Question:
my kitten has two birth defects has anyone seen this before?
Dana
2010-09-16 10:57:39 UTC
My female gave birth out in the rain on the deck in about 45 degree weather to five kittens one was stll born but three were fine and the fourth was laying in the rain not cleaned off, it was cold and wet and not moving much, so I got them in the house, and tried to dry it off and noticed not only was it missing a tail one of his ears is not developed and father back on his head (I think it is a boy) There are 5 total now alive and 4 dont have tails... He sounds like has a cold now and the mom has taken to him and cleaned him off.. and he is warm... I am not sure if he is going to make it or not but just curious if this is something some else has seen.. Please don't post to this yelling at me about how I am a bad pet owner and should of never let this happen in the first place and how I should get my pet spayed. we live in the country she is an outside cat and I dont have the money to fix her period.. My kids wanted a kitten and thats the one they wanted... Just looking for some feedback not a lecture.. thanks
Eleven answers:
ZotsRule
2010-09-16 16:25:20 UTC
The mother cat probably mated with a cat that she was related to - most likely one of her brothers. Very likely all these kittens will die. They don't sound like they're in very good shape plus you allowed to be born outside in the cold rain. WHY?
Ocimom
2010-09-16 18:12:43 UTC
Whether or not the kitten makes it is a 50/50 chance. So what happens when mom (being outside) gets pregnant again when nursing this litter - it WILL happen? Then all you are doing is creating more of a problem.



Bring everyone INSIDE now and when the kits are 8 weeks old, then get mom spayed. You say you can't afford to spay mom? Well you certainly cannot afford to be feeding a litter of kittens either - and what will you do with the rest you don't keep? What will happen to the next litter and the one after that.



If you can't afford to spay, then rehome the mother and kittens to a shelter. You might not want lectures but you certainly are not being responsible either and you are teaching your kids the WRONG lessons too.
eyjude
2010-09-16 18:20:50 UTC
If you can give her a shelter outside that would be better for her and her babies. (wooden box or shead)

Check around and see if you can find a low cost vet so you can have her spayed so she doesn't have litter after litter. (and best for her health so she won't get an infection that will kill her)



The docked tails may be because she mated with a Minx cat which has a natural docked tail.

it is too bad that all countries don't have low cost vet care too...

The kitten will probably be ok now that mom is caring for it... but if it has an upper respitory infection ( like a cold) it can die w/ out vet care ... so keep watch over it and make sure it is ok.



I live in the US and because of the economy it is also hard for me to care for my animals using a vet so I do as much homeopathically that I can... But a better choice in cats would have been a male for you!

good luck
?
2010-09-16 18:10:36 UTC
there are certain cats that have a genetic propensity to have no tails, or to have very short tails. it could be that the father was one of those. the ears might come around as he ages - cats ears do grow to sit further up on the head as they get bigger.

if he is sniffing he might have a respiratory infection the antibiotics only cost twelve dollars, and if you tell the vet you can't afford a visit but that you really need the help, they will sometimes waive the visit fee and only charge you for the meds.

there are many places that spay, clean and vaccinate cats for less than fifty bucks - look it up online to find one in your area. vets will also let you pay in installments or will consider giving you a reduced rate, especially if you are a cat rescuer.

take care of those little babies.
?
2010-09-19 10:37:29 UTC
look it happen i got 4 kittens to foster 2 have it one was put down other have it leg remove and now in new home i found a other i called misty some one throw over my wall because she have a club foot she also will get it remove because she cant use it get in her way she is 6 weeks old so cute a long hair kitten with big eyes also two foster kittens 17 weeks old and two of my Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

By Connie Whiting, eHow Contributor

I want to do this! What's This? ..



Newborn kittenshttp://www.flickr.com Newborn kittens are very fragile little creatures. They are born with eyes shut, unable to see, unable to walk or stand and totally dependent on the mother for food and care. Sometimes a mother cat is unable to care for her babies. If she is a stray, she may have been killed or unable to return to the kittens. Some mothers want to care for their kittens but are unable to care for all of them if they have a large litter. Other cats, for reasons known only to them, want nothing to do with one or more of their newborns. While most mother cats do a good job of mothering, for the ones that can't or won't, you will need to step in and be a surrogate mother to the newborn kittens. There are a few things that must be done each day to ensure their survival.

.Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions.Things You'll Need:

Clean wet rags Warm water Pet feeding bottle Eye dropper Dry rags or old rugs Kitten replacement milk Soft toothbrush or flea comb Box to hold warm rags and rugs Heating pad

1

Clean the kitten after birth, if necessary. Some cats will abandon a smaller kitten or one that has a slight deformity. If this happens, make sure all the birth sac is cleaned from the kitten starting with the area around the face so it can breathe. Use a cloth that has been dipped in warm water and wrung out completely to clean the kitten or kittens. If the kittens have already been cleaned by the mother before needing care, then they will need to be warmed.



2





Keep kittens warmMake a nest of clean rags, old rugs or old towels. It is very important that newborn kittens keep warm. If a kitten is too cold it will die. Put the rags and towels in a closed-in box and make sure there are enough that the kittens can burrow under the folds for warmth. You can also put a heating pad under the towels or box, but make sure it is set on low. Another way that will help warm a chilled kitten is to place it next to your skin under your clothing. Do not feed a kitten that is not warm. Doing so will kill it. The temperature for a kitten should be between 95 and 96 degrees F.



3





Bottle-feeding a newborn kittenFeed your newborns often. Like human babies, they eat often. There are many homemade versions of kitten replacement milk, but they are not always safe due to misused ingredients. Remember to never feed a newborn kitten the kind of milk found in a grocery store. Their stomachs do not tolerate it well. Instead you can buy goat milk in some grocery stores and a special kitten milk replacement found in pet stores and pet aisles. Both of these will be safe for your kittens. To feed them, fill an eyedropper with the milk and squeeze drops into the mouth slowly. Make sure the head is not all the way back or they could choke. You could also use a small pet syringe or pet baby bottle sold alongside the milk replacement. Kittens will generally need to be fed in this way until they're between 3 and 6 weeks old.



4

Move your kitten's bowels and bladder by wiping the areas with a wet rag while applying very slight pressure. Also do this to the abdomen. Kittens have no control over the muscles to make a bowel or bladder movement yet. That is why you will see the mother licking the back of them after feeding. Since you are the surrogate mom, you will need to do it. Neglecting this part of their care can cause them to be very sick and die. In time they will be able to do it on their own.



5





Nurturing a newbornHold your newborns often. Don't allow overhandling by everyone in the house, but as their surrogate they will need held by you. This bonding and nurturing is essential to a kitten's growth. Each kitten needs about three hours a day of holding and nurturing. The mother cat massages and cleans with her tongue. You can use a rag to accomplish this also by stroking the kitten all over its body gently. By doing this cleaning, massaging, holding and nurturing you can increase your newborn kitten's chance of survival greatly.

.



Read more: How to Look After Newborn Kittens | eHow.com
Pamela
2010-09-16 18:08:50 UTC
Sorry but these kittens do need to be seen by a vet. And just because you live in the country does not exclude you from getting a animal spayed or neutered. I live in farm country in the state of Ohio on 300 acres and both of my cats are fixed and two of my dogs,(the rest are show). Country animals need vet care as much as city animals so that don't excuse you.



And just because she is a outside cat means she really should have been spayed.
summer
2010-09-19 03:27:58 UTC
The cats probably don't have tails because they are Manx. This breed is special in that they are often born with little to no tails. If they are Manx, you should notice that their back legs are very long and rabbit-like. As long as the ear situation isn't life threatening, there's no reason you can't keep him as a pet.
Kissy Cat Lover
2010-09-16 18:00:17 UTC
He sounds really precious. Just make sure the momma cat is taking care of him; if she isn't, go buy some kitten formula and a kitten feeder dropper from the store and feed him yourself. I hope he lives, cause he sounds really cute despite his abnormalities. His differences just make him more special!
Ashley
2010-09-16 18:08:53 UTC
It's very important to keep puppies and kittens warm. If he has obvious congenital defects, he might also have some not as obvious - defect in the heart, cleft palate, hernias. These defects can cause severe problems and even death. It might be worth taking him to see yor vet.
anonymous
2010-09-16 18:14:09 UTC
Many times the ones with birth defects do not make it. That is why cats have so many kittens!

Just keep leaving your cat out and eventually you will get a good litter!
Elaine M
2010-09-16 18:13:01 UTC
Cats can inherit the 'tailless' gene, just like polydactyls inherit the gene for extra toes.



The ear thing, though, would be a birth defect.


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