had
the
kittens yesterday. I suspected she may be pregnant as her tummy had
gotten
larger, but I had no idea it would be yesterday. She had been at a
shelter for
three weeks and they had treated her with antibiotics for an upper
respiratory
infection as well as rabies shot and a few other vaccinations. The fourth
kitten was born approx 12 hours later and was stillborn. One kitty in the
litter was the runt of the litter and she didn't seem like she would make
it.
I tried using an eye dropper to feed them but they continually cried and
couldn't seem to find their niche to nurse from their mother. I tried
holding
their little bodies and and gently press face near nipple but they seemed
to
fall off. Even the two kittens who seemed the biggest and able to nurse
didn't
make it. Is it common for all kittens to perish. Did I do something
wrong. I
feel so badly about it but I did all I could. I even went to emergency
animal
hospital at 3 a.m. this morning to have the stillborn cat's placenta tied
off
and mother checked out. My dad came over today and picked up the three
kittens
and buried them in their backyard. Any advice on what may have triggered
this
would be appreciated. Thanks.

Thank you for all the kind responses. Mom seems to be doing pretty good. I'm
sure she senses her babies are gone and she appears to be missing them some,
but I try to give her lots of love and attention, as well as my six year old
cat who still is getting used to having another cat to compete with. I feel I
did what I could but being that mom was sick and medicated during her pregnancy
may have been detrimental to the outcome of her babies. I will be having her
spayed in March and at least she is now in a home where she will be an indoor
cat and loved. Thanks again.