Need orphaned kitten advice!

Hi guys! New to the site here!

A few days ago I took home two orphaned kittens.  According to the people that found them, their mama died.  They were going to just turn them loose so I took them home.  One was noticeably smaller and weaker than the other, and died the morning after I took them home.

Anyway, I still have the other one who seems to be doing well despite it being alone.  It is about 3 weeks old or so.  Its stayed nice and warm and clean and I have been feeding it replacement milk.

When and how do I start introducing solid foods?  What kind is best?

Also, when and how do I need to introduce the kitten to a litter box?  Right now it goes to the bathroom in the crate that its in. (I of course change the bedding twice a day and keep the crate and kitten as clean as I can)

ALSO: Any other kitten advice is appreciated... as I have never cared for a kitten, especially one this new and in such a fragile state.  Thanks!!!

Around 3 or 4 weeks, you can introduce solids. I would go with wet food

Re litterbox around 4 weeks you can introduce it or whenever they are ready, just set them in there after eating. It highly recommended that you use non-clumping litter as if you use clumping litter and they eat it which most kittens will, it will cause serious problems and you have to take them to a vet

http://www.kitten-rescue.com/
http://www.kittenrescue.org/index.php/cat-care/kitten-care-handbook/
http://www.hdw-inc.com/glop.htm
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/hand-rearing-kittens

I am also paging our two experts so they can give you, their own advices
catwoman707 StefanZ

mwallace056 said:

Around 3 or 4 weeks, you can introduce solids. I would go with wet food

Re litterbox around 4 weeks you can introduce it or whenever they are ready, just set them in there after eating. It highly recommended that you use non-clumping litter as if you use clumping litter and they eat it which most kittens will, it will cause serious problems and you have to take them to a vet

http://www.kitten-rescue.com/
http://www.kittenrescue.org/index.php/cat-care/kitten-care-handbook/
http://www.hdw-inc.com/glop.htm
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/hand-rearing-kittens

I am also paging our two experts so they can give you, their own advices
@catwoman707 @stefanz

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this. i would only add that i would get the wet kitten food in the pate style. 

detmut said:

this. i would only add that i would get the wet kitten food in the pate style. 

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i agree

You can also use baby food, just as long it don't contain onion or garic powder

Thank you!!! Now what about shots & spaying/neutering (not sure if it is male or female yet).  When are good ages or is this something I need to let a vet determine?

Our expert catwoman deworm them at 6 weeks then again at 8 weeks, firsr vaccine at 8-9 weeks and spaying/neutering at 10 weeks or 2 pounds(your vet may required you to wait until 4 to 6 months to fixed them)

What is pate style?  And as far as baby food goes, is this only to be used as an introduction to solids?  As in use it just for a few days?

pate' is a soft mushy style. it will say it on the can. 

VikingFan1988 said:

What is pate style?  And as far as baby food goes, is this only to be used as an introduction to solids?  As in use it just for a few days?

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yes, only used as an introduxtion to solids

Thank you.  I am sure these questions are asked over and over again in here, but a general google search provides an information over load and I can never get a good clear answer.

VikingFan1988 said:

 
Thank you.  I am sure these questions are asked over and over again in here, but a general google search provides an information over load and I can never get a good clear answer.

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Welcome to this site and to the world of kittenhood!!

First off, if you post a pic of kittens genital area I will tell you if male/female.

I can also tell you an accurate age, sometimes others can be pretty far off, so just to be sure we are on schedule.

If you can tell me details too, does the kitten walk with hind legs normal or shaky? Scooting and wobbly or stable?

Ears are up?

Any spunk yet? 

There are specific points of development that will clearly indicate age, so I can tell you what to expect week to week, as they are growing and developing extremely fast now.

When you feed KMR, the position is always tummy side down as they would nurse from mom.

Can you get a weight in ounces?

Litterbox and feeding-

Use ONLY non clumping litter until the kitten reaches about 7 weeks old, as they all will eat pieces of litter at first, it's just what they do, and clumping can cause major problems of course internally.

Use a very low sided container, something that resembles a rectangle cake baking pan for easy access in and out of.

It is not until a kitten reaches AT LEAST 8 weeks old that he will seek out the litterbox. In other words if the box is not right under their nose and within just a few feet max, he will go wherever. They instinctively prefer to eliminate in a soft place like sand or litter, but you will have lots of accidents if you don't keep that box right there with him at all times. I also don't suggest allowing full run of the entire house, one bedroom is plenty sufficient, but even in one bedroom sized area, you will want several boxes within eye sight of kitten. One small bathroom only needs one in the center of the room for faithful use. Not saying you should keep him in the bathroom just giving you an idea of the size of an area. They very easily get lost and overwhelmed, feeling insecure if allowed too much space at too early an age.

When it seems like the kitten is not getting satisfied with formula only and starts chewing the bottle nipple as well then it's time to get started with canned food. I use Fancy Feast kitten pate, there's one with a pink and green label and one with a pink and blue label. On a saucer or very shallow dish, put a small scoop of the canned in the dish, and pour a bit of KMR on top, mush with a fork until you get a milkshake consistency, I like to warm it a bit. The better he gets at it, the less KMR I will add, until finally straight canned is eaten.

When it's time to feed and kitten is hungry, put him up to the dish and gently push his mouth down so the food gets on his mouth for a taste. It's foreign of course but each time it's feeding time, do this first before filling him up with bottle. After several tries he will start to get the idea and lap on it.

Once this happens then he is starting to understand this is food, and while preferring the bottle, will go for the food, especially if you hold out a bit as some really resist the switch, they will especially do this when they're too young to eat on their own.

When lapping from a dish is mastered, you can also offer KMR in a dish to lap up.

Dewormer is done twice, 2 weeks apart, and can be started at 6 weeks. The kitten will need 3 vaccines, they're all the same, FVRCP (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia) (Panleukopenia is same as puppy Parvo)

NEVER take the kitten outside until he has had at least 2 of the 3 vaccines! Vaccines start at 8-9 weeks, the second is given 3 weeks after the first, the third 3 weeks after the second.

Then again at 1 year old, and is fully protected then from the 3 biggies!

Vets have differing opinions on when spay/neuter should be done.

My rescue's vets do them when they reach a minimum of 2 pounds, which is usually around 9 weeks old, give or take.

But often standard vets want to wait until kitten is 4 months old.

I suggest when kitten gets fixed, he be tested for FELV just to be sure.

I do not think testing for FIV is needed. It's extremely rare that a mom cat can pass it on to their babies unlike FELV, so for a young kitten to have FIV means he would have had to be deeply bitten by a positive FIV cat, which is HIGHLY unlikely! It is acquired mainly by unfixed male cats who fight viciously.

Oh wow THANK YOU for the info!! I'm not currently home (neighbor is babysitting kitten for me!) but when I get home I will get some pics for you.  The kitten's ears are up and the eyes are open... he's still quite shaky but is no longer scooting around.  And he is starting to get a little bit of spunk in him. He tried to take off running this morning.  Didn't do so well.. lol but he mostly sleeps and eats.

VikingFan1988 said:

 
Oh wow THANK YOU for the info!! I'm not currently home (neighbor is babysitting kitten for me!) but when I get home I will get some pics for you.  The kitten's ears are up and the eyes are open... he's still quite shaky but is no longer scooting around.  And he is starting to get a little bit of spunk in him. He tried to take off running this morning.  Didn't do so well.. lol but he mostly sleeps and eats.

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That is just the cutest age! 3 1/2 weeks I can tell by your description.

VikingFan1988 said:

 
What is pate style?  And as far as baby food goes, is this only to be used as an introduction to solids?  As in use it just for a few days?

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Baby food you use essentially for intro, or when they need something  easy to digest.

But later on you can continue with the so called wet cat food, so its not only solids, for example dry cat food.

Wet, canned cat food, often paté style, is the best of the everyday foods.  But many owners use dry cat food - its conventient, if nothing else.

Its wise if you learn your kitten to eat evrything, so he doesnt get a picky adult.  Say, if you adopt him out, and the new owner firmly believes in dry cat food...

Vaccines, is as Catwoman mentioned.  This vaccine is often called for the Core-vaccine, as they are most essential and important, agains the common diseases.

Panleukemia is often called for distemper.  That is the single most important vaccine.

The others are often called for cat flu.  Seldom deadly, but unpleasant enough.

When they are well and fully vaccinated, they will probably not need vaccinating again.  Several years ago it was though they need vaccinating every year, but since then they get understanding its not necessary, even overdoing.  The vaccines themselves become perhaps more efficient, I dunno.

In some countries they require a rabies vaccine.  Its extremely rare rabies goes on cats in Europe or USA, but may happen in many warm countries.

Anyways, the law may be quite strong on vaccinating against rabies.

So these Core vaccines, and probably rabies.   Your vet will know the exact details, of course.

http://messybeast.com/handrear.htm

Congratulations!  Just wanted to share that adopting three orphaned kittens was the best thing that ever happened to me. 

The one thing I wish I knew then was to not use my intuition about anything,   It's amazing how a little bit of thinking - ah what are the chances, or does it really matter - yeah it does.  A lot!  Being hard on yourself as far as kitten care really does pay off. 

I found these pens to be extremely helpful for keeping them safe:

http://www.amazon.com/Best-Choice-Products-Playpen-Exercise/dp/B00II6ZV4S/ref=sr_1_8?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1428891483&sr=1-8&keywords=dog+playpen

For example, I caught them just before:

1.  They at an advil they dug out from under an area rug

2.  One of them nearly went into a furnace duct with the vent cover off

3.  Another ate about 5 feet of dental floss she dug out of the bathroom garbage

All those things could have been the end of them. 

Here;s a video on weaning orphaned kittens onto solid food: