helpful advice for fostering please?

I received an email this afternoon from a woman asking me if I can take in 4 ~1 week old kittens to foster. I understand the elimination procedure and understand how to bottle feed and weigh. I have a few other questions. What is the best formula to feed them and where do I get it? Also the woman said they must be kept in a room temped at around 90 degrees. That doesn't sound normal to me. What do you think? I understand keeping them warm but wouldn't that go with what they are nested in and not over all room temp?

KMR (kitten replacement milk) is what you'll need to feed them for at least a few weeks. I know there are different brands out there. You can get either ready-to-feed or powdered. You can get it a pet store or places like Walmart or Target.

A cat's normal body temperature is about 101 degrees. So if the kittens were cuddled up with mom they would be quite a bit warmer than room temperature. You don't have to keep your whole house that warm. You can put a heating pad in the bottom of the nest, covered with a towel or blanket, on the lowest setting. That is not the safest option because of the electric wire, and also because not all heating pads will have a low enough setting.

A better solution is to take an old sock, fill it with uncooked rice, and heat it in the microwave. Try it for just 30 seconds or a minute first. If you have a thermometer you can check the actual temperature of the sock. If not, just have it so it feels warm to touch, but not hot. You don't want to burn the babies. The sock(s) can be shaped to fit around the kittens so they can cuddle up like they would with mom.

Bless you for taking in these babies. that they will thrive with your care.

I could see me telling my hubby that the house had to be 90 degrees 24/7 lol me and kittens would be out on the porch lol.

I completely forgot the sock and rice idea that is what I shall do! These kittens I don't believe are coming from a rescue I think just a woman in need of help, but I will take them on raise them love them and get them fixed then send them on their way to loving homes! She some how came into 7 orphaned kittens and asked me to take 4. I can handle that, I am a stay at home mom that spends hours twiddling my thumbs plus I am a night owl. I am in bed at 3-4am and back up around 8am.

which formula is easier to work with powder or liquid?

I don't think it makes a lot of difference as far as the time and convenience. With the premixed I think you need to keep the unused part in the refrigerator. You would need to take the time to warm it up each time. With the powder you can mix smaller amounts in warm water. I haven't ever bought it, but I suspect the powder is less expensive and probably less waste.

Another issue is that some kittens will have problems with constipation on one or the other. It wouldn't hurt to get some of each so you can switch back and forth if you need to.

An useful link is http://www.kitten-rescue.com/ with lots of advice about kittens, but mostly orphaned kittens.


Ps. About heating pads. Be a little watchful, too much warm is almost as dangerous as too cold.
More then one litter has gone away because of a too warm electrical heated pad...


Good luck!

thank you for the website. I read through most and will be a great help once I get them here.

I won't be using a heating pad. I will go with the rice in a sock(s) method.

yet another question lol

I have an OLD kitchen scale it weighs up to a lb in oz and grams will this be ok or should I just buy a new one?

Originally Posted by skyeandtigger

yet another question lol

I have an OLD kitchen scale it weighs up to a lb in oz and grams will this be ok or should I just buy a new one?

Click to expand...

That will work just fine until they weigh more than a pound, or start hanging over the edges. That's what I used for about the first two or three weeks.

I often use homemade "kitten glop" - the recipe is on the forum.

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46295

If your kids are interested, they could even help you make it and be involved! I`ve got five newborns right now, but with their mommy. I´ll make mom a batch of glop as a supplement. She really likes it!

Have fun!!

Originally Posted by sharon_fdcc

I often use homemade "kitten glop" - the recipe is on the forum.

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46295

Click to expand...

The word glop is unknown to me. But the ingredients sounds for me as an alternative substitute milk.

Having kmr, preferably even the KMR-brand, it is perhaps an overdo to make own substitute milk.

Of course, as a way to get your kids engaged and make feel helpful...