Yesterday evening I found two stray kittens washed up on the lake. I took them home with me intending to be their caretaker. However they stay hidden and don't eat anything. I've bathed them with warm water, nestled them up in blankets, coddled them, tried feeding them evaporated milk and Friskies cat food; but they won't touch it. What do I do???
-
Too many ads? Join our community of cat lovers now to reduce ads by 90%! Click here to join for free!
Frightened kittens won't eat.. What do I do?
- Thread starter elainerod
- Start Date
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2014
- Messages
- 2,013
- Purraise
- 714
How old are they? Are they weaned?
No evaporated milk, only kitten replacement milk. As for food, if they can eat, I'd give them canned kitten food, or try kitten dry, even wetted.
They're probably scared. Don't let too much time go by with them not eating. You might need to syringe feed them if need be.
I'd bring them to the vet, as well.
When you say "washed up"...what do you mean by that? Do you suspect they were thrown in the water? If do, I'd rush them to the vet.
No evaporated milk, only kitten replacement milk. As for food, if they can eat, I'd give them canned kitten food, or try kitten dry, even wetted.
They're probably scared. Don't let too much time go by with them not eating. You might need to syringe feed them if need be.
I'd bring them to the vet, as well.
When you say "washed up"...what do you mean by that? Do you suspect they were thrown in the water? If do, I'd rush them to the vet.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #3
I'd say they're about 5 weeks old and I'm not quite sure. I'd given them both food and milk, which they've rejected, but I'll be sure to replace the food I've been giving them with the proper kind.
We've recently had flooding due to constant storming and I found them in the lake so I'm assuming they were dragged along by all the water.
Attached below is a recent picture of the two kittens. I've made them as comfortable as I can, placed warm blankets and towels in inconspicuous places where I feel they'd feel safe.
We've recently had flooding due to constant storming and I found them in the lake so I'm assuming they were dragged along by all the water.
Attached below is a recent picture of the two kittens. I've made them as comfortable as I can, placed warm blankets and towels in inconspicuous places where I feel they'd feel safe.
Sweet darlings! You had done an excellent good beginning, rescuing them and making the first tries... Some more ideas.
A little heat pad wont hurt. It makes it more cozy for them, and also makes sure they arent chilled. Im not entirely sure they are big enough to hold their own body temp. and esp not if they are scared and hungry... So making it extra cozy and warm, may be the trick to give energy to eat...
Talk a lot sweety talk, friendly crooning noices, and so on...
Why they dont eat, is surely they are still scared, and probably still chilled, but probably - they arent really weaned as yet. If they had mom, they have eaten from mom...
So you must essentially hand rear them in the beginning...
It may be easier using a needleless syringe to begin with. Although a bottle has bigger content...
If you use syringe, dropper or even a straw: tummy down, head up, in the corner of the mouth, cautious so you are sure swallow properly. Burp afterwards. And stimulate afterwards, by tapping with your finger on their private parts...It feels like mom licking.
What to give. It must be liquid, so: kmr (kitten mothermilk replacement), stage one, dont bother on stage two.
Goat milk is OK too.
Many cats dont manage cow milk, so dont use it if you have any alternatives. (evaporated milk may although be usuful, if you really dont have anything else. Its used sometimes in working kitten glop recipes).
Even full fat plain unsweetend youghurt - for example Turkish youghurt, may be useful in some variations.
If you dont have these gears, begin with having a little on your fingers, and let them lick off... Its worth a try.
As next step, you can try with Gerber stage one, the plain unspiced chicken and turkey... Minced meat is another classical. Cow meat, NOT pig meat.
If you do have access to a vet used to work with small kittens, its surely wise to consult him. But as they seem healthy, with clear eyes (ferale born have often infections in eyes) its no necessary a high priority. But they will need deworming soon, possibly defleasing, etc...
I think it was the most important for the moment. I will send some links re hand rearing of orphans in a few minutes.
A little heat pad wont hurt. It makes it more cozy for them, and also makes sure they arent chilled. Im not entirely sure they are big enough to hold their own body temp. and esp not if they are scared and hungry... So making it extra cozy and warm, may be the trick to give energy to eat...
Talk a lot sweety talk, friendly crooning noices, and so on...
Why they dont eat, is surely they are still scared, and probably still chilled, but probably - they arent really weaned as yet. If they had mom, they have eaten from mom...
So you must essentially hand rear them in the beginning...
It may be easier using a needleless syringe to begin with. Although a bottle has bigger content...
If you use syringe, dropper or even a straw: tummy down, head up, in the corner of the mouth, cautious so you are sure swallow properly. Burp afterwards. And stimulate afterwards, by tapping with your finger on their private parts...It feels like mom licking.
What to give. It must be liquid, so: kmr (kitten mothermilk replacement), stage one, dont bother on stage two.
Goat milk is OK too.
Many cats dont manage cow milk, so dont use it if you have any alternatives. (evaporated milk may although be usuful, if you really dont have anything else. Its used sometimes in working kitten glop recipes).
Even full fat plain unsweetend youghurt - for example Turkish youghurt, may be useful in some variations.
If you dont have these gears, begin with having a little on your fingers, and let them lick off... Its worth a try.
As next step, you can try with Gerber stage one, the plain unspiced chicken and turkey... Minced meat is another classical. Cow meat, NOT pig meat.
If you do have access to a vet used to work with small kittens, its surely wise to consult him. But as they seem healthy, with clear eyes (ferale born have often infections in eyes) its no necessary a high priority. But they will need deworming soon, possibly defleasing, etc...
I think it was the most important for the moment. I will send some links re hand rearing of orphans in a few minutes.
Last edited:
Ah, I forgot, get home some glucose sugar = dextrose. Or white caro syrup. It can be useful in some situation, for example IF they begin to be lethargic. Also as ingredient in home made pedialyte.
If you by any chance can get raw goat milk, its really excellent. Although bottled or even dry (for example Meyenbergs powdered goat milk) are OK too, as long as they are full fat of about 3% in solution. But KMR you can get at Walmart or good pet shops, is good too.
Some links.
http://www.thecatsite.com/f/36/pregnant-cats-and-kitten-care
http://www.kitten-rescue.com/
http://www.kittenrescue.org/index.php/cat-care/kitten-care-handbook/
If you by any chance can get raw goat milk, its really excellent. Although bottled or even dry (for example Meyenbergs powdered goat milk) are OK too, as long as they are full fat of about 3% in solution. But KMR you can get at Walmart or good pet shops, is good too.
Some links.
http://www.thecatsite.com/f/36/pregnant-cats-and-kitten-care
http://www.kitten-rescue.com/
http://www.kittenrescue.org/index.php/cat-care/kitten-care-handbook/
Little sweeties! They are probably scared to death, but they must eat. Like Stefan said, try to offer a bottle with kitten formula, or get some into them with a syringe. If you think they are old enough to eat on their own, place the dish right near them so it's easy access. Like Stefan said, they are probably used to their mother and not weaned. Let us know how it goes!
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2014
- Messages
- 2,013
- Purraise
- 714
Hi ElaineRod!
How are the little sweethearts doing today? Unbelievabley sad story about how you found them. Are you in the Austin Texas area, or one of the other states hit hard by flooding recently? by any chance? If so, would you consider taking this story to your local paper, in the chance some grieving family might recognize these little guys? (I recognize the conundrum.) It also might also help you receive donations for their medical care, too, just possibly.
Thank god you were there just in time to save them!
How are the little sweethearts doing today? Unbelievabley sad story about how you found them. Are you in the Austin Texas area, or one of the other states hit hard by flooding recently? by any chance? If so, would you consider taking this story to your local paper, in the chance some grieving family might recognize these little guys? (I recognize the conundrum.) It also might also help you receive donations for their medical care, too, just possibly.
Thank god you were there just in time to save them!
