Foster kittens x4

Hi everyone!

This is my first post here. I just recently took in four foster kittens from my local shelter. They're unsure how old they are, but they estimated 2 weeks last Thursday. I think they're showing signs of being around three weeks (starting to poop by themselves, developing canines, walking faster).

Anyway, I wanted to ask for tips. Right now I feel like they're totally running my life, and it's driving me nuts. I mean, I really want to help them. There are no other foster families, so if I took them to the shelter, they'd go into a cage and I don't want that at all. So I really need to find a way to make things easier. This is what's happening right now:

1. They poop in their carrier, and one of them poops on me every time I feed her. I'm not sure what the deal is. I'm doing the "butt massage" before and after their meals, but when I take them out of their carrier in the morning, they're covered in poop. Invariably one of them poops and the others roll around in it. I read I can't use soap on them, so I just do spot cleaning and "butt baths" with warm water. They stink, though. Any ideas?

2. I've introduced a litter box yesterday, but so far they're not using it. I put them in it and help them scratch around. I thought they'd catch on quickly, but they're not. Am I doing something wrong?

I'm going to ask the vet these questions tomorrow, but I thought I'd see what you guys thought. I'd like to be able to work (I work from home) instead of spending the entire day washing them and their bedding and feeding them and re-washing them and myself. Sigh. I'm feeling a little run over right now.

Thanks for any advice!

I shall begin with asking a mod to move this your question Manchee to the Pregnant and kittens forum, where they do deal very much with such questions. Quite a few of them are taking care of orphans and similiar...

I perhaps will make it easy for me and not write much myself... (Im advising there too)

YOu do have links to sites about Orphaned kittens?  You can surely get ideas...

Google on hand raising hand rearing kittens...

Welcome to our Forums!

Good luck!

Bumping!  Folks, cleaning poo of orphaned kittens??

I always wash them with baby shampoo. . .you just have to make sure they're thoroughly dried and kept warm.

If they're pooping on their own, they can use a litterbox. But it can take a while for them to catch on. Just keep putting them in it after meals and after naps or if you see them sniffing around, and eventually they'll get the idea.

It's rough but it's only another week or two before they're eating by themselves and using the litterbox, so hang in there!

you use non clumping litter, right