Need some advice: Seems I'm the proud Mommy of 3 new kittens

[belladonna]

Very, very new kittens... in that they are way too young to have been weaned, but Momma cat seems to have abandoned them completely.

I went over to my Mom's to cook out today and, long story short, my mother feeds all the feral cats for miles around. One cat in particular has taken up residence at her house and while I've been trying to tame her enough to grab her and get her spayed, at the very least, she had yet another litter of kittens. Unfortunately, she has totally abandoned the babies and we found 1 dead kitty and 2 live ones today.

The third turned out to be quite an adventure. I kept hearing this faint mewling near the garage, but couldn't find this kitten anywhere all day today. Finally, around 7 or so, after crawling around this damn forklift-like device next to the garage, I find the third kitten curled up INSIDE the tire under this damn machine and, after a ton of effort and lots of bruises and cuts, I got it out of there.

So anyway, guess who ended up bringing 3 kittens home with her?? I've fed them with a medicine dropper, some of the baby's formula actually, and they seem quite happy and content at the moment, but they're SO small and frail that it worries me. Any tips for getting these three babies through the next week or so? My big worry is that I do have to work and I'm gone for a good chunk of the day. How soon is too soon to start putting some milk and food in a bowl? I don't want to overload them, but I want to make sure they get enough to eat when I'm gone too.

Help me out here, guys... please???

[madeline_con]

1. I'd try one of those hamster watering things with formula.

spell edit

Hang it where they can lick it. :shrug:

[belladonna]

2. Great idea!!

That's just the kind of advice I was looking for... can't believe I didn't think of that myself.

Thanks!! :hi:

[FedUpWithIt All]

3. You might have to wipe their bottoms with a warm wet washcloth.

They may not defecate otherwise. It really depends on their age. Please take them to a vet to get their age established as there are some specific needs for really young kittens. Depending on their age they could need feedings as often as every two to four hours.

I have been mommy to several litters and they are a LOT of work.

[belladonna]

6. I'm definitely taking them to the vet

Not til after the holiday tho, cause I just can't afford it otherwise. I knew about the washcloth thing, but thanks for reminding me of that... it's been a loooong time since I had to take care of kittens this young.

[Sabriel]

4. Buy some KMR: kitten milk replacer

Baby formula might make them sick. It's not formulated for them at all.

How about a local shelter? The kittens will need 24/7 care and attention. Can you afford that?

Good luck, and thanks for caring for animals.

[belladonna]

7. I'm going to find some volunteers tomorrow

I think my mother will probably keep an eye on them and I might be able to get my 19-year-old to pitch in too. I'll go look for the KMR tomorrow... thanks for the info!

[Critters2]

5. Get KMR (kitten milk replacement) formula. Pet supply places will have it, vets have it,

places like Farm and Fleet or Fleet Farm will have it. With their mother, they'll nurse for 8-10 weeks. When I was fostering kittens, I found that they were able to eat canned food quite a bit younger than this, but at less than 3 weeks, I'd say they need formula. As to whether they can drink out of a dish, the best way to find out is to put a dish in front of 'em and see if they know what to do. If not, you may need to find some help to bottle feed.

It's great that you're doing this!

[belladonna]

8. I put some in a bowl earlier and they tried to drink it

They mostly sloshed around in tho, and made a nice little mess. I guess it's good that they're trying to do it. I'm not sure at all how old they are, but I'm guessing they're right at three weeks, maybe a little less. I'm sure the vet can tell me once I get them over there. Oh, and thanks!! I've been doing this most of my life, but not in recent years. When I was a kid, I was always bringing the strays I'd find home. The last one I had to foster was about 5 years ago and she's still going strong!

[Mojambo]

9. I don't think you're really the mother of the third kitten!

It's a scandal! Get me DailyKos on the phone RIGHT NOW.

[billyoc]

12. No, the third kitten is the mother of the SECOND KITTEN!

I read it on wonkette.

[texas1928]

10. See how they do lapping on the KMR.

And then if they do ok, you can leave it out, but change it periodically throughout the day.


Hey girl, long time no see.

[FloridaJudy]

11. Any chance you could take the little ones with you?

I remember once I had a student nurse whose purse suddenly started quivering and chirping. I told her her cell phone was ringing. Turns out she didn't have a cell phone - she had a litter of orphaned squirrels she was feeding every two hours.

A purse might be a tad small for your three, but I'll bet they could fit in a shoebox.

[Jamastiene]

13. If you are ready to make the commitment and want to do it right, here is how:

Step 1: Dig deep into your pockets.

Step 2: Buy a kitten bottle at the vet.

Step 3: Get some Kitten Milk Replacer powder at the vet. Human formula doesn't have enough of the vitamins and minerals that kittens need for healthy eye sight.

Step 4: Follow the destructions on the canister and make enough for one feeding at the time.

Step 5: Feed the kittens every 4 to 6 hours until they are about 10 weeks old. You can try to ween them at 6 or 8 weeks old, but if they are not ready, keep them on the bottle. Otherwise, they'll end up with ringworm on their faces, from trying to suck the food out of the plate. Been there. Done that. I tried to ween Sunday Girl too early and ended up having to give her a bath every day for 4 weeks to get rid of the ringworm. Not fun.

Step 6: After feeding, rub their lower belly gently to make them go to the bathroom. It's best to do it over the toilet. They will eventually start going on their own. I don't know how young the kittens you have really are, so I cannot tell if they can go on their own yet or not. I'd have to see them.

Step 7: Keep them warm and interact with them to get them comfortable with people.

Step 8: Think about me while you bottle feed them. I wish I was there, so I could help. I love bottlefeeding a baby kitteh. :bounce:

[flvegan]

14. They'll be fine.

Give them the KMR in the morning, leave some out in a bowl (just in case they get adventurous) and then at night a time or two. They'll be fine.

Good on you for taking them in and making a commitment to caring for them. You're a better person than many.

Congrats on the new kids!

[Solon]

15. Oh, this reminds me of the stray cat who gave us 4 kittens...

Took her in, she snuck out, ended up pregnant(before we could spay her) and then, when she gave birth, she at least stuck around long enough to get the kittens weaned, then I got her spayed, then soon after that, she snuck out again, and never returned. I still got two of the little rascals right here, the other two now stay with friends. :)