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I have bottle babies...I need help

post #1 of 28
5/23/10 at 4:25pm
Thread Starter 
One of the outside cats had babies two days ago. I think she ate one...

There are two left and I took them away and took them to the vet. He said that he didn't think one would make it. I can't get either of them to eat very well. I have KMR the vet gave me and some of that stuff, that's like corn syrup to perk them up. I have a bottle, which I can't get anything to come out of and I have a 3 mL syringe.

I know they need to eat every two hours and I know I need to stimulate them and keep them away from the cats.

The sick one isn't doing well. Any help you can give me would be just great.
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post #2 of 28
5/23/10 at 4:39pm
You have to poke a hole in the bottle nipple. They don't usually come with holes, you have to make your own.

I think an eyedropper would be a good addition. They're easier to control than feeding syringes. You have to be careful not to get formula in their lungs.

How are you keeping them warm? That's really important. They can't digest if they're too cold. Their formula needs to be warm enough, too. But not too hot, of course.
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post #3 of 28
5/23/10 at 4:48pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Willowy View Post
You have to poke a hole in the bottle nipple. They don't usually come with holes, you have to make your own.

I think an eyedropper would be a good addition. They're easier to control than feeding syringes. You have to be careful not to get formula in their lungs.

How are you keeping them warm? That's really important. They can't digest if they're too cold. Their formula needs to be warm enough, too. But not too hot, of course.
I did poke a hole. Nothing is coming out. How do I make sure they don't get too warm? She left them in the sun all day.

I don't think the hurt one is going to make it. He won't eat.
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post #4 of 28
5/23/10 at 5:06pm
Too warm isn't really a problem, as long as you're not baking them. Too cold is very bad. A heated bed would be nice, or a heat lamp. At least keep them bundled together in a bunch of towels so they keep each other warm. If one dies you'll have some work keeping the single one warm enough. They need to be kept at 88-92 degrees.

With the formula, warm it like you would baby formula. Put it on the inside of your wrist, etc.

Make the hole in the nipple bigger. You might have to use a razor blade to cut an X.

Did your vet tell you how to force-feed? I don't even know if you're willing to go that far but there are ways.

Try Googling "raising orphan kittens". I found a LOT of good info that way.
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post #5 of 28
5/23/10 at 5:17pm
Thread Starter 
He didn't mention force feeding. How should I warm the formula?.
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post #6 of 28
5/23/10 at 5:21pm
It's probably best to warm the water (in the microwave or on the stovetop) before mixing it with the formula. Then test it on your wrist to make sure it's not too hot for them. If you microwave it in the bottle you risk hot spots. You don't want to burn the babies.
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post #7 of 28
5/23/10 at 6:13pm
Thread Starter 
Ok, the first time I stimulated it a tiny little poop came out. This time nothing came out.
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post #8 of 28
5/23/10 at 6:27pm
Thread Starter 
The one is almost gone...do you think it's in pain? I feel so, so bad. I hate to think it might be suffering at all.
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post #9 of 28
5/23/10 at 6:56pm
Thread Starter 
He died.

I feel so terrible. But he died with his sibling cuddled up next to him, that's a tiny consolation, but I'm still crying my eyes out.
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post #10 of 28
5/23/10 at 7:24pm
Play happily over the Rainbow Bridge, little one

Sometimes there is something wrong with the kittens, causing them to die no matter what you do. Sometimes they are too young to survive without a mother. You did the best you could. How is the remaining baby doing?
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post #11 of 28
5/23/10 at 7:28pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by white cat lover View Post
Play happily over the Rainbow Bridge, little one

Sometimes there is something wrong with the kittens, causing them to die no matter what you do. Sometimes they are too young to survive without a mother. You did the best you could. How is the remaining baby doing?
I think ok. One thing I read said that babies should sleep between feedings, so she's sleeping. And breathing. I hope she's ok. This is so hard, and I'm so stressed out. She seems pretty strong. I need a bigger box, because she tries to crawl out.
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post #12 of 28
5/23/10 at 8:07pm
I have no experience with bottle babies, but I read recently on another thread that you should cut an "X" in the nipple to make it easier for the baby to suck and get something out. The tiny hole just doesn't do anything for them.

So sorry about the one you lost.
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post #13 of 28
5/23/10 at 9:08pm
With the mom leaving them and eating one, something was probably wrong that would have been very bad had it survived. Sometimes nature has a way of helping the suffering. I hope your little one pulls through.
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post #14 of 28
5/23/10 at 9:52pm
If your last kitten survives, I strongly recommend www.snuggleme.com buy the kitten a snuggle kittie, it is a good substitute mom for orphaned kittens. Also take a look at my website for assistance www.kitten-rescue.com If you need speciific help, please feel free to PM me. It's kitten season, so I might not answer right away, but I will answer.
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post #15 of 28
5/23/10 at 10:19pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by hissy View Post
If your last kitten survives, I strongly recommend www.snuggleme.com buy the kitten a snuggle kittie, it is a good substitute mom for orphaned kittens. Also take a look at my website for assistance www.kitten-rescue.com If you need speciific help, please feel free to PM me. It's kitten season, so I might not answer right away, but I will answer.
She's not eating 3 cc's like she's supposed too. She eats about 1 or 1 1.5 and then she starts trying to get away.
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post #16 of 28
5/24/10 at 4:19am
Thread Starter 
She's still just eating 1 or 1.5...well, that's how much goes in her mouth, a lot ends up on her, so I'm not sure how much she's swallowing.
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post #17 of 28
5/24/10 at 5:24am
Thread Starter 
Sigh, it's almost feeding time. I hate doing it. She fights me, she doesn't want to eat. I don't know what I'm doing. I need to find some one who can do this better then me.
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post #18 of 28
5/24/10 at 7:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by kscatlady View Post
Sigh, it's almost feeding time. I hate doing it. She fights me, she doesn't want to eat. I don't know what I'm doing. I need to find some one who can do this better then me.
it sounds like you're doing the best job you can. I've always used the bottles to feed rescues, but either way, the kitten has to get into a comfertable position- most of them like lying on their bellys and they knead the bottle like they would their mother. Do you have a local shelter around? It may be worth calling them and asking if they have any queens with kittens around you little ones age.
Anyway, you're doing a great thing! Thank you!
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post #19 of 28
5/24/10 at 7:34am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by CuteKittenKat View Post
it sounds like you're doing the best job you can. I've always used the bottles to feed rescues, but either way, the kitten has to get into a comfertable position- most of them like lying on their bellys and they knead the bottle like they would their mother. Do you have a local shelter around? It may be worth calling them and asking if they have any queens with kittens around you little ones age.
Anyway, you're doing a great thing! Thank you!
I had a mini nervous breakdown this morning. I called my two vets to see if they knew someone who could take it. The one I take Cammy and Abbey too gave me an older lady's number. She had to talk to her husband first, but she was so nice and sweet and talking to her made me feel so much better. She's having hip surgery next week, but wanted to take it if she could. Then I called the vet I take the ferals too and asked if there was anyone there that could take the baby. This young girl who's taken care of lots of babies said yes immediately, so I took the baby to her. I'm really relieved.
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post #20 of 28
5/24/10 at 7:51am
It's great to hear that everything went well!
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post #21 of 28
5/24/10 at 8:36am
Thread Starter 
Thanks so much, everyone, for the encouragement, advice and kind words. I'm just happy the baby is with someone who knows what they're doing.
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post #22 of 28
5/24/10 at 8:12pm
The good thing is that you cared and you did something to help them. Even if the one didn't make it, it was better off with you than alone. Glad you were able to find someone to take the little girl.
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post #23 of 28
5/25/10 at 8:46am
I have just had to go through this with my two orphans and I can sympathize with the amount of stress you are under and understand the time commitment. It's overwhelming.

My vet cut the X in the nipples for me, but I too had the same problem. I enlarged the X to the point to where if you turned the bottle upside-down then a drop would slowly come out on it's own without squeezing.

That did the trick. I think they are so tiny, they can't create enough suction on the bottle to get the milk. Holding the bottle at a 45-degree angle allows to formula to slowly come out with a little help from the nursing kitten.

I also found that mine would not eat sitting on the floor or on my knee (as most bottle feeding guides suggest). I had to hold mine up against my chest with one arm and hold the bottle with the other. I think being held closely encourages them to nurse.

On elimination, I could never get mine to go #2 while stimulating. I'd stimulate and then set them down with a warm wash cloth at their hind-quarters and they'd then go after I put them down.

Good luck! I hope some of the suggestions are helpful. Now that mine are "out of the woods", I'm VERY thankful that I invested the time. It gets easier week 5!
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post #24 of 28
5/25/10 at 9:14am
Thread Starter 
The girl that took the last little baby emailed this morning and said it died last night. At least they died in safe place, where someone loved them, although they didn't know it.
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post #25 of 28
5/25/10 at 12:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kscatlady View Post
The girl that took the last little baby emailed this morning and said it died last night. At least they died in safe place, where someone loved them, although they didn't know it.
I honestly think that there was something genetically wrong with them and that's why mom abandoned them. They just know these things and let nature take it's course. You did all you could and you are right, they are better off now that they died in a safe place.
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post #26 of 28
5/25/10 at 12:17pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carlysmom View Post
I honestly think that there was something genetically wrong with them and that's why mom abandoned them. They just know these things and let nature take it's course. You did all you could and you are right, they are better off now that they died in a safe place.
Thank you, Jessie (the girl that took the last baby) thought so too. I'm sure you're right, I just hate to think that maybe they suffered or were in any pain.
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post #27 of 28
5/25/10 at 1:35pm
I believe that God brings them past the pain in the end. Even when you know what you are doing, you can lose them. I recently have lost 6 kittens and I have been doing bottle babies for over 30 years now, so don't beat yourself up that you weren't doing anything right.

Just for next time, when you are feeding and the formula starts appearing as bubbles on the mouth of the kitten, the kitten is full. It isn't mandatory, that kittens eat X amount of formula every feeding. They know when they have had enough and that is one of the first signs. If they aren't eating at all they could have gas bubbles, or just need to be stimulated to poop and pee. I advise cool water, not warm as that helps to shock them into relieving themselves. Warm water is comfort and it is just like if they peed on themselves so sometimes they don't go.

I hope next time you give it a go because you have a good heart.
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post #28 of 28
5/25/10 at 1:46pm
I'm so sorry to hear that.
I agree, I think that they must have been sick from the beginning. And just remember, you gave them someone to hold them as they passed on rather then being outside all alone.RIP little ones.
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