caring for orphaned kittens [first timer]

Kitten Rescue is a good resource. It sometimes takes them some time to figure out the bottle, but it is important that you get the milk replacer into them somehow.

They don't really poop at this age so I wouldn't worry about that. If you are getting urine out of them when you are stimulating them, you are OK for now. The poop comes closer to week 3 if I remember correctly, and its usually soft at first. I didn't notice a firm poop until they were closer to 4 weeks old. (sorry, it's been 7 years since I've had an orphaned litter)

My last orphaned litter didn't take to bottles at all and I ended up using a syringe with them. If you try a syringe, find one that is fairly loose (by that I mean the plunger is not tight in the tube and slides fairly freely) and let them suck the formula out. If you plunge it in them and they do not swallow correctly, it can get into their lungs and drown them. Most people here don't like to use syringes for that reason, but some kittens can be stubborn about the bottle. If neither method works, bring them up to your vet and ask them to show you how to force feed them with the syringe. There is a right and wrong way to do it that I can't begin to describe here.

I got into a routine where I bathed them right after they ate. Since there were 4 of them and only 2 of us, they battled over the formula and got very messy. I kept a bowl of warm water in the room with a wash cloth. Squeeze as much water as you can from the wash cloth as you don't want them to get really wet. If they get too wet, wrap them in a towel to stay warm until they dry. Kittens need to be burped after they eat and usually the act of washing them will get them to burp. They didn't burp 100% of the time but they did do it more often than not. Putting them over your shoulder and patting their backs (like a human baby) just doesn't work. Rubbing all over their bodies seems to work better.

Keep us posted on what's happening and we can jump in and offer some advice as time progresses.

Has the vet actually seen these babies yet? It probably would be a good idea for them to be seen, especially the little weaker one.

My daughter has learned a lot in the last 4 weeks of the orphans she has. She will be posting some info as soon as she gets home that might help.

Update: Those nipples on the kitten bottles need a bit of help. Cut a small "x" with a pair of scissors. Put slight pressure to help the flow.

Test the pressure first so they don't choak and be mindful not to squeeze too hard. That is what she has been doing and it works fine.

Oh I am so sorry that happened. I am FarleyV's daughter and have been raising orphans since they were one day old. I am sure that there must have been a problem before you got to the kittens, so please don't think it was your fault. As awful as this seems, you now have to put all your attention on the living one. My mother said to put an "x" with scissors (sterilized) in the nipple. A pin prick just does't work. You have to help them learn how to suckle the bottle and once it realizes this is where it gets its milk from, it will be much easier on both of you. As far as pooping goes, they do poop this early, but don't worry if it's not every day. I read to use cotton balls in warm water...that never worked for me. I had to use just my plain finger dipped in warm water...and every time it worked, and I have three babies myself here. Good luck to you and I am sorry for the loss of the momma and baby. Please let me know how things are going with the little miracle you have left.

I am so sorry as well. Like Finsterhead said, there was probably something going on with the little baby. Even with a mother cats attention, things go wrong all the time.

This little baby will need you so much more now that its sibling is gone. Human companionship is so important, but sibling companship is vital. So you will have to do some double duty from here on.

The ideal situation would be when this kitten gets to be 5 or 6 weeks old to bring in another youngster approximately the same age. Then they would both benefit from the sibling relationship. I don't know your situation, maybe this would not be possible. But without mama and her sibling, this baby will need a bit extra help to grow up to be a sociable, and good pet.

We had experience with this very thing. We found our Farleyv at about 2 days old. We did everything for him. He was a spoiled little guy. But he missed the socialization of a mother and sib. He just had an attitude about him. But, frankly, this made us love him more. This is not to say that this is cut in stone. Every situation is different and every little kitten is unique. Your little one could grow up just fine.

I sure will send up some prayers for the baby that passed and the one you have left. We will check here often. Feel free to PM either of us any time.

You are a great person for taking pity on these sweet little ones. Many people would not bother.

God speed.

I took my babies into the vet when they were 2 weeks old and they each weighed in at .6 lbs. So maybe someone you know has just a simple food scale, you could use that. When I took my babies into the vet he gave them each a dewormer, saying that they for sure had some worms in their bellies. They had been having very loose stools, and after that the problems cleared up. I wouldn't worry too much about the baby not pooping though...sometimes my guys wouldn't go for 3 or 4 days at a time. I would just keep encouraging her to go by stimulating her after feeding. As long as she is peeing, I wouldn't stress about it. Give it a few more days. You are doing the right thing with everything else too. Just give lots of love and attention. The rice pads are wonderful aren't they. Just remember to keep reheating...and maybe have two of them so you can just throw one in next to her and then take the other one out. With onlly one kitten, she doesn't have another to help with the body heat.
We got ours at 1 or 2 days old. They still had their umbilical cords on. They were cold and two were almost lifeless. We worked hard to bring them back, but we did it, and i'm sure that you will do no less. It may be harder for you because this little guy had her momma longer than mine did, so she may have a little trouble adjusting to all the changes in her little life.
You are doing a wonderful thing and it will be a very rewarding experience for you. Mine will be five weeks old this Sunday and they are playing and running and jumping and using the liter box with no assistance. They are just learning to drink from a bowl. It's quite a mess! lol
As far as how much they drink...I think from what I remember that at two weeks they were each sharing a full bottle at each feeding and that was four tablespoons total. So each drank about 1-1/2 tablespoons about 5 times a day at that age. Hope that helps a little. Good luck and let FarleyV and I know how it's going.

Actually it was maybe a little less than that...so don't stress...it could have been as little as 1 tblspoon per feeding. Good luck

Well I am not an expert but in my opinion, I would take to the vet anyway on Monday just for a general check. But yes, if she doesn't go by Monday, that would be three days at least that she hasn't gone, so I would do a vet visit. I know that the vet can sometimes be expensive, but I think well worth the peace of mind. Like I said, even just to get a dewormer, because as a stray she is sure to have worms. That's why its recommended that all cats get dewormers at every trip to the vet because even house cats get worms. Anyway, how great that she is eating that much at each sitting. You must be doing something right. Also at the vet you can get a good weight on her and make sure that she is on target. Good luck to you tonight...let me know how things are going, but seems like you are doing a great job helping this little baby kitten survive without momma.

Finsterhead by .6 lbs at 2 weeks old are you meaning 6 oz? I'm just wondering because my cat just had her kittens Monday and they were 3.1 oz,3.4 oz, and 3.6 oz at birth. Today they weighed in at 5.2 oz, 6.1 oz, and 5.7 oz and they are only 4 days old.

Yes, Finsterhead fed in the night too. Be prepared to be tired!

You are doing a great job. Be proud.

O good news! Sounds like things are going well. I have taken pics at this age. Maybe take it from the side a bit, just not right in the eyes. But I have seen pics here on the site of newborns full face. Still, I err on the side of caution.

I am sure Finsterhead will be on soon to chime in. Once the eyes open and they eat well, they start to grow fast. I saw her babies yesterday, and at 5 weeks, they are all over the place! Trying to untie my shoes, rolling around with eachother, trying to run and they look like they are going to fall over.
You will have such fun with this little one very soon!

To cslenker .6 lbs equals 9.6 ozs.

A&A's....you are doing a great job. I did start letting my babies sleep more at night around this age if they seemed to want to. Now, they go about 7 hours at night. I wouldn't do 7 hours, but maybe 5 as long as shes sleeping.
At two weeks I asked the vet about the sex of the babies and they said that it's really hard to tell at this age because the anatomy still looks similar...however I know mine are all girls because they are tortishells. What color is your little one. Hope you put some pics on soon I would love to see.
It sounds like you are doing everything right. The rice packs, the blanket overtop to keep drafts out, and a warm house (I have that too). Seems that she is eating just fine. She will start eating more and more as every day passes. Mine did that with the pooping too. Just a little bit and then later they would go for real. The peeing themselves without stimulation is fine. Mine did that all the time. I put a litter box in just before they were four weeks old. MAKE SURE YOU USE NONCLUMPING LITER. Because the clumping liter will clump in their bellies should they decide to eat it and that can be fatal. Seems that everything is moving along nicely and maybe you can start getting a little more sleep at night.

OMG....what a sweet little baby. I can't believe its all white. Are you gonna keep it...it will be a beautiful cat. Momma was very pretty too. I love grey cats, she looked like a sweet kitty. RIP

Oh it is sad to see mama. She was a very pretty girl. And bless the heart of the lost little one.

The baby is just precious...white! How nice. That little nest looks very warm...I wouldn't mind something like that for myself!!

Thank you for the info.

Mama sure was a beautiful cat. And the baby is adorable.

Mama was beautiful, and so were both her babies. Good luck with your little guy. It sounds like you're doing a great job with him I've bottle fed 2 kittens from 2 weeks old too, and it's an incredible experience. Thanks for helping this little guy!