premature kitten no mom

I've been doing a lot of research since taking in a kitten that was born 6 days ago and I still can't help but worry about everything! Most recent worry is that her (at least I think) last poop started Brown but a little runny with a slight trace of blood then turned into a firmer stool almost like soft serve. We've been feeding her every 2-3 hours but last night she was only feed 2x's in 10 hrs. She never got her mom's milk but is slowly gaining weight. She started at 2.4 oz and is now up to 2.9 so about 0.1 per day. Is that normal also with how small she is? Any advice welcomed and thank you in advance. Her name is Lily and she thanks you too.

You are doing a great thing caring for this little one. 

Most of the litters I have hand feed eat every 4 hours or so. My sure you are using a good kitten milk replacement.  80% of cats can't take cows milk without getting an upset stomach. Checking the wt daily is the perfect way to make sure they are doing well. It sounds like you have things down so far. Please keep us updated and let us know if you have any questions, I find people here are always willing to help.  

Good luck. And welcome

I have kmr which every website said is the best. Thank you for responding. How much do you feed your kittens every 4 hours?

I feed what ever they want. When they turn away and/or start going to sleep I stop. If they start crying I will feed sooner than 4 hrs but that's doesn't happen often. Just like a human baby you will learn how much and when they want and need anything. 

Easterlilypad said:

I've been doing a lot of research since taking in a kitten that was born 6 days ago and I still can't help but worry about everything! Most recent worry is that her (at least I think) last poop started Brown but a little runny with a slight trace of blood then turned into a firmer stool almost like soft serve. We've been feeding her every 2-3 hours but last night she was only feed 2x's in 10 hrs. She never got her mom's milk but is slowly gaining weight. She started at 2.4 oz and is now up to 2.9 so about 0.1 per day. Is that normal also with how small she is? Any advice welcomed and thank you in advance. Her name is Lily and she thanks you too.

Click to expand...

OK, so her birth weigh was about 70 g.  Its little, but not extremely so.   Why do you think she was premature?  The low weight, or was she almost hairless?

I ask, because prematures are almost always a fight uphill.   While small but fully done, you must still watch out and fight on, but the chances are better.

The  adding of 0,1 oz, about 3 grammes a day, is too low!    She is smallish, so nobody demands the usual 10+grammes 0,3 oz, but not under 6g a day, 0,2 oz!

I think you must give more often, and or a little more each time.

They need 8ml /oz / day.  And she has 3 Oz, right?  This means, she needs about  24 ml a day.   So just count for yourself how much each time.

   Say 12 feedings every other hour, gives 2 ml for each time.    If she gets only twice during the night, she must get more at each feeding, so the totale is 24 ml...  Thereabout.

Every 4 hours menioned above is fine, for big, healhy, feisty kittens.  But before it has stabilized, and everything is still hanging on a thin tread, the alert flag up, you must give more often, not less than every two hours, maybe even more often if you find it necessary.

Do you have by any chance a possibility to get raw goat milk?  If so, its even better than the kmr you do use.

I presume you talk about that made by PetAg, called for KMR, made in powder?   - because its this which is probably the best.   There are other good ones, but this one is best of them.

Do you use bottle or a syringe?    With syringe you need to be careful, the proper technique is extra important, but in many situations its easier to administer with a syringe.  Especially with weak kittens.

Re the poo.  The normal consistence with small kittens is about as a toothpaste.   If it was more fast, she had some constipation, possibly because of some dehydration - ie too little fluid/water..

Anyways, better a little runny than constipation.

Please, continue with reports and further questions.

Good luck to you Easter, and to little Lily.

I thought she was premature because of the weight. She has plenty of hair and hold her head up and everything else normal. I use a bottle and she's done very well with it since day 1. How ever long it's been between eatings is how many ml we give her ie. 3 hours = 3ml, 4 hr=4ml and so on. Yes petag is what I use. I just switched from the liquid to powder because we didn't know much at first. For the most part her poop has been a brown toothpaste consistency so I didn't know if the change in formula might have made a difference. Is the powder better since it has straight water that helps keep her better hydrated? When will the umbilical cord fall off? Thank you again for all the help I will continue posting on her achievements.

Easterlilypad said:

I thought she was premature because of the weight. She has plenty of hair and hold her head up and everything else normal. I use a bottle and she's done very well with it since day 1. How ever long it's been between eatings is how many ml we give her ie. 3 hours = 3ml, 4 hr=4ml and so on. Yes petag is what I use. I just switched from the liquid to powder because we didn't know much at first. For the most part her poop has been a brown toothpaste consistency so I didn't know if the change in formula might have made a difference. Is the powder better since it has straight water that helps keep her better hydrated? When will the umbilical cord fall off? Thank you again for all the help I will continue posting on her achievements.

Click to expand...

The powder version is more reliable.  They should be similiar, but it seems they are not.  Quite a few reports some diarrhea with the liquid version.

The cord will fall off itself.  But if it bothers you, you can surely try and   knick it off with your nails, or a blunt scissor.  not too near the body.

Yes, as you describe it, she is no premature, seems fully able to live. 

The problem is, as you notice, she gets too little food.   As I gave you as example, its roughly 2ml a hour,  with her weight,

not just 1 ml a hour.   Try and double it, if possible!  (sometimes its difficult if they protest and dont want more).   If she is willing to take more, give more, and you wont have any problems.

1 ml at a time may be fine to begin with, if they are very weak and you dont want to give too much at once.  But if she swallows actively, give her what she needs.  So to speak. 

Good luck!

Thank you her cord fell off today by itself and she is happy to eat more just didn't want to over feed her

Awww. So sweet that you are taking care of this motherless kitten. Bless you! Can you upload a picture of her? Also be sure she stays warm. They cannot regulate their own body temperature the first 3 weeks. You may want to put a heating pad on low under the blanket or towel in her nest since she does not have her mother's body to keep her warm. And a soft stuffed animal in with her will give her a snuggle buddy too! Perhaps you have already thought of these things! It sounds like the kitten is thriving under your care. Are you feeding her through the night? She will need that too at such a young age.

I have a k&hcat heating pad that doesn't overheat and I can keep it plugged in 24/7 365 safely. I do feed her through the night. I have a soft blanket that she enjoys snuggling her head in as if it were mommy's tummy.

Just precious! It sounds as though you are doing everything just right. She just needs to eat a lot and continue growing now. And are you rubbing her tummy and bottom after each meal with a soft damp cloth to stimulate digestion & clean the wee and poo? They can't digest without stimulation and the mom licks their bottoms many times a day as well. Now you must do that after each feeding and continue to do this for a few weeks. You are doing a great job! Thanks for the picture & keep us posted on growth.

Yes I do stimulate her but she hasn't pooped since early this morning, is that ok as long as she goes tonight/tomorrow? How should I help un constipate her?

She pooped! It was spicy mustard color and her pee was clear is this ok?

She sounds like she is doing great!

Easterlilypad said:

Yes I do stimulate her but she hasn't pooped since early this morning, is that ok as long as she goes tonight/tomorrow? How should I help un constipate her?

Click to expand...

It was no real constipation here,  but if it happens, there are several tricks and advices.

1.  If they are somewhat dehydrated, it may show itself as constipation.  So giving a few drops of water between the feedings may be useful, if such need arises.

Dehydration as such is one of the dangers, so good to know this trick.

As a good alternative to common water you can have a bought or home-made pedialyte.   If bought, try to find some plain sort, no fancy flavored and colored versions.

2.  It often helps to dilute the krm or goat milk some, with water. 

3.  If the constipation is for real,  a few drops of a good oil should help.  We recommend coldpressed olive oil, or coldpressed canola/rapeseed oil.

You can have this oil in the milk.

Minerale oil is even more potent, but you must find some oil which is of food grade.  And such oils are usually dont meant to digest, so it has it difficulties.

And of course, a good stimulation technique does helps much!   

There is a little white puss looking ball next to where the umbilical cord was, should she be taken to the vet today if possible?

Easterlilypad said:

There is a little white puss looking ball next to where the umbilical cord was, should she be taken to the vet today if possible?

Click to expand...

Phone your vet  and ask, if possible.

Update: vet was full today so I'm going tomorrow morning first thing and let y'all know. Thanks for the support I can't say it enough!

Wonderful! Please let us know what the vet says. You could put a tiny bit of neosporin on the area that is pussy for now. She is continuing to eat well though?