Abandoned newborn possible health issues? HELP.

evalyster

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My cat had her litter of kittens on the 29th and yesterday I went to check up on them, when I noticed a small, scrawny kitten off to the side as the others nursing. He looked like he hadn't been cleaned off very well since birth and was very skinny. From what I'm told by my sister, he was the first born of the litter.

Anyway, I took him from his mother, whom wanted nothing to do with him, and I warmed his freezing body up, and he instantly began acting like a normal, healthy kitten. (Squirming around, moving his legs, etc) 

Well, yesterday I rushed to the pet store, and bought a bottle, and some replacement milk for newborns. I have been feeding him every 3 to 4 hours, but I have noticed he sneezes quite frequently after waking up (4-7 sneezes at a time) and sometimes he sneezes for no reason at all. Every now and then he will make the soft "click" like sound kittens make while nursing. He seems healthy, but I am afraid he may have an upper respiratory infection? He has no runny nose, and his eyes are not yet open so there isn't anything oozing from them. It's just the clicking noise every now and again, and the sneezing. Besides that he seems normal. Is this any cause for alarm? I have never taken care of a kitten so young on my own, so any help is much appreciated.
 

StefanZ

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You seem to do very well!  The warming up was excellently well done.

How are you feeding him? Tummy down, in the corner of the mouth? slowly?

Feeding him is necessary, but the problem is, if you do it wrong way, he may get some into the lungs. Dangerous.

Look also at the sites with handrising of orphaned kittens to get more ideas and tips.

I shall send some links soon.

Welcome to our Forums!

Good luck!
 
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evalyster

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I got a bottle for newborn kittens/puppies from the pet store I go to, and he struggles and for for feeding, I try and get him to lay belly down. Usually it ends in him in a sidewaysposition (laying on my hand in a "/" kind of position, and i support his bottom with my chest or stomach) or he rolls himself over on his side and eats. 

As for the feeding from the side of the mouth, he alternates between suckling from the bottle in front, to kind of "chewing" it on the side of his mouth every now and then. At first I was terrified the clicking sounds was due to formula in his lungs, but the clicking noises almost don't happen (besides while he's suckling) and now it's just sneezing.

And thank you!

Oh and I don't know if this information helps or not, but he doesn't know how to properly feed. I have to coax the nipple of the bottle into his mouth a few times before he realizes there is food, and he doesn't kneed like normal kittens. He also peed on his own yesterday inside of his little bed I made him. Is that normal? My mother always taught me they can't go, without stimulation.

I have raised many animals, but never this young so as you can tell I am freaking out a bit. 
 
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StefanZ

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Some adresses to find ideas from:

http://www.fabcats.org/owners/kittens/handrearing.html

www.kitten-rescue.com, by one of our veterans.

http://www.messybeast.com/handrear.htm

Good luck!

EDIT.   There are also useful articles on our own site.    You see some of them at the right side of this Forum.  I do.

One of them is:  http://www.thecatsite.com/a/hand-rearing-kittens

ps.  Do use a kitchen-scale and do weigh your kittens every day - and especielly this one.

It is often the only way to see if a kitten develops positively, or even - goes back...
 
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evalyster

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Thank you so much for the site links! I will be sure to check them out. Also, my boyfriend scraps metal, so he has a scale that's smaller and measures in ounces.. That'll still be good, right?
 

StefanZ

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Thank you so much for the site links! I will be sure to check them out. Also, my boyfriend scraps metal, so he has a scale that's smaller and measures in ounces.. That'll still be good, right?
one tenth of ounce is OK, but NOT whole ounces, its too  coarse.

Gram is best, 1/10 of once ok.

They dont cost much these kitchen scales, you dont need anything fancy. Perhaps some of your neigbours has one to lend out?

About the feeding.  I wrote in the corner of the mouth, as I thouhg you must forcefeed.... You dont want the fluid to be squizeed straight into down the neck...

But if he suckles himself, it is splendid....   :)  Let him take it the way comfortable for him, as long he is not laying on the back.
 
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evalyster

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I figured that's what you meant, but explained how I feed just in case!

I tried feeding with a syringe from the pet store but the bottle works wonderfully, due to the fact he can control the intake.

Am I correct in saying kittens shake a bit when lifting their heads around for the first week or so? He shakes when moving around with his head up and I just want to make sure everything is ok. I am very critical of myself when it comes to my pets.

but thank you so much for helping me.
 

socksy

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I wonder if tube feeding is safer, in terms of not getting fluid in the lungs.  Unless if course you put it down the wrong pipe, that would be disastrous.  
 
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evalyster

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I wonder if tube feeding is safer, in terms of not getting fluid in the lungs.  Unless if course you put it down the wrong pipe, that would be disastrous.  
I find the tube feeding more risky. Because you, yourself control the output of liquid and might move too fast for the kitten, or squeeze some in their mouth as theyre breathing.

The bottle is more natural as they have to suckle to get anything.
 

missymotus

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I wonder if tube feeding is safer, in terms of not getting fluid in the lungs.  
I think it is, it's also a quicker way to feed but you should be shown by the vets how to correctly tube
 
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evalyster

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I don't trust myself to not mess up. If it died because of fluid in the lungs I would never forgive myself.

I use the bottle because I am more comfortable with it.
 

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I wonder if tube feeding is safer, in terms of not getting fluid in the lungs.  Unless if course you put it down the wrong pipe, that would be disastrous.  
It is,  if you know EXACTLY how to do it.  So if you are more than occasionally a rescuer of orphan newborns and prematures, tube feeding is surely something well worth to learn, and learn well.

Probably useful also in other cases also with adults, where you must forcefeed.

But as MissyMotus and EvaLyster says, it is  dangerous to try for somebody not used to, and or not shown the proper way.

That is why we usually dont even mention it. 

If the rescuer knows, or her vet know, they will use it in severe cases. But if not even their vets knows, why wake feeling of not being adequate... A dilemma yes.

Here, as EvaLyster tells, the kitten is suckling himself and seems to have good surviving will. Tube feeding is to overdo it a trifle.   So I do agree with her decision.
 

socksy

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Yes, if the kitten is suckling, then I suppose the bottle is fine.  I was thinking that if the kitten was having problems swallowing properly and getting fluid in the lungs, then that would be another story.  

I'm also thinking back to when I found a litter a newborn kittens on the ground, stone cold (originally thought they were dead) and warmed them up and bottlefed them.  One never did really start suckling and despite my best efforts, he died.  I wonder if I had known about tube feeding if I would have been able to save him.  
 
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