Trying to save them - HELP

Last night (7/3) my fiance and I were driving home on the back roads.  It was really late, nobody was around.  We drive closer to what appears to be a garbage bag in the middle of the road.  Hit the breaks, it's kittens.

I can't leave them there, so I take them home.  I want to nurse them back to health and put them up for adoption, I'm living with my mom and I can't keep them.  They don't deserve to die, and I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if I left them there.

I'm assuming the one is roughly 12+ weeks, and the other about 6 weeks.  They're very attached to one another.  I don't know how long they were sitting there, but they were curled together and the little one was very cold.

Here is the list of symptoms I'm currently trying to cope with:

- Eye goop and red swollen eyes (Wiping clean with warm cloth/cotton ball multiple times a day and using imitation tear drops.)

- Nasal discharge (Wiping clean)

- Worms (Purchasing dewormer tomorrow from the store, how much do I give the smaller kitten?)

- Mites (Bathed kittens in Dawn, killed most.  Purchasing lice comb tomorrow with the deworm)

- Sneezing here and there, wheezing/whistling when breathing..  (The older cat was actually having difficulties breathing last night, but seems to be doing much better today.  The little one, on the other hand, is wheezing a lot.)

They're still eating, and still purr often, and have little spurts of energy and play like kittens.  They're very affectionate, and they've made minor progress.

I'm assuming they have an upper respiratory infection, does that sound right?  I took these kittens because otherwise they would die, they were not planned, I have absolutely no money, if I did I would take them to the vet.  But I can't.  What else can I do?  What things can I buy to help with these symptoms from the store?  Today was my first full day having them, and I can tell they have some fight in them, but the worms especially on the little one are bad and the little one hasn't pooped at all yet since I've gotten it.  I am so concerned and want to do everything I can in my power to save them.

Please help me.  I don't know what to do. 

You should call some shelters.  At the least they can give you advice, but perhaps take them in.  Kittens can find homes, usually.  Perhaps they will set you up as a foster, a temporary home for them until they get better....if they do that, then they can help you with the bills.  

Do a google search for cat rescues in your area.  

That's the best I have...I am sure there will be more answers coming soon. 

Thank you so much for your response.

I've emailed a local no-kill shelter in hopes that perhaps they could help me out with some advice or ideas.  I'll be making a few phone calls today as well.

Their eyes both look way better today.  They seem to have more energy today too.  Both have used the litterbox this morning, so they're gradually improving.

However I have a question to anyone who might know:

My mom was out this morning and was going to get deworm but on the packaging it says to not treat the cats if they're sick.  Does anybody have any experience with this?  They seem like they're getting better, but still coughing and sneezing so I want to hold off on that.  It's just so disheartening when the little one's 'worm gut' is so bloated.  Wish there was something else I could do.

Thanks all.

Drontal is a good broad spectrum OTC de-wormer, but cannot be given to kittens under 2 months old or under 2 lbs, so may not work.

As for the possible URI, you could try putting them in the bathroom with the hot shower running so they can breath in the steam,  but, of course, if it really is a UTI, they need antibiotics .  Here is a link that may be of help if the shelters don't come thru:

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/155462/cant-afford-a-vet-please-read

BTW, thank you so much for rescuing these poor little babies

So wonderful to rescue these babies and I can't imagine how a person could do such a thing. I think it is terrible to abandon a cat at a shelter, but that would be so much better than this- what a coward!

Anyway I wanted to mention is a great immune booster and can be purchased at the drugstore. As for the wormer maybe wait until you hear back from the rescue they may give you some good suggestions. 

Thank you everyone for the feedback.

The current situation is as follows:

- Left messages with 3 different shelters, no call backs yet.  The one I emailed hasn't responded either.

- The smaller one has been pooping about once a day, and really straining.  I know it's worms, but I don't want to deworm right away because it's already not feeling well not to mention how tiny and I don't want to overdo the dosage.  Would a laxative be a good idea to maybe reduce some of the discomfort?  If so, what are your experiences/suggestions?

- The bigger one isn't wheezing or coughing as badly, but there's a lot more sneezing.  This one has more respiratory distress than the other from what I've noticed.

@mrsgreenjeens - Thank you.  I'm going to hold off on the deworm for sure, I don't want to OD the poor thing or cause any more discomfort.    Do you have any experience with kitty-friendly laxatives?  I want to do anything I can to alleviate some of the pressure on the poor little thing, I really don't know what to do.

@Franksmom - I'm sorry, what is a great immune booster?  I'll gladly get it for them if I can find it.  And I agree, my heart was completely shattered when I saw them in the middle of the road.  People disappoint me. 
 

I really appreciate the feedback guys, let's keep it coming.  I've been reaching out but haven't gotten any help yet.  I feel so terrible that I'm so broke.  I'm a student living at home and my fiance makes a little money which we use to live on.  If we had anything at all in savings, I wouldn't hesitate one second to get these guys the proper care they deserve.  ;(  This breaks my heart.

Here are the two babies.  The black one is the older one, the white/gray one is the mini.  Sorry for the poor quality, my phone doesn't take the best pictures.  They need another bath but I wanted to wait a few days after the first one so they don't get stressed out or cold. 

This hurts me so much.  I'm becoming attached to them despite knowing I can't keep them, they really are super sweet.  I would be a terrible foster mom, I'd want to keep all the kitties.  I also want to help them as much as possible but my means are limited.  Crossing my fingers a shelter or rescue gets back to me soon.

Lovecatsnrats said:

Thank you everyone for the feedback.

The current situation is as follows:

- Left messages with 3 different shelters, no call backs yet.  The one I emailed hasn't responded either.

- The smaller one has been pooping about once a day, and really straining.  I know it's worms, but I don't want to deworm right away because it's already not feeling well not to mention how tiny and I don't want to overdo the dosage.  Would a laxative be a good idea to maybe reduce some of the discomfort?  If so, what are your experiences/suggestions?

- The bigger one isn't wheezing or coughing as badly, but there's a lot more sneezing.  This one has more respiratory distress than the other from what I've noticed.

@mrsgreenjeens - Thank you.  I'm going to hold off on the deworm for sure, I don't want to OD the poor thing or cause any more discomfort.    Do you have any experience with kitty-friendly laxatives?  I want to do anything I can to alleviate some of the pressure on the poor little thing, I really don't know what to do.

@Franksmom - I'm sorry, what is a great immune booster?  I'll gladly get it for them if I can find it.  And I agree, my heart was completely shattered when I saw them in the middle of the road.  People disappoint me. 
 

I really appreciate the feedback guys, let's keep it coming.  I've been reaching out but haven't gotten any help yet.  I feel so terrible that I'm so broke.  I'm a student living at home and my fiance makes a little money which we use to live on.  If we had anything at all in savings, I wouldn't hesitate one second to get these guys the proper care they deserve.  ;(  This breaks my heart.

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Sorry I meant to type L-Lysine. I wouldn't give a laxative but canned pumpkin (not pie filling) is good for constipation. You can mix the canned pumpkin into their food. 

Franksmom said:

Sorry I meant to type L-Lysine. I wouldn't give a laxative but canned pumpkin (not pie filling) is good for constipation. You can mix the canned pumpkin into their food. 

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Thank you so much.  I'll definitely look into it.  I might not be able to get the L-Lysine tonight, but I'm sure Walmart carries canned pumpkin so I could at least get that tonight.  I appreciate everything, folks.  And the little ones do too.

Make sure it's plain pumpkin - not pie filling.

sivyaleah said:

Make sure it's plain pumpkin - not pie filling.

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Will do, thank you.

Wal-Mart does carry lysine tablets in their supplement section.  Get the 500mg pills and use half for each kitty twice a day.  Just crush between two spoons and add to canned food concoction.  You can also get kitten milk replacement to add to canned kitten food.  Water down the food a bit for them to make it the consistency of a slushie.  If they're not eating on their own, ask the pharmacist for a couple of syringes minus the needles.  You can use those to feed them with.
 

stephanietx said:

Wal-Mart does carry lysine tablets in their supplement section.  Get the 500mg pills and use half for each kitty twice a day.  Just crush between two spoons and add to canned food concoction.  You can also get kitten milk replacement to add to canned kitten food.  Water down the food a bit for them to make it the consistency of a slushie.  If they're not eating on their own, ask the pharmacist for a couple of syringes minus the needles.  You can use those to feed them with.
 

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Oh wow, thank you!  This is all incredibly helpful.  The pharmacy will be closed however, do you think a dropper could work just as well?  I'm unsure, I've never had to force feed a cat before.  I'll definitely be hitting up Walmart tonight and getting the lysine and canned pumpkin.

A question about treating sinus congestion:  I'm pretty positive that the older one's sniffling and sneezing is coming from nasal congestion and not chest congestion.  Is there anything over the counter or foodwise I could try?  I'm going to get them both in the bathroom tonight and run the shower for a 'steam treatment', but is there anything else I can do?

Thank you again a thousand times over.  This forum has been most helpful, I can't express enough appreciation!