Posted this in my Cats S.O.S. post, but figured it suits this forum better.

[clynn11]

I just took on a huge task. An ad was posted on my local Craigslist 'Free Baby Kittens', the posting reading "These little baby kittens were born about a week or so ago and need new good homes. They will need to be bottle fed. If you are interested please call! (***)-***-**** Thank You!!"

I called... and was surprised to find myself talking with a younger girl who said "Hold on, you gotta talk to my little sister- it's her deal." And then i'm talking to this even younger girl, asking if the momma cat is still around (the momma cat is her cat that she's had since it was a kitten and she refuses to let it come with the babies, but her parents are making her get rid of the babies ASAP. There are 5. I agreed to take them all. She was amazed that I was offering to take all of them.

I am very anxious about the situation.. i've bottle fed kittens before with it never ending well, but after joining this site i've learned SO much about positioning and how often you have to feed them, so i'm feeling more confident- and also know that i'm giving these babies at least a fighting chance instead of them being taken one by one at SUCH a young age.

Wish me luck, and any advice and experience from others is ALWAYS welcome.

 

[missymotus]

I hope you can convince them to let mum come too, raise the babies, spay and return her.

Let them know mum is at risk of mastitis by having her babies taken away while she's full of milk, and that she'll be coming back into season again very soon. 

At least you are taking them all and will properly care for them. Hand raising is exhausting and of course being with mum is the best chance for little ones. 

 

[clynn11]

Well, I am home with kittens, no mommy. The place I saved them from was horrific, 5 dogs came running at me when the door opened and the entire house is filled completely with trash, everything is EVERYWHERE. Looked to be about 10 people living in this small home, and the kittens were on the ground in the middle of the floor surrounded by debris and everything else. Momma cat was no where to be seen, they said they thought she was outside. Great. I, of course, explained to them how much better it would be to keep momma with babes, etc. They didn't care. The little girl said "She always has 5 kittens and they're always beautiful." So obviously this momma has been a mother to many litters already.. and probably many more to come

SO SAD. But I am happy to have the babes home with me. 4 girls, 1 boy. The boy is cream with white, and then one dilute calico, one grey with white (who is by far the runt), and two either grey tabbies or torbies.. they have some red in them but I can't really tell. I'm going to weigh them when they wake.

They aren't taking the bottle nipple well... I think it's too big so i'm syringe feeding, 2-3 ml every two hours. Any suggestions on getting them to take the nipple easier? Or are there better nipples than the crappy ones that come with the nursing bottle I got?

 

[missymotus]

How sad, these little ones are lucky to be with you in that case.

I've only used either an eye dropper or (needless) syringe for little ones, not a bottle. Mikki teats that fit onto a syringe are favourites with other breeders I know.

This is the Mikki kit, but they replace that syringe with a medical one apparently that works better
http://www.whelpingsupplies.com.au/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=156

 

[orientalslave]

Human breast-fed babies often aren't keen on an artificial teat, it might be the same with kittens.

Hope you find something that works for them PDQ. 

 

[clynn11]

Well they've done great throughout the night, so glad I haven't lost one. I named them after some of my favorite childhood movies. Here's some pictures with their weigh-in this morning.

Falcor: 289.8 g





Anastasia: 217.3 g





Thumbellina: 195 g





Fern: 224 g





Irene: 269.1 g

 

[missymotus]

well done They're very cute

 

[catnamedpanda]

Aww they are so cute. Good Job on taking them in. Sad about the mom though.

If you are still having a problem with them taking the bottle you can try different types of nipples. I have found kittens have different preferences. My last bottle baby liked this one http://www.tractorsupply.com/just-born-reg-hand-feeding-kit-2401749

I have also had another kitten who like the long nipple in this kit http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4239990&lmdn=Brand

Good luck with them, I'm sure they will do great in your care.

 

[clynn11]

THank you They just needed a little adjusting to the syringe but are now eating like champs. Here's the weigh-in today.

Falcor: 293.5g ---> +3.7g

Anastasia: 220.1g ---> +2.8g

Thumbellina: 198.3g ---> +3.3g

Fern: 234g ---> +10g

Irene: 279g ---> +9.9g

 

[clynn11]

Fern's eyes are all the way open now. She's a gorgeous grey tabby.. but she looks to have some cream in her as well? Pretty sure Irene is a dilute torbie, her body looks to be tortie while she has the tabby stripes on her arms and legs and the classic tabby 'M' on her forehead. I think Anastasia is going to be considered a dilute torbie with white as well, the grey on her forehead forms half an 'M' and her tail is grey striped! Thumbellina is so teeny tiny, but I love what a deep grey color she is. Falcor is a vocal little guy, always needs to be first to be fed because he screams non-stop and wakes the others until his tummy is full. They've moved up from eating 2-3 ml every two hours to eating 3-5 ml every two hours now that they've gotten the hang of the syringe.

I picked them up right around 930 pm Saturday night. It's now 5.30 pm Monday night. Fern and Irene had a bowel movement a few hours after I got them, Anastasia had a bowel movement yesterday around 3.30pm. Falcor and Thumbellina still haven't had one... should I be worried? I'm stimulating them and they are peeing every time, at first it smelled but I figured they were probably dehydrated because now it doesn't. They don't seem uncomfortable or like they're straining.

 

[feralvr]

Hi sweetie!! I know of your wonderful rescue and I think this was very smart of you to start a thread here and get expert kitten care advice. OH are they ever precious and beautiful. I am so sorry about the mom cat and the conditions she lives in. AND even more so, that she will still have kittens... But you must concentrate on these babies and your doing a fantastic job! Mega vibes that they continue to thrive and grow to be healthy, happy babies. :cross:

p.s. Love the names. :heart3:

 

[missymotus]

Blue not grey  

 

I wouldn't worry just yet about the bowel movements of the 2 who haven't, they probably will have by the time you next update.

 

[clynn11]

Hahaha. Darn it, I try to learn the correct terms! Blue. Gotta remember that.

The 2 still have not had a bowel movement, the other three have had at least two since i've had them. They don't seem constipated, Thumbellina even had some gas, but no poo. Should I start to worry? Do I need to take them to the vet? Also... can I overfeed them? They are little piggies now that they've learned the syringe means food and can suckle it down pretty quickly. Some of them are drinking close to 10mL at a time. Should I limit them even though if I only give them the 2-3 mL recommended they freak out still?

Weigh-ins today:

Falcor: 315.6 ----> +22.1g

Anastasia: 237.8g ---> +17.7g

Thumbellina: 218.8g ---> +20.5g

Fern: 241.3g ---> +7.3g

Irene: 296g ---> +17g

 

[catnamedpanda]

The two that havent pooped yet I would give them some gentle belly massages, and try rubbing their behinds under warm running water (just gently use your finger). hopefully that will do the trick. I know you can add pumpkin to their formula but I don't remember the amount off the top of my head. I wouldn't rush to the vet just yet. As to over feeding yes you can over feed, you will know if you are because they will get bad diarrhea.

 

[missymotus]

Going on weight - using 250g as average,  they'd want around 65-70ml over 24 hours, (according to my can of formula) which would be 6ml per feeding over 12 feeds. Wouldn't be unusual for some to want 7-10mls.

You can overfeed, usually their tummies become firm when they are nice and full.

 

[clynn11]

Thanks you guys. Your advice and reassurance helps a lot!!!!

New pictures of the babes here: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/246580/...tle-babies-cuteness-warning-and-picture-heavy

 

[clynn11]

Yay, Falcor finally had a bowel movement! A few times actually since last night. Thumbellina still hasn't had one yet, although i'm sure hopefully today will be the day! Haha never thought i'd be so happy for little kittens to poo!

Weigh-ins today!! They're little chunky monkeys and gaining lots of weight!!!!

Falcor: 336.4g ---> +20.8g

Anastasia: 261.2g ---> +23.4g

Thumbellina: 226.4g ---> +7.6g

Fern: 250g ---> +8.7g

Irene: 308g ---> +12g

 

[clynn11]

And I just got 4 really tiny, hard hunks of poo out of Thumbellina. Hopefully now that they're out she'll start having regular bowel movements!

 

[missymotus]

Oh that's good news, hope they become more regular going forward.They're excellent weights, you're doing a great job. How are you coping with getting up every few hours?

 

[clynn11]

I'm actually coping really well! The first night was EXHAUSTING, but then I got the hang of it and after they got the hang of suckling the syringe the feedings go by A LOT quicker. I've actually been sleeping on the couch, my boyfriend works 10-12 hour days so I figured waking him up every two hours as well wasn't fair! But i'm doing great, and so happy the babies are doing great! Just reassures me that when I choose to become a foster I will already have good experience and KNOW that I can do it rather than hope.