ASK THE VET

Q: My cat has given birth to three kittens but only one survived. The kitten is eight days old. The mother has been great doing a good job but every time it is alone, all it does is cry. It is waking us all up. The kitten is on the move all the time and crying I think because it is alone can you suggest anything? TRACEY HARMAN, Surrey A: I presume when you say “alone” the kitten is still with its mother. Such a young kitten should be with its mother and if they are being separated that will be the reason why the kitten is crying. If the mother has left temporarily, such as to have some food, the crying should alert the mother to return. It is unlikely the kitten is crying solely because it has no siblings. Kittens, like babies, do like to cry and make noises. If the kitten is just making normal noises telling its mother it is hungry and the mother is able to feed, it may be nothing to worry about and be completely normal. If only one of the kittens survived, there may be a medical problem with the mother causing her to lose the other kittens. This problem may also have caused a problem with her milk supply, leading to the kitten being hungry. The kitten’s weight should be monitored daily and if the weight is decreasing or failing to gain, you should seek veterinary help urgently. Please note advice in this section is for general guidance and if your pet is very unwell you should contact your veterinary surgeon as soon as possible as this advice does not replace the need for a clinical examination of your pet. Rory Thomson is part of the team at St Clair Veterinary Care in Croft Road, Blyth. If you have a question, fill out the online form at chroniclelive.co.uk/askthevet.