I Need Some Help With Feral Newborns ASAP!

One of my ferals had babies yesterday. To make a long story short as possible, the momma cat (I call her Yoda), brought one of the babies up onto the porch: I knew there had to be more so I went looking for them. Thankfully, I was able to locate them under the shed and was able to get them out - but they were still all stuck together to the placenta and I couldn't get them apart, so I got a hold of an e-vet and he was able to get them separated. I  brought them back home in the hopes that Yoda would take care of them after gettting them separated and all, but she won't take care of them. I was able to feed them a little with a small syringe, but they all seem so weak - except for the one that Yoda brought on to the porch - -which was the only one she nursed at all as far as I know. They were all surprisingly very active & lively - till they were separated from the placenta. I don't know what else I can do for them: I'm afraid they won't make it.

ANYONE who has any ideas as to what else I can do PLEASE help me!

http://cats.about.com/cs/kittencare/a/kittencarethree.htm

http://cats.about.com/cs/kittencare/ht/bottlefeed.htm

http://cats.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1...u=http://www.safehavenforcats.com/newborn.htm

http://www.2ndchance.info/orphankitten.htm

I hope these links help, as well as other people on the site. Good luck, I hope the babies make it! It's wonderful you are trying to help them! If kittens seem unactive i've read diluting a little syrup and rubbing it on their gums gives them an extra boost of energy to feed. Always try to stimulate them to go potty before and after feeding. Feed every 2 hours or so, never on their back, have their 4 paws on the ground or they can inhale it. Keep them warm, that gives them a lot of their energy.

Yes like Clynn said take some kyro syrup (not diluted) and rub it on their gums, if they haven't been nursing this will help a lot, as long as they are warm try feeding them right after giving them kyro. Set up a box or carrier with a heating pad on low and a soft blanket over it. The kittens might be dehydrated, pinch the skin on the back of their necks and if it doesn't sink back right away and kinda stays up for a bit then they are dehydrated. If this is the case give them some unflavored pedialyte. Using a syringe will work, I find it easier to use a bottle personally, if you have never done this before get someone who does like a vet, or a volunteer for a rescue even, to show you how to put a proper hole in the bottle and how to bottle feed them. You don't want the hole too big or they will aspirated it and that alone will kill them. At this tiny age they need to be fed every 2 hours even overnight. Rub their bellies and gentals with a warm damp cotton ball or wash cloth to stimulate them to go. They should pee everytime and they will poop at least once a day.

white caro / karo syrup is the best they say. I suppose honey or dextrose is also ok.

Good luck!

another link is www.kitten-rescue.com

ps.  I shall ask a mod to move this tread to the pregnants and kitten care.

Originally Posted by KittKatt  

. I was able to feed them a little with a small syringe, but they all seem so weak

Click to expand...

What did you gave them? What resources do you have?

Do you have a good commercial mother replacement milk for kittens?  Goat milk? Something else?

As said before, warm is necessary, too warm not good, but too cold is far more common and takes  away their forces...

Some extra home made pedialyte may be necessary.  You can make it home, you can use some commercial "balanced salts" still  waters too... Not cheap but a bottle is for the whole day...

Im a little baffled by this placenta... Several attached into one?  They are supposed to have one each...

Good luck!  *vibes*

First, I would like to thank y'all for your responses. For those of you who don't know me, I have been a member of TCS for quite some time now (but have not logged on for quite awhile, mainly due to health-related issues). I have also fostered before, so I have some knowledge of what to do - although I've never fostered newborns before.

This is the situation as of now: I was able to get Yoda to finally start tending to the babies: I took them out onto the porch where she was looking for them, and placed her in the box with them. She only tended to the one she brought up onto the porch at first, but after talking to her & petting her and trying to put her at ease, she eventually started tending to the other babies, too. The bad news is is that the other babies don't seem to know what to do - except for the one baby and one other - even after I placed them by the nipples and tried showing them how to nurse.  Since the other ones wouldn't nurse on their own, I fed them with a syringe again. I'm gonna continue to do that: hopefully, after awhile, they'll nurse from Yoda on their own. I also attempted to try bringing Yoda in to be with the babies, but she didn't go for that idea too well. Maybe if I bring her in occasionally she'll feel more comfortable, and take care of them in the room I set up for the kittens. I thought about just leaving her & the babies out on the porch in the box now that she's warmed up to them, but I'm afraid she'll try carrying them off somewhere and then I won't be able to tend to them. I'm also worried that it may not be warm enough for them outside - even though I'm in Texas and it's pretty warm out already. It still cools down into the 60s at night, and I don't think that'll be warm enough for them. That's all that I can think to do right now....

If anyone else has any suggestions or ideas, I would greatly appreciate your advice!

She doesn't sound feral? Not if you can touch her and handle her babies. Maybe a little shy but not feral.

So far it sounds like you're doing all you can do. The babies may be premature or have something congenitally wrong. If so, they probably won't make it . But what you're doing will give them the best chance--keep them with their mother if she's willing, keep them warm, supplement with formula and sugar water if they seem weak. There's not a lot a vet can do for them at this age.

I would bring the mama cat inside if at all possible. Not just for warmth and to keep her from taking the kittens away, but also because many cats go into heat right after giving birth, and the last thing you need is this happening again 2 months from now! I would keep her (and the babies) inside until the kittens are weaned and she's spayed. Then she can go out again safely.

How exactly does she react to being brought inside? Maybe if you started her off in a small room with somewhere to hide, and gave her time to settle down would she after a while. Maybe have some really yummy wet food to feed her so she associates being inside as a good thing. As for getting the kittens to learn how to nurse from mom you can try putting a few drops of the formula you are feeding the kittens right on mamas nipple and sticking the kitten up to it, it should recognize the scent f the formula and start looking for a nipple to suck on. You may have to try this a few times before they really figure it out. I did this last week with 2 little kittens I took in, they had been being bottle fed, but I have a nursing mom with kittens about the same age so I put them with her. They needed some teaching to learn, and sounds like yours do to, once they figure it out one time they should be good after that.

I second to a serious try to bring them in.  Not just open the door and hope she wants to go in.

But carry her in. Say, wrap her in a towel and carry into this small room which will be theirs.

She is no real feral so this should be possible without catching in a trap.

This having them inside works fine with ferales, it should work even better here when she already accepts you stroking her and making her feel comfortable.

The little ones "not having instinct to find the teats" may perhaps be they are yet too week for that?

So prob you must continue to give them food for the time being.

But mom taking care of much else is great help, and may be the difference between life and death.

"sugar water" mentioned.  Common sugar CAN be used, but better is to use dextrose (grape sugar) as the sugar there.  Dextrose being the primary of all sugars, going directly into blood and used by the cells.

I suppose diluted white caro is also OK for this sugar water.     (another variation is this booster of placing a little of white caro syrup on the gum, mentioned in earlierr posts).

Home made pedialyte: 1 soup spoon of dextrose (or honey, or white caro, or common sugar if you dont have dextrose nearby), 1 tea spoon kitchen salt,  1 litre water....

As water and salt solution you can use the commercial bottled still water drinks with balances salts,

and add this dextrose...  Will surely make a very decent home made pedialyte, useful both for kittens, children and severly sick grown ups.

There is also commercial pedialytes, but some experts tells they are too overdone. Home made as skissed, almost better.

Good luck!

OMC!!! Deb!!! NO!!Looks like the other posters have given a lot of good suggestions, and also you are doing a wonderful job.  Sounds like Yoda is coming around, too.  Hope you can install the whole family in the room you've prepared for them -- even though 60's isn't cold at all, it's much better when mom and babies are together! and safe indoors.  Sure hope you can get her spayed when they are weaned.  

Glad to see you here!  WELCOME BACK!!! 

HI TIFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Welcome back and I am just so happy to see your post. I have missed you and sorry I haven't been in touch :anon: Bad, I know.... :shame:

I think everyone has given some excellent advice. I think you are doing a PEFECT job as always in caring for the kittens. Yoda sounds pretty sweet and I think if you can - move them indoors to that room you have set up. BUT really, 60's at night is not too cold for the babies. IF they are all snuggled together and Yoda lays with them, they will stay warm. Hope the babies are all doing well tonight. AND hope you are feeling better these days too. :cross:

's   

Hope Yoda and the little babe are doing okay today.  You know you're all in my prayers always.  

Sending more Hugs and vibes tonight! Hope the little family is doing alright tonight :rub:

Our friend KittKatt has asked me to post for her to update you all and thank you for your concern on behalf of her and the little family she is caring for.  

Tragically, all of the babies but one have gone to the Bridge.  Yoda, their mom, is grieving them and searching for them.  But her surviving baby is doing well, and she and the kitten have access to protection in several places.  She is coming for food and seems to know that she can trust KittKatt and family, who are having some personal situations right now; but she looks forward to rejoining us here when she is able to do so, and thanks you all for your caring, your kind words, and your prayers.    

Tarasgirl06 said:

Our friend KittKatt has asked me to post for her to update you all and thank you for your concern on behalf of her and the little family she is caring for.  


Tragically, all of the babies but one have gone to the Bridge.  Yoda, their mom, is grieving them and searching for them.  But her surviving baby is doing well, and she and the kitten have access to protection in several places.  She is coming for food and seems to know that she can trust KittKatt and family, who are having some personal situations right now; but she looks forward to rejoining us here when she is able to do so, and thanks you all for your caring, your kind words, and your prayers.    

Click to expand...

hno: I am sooooo very sorry to hear about those babies..... and I am so sorry for Tiff, I know how this must hurt her heart. Thank you so much for updating for Tiff. My prayer, thoughts and concerns are with her too.

Thank you so much.  I hope she is able to come back onsite soon and update everyone herself; the last time we spoke, Yoda and her surviving baby were doing fine.  

Tarasgirl06 said:

Thank you so much.  I hope she is able to come back onsite soon and update everyone herself; the last time we spoke, Yoda and her surviving baby were doing fine.  

Click to expand...

I hope so, I miss Tiff around here... More vibes for Yoda and the kitten today

TYSVM, from me on their behalf.  Believe very strongly in the power of Prayer and I know that the family will surely benefit from your kind thougjhts.