New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Orphan Kittens

post #1 of 23
5/4/10 at 3:24am
Thread Starter 
I was given a litter of orphan kittens when they were supposed to be 6 weeks. The smallest was .2 pounds, the next .4 pounds, and the big guy .6. They went to the vet last week, and she says it is possible they are that age, but they are all way small, but in every other way healthy as can be. They were given a fecal (good so far) and dewormed. They are too small for flea treatments or vaccines.
The first few days I bottle fed them, but they quickly have moved to canned cat food (Innova) and they always have dry food available (solid gold). I know Ringo (the big guy) eats the dry a bit, and he chows down on the wet, and is getting a VERY big belly. Lennon, the middle kitten, tries the dry, and eats well on the wet. The little girl eats the wet, but more of sucks than chews, so she doesn't eat the dry.
I have a few questions. Should I limit how much wet food they get? I give them 3-4 meals a day, and let them eat all they want at the moment. Ringo currently cleans himself, and is relatively clean when he eats anyway. Lennon gets slightly dirty, and needs a bit of help. Lucy basically bathes in her food, and I wash her head to toe with a just damp paper towel each time, and then she will lick her paws- if she doesn't fall over, lol.
Should I worry about how small she is, and her lack of coordination? They all use the litter box relatively well, I got them one of those ferret cage ones, and they spend their time when I am not with them in the bathroom (I have a dog, who while she loves to lick them, gets a bit too rough if I don't watch her) Thank you in advance guys. Here is the link again for pictures of the babies.
http://s1010.photobucket.com/albums/...ace89/Kittens/
Reply
post #2 of 23
5/4/10 at 3:51am
I wouldn't worry about her coordination too much. Since she is the smallest, just make sure gets as much as she want to eat. It sounds like you have everything under control and are doing a great job.

IMO I would continue feeding them just as you are and not change anything. Good Luck.
Reply
post #3 of 23
5/4/10 at 7:02am
Thread Starter 
That's what I will do then! They all get free access, even if they have to wait. I use two plates, and when the little ones wander away, I set them back and they eat some more. Ringo is honestly ready for a home...I just don't want him to go, lol
Reply
post #4 of 23
5/5/10 at 8:19am
Coordination takes time. Some of the ones last summer were still falling over and not too steady on their feet at times at 8 weeks.

They are really tiny Attitude was 2.8 lbs at 8 weeks and she wasn't the largest of them all.

I would just keep feeding them how you are. I wouldn't restrict food in any way they need to gain weight and badly they are tiny.

Mine started eating dry kitten food once their moms brought them over at 4 weeks. That was all I offered to them though(made it easier though considering they all wanted to stand in the big bowl to eat. It might just be a learning thing for the little girl. I noticed that they all watched their moms and then tried to eat. She will get it it just might take some time since she is used to sucking to get nutrition. Mine took some time to figure out how to drink water without dunking their face or trying to suck it like they did milk. As long as she is gaining weight I wouldn't worry. Runt took a little extra time to catch on to everything on how to eat. Attitude loved to suck on my fingers when she was little, it was so cute.

Taryn
Reply
post #5 of 23
5/6/10 at 3:27am
Thread Starter 
They seem like they are the same size as last week, except Ringo the big boy. I have to put them on the scale this afternoon. They eat, get big ol' bellies, but her limbs, for example are still very thin. She was running around yesterday, so that was awesome.
She is the only one who gets to stay, sadly, and it breaks my heart! I love them all. I figure Ringo is ready to go, but I want one of them to stay till I know Miss Lucy can keep her self warm, and is big enough to be on her own. Right now, she isn't so good at the "warm your self" thing.
Reply
post #6 of 23
5/6/10 at 12:36pm
You probably still want to keep them gotgether fora few weeks, even if they can eat themselves It's just better for their future developpment to stick together until at lease 8 weeks
Reply
post #7 of 23
5/8/10 at 4:44am
Please don't seperate them until at least 8 weeks. They need their siblings very much right now.
Reply
post #8 of 23
5/8/10 at 10:40am
Thread Starter 
They will be 8 weeks on thursday. I put the fliers up, but I doubt I'll get any responses for awhile anyway.
Reply
post #9 of 23
5/8/10 at 12:11pm
Please make sure you charge something for them. Don't give them away. Even then, do a background check. Ask for references and who their vet is. There are so many devious people out there, who would take a free kitten and feed it to their snake. Sorry, but that is what can happen.

Again, please do not give away your little ones for free.
Reply
post #10 of 23
5/8/10 at 12:22pm
Thread Starter 
I didn't plan on it They are my babies, I hate that I have to find new homes for the boys. I will do everything in my power to find them good homes. That is one of the reasons I am advertising in vets offices- those people at least go to the vet.
Reply
post #11 of 23
5/8/10 at 6:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by laceface View Post
I didn't plan on it They are my babies, I hate that I have to find new homes for the boys. I will do everything in my power to find them good homes. That is one of the reasons I am advertising in vets offices- those people at least go to the vet.
Then these babies are lucky to have someone like you to care for them
Reply
post #12 of 23
5/9/10 at 4:29am
Oh good. You have a better chance there at the vets. My vet keeps a log of "wanted animals". That way, they can refer people who may have just lost an animal to someone needing to find a home for one.
Reply
post #13 of 23
5/9/10 at 8:11am
Thread Starter 
I'm hoping they find good homes from it. Sadly, Lennon is becoming my favorite little guy. And he is one who has to be rehomed He likes to sit on your shoulder, and will hang out there as long as you let him. He washes himself there, and is just the sweetest little boy. Last night he somehow manages to climb onto my bed too, and stayed there for awhile. I was sooo nervous about it though, as he is tiny, and I didn't want him squished..I slept horridly till I convinced him to go cuddle his siblings.
Reply
post #14 of 23
5/9/10 at 7:07pm
Thread Starter 
I measured the kittens again today, and it brought about another question.
When I got them, they were 12, 7 and 4 ounces. They are now 20, 11 and 7 ounces. At what size or age should I limit how much wet food they get? They were six weeks when I got them, and will be eight weeks on thursday. Ringo, the big boy has finally surpassed a pound, and is getting rather chunky. Lennon is looking good, and Lucy is getting there. At what point do you limit wet food?
Reply
post #15 of 23
5/10/10 at 1:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by laceface View Post
I measured the kittens again today, and it brought about another question.
When I got them, they were 12, 7 and 4 ounces. They are now 20, 11 and 7 ounces. At what size or age should I limit how much wet food they get? They were six weeks when I got them, and will be eight weeks on thursday. Ringo, the big boy has finally surpassed a pound, and is getting rather chunky. Lennon is looking good, and Lucy is getting there. At what point do you limit wet food?
It sounds like they're growing great, but I think you may want to wait until they reach around 2 pounds
At this age, give them as much food as they want- over-eating is not a problem until they're stopping growing
Reply
post #16 of 23
5/10/10 at 3:06pm
Thread Starter 
Ok, that's what I wanted to check Someone called today for one of the boys. I guess she has a 6 week abandoned kitten that needs a friend. I don't want my babies to go
Reply
post #17 of 23
5/10/10 at 7:31pm
That's so great to hear! It's really sad saying good bye, especially to the ones you've raised on your own, but you really gave them the best start to life that they could ever had, and they're gonna make someone else so happy! And who knows, maybe this person will send you some updates on your baby?
Reply
post #18 of 23
5/11/10 at 3:19am
Thread Starter 
I hope so! They didn't answer last night, so I have to try again this afternoon. I hope they don't back out...but then again I do... so torn!
Reply
post #19 of 23
5/11/10 at 5:54am
What I would do is get an address and take a drive by. You can tell a lot about people by doing this. It isn't foolproof, but it can give you a sense of how the people live.

Once, my daughter and I were rehoming a cat. We said we would bring the cat to them. Well, when I got into the house, I was appalled. What a mess! Gave them the cat, and went back to the car in tears. We just couldn't let the cat live in the mess inside. So, I went back to the house, grabbed the cat and mumbled something llike, "here, let me have her spayed for you". I scooped the cat up in my arms, and nearly ran back to the car and got the heck out of there. Of course, never took her back.

I am just saying, use all devices available to you to insure a good home.
Reply
post #20 of 23
5/11/10 at 7:05am
Thread Starter 
I plan on doing anything in my power to make sure they go to good homes. I was a bit excited about this person, they saw the flier in a vets office, and have an orphan kitten they are raising as well, so it could be a really good home. They even asked what vaccines and such they had had (none, they are too small at the moment). Hopefully they will call me again.
Reply
post #21 of 23
5/11/10 at 12:22pm
Are all of the babies vetted and fixed before you are adopting them out? Is there any kind of adoption contract? There are a number of organizations that will help you get them all fixed up, and even if you can find complete coverage of costs, you can recoup your costs in your adoption fee. I am sure you love them and care about them and want them each to go to the best forever home possible. You will feel so much better if you send them off fully vetted (shots, dewormed, etc) fixed, and with a contract in place to protect them. Let me know if you need any help, I've done it a few times !
Reply
post #22 of 23
5/11/10 at 1:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mamakitty23 View Post
Are all of the babies vetted and fixed before you are adopting them out? Is there any kind of adoption contract? There are a number of organizations that will help you get them all fixed up, and even if you can find complete coverage of costs, you can recoup your costs in your adoption fee. I am sure you love them and care about them and want them each to go to the best forever home possible. You will feel so much better if you send them off fully vetted (shots, dewormed, etc) fixed, and with a contract in place to protect them. Let me know if you need any help, I've done it a few times !
Ya, that's definatly a good idea- you could say something like "$60 per kitten, which will be returned once it has been spayed."
That shows you a lot, like:
-the owner has enough money to support an animals
-they will get it spayed
-it's not just a toy to throw away once it's bigger
-And, of course, you'll hear from them again to see how your baby is.
Reply
post #23 of 23
5/11/10 at 3:23pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mamakitty23 View Post
Are all of the babies vetted and fixed before you are adopting them out? Is there any kind of adoption contract? There are a number of organizations that will help you get them all fixed up, and even if you can find complete coverage of costs, you can recoup your costs in your adoption fee. I am sure you love them and care about them and want them each to go to the best forever home possible. You will feel so much better if you send them off fully vetted (shots, dewormed, etc) fixed, and with a contract in place to protect them. Let me know if you need any help, I've done it a few times !
I don't have the money to have them fully vaccinated/fixed before I adopt them out. Is there somewhere to help pay for this? I would love to have it done before they go- I was just worried they would lose their kitten-cute ness by the time they are big enough for such things. Are there places to help pay for these things?
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Pregnant Cats and Kitten Care