- Joined
- Mar 10, 2013
- Messages
- 12
- Purraise
- 10
This is my first forum post, so I'd like to say Hello to everyone! I own to cats which I both rescued at around 3mo. old, Citlalmina and Thelonious, they are now 7 and 8 years old and I absolutely adore them! I've also spent some time over the years rescuing and fostering cats and some kittens, so I am familiar with cat care but this time I'm faced with a very tricky pair of hand reared babies and would like to ask for any advice I can get from you.
I am helping out a friend take care of a couple of kittens that she's had to hand rear, literally from day 1. They are now at 21 days of age and look a bit small to me, barely any fat in both but one is fatter than the other one. They are crying for food every three hours - on formula at the moment - and basically crying all the time when they aren't eating or sleeping, which makes me worried as a previous litter I rescued at 1month never cried as much.
Amongst other doubts, my main concern right now is that the biggest one is trying to suckle from his siblings' back knees and its little pee hole which seems to be a bit swollen. there's barely any fur around the knees and feels a bit scabby. My only solution so far is to separate them because the little one will urinate when the other one tries to suckle, then I suppose he feels cold and hurting and cries and can't really sleep. But I am worried them not sleeping together makes it harder for them to warm up. What should I do, is there anything I can rub on the little one to make his skin better?
Also, they shiver a lot and don't do much other than walk around a little bit and then just look for a nook to shiver and cry more. The box they are sleeping in is quite warm, I'm putting a lamp close to it, lots of padding and a bag of warm uncooked rice under the blankies, only problem is I have to change padding every three hours after they've gotten it wet.
They do, however, feel strong. They struggle and pull with their tiny and super sharp claws when I stimulate them to pee/poo, My hands are shredded! They crawl up to me too, and their teeth are starting to come out, they tend to try to chew the teat of their bottles, which makes me think they are ready for some wet food or dry food soaked in formula?
Oh, another thing, I don't think they can see very well yet, which seems weird to me, shouldn't their pupils be able to dilate by now?
I've only had them since Friday, but I'm guessing they haven't been appropriately taken care of and I hope I can get them in a better shape over the next few days. I'm taking them to the vet tomorrow but will appreciate any advice you have!!
Thanks!
I am helping out a friend take care of a couple of kittens that she's had to hand rear, literally from day 1. They are now at 21 days of age and look a bit small to me, barely any fat in both but one is fatter than the other one. They are crying for food every three hours - on formula at the moment - and basically crying all the time when they aren't eating or sleeping, which makes me worried as a previous litter I rescued at 1month never cried as much.
Amongst other doubts, my main concern right now is that the biggest one is trying to suckle from his siblings' back knees and its little pee hole which seems to be a bit swollen. there's barely any fur around the knees and feels a bit scabby. My only solution so far is to separate them because the little one will urinate when the other one tries to suckle, then I suppose he feels cold and hurting and cries and can't really sleep. But I am worried them not sleeping together makes it harder for them to warm up. What should I do, is there anything I can rub on the little one to make his skin better?
Also, they shiver a lot and don't do much other than walk around a little bit and then just look for a nook to shiver and cry more. The box they are sleeping in is quite warm, I'm putting a lamp close to it, lots of padding and a bag of warm uncooked rice under the blankies, only problem is I have to change padding every three hours after they've gotten it wet.
They do, however, feel strong. They struggle and pull with their tiny and super sharp claws when I stimulate them to pee/poo, My hands are shredded! They crawl up to me too, and their teeth are starting to come out, they tend to try to chew the teat of their bottles, which makes me think they are ready for some wet food or dry food soaked in formula?
Oh, another thing, I don't think they can see very well yet, which seems weird to me, shouldn't their pupils be able to dilate by now?
I've only had them since Friday, but I'm guessing they haven't been appropriately taken care of and I hope I can get them in a better shape over the next few days. I'm taking them to the vet tomorrow but will appreciate any advice you have!!
Thanks!