What are signs my 1-week-old mom cat and kittens are healthy?

At this age a kitten should be starting to be more active (wiggling a round a bit on their bellies) but largely is still just a small ball of fluff. The ears have likely opened a bit and unfolded and the eyes may be starting to open. The weight you list sounds appropriate for the age as they typically should be around a pound at 4 weeks old. At this age she would still be highly dependent on her mother, or you if she was orphaned, for warmth, nutrition, and cleaning as she will still need help urinating/defecating. The mother cat would stimulate the kitten by grooming. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

The queen obviously knew that the kitten that died was not healthy and therefore did not care for it. This is how nature makes sure valuable resources are not wasted and the healthy kittens get the care they need. If the other kitten suckles regularly and its mother takes care of it by cleaning it, and purring to it and warming it, all should be well. If you are worried you should take its mother and the kitten both to a veterinarian for an exam to make sure the kitten has no congenital defects and is thriving.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding the kittens. Kittens should be weighed daily on a gram scale. If they are failing to gain weight each day this is a big problem. Other causes for concern no longer nursing, being listless or staying away from the other kittens. I hope this information helps!

I can understand your concern. Cats can hide illness quite well. But typical signs of illness can include: decreased appetite, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, and unusual behavior (like hiding or seeking more attention than normal). If you are still concerned that your kitty may be ill then you can request that your vet do a general health check via bloodwork and urine testing as well. A fecal exam is also indicated if Noushmc is having loose stool. Best wishes and take care.

It's very possible this momma cat is just really good at cleaning up after her kittens. At a month of age, she should start taking them to the litter box and teaching them how to use it as well, so you may start to see an increase in waste there instead. Watching the momma cat to see if she is eating/cleaning up the waste can help alert you to if this is the case. If any of the kittens seem unwell, constipated, or don't seem to be urinating/defecating properly, scheduling a vet check to rule out any issues is always best.

Usually kittens are rather playful at this age, but occasionally some are not very playful. It's good to check that she's not unhealthy though, because this can cause a decrease in activity. Check her gums - see if they are pink or white. If they are white, then he may have anemia. Check the belly - see if it's tucked in or is it round and distended. If it's round and distended, then he may have worms or other intestinal diseases. Most kittens get worms from their mothers, so if he has never had deworming medication, then it would be good to do this. Make sure he is eating and drinking well. Also make sure he doesn't have diarrhea or vomiting. These things can indicate that there is a disease causing him to be less active. The best thing you can do is have a veterinarian take a look at him. They will be able to tell if there is something wrong with him. I hope this helps.

They need to be fed about every 4-6 hours. If they are eating kitten food then you do not have to worry about milk and bottle feeding. Make sure they stay warm. They are old enough to be dewormed. The one kitten appears to have a discharge from the eyes, this may be a sign of a respiratory infection which is common in kittens. I would have them checked by the vet for medicine before it affects their appetite and spreads to all of them