I have been asked by my vet, if I will foster a kitten who has lost his mum and needs to suckle.
My labrador had a litter earlier this week and we had a pup PTS due to a deformed head and a cleft palate. She now has just the one puppy. Both are doing well, although mum had to go to the vets yesterday for conjuntivitis and gastro enteritis. She appeared really poorly yesterday but is very bright again today.
Obviously yesterday I didn't want a kitten, while she was ill but today I'm not sure whether to do it or not. Has anyone done this and how successful was it. I don't want mum to get attached and then we lose the kitten but then if we can help the poor kitten we probably should!!!
Since losing her puppy, mum has taken to having a cuddley toy in with her pup. She went and got it and put it in the whelping box and if you try to take it out she crys and gets it back. Will it do more harm if we take the kitten and then lose it? What do you think.

Hi Nicola, I think it is very much luck of the draw as to how well it will work but it certainly is possible. I had a Wolfhound bitch with a phantom pregnancy many years ago and she raised two orphan kittens with her milk, so I would say, give it a try,and the best of luck if you do.

Nicolla

I have a friend whose Cocker has done this twice - very successfully indeed.

Good luck

Pam n the boys