Why isn't my new mom cat grooming herself after giving birth?

It could just be that she isn't quite sure what to do. Just make sure she has plenty of food and water and a litter box available, as well as a comfortable place to put the kittens. If she isn't eating, seems lethargic, or has a rectal temperature over 103 or under 100, then she should be evaluated by a veterinarian to see what could be going on.

I’m sorry to hear that Peony isn’t feeling well. I am suspicious that she may have refused nursing because she wasn’t feeling well. I would highly encourage you to have her evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. I worry she may have a uterine infection or even a retained placenta or fetus causing illness. An x-Ray and possibly blood work may be recommended to help determine the diagnosis and best treatment plan. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Coco is just being a good mom--I wouldn't worry at this point, as she should calm down about the grooming as the kittens age. If she starts to become aggressive with you or them, you can ask your vet about anti-anxiety medication like Lorazepam, which works well in cats. However, I don't think you need to do anything at this point. Hope that helps!

The kittens appear to still be in their individual amniotic sacs. An inexperienced or first time mother may not know to remove them from the sac. They may have been stillborn or could have died shortly after birth. Have Azula examined by your veterinarian to confirm no more kittens remain inside. Her milk will not come in or will dry up without kittens to nurse. You can bathe her or use pet wipes or unscented baby wipes to clean her up. Consider having her spayed in a few weeks to prevent a recurrence or accidental/unwanted litters in the future.

What sweet little kittens! Those pictures are so adorable! I would not be too concerned about the mama cat just yet. She is probably exhausted from giving birth and nursing. You may want to move her to a location where you can keep a better eye on her so you can check on her regularly. Place a litter box within easy reach so she doesn’t have to travel far away from her kittens to use the bathroom. Try palpating her abdomen as well. It should be soft and doughy, not firm or hard or painful. If it feels abnormal you should probably take her in to the vet to make sure there are no kittens remaining inside of her. You can also try taking her temperature at home. If it is greater than 103 or less than 99, she needs to be seen by a vet. Finally, continue offering her fresh food and water. Keep in mind she will need a lot of extra calories since she is nursing 6 kittens. Feeding her a kitten food would be best. You can also try feeding her canned food or moistening her food with water to ensure she is getting enough. If your cat still refuses to move after 48-72 hours there may be something wrong and you should take her in to be checked out. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Good luck with the kittens!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Without seeing Tinkie it is hard to say why she's shivering. With recently giving birth I would be worried about an infection in her uterus or mammary glands. I also can't rule out there's nothing wrong with the kittens and that's why she's favoring one. I recommend taking everyone to a vet to make sure they are all healthy. They can check the kittens mouths for abnormalities and check out mom and get her temperature. Good luck and kisses to the kitty family!

Go ahead and gently clean the sac off of the kitten. You may need to tie off the umbilical cord if Mom is not attending to it. (Normally she will chew it off.) you can use a warm hand towel from the dryer to clean the kittens and stimulate them. Mom may not show interest in nursing until she is done delivering. Good luck to all of you and thank you for using Pet Coach.