Caring for Orphaned Kitten Just Days Old & in Need of Advice

Hi all, I am new to this forum and for caring for baby kitties. I have done lots and lots of research, and I'm getting the hang of things, but I'm constantly finding I have questions, and would love any advice and support for what I may have in store down the road.

This kitten was abandoned by its mama for whatever reason. He/she must be only a few days old (its eyes are not yet open and its umbilical cord is still attached). It has a lot of healthy spunk even now, has been eating well, peeing, and pooping (no diarrhea). It even purrs after it's been fed. I still have a couple of questions regarding this area of kitten care though:
How often should it be pooping?
How much formula should it be having for each meal? I know about 1.5 T per day, but does it matter if it has just a little for one meal, and a lot for the other?
Should I incorporate some full fat plain yogurt to its formula? If so, how much per tablespoon?
And how should I be mixing it into the formula?

I am also curious about socialization since it is an only kitty. I read that starting at about 2 weeks, it becomes a crucial time for kitties to, well, learn how to be kitties. I called around to some animal shelters to see if they had a new mom who would foster it, but they advised against that - that the risk of disease was too high. I have other gentle, healthy cats. I also have a very, very gentle dog (so gentle that when one of our finches got loose while we were cleaning their cage, it captured the bird in its mouth and returned it to us totally unharmed...except for maybe a little PTSD).
Would it be safe to expose kitty to them when it gets older...and how old would a safe age be? What would be the best way to do that?
Any advice you might have about proper behavioral development would be greatly, greatly appreciated!

I am doing my best to give this baby a fair chance at life. I want that to be the most well-adjusted, healthy life I can possibly give it, and I would be so grateful for your help.

-Lindsey

linwolf said:

 
1.  does it matter if it has just a little for one meal, and a lot for the other?
2.  Should I incorporate some full fat plain yogurt to its formula? If so, how much per tablespoon?
And how should I be mixing it into the formula?

I am also curious about socialization since it is an only kitty. I read that starting at about 2 weeks, it becomes a crucial time for kitties to, well, learn how to 3.  be kitties. I called around to some animal shelters to see if they had a new mom who would foster it, but they advised against that - that the risk of disease was too high. I have other gentle, healthy cats. I also have a very, very gentle dog (so gentle that when one of our finches got loose while we were cleaning their cage, it captured the bird in its mouth and returned it to us totally unharmed...except for maybe a little PTSD).
Would it be safe to expose kitty to them when it gets older...and how old would a safe age be? What would be the best way to do that?
Any advice you might have about proper behavioral development would be greatly, greatly appreciated!

 

Click to expand...

1.  Theoretically, it probably doesnt matter much.  Practically, you dont want to risk he gets a reflux, and perhaps get formula in wrong throat...

So if unsure, better small portions but often.

Healthy, strong kittens will eat as much as they can, and you notice when they are contend.

So its not an exact science, most go by feeling.   But as said, if unsure, better little but often.

2- Full fat plain youghurt is useful, but it depends on the circumstances.   On what formula you do have as the first question.  If it is a first rate formula, say KMR in pulver, you usuall dont need any additives.

Or if he gets an antibiotica treatment, giving a mild probiotic like some nice youghurt may be wise.  Or if he has diarrhea...

Or if the formula isnt top quality.

But in such a case, I would advise for goat milk if you can get it.   Yoghurt if you cant get goat milk.

So, in normal cases, you dont need to use  yoghurt for healthy kittens who do have access to a good formula or goat milk.

3. Its true as they in the shelter try to tell you.  Small orphans are sensitive for infectiosn, as they dont  have the natural protection from moms milk, wich does contains quite a few of  immune protection.   (possibly fresh goat milk directly from a healthy goat does contain some).

Cats in a shelter are often prone to quite a some infection pressure.  Not seldom, a shelter is a virtual  producer of germs and URI virus infections going around there...

So home cats are a safer bet.   Also, being inside your home, he is already in some degree  exposed to germs and viruses floating in your home.

So if you DO have a friendly motherly cat or dog, female or male - its a safer bet.

You arent desperate after all, to find a foster mom at all costs, so its no point to risk him into a unsafe milieu.  Your own  home milieu is safer.  So even a non lactacing foster mom or dad is better.

This if you are fairly sure this kitten is reasonably healty (which it seems to be)   OR   your residents are healthy and themselves ex homeless or at least, used to roam outside.    Such cats dont demand the same strickt quarantine as the average  inside only home cat.

Good luck!

Danke sehr, StefanZ! Your response was helpful and reassuring. We have been giving it KMR formula, but not in powder form. It seems to be digesting it ok so far though...
I would like to clarify that last thing you said though: I have more than one cat (all were strays that came from shelters), but I do not let any of them outside. Once in a blue moon they do get out, but generally they are homebodies. My dogs, however, are outside often (obviously). All are healthy. Would it still be safe to expose kitty to one of them (assuming the vet gives it a clean bill of health)?

Danke, tack, thank you - whatever you prefer!

linwolf said:

 
Danke sehr, StefanZ! Your response was helpful and reassuring. We have been giving it KMR formula, but not in powder form. It seems to be digesting it ok so far though...
I would like to clarify that last thing you said though: I have more than one cat (all were strays that came from shelters), but I do not let any of them outside. Once in a blue moon they do get out, but generally they are homebodies. My dogs, however, are outside often (obviously). All are healthy. Would it still be safe to expose kitty to one of them (assuming the vet gives it a clean bill of health)?

Click to expand...

Yes, it should be reasonably safe.  Rescuers do so, with the kitten being accepted as the main trouble to think about.    They either got accepted and adopted, or not. Most oftehn they got accepted.   Have some smell swapping before.   Ie get some smell of the foster mom to be onto the kitten.   (if she has kittens, smell from her kittens is even better).

A good foster parent is worth some theoreticallyy increased risks.

Make your pick and go on!!

Ready made fluid KMR and pulver KMR are supposed to be exactly the same.   But some forumists has experienced kittens get sometimes diarrha from it, while they find pulver KMR as more reliable.   Never or seldom any troubles, and if there are troubles, just to dilute it somewhat more with extra water.

But it seems to work excellently here, so proceed with this  fluid KMR.  It will be fine here.

Good luck!

I had a orphan kitten for the first time last year. She was a little bit older than yours cos she had one eye open. But I also have two female dogs that have never seen a cat before. My shih tzu became very protective, almost motherly. Aways sleeping by the kittens bed and when ever the bigger labradoodle came in she would leap off the bed and growl at the other dog. The kitten took to my shih tzu really well as she was not too big and vety gentle when the kitten would try to play. But because the labradoodle could have crushed her with excitement we first let her smell the kittens blankets so that she became accustomed and used to that smell. Then we introduced them with one person holding the dog and one person holding the baby. We only let them go when thr cat waw big enough to run away and hide. She always outsmarted the dogs by running under things they couldnt reach. Of course my shih tzu was very protect so that was an unexpected plus.

Just read your animals. You know theyre reaction and personality better than anyone and just keep an eye. I cant tell you how your cats will react. But most animals sense a helpless baby and want to come to its aid. My shih tzu would even try to help the kitten pee and poo.

One year later they are the best of friends, they cuddle, Kali grooms Lola (shihtzu). We moved out and now its just the cat and the shih tzu. Lola still is very protective but more like a big sister now. They play but kali kicks Lolas lottle furry butt.

Best of luck to you and you animals and good luck. Nothing is better then bottle feeding a little kitten. ♡♡ I would love to do it again, unfortunately my boyfriend isnt that keen hahaha