Question from a first timer

  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #21

suher99

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Sep 8, 2003
Messages
19
Purraise
0
Well a contacted the vet today and he suggested started feeding them soft kitten food. They're about 3 1/2 weeks. Their ears are up, and they are walking on all four and climbing the cage. I tried tonight, and they didn't like it to much. I mixed soft with KMR. He said as long as there is no sores, they should be ok. Boy I sure didn't know what I got into, but I'm enjoying every minute of it!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #22

suher99

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Sep 8, 2003
Messages
19
Purraise
0
Here I thought I was doing good, and saw no sucking today, and picked one up to feed and it's bleeding. What can I put on it? Vets not in til morning.
 

hissy

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 19, 2001
Messages
34,872
Purraise
76
Really nothing at such a young age. I would make a box and put a lot of soft bedding in it. Make cardboard partitions and keep each kitten in a partition. Tube- feed them at least every two hours and keep them warm. Very important not to put these babies in a drafty cage. Fading Kitten Syndrome can strike orphans at any time. Treat them carefully. Make that pouch I talked about for the weaker ones.

I am moving you to Health as this can become a serious health issue for these babies.
 

maggpie

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Jul 18, 2003
Messages
42
Purraise
2
Location
Pennsylvania
Some people like your neighbor, probably dosn't have any real idea on what the overpopulation situation is like. She is probably going to get defensive if you try to talk to her about spaying, and having the cat spayed while in your care is a devious thing to do. Suggestion: gather a bunch of informative articles about pregnancy and overpopulation and spaying, include some info about an organization that may help or do spaying low-cost. Put it in a folder with a business card and a note telling her she can call you if she has any questions, or would like help with her cat. just drop it in her box and hope she will do the right thing.
 

fancycaddy

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Aug 4, 2003
Messages
68
Purraise
1
Location
Mississippi
I would....if she left these kittens out there to die?? You let me get my hands on that kitty...she would be spayed in a heartbeat!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #29

suher99

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Sep 8, 2003
Messages
19
Purraise
0
Originally posted by Maggpie
where is the kitten bleeding, how much, has it stopped?
He's bleeding on his Pee pee as my kids say. It's stoped this morning, and looks real good. I'm washing after every feeding with a warm soft cloth, and he had a BM so I think he'll be ok. He's the only male I think I have.
 

momofmany

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jul 15, 2003
Messages
16,249
Purraise
70
Location
There's no place like home
If he is the only male, it makes sense that the other kittens are suckling on him. If he is bleeding, they have overtaxed the poor guy and you will need to get him to the vet. I think you just might have to separate him from the rest unless you are there to supervise and give him a snuggle-kitty. Let them be together when you can be there to watch over them - they desperately need live companionship with each other during this period. I only had one female and she didn't have the parts to suckle on - so she was left alone.

If they are 3-1/2 weeks old now, they are getting more agile and will want to spend some time exploring when they aren't sleeping. You should try to make a larger area for them - we used a lot of cardboard to make larger "boxes" for them - simply taped cardboard pieces together into a 5X5 square. Still keep rugs, blankets, towels on the floor for them, and make sure you have a covered area that they can crawl into to sleep. Started putting toys in there but they didn't have much interest.

For feeding, Science Diet A/D is great transitioning food - very mushy and we initially mixed it with KMR. Ours were so spoiled that they didn't want to make the effort to eat (they liked the syringe), and I didn't get any of ours to eat (or lap) until they were over 5 weeks old, and some of them 6 weeks. But like I said, we overspoiled them.

My husband reminded me last night that at about this age, he started sleeping on the floor with them at night. He doesn't toss and turn much, can take hard surfaces, and laid next to their sleeping box with his arm in there to surround them. I know that is a lot to ask of anyone, but he was absolutely fulfilled bonding with those little guys.

Sorry I didn't see this post until this morning - how did he fair last night (the male that was bleeding).

And....most importantly.....have you named them yet?
 

wolf110

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Sep 19, 2003
Messages
1
Purraise
2
Location
Scottsdale, AZ
I'm new to the forum, but I wanted to post to this in the event that it may help. I have always placed an old-fashioned ticking clock (make sure the alarm isn't set!) wrapped inside an old blanket and tucked in a corner of their bed. This seems to mimic the heartbeat of the Queen, and makes the kittens feel more secure. Also - make sure to keep them warm and remember that they eat quite often - that will help alleviate the "sucking" reflex a bit. Good luck - a visit to the vet will do wonders as well!
 

hissy

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 19, 2001
Messages
34,872
Purraise
76
Ok I am finding it a bit difficult to understand if you rehab baby wild animals how come you can't care for these kittens? I also rehab baby wild animals, skunks, possums, squirrels, bats,raccoons and I also rescue orphaned ferals.

You should have had to take classes, which would equip you to take care of any orphan, regardless of species. If these kittens are bleeding, take them to the vet! If you are not equipped to care for them, find someone in your area that can. These babies are simply looking for their mom. Your neighbor is heartless and she should be reported leaving these kittens to die like this. The suckling instinct in these kittens are just that instinct. They have no way of knowing in their young minds just what they are suckling. They are looking of sustenance and nutrition. So tube feed these babies, or if you have a baby squirrel bottle, use that, the nipple is elongated and able to go further down their throat. Also call an animal rescue group and report what your neighbor is doing to these orphans. While you are making that call tell them about these orphans and ask them to take the babies from you as you are evidently not equipped to handle them. If you are a rehab specialist you should know basic emergency medicine and life-saving techniques for all species.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #33

suher99

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Sep 8, 2003
Messages
19
Purraise
0
I did tube feed til they had their sucking reflex. We were taught not to treat domestics as wildlife, cause meds differ. One thing might work for wildlife, but could be toxic to domestic. This is my first experience with domestic and I just wanted to do right by the little ones. My meds are strictly monitered and used for wildlife only. I have a call into the vet, to see what he wants me to do. I do have guideline I have to follow when it comes to my equipment used for wildlife rehabbing.
 

hissy

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 19, 2001
Messages
34,872
Purraise
76
We are not talking about medications. These babies are to young to be medicated by anything if their eyes are still shut. We are talking about basic care and bottle feeding. You should have a variety of different types of nipples available to you, the elongated ones you use for baby rabbits and squirrels will help with the suckling reflex and give these babies much needed nutrition. You should be feeding Kitten Replacement Milk, keeping these babies in a closed off cardboard box full of soft bedding somewhere free from drafts. You should be stimulating the bums with warm water soaked cotton gauze to mimic a mom's tongue. You should be feeding every two hours around the clock, and stimulating afterwards. The babies need to be kept warm, at least 93 degrees. You should have a pet heating pad, buried under their bedding to help them retain warmth.

And your neighbor should be reported! her cat should be confiscated and spayed and given to a proper home.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #35

suher99

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Sep 8, 2003
Messages
19
Purraise
0
These aren't newborns with eyes still closed. They're about 31/2 to 4 weeks old! They opened their eyes about 2 Sundays ago. I have been feeding KMR and now I'm in the process of weening.
 

momofmany

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jul 15, 2003
Messages
16,249
Purraise
70
Location
There's no place like home
The only issues that I see right now is the neighbors, and the fact that the kittens are following their natural instinct to suckle. They are now old enough for the need to start exploring under supervision and need that stimulus to help their physical, social and mental development. Expanding their area of exploration (controlled) is important for them.

I didn't try this and just thought of it, but perhaps rig up a nipple tip on a snuggly - one without the tip cut so they wouldn't be sucking any air.

Are you syringe or bottom feeding them? Mine were syringe fed and grabbed and sucked that thing every time they saw it.
 

hissy

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 19, 2001
Messages
34,872
Purraise
76
Also if you invest in a snugglekittie that stuffie is set up to have bottles attached to it to stimulate nipples on a momcat.
 

momofmany

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jul 15, 2003
Messages
16,249
Purraise
70
Location
There's no place like home
I didn't know they made those - I think I'll have to invest in one for the next set of orphans that come my way! They show up at the rescue center on a regular (more often than we want) basis.
 

hissy

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 19, 2001
Messages
34,872
Purraise
76
They are a real lifesaver! The heating packs and the battery powered heart are a real plus for an orphaned kitten. You can find them in our Cat Shop pages under For Kittens.
 
Top