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Just what I need

post #1 of 13
4/30/09 at 11:50pm
Thread Starter 
I manage an apartment complex and we have a lot of cats. We have had most of them altered but some of the kids found a batch of kittens today. Only 2 of them were alive I am bottle/syringe feeding them for now and will take them to the vet in the morning. Should I let Keller try and stimulate them and possibly feed them? Her kittens are almost 6 weeks old and these guys appear to be about 2-3 days old.
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post #2 of 13
5/1/09 at 12:12am
Oh my goodness... They are so cute!
I am not sure about letting Keller feed them, due to not knowing their health, and moms health. I am not an expert though, and could be completely off here. I am sure someone experienced with kittens will come by to offer you sound advice.
Good luck with them!
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post #3 of 13
5/1/09 at 12:45am
It is definitely worth a try.

Even if she perhaps cant give milk, but some motherly warming and care is much worth IF she accept them and is willing.
A friendly male cat can sometimes do same service, by the way. - I dont know if you have such.


Although there IS a BUT. Health-dangers. I presume there is some risk. Perhaps not too great, but there is definitely a risk.

You must calculate the risks yourself.
I know some rescuers would gladely take the plunge without thinking twice: Their cats are perhaps themselves ex-strays - and thus made of tough wood.
Others do have double firewalls of precautions.
Most are somewhere in between.
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post #4 of 13
5/1/09 at 6:44am
Does Keller still have milk? I think it's certainly worth a try. We have used surrogate mamas in rescue before. Very often, the cat's maternal instinct kicks in... and she will take the orphans.
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post #5 of 13
5/1/09 at 7:43am
ps, IF you try - I presume you will...

Before you do, rub on them scent of the mom and or the resident-kittens.

Rub the small ones with a towel the residents were lying on. Or something like that.

Good luck!
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post #6 of 13
5/1/09 at 9:46am
Thread Starter 
I am not sure how much milk Keller still has. The babies are 6 wks old on Tuesday. She is stimulating the kittens for me which is half the battle but they can't seem to find her nipples. I have even held them on her nipples but they don't seem to know what to do. They are taking to the bottle just fine. I only had 4 hrs of sleep last night, boy am I tired!
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post #7 of 13
5/1/09 at 9:54am
Try putting a couple of drops of the KMR on Keller's nipples, then put the babies up to her. If they can taste the milk they might start sucking. (Hey, it works with human babies).
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post #8 of 13
5/1/09 at 9:59am
Aww! I'm so glad there are people like you in the world! You are these kittens' guardian angel!
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post #9 of 13
5/1/09 at 10:00am
Quote:
Originally Posted by AMYSCRAZY View Post
I am not sure how much milk Keller still has. The babies are 6 wks old on Tuesday. She is stimulating the kittens for me which is half the battle but they can't seem to find her nipples. I have even held them on her nipples but they don't seem to know what to do. They are taking to the bottle just fine.
This sounds quite normal, I think: this is why most breeders are reclutant for extra feeding kittens with bottle. The risk is quite big they will prefer bottle before their mom...

Try Goldycats suggestion, it may help.

Wonderful the mom accepts the small and is giving them her nursement and with time, surely also the cat-fostering.
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post #10 of 13
5/1/09 at 11:41am
First of all bless you Amy for taking care of these babies. I would try put KMR on Kller's nipples to see if they take the milk. If nursing from Keller doesn't work out at least she can be a mother figure to the kittens and teach them skills.
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post #11 of 13
5/1/09 at 11:51am
Thread Starter 
Keller is doing a good job of stimulating, we had major poo I am worried about how much they are eating though. The bottle has measurements in ml and teaspoons. The kittens drank 15 ml in one sitting (about 7 ml each), isn't that a lot? The bigger of the 2 kittens sounds like he has a little rattle, did he inhale the milk?
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post #12 of 13
5/1/09 at 12:41pm
Eating from bottle is easier then sucking mom. So perhaps they are eating a little too much?? I dont know, perhaps.

If you worry, try to take the KMR away a little earlier. If they dont protest, they had enough. If they protest a lot - they probably need all of it... They are surely relived now when they had their big poo...And thus - feeling extra hunger.

About the peculiar sound - I dont know what it is. Lets hope for the best as the kitten has the strengh to ate full portion.

Although pneumonias, often by getting milk or birth-water or such in lungs, are the commonest cause of death in otherwise healthy newborn kittens.
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post #13 of 13
5/2/09 at 7:20pm
Awww, thats so good of you!
Even if they don't take milk from Keller, if she cleans them, it's a big weight off your shoulders.
Good luck!
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