two week old kittens

i actually thought these were rats with all the noise they were making for days and days. lo' and behold to my surprise they were cuties. i can't leave them in the cold where they were and wait for mom to come back...i just can't. they are in a warm blanket and all snuggly and quiet together now but they need to get fed and i am ill equipped for the task.

please help!

i dabbed some water around their mouths to stave off dehydration but i am afraid it's too little too late. if i can save them i will, and i will keep them. i have no pets and live alone.

***CORRECTION*** These babies were only a few days old when I made this thread.

thank you!

hey Stef, thank you for replying.

i took these babies and wrapped them in kashmir blanket and put a little heating pad underneath on low heat and now they have gone to sleep and act just fine. mom dropped them on a slab of cold concrete out back, i guess they've been there ever since but she apparently returned to feed them. maybe i jumped the gun? i don't know...

maybe i should just take the whole basket and blanket and it put it back where they were so mom can come back and feed them. jeeze, these animals have been surviving for millions of years without my help. am i interfering with mom? i really hate that...i don't know.

there are plenty of stray cats around here and i don't own any pets, and i live alone. i can take care of them with a little help. what they need now is nourishment but it's like 2 AM and the pet store is closed.

lol, i want these babies to thrive and i will stay up all night if that's what it takes :D I just can't afford the whole emergency vet hospital thing.

these babies are doing fine. i used a small straw to put some sugar water (just a few granules) in their mouths so they don't dehydrate until i can get to the store to buy some real infant nourishment for them. i found some excellent recipes for substitute kitty milk on the web. these are my kitty's now and i take full responsibility. i'm calling them Moe, Curley and Larry until i can figure out what sex they are.

kitties are awesome

I called the ASPCA and they want me to donate for each kitten to help and I can't afford that. They recommend that I call the animal shelter and I know what they will do. I just put them back where I found them for a few hours hoping mom would come back and feed them but she never did, and it is too cold out there to just leave them. I'm afraid I am stuck doing the best I can on my own with few resources. I put together a concoction of evaporated milk, egg whites and diluted it with water and force-fed them with an eye dropper. they don't like it at all.

And it seems they are much younger than two weeks, possibly only a few days old. But all in all they seem to be responding well, they are a group of little fighters. I'm also getting a little angry because my neighbor is a cat hoarder and he is responsible for this, but that is another story.

Thank you for your help :)

Oh yea, it seems it my frantic haste to find help I made a really stupid user name. The admins have contacted me about changing it and that should be done soon. My apologies to all for the dumb name.

Really bad pics using my webcam. There are two white ones, almost identical, and a black one. The black one is the largest and seems the most hardy at this point.

Thought I would give a little progress update here on Day 3: they seem to be doing quite well. The first day was rough as they did not like the formula or the eye dropper feeding method, and I'm obviously not experienced with this sort of thing. Yesterday was a little easier after I spent some time researching methods of care and what to expect. The largest one is eating fine, actually sort of sucking at the tube. The middle one is about the same. But the small one had me worried as it never seemed to swallow anything no matter what I tried, so I focused on her and just tried to make sure she got a little something every couple hours.

This morning the feeding went very well, they all took what I believe to be the right amount of formula for their weight and feeding interval - about 5cc every 4 hours. I know they are digesting the food as there are droppings in the box, and they are quite lively, I even had to put them in a larger basket because one crawled out and tried roaming around. Their voices also seem to be getting better as they are definitely louder and sound more like a meow than the noise they were making. All indications are that these kittens are right about one week old.

Here's the little one

She urinated in my hand as I held her for the pic. Another good sign.

And the big guy

I'll give another update next week, and hopefully learn how to take a decent picture :)

Thanks guys! I'm so glad this and the other sites are here with info and support for these situations. Primula, I did put them back for a while to see if their mother would return but she never did. As I said, where she left them was on a cold slab of concrete and the temp outside was getting too close to freezing. She may have only left them there temporarily, intending to move them to a better place later but I had to decide and I chose not to take a chance. There are also other feral cats and racoons around who these would make a nice meal for.

I don't take removing babies from their mom this early lightly and I would have avoided it if I thought I could without too much risk. For what it's worth I plan to keep them permanently as indoor cats unless I can find a good home for one or two later on. I wasn't positive what I did was the right thing at first, but I know now I am contributing some good because these cats will not die and they won't be strays who suffer needlessly by getting run over or something. And they certainly won't be making any unwanted babies in the future. Also, I have no other pets and live alone so they are helping me just as much as I'm helping them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Primula 

 

zeety, did you think I was criticizing you for removing them from the doorstep? Because that was not what I meant at all. My point was I could not figure out why their mother abandoned them. Rather odd I think.

 

You totally did the right thing and continue to do so. Has someone told you that you have to stimulate them to pee and poop? Because their mother does it for them for a few weeks until they learn to do it themselves. And to wipe them gently with a warm washcloth, otherwise they won't know that they have to clean themselves?

 

I am looking forward to this continuing saga. 

No, I think I was criticizing myself because the enormity of this responsibility is sinking in and I just needed to state clearly the reasons I did it. They are getting quite LOUD now even after having been fed and it is because they need their mom. Regardless of how well I take care of them there is just no replacement for their mother. I can't help but feel bad for them. At the same time I can't allow that to cloud my judgment because the fact is they were homeless cats, and probably would have died had I not intervened.

I use a warm, moist cotton swab to stimulate digestion after eating and that is working well. The problem is that their tales are soaked with urine, and while feeding the formula dribbles down their neck so that much of their coat is sticky. I'm going to try a toothbrush with loose bristles to see if that will simulate a cat's tongue sort of combing the fur. I'm a little afraid of using too much water though because I don't want them getting cold. I wonder if I could use a blow dryer on low setting to dry them off after a good moist rubbing?

I noticed during this morning's feeding all their umbilical cords fell off last night. I'll be expecting their eyes to open in two or three more days.

I'm sorry to say the smaller white one in the pic above died this morning. I did my best for him but he never would eat anywhere near as much as the other two, who I believe will make it.

Thank you to everyone of you for offering your advice, help and encouragement. These babies would have no chance at all without you!

Quote:

Originally Posted by LDG 

Oh hun, I'm so sorry. Sadly, this is quite common, and it is no reflection of your care.
BTW, when our vet cares for bottle babies, they have a warm towel standing by, but just hold the entire back end of the kitty under warm water running from the faucet. They pee/poop and get cleaned up at the same time.
Rest peacefully, little angel.

Thanks! I used that method today along with some suggestions Momofmany gave and they are looking much better.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Feralvr 

Sweetie - I am sorry..... But if not for you, this little kitten would have not known love, kindness, warmth and care . You gave that little one SO much these last few days and even a "special" name. I don't know which one this was, Moe. Larry or Curly .... But RIP little sweet angel
It is alright This is just part of the emotional toll on our hearts - rescuing and trying to save kitties.

He would have been Curly since he was the little guy. I think I will give the other two more appropriate names in a few days. The white one with a little grey patch on the top of his head is the big one now and he's also the most feisty and loudest. The grey one can be loud be he doesn't raise cane every time I close a door or make some noise to wake them up.

____________________

It has been a really long and eventful day today. I went to the store and bought some goats milk and a better medicine dropper so I can more accurately measure out how much they are taking each feeding. It has a smaller nozzle than the one I had, and even though it's not a nipple they can pull the formula out on their own instead of me letting it drip in their mouths. The goat's milk isn't MKR (I can't afford it now) but it should be more easily digestible than evaporated milk. Not sure if changing now would be a good idea though. If anyone has thoughts on that I'd like some feedback.

While at the store I ran into my neighbor the "cat hoarder" guy and politely mentioned that I have the kittens. It turns out he doesn't have as many as I thought so I judged him harshly. He said he and his wife feed the ferals and they have five indoor cats. They knew about the pregnant cat and tried to get her inside but never could. So we agreed to work together to trap these homeless cats and get them fixed if possible. I guess I'm just not a cat person (yet) and don't quite understand how strongly people feel about them.

I have also decided that Nov 13th is my babies' official birthday, which means they are one week old today. That means they get twice as much formula per day and feeding intervals are every four hours instead of two. Which is really good because I'm getting a little worn out.

I just did the math on their recommended formula intake and it seems like a lot. If they need 48 ml each day at four hour intervals that is 8 ml each feeding and they don't seem to want near that much. But all the advice I get is that it's better to underfeed them than give too much. I will just have to keep up the vigilant watch and give them less more often if needed. I'm also going to dilute the goat's milk with Pedialite instead of boiled tap water.

Finally, I want to apologize for not replying individually to all of you. Besides being really busy with the babies I'm not really good with figuring out what all these buttons do. I appreciate very much the support you have all given!

While looking for info I found this site of a veterinarian who offers an explanation for why feral homeless cats abandon their kittens.

So yes, there is a point where environment and circumstances can over-ride the strongest of instincts.

It seems every day brings something new to deal with. Now they are easily taking 3 - 4 ml of formula all on their own by suckling. I discovered a better feeding method is to hold them on their side in one hand using two fingers to brace their head still while using my thumb and other two fingers to keep their front paws down because they keep trying to knock the medicine dropper away. Then I get a little drip of milk on the end of the nozzle and hold it near the tip so I can control it better, and if I place it just right they will empty it most of the time.

The problem is that even though they are pulling the milk out on their own, they seem to be getting too much at once because sometimes it bubbles out of their nose. And if I pull it away to slow them down it's very difficult to get them started again, or they just won't.

And last night I slept for six hours straight for the first time in days. I don't know if that's because I was so tired I didn't hear them crying or they just ate so well at their last feeding of the night that they weren't as hungry. Plus, when I pulled the white one out of the nest to feed this morning the grey one hardly stirred. Usually they are both immediately up and awake crying and trying to crawl out at the slightest disturbance of the nest. I'm afraid this might be an indication of lethargy because that was sort of what I noticed a day or so before Curly died.

Then again they are eating more than ever. Maybe not as much as "the book" says they should but they certainly are not malnourished. They are eliminating regularly and the poop appears normal. Their nest is clean and not too warm or too cold. They get cleaned after every meal and their coats look awesome. It truly will be a miracle if these babies survive because the odds are so stacked against them.

And they have started trying to nurse on each others' behinds. I'm told not to allow this and to separate them, but I just can't because they are all each other has. They go crazy when I take them away from each other.

Jeeze, I worry too much.

Thank you, Primula. You guy's encouragement makes all the difference in the world

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankthetank 

Are you using a bottle for feeding or just a medicine dropper? In June, my husband and I took in 3 orphaned baby kittens that a friend found and didn't know what to do with. When we took them in, they hadn't eaten properly in a couple days and one was shaking and barely moving.

In my bedroom I have a large bathtub, that I lined w/ blankets and towels and put a heating pad in the corner under a couple blankets. I put that on medium (it has a shut off after 2 hours also) and placed the kittens on it with a couple fuzzy stuffed animals and it kinda gave them something warm to cuddle on/up with to keep their body temps up. Kittens need to be kept warmer then older cats, but I am betting you read that already :o)

 

Also about the feeding, if you haven't gotten a kitten bottle, I would recommend it! It makes feeding soooo much easier, especially when they are eating more as they age. I used one bottle for the kittens and had multiple nipples for the bottle that I switched between feedings, and the kitten bottle is labelled w/ oz & such so I could track what each kitten was eating. I also used a food scale to track their weight and made sure they were gaining. As for the stimulating kitties to use the bathroom, I used a washcloth w/ warm water and stimulated over the sink for easy cleanup.

The kitties do get messy but remember they need to stay warm. I wiped them down with a warm washcloth, wrapped them in a warm towel for a few & rubbed their fur dry as much as possible,t hen used a blowdryer on low to dry them (from far away so I didn't scare/burn them) and then returned them to their cozy heating pad/stuffed animal area.

The kittens I had made a ton of noise! If they weren't sleeping, they were crying for milk and to be loved. The benefit of this...I now have the most loving kitten ever. It is so amazing to watch them grow. When I got the kittens, their eyes were still only open a tiny bit...and within days they opened nice & wide, and they started walking versus the little stumbling around they were doing the first day. Within the first week I moved them to my large open closet and used a baby gate to keep them in/other cats out...until after another week and a half they learned to climb the gate and jump out when they were hungry! I had to set alarms at night to feed them every 3 hours, and I work from home so I was able to feed them often during the day too.

I lost one of my little kittens at 5 weeks. The vet didn't really have an explanation but at 3.5 weeks I had rushed this kitten to the vet because he was lethargic, not eating, not using the bathroom and just sickly, and after being dewormed he perked up for a few days but then got sick again...it was horrible and I still get sad thinking about the little guy but I try to remember that it does happen and I did the very best I could raising the babies.

A friend of mine adopted the little girl kitten when she was 9weeks old and I still have the other one. He is the sweetest kitten and is so big and fluffy. He sleeps on my pillow at night, purrs constantly and SO loud, and follows my husband and I around. He is never very far from us, and is a total lap kitty. Bottle feeding a kitten is a great bonding experience, and even the kitten my friend had that I bottle fed is super loving w/ her new family.

I am certainly no expert on bottle feeding baby kittens but if you have any questions feel free to send me a message! Good luck & you are awesome for taking these babies in and caring for them!

Yes I'm using a medicine dropper because unfortunately my situation is that I can't even afford a few dollars for a real bottle. Next week is payday and I will definitely be getting some supplies from the pet store. Other than that I'm doing all the things you suggested thanks to the wonderful people here at TCS who have schooled me!

Just to recap: I found these babies (a litter of three) in my back yard last week. I guessed at the time they were about two weeks old but boy was I way off, they were more like 1 - 3 days old then. I could barely get them to take 2 ml of milk at one feeding. That gradually got better except for the "runt" who never looked well. Bless his little heart, he died Sunday morning.

The survivors are nine days old today and their eyes are still closed of course. I just fed them and they both took 6 - 7 ml of milk, which is about right if fed every three to four hours. Using the medicine dropper method is a very tedious task but I have developed an adequate technique, it just takes time and patience. I know soon the amount of milk they require will demand a real bottle that holds enough that they can feed all they want at once because interrupting for refills makes the job so much more difficult.

The nest is a cardboard box with a few layers of Kashmir lap blankets and a heating pad underneath. I keep the pad on low or medium depending on the outside temps because my apt is a little drafty, and it's only on one side of the box so if it's too warm they can move away to the cooler side. But they always sleep on the warm side even if placed on the cool side.

They get a bath with a warm washcloth after each feeding and are eliminating okay as far as I can tell. They look and act better and better with each new day and, in fact, are sleeping much better the last couple days after I changed to a 50/50 mix of goat's milk and Pedialyte from evaporated milk and boiled tap water. I know they need KMR but again, finances dictate what I can do in that department.

I feel they are doing quite well, but as I have learned from experiences of my own and those of people like you, abandoned and homeless feral kittens have a very high mortality rate. It is heartbreaking when they pass away, but frankly I can't spend too much time mourning the precious little furbaby (Curly was his name) who didn't make it because I still have to be thinking about his surviving siblings.

Thank you for your reply