Orphaned Kittens. Please Help I don't know what to do.

roycen

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The kittens mother has been gone for atleast 24hrs and hasn't fed them, and i'm growing increasingly worried for them. They are about 3-4 weeks old and haven't eaten all day, but it's way to late for anywhere to be open for me to buy milk replacer, is there anything i could grab or make to feed them?
 
 

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The kittens mother has been gone for atleast 24hrs and hasn't fed them, and i'm growing increasingly worried for them. They are about 3-4 weeks old and haven't eaten all day, but it's way to late for anywhere to be open for me to buy milk replacer, is there anything i could grab or make to feed them?
 
WHAT do you have at home?  Or think your nearest neigbour may have?

I will write more in some minutes, but try and answer if you are online
 
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roycen

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I've been reading online a little and i found a recipe for something you can make but there are a few key things i don't have like evaporated goats milk or anything like chikcen or turkey "stage 1" food, but i'm no expert so i don't know if anything else can be used in it's place or if that's what i'm supposed to do in the first place.
 

StefanZ

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The kittens mother has been gone for atleast 24hrs and hasn't fed them, and i'm growing increasingly worried for them. They are about 3-4 weeks old and haven't eaten all day, but it's way to late for anywhere to be open for me to buy milk replacer, is there anything i could grab or make to feed them?
 
Now, the problem is what you do have at hand, as there are safe alternatives as goat milk or kmr, and very unsafe alternatives as cow milk...   I have know rescuers whom rescued orphans with cow milk, so its not always disastous, but nothing I would recommend voluntarily... 

Plain youghurt is OK.  If you have several, use a full fat version.

If you MUST use cow milk, use a full fat version.

Low lactose milk may be OK, preferably full fat.

yOU CAN Add  a raw egg yolk into the glop, if you dont have problems with salomonella in eggs where you are.

I keep them warm (ie heat pad, if necessary make up by a socket filled with rice ans warmed in micro.

If they are healthy, they will manage the night, they wont get dehydrated with this fluid here

I would say, if you dont have anyting else

Give them plain water with some white caro syrup or honey, and a trifle of salt...    Body tempered.

They should survive the night too, if they are healthy, as long as they dont get dehydrated, chilled out nor being too hot.

The question is HOW to give this fluid.  They prob wont take bottle...  If you have a needleless dosage syringe is best, or a dropper, or even a straw...

Tummy down, head up, in the corner of the mouth, cautiously so they swallow...

At this age they may perhaps lap the fluid from a plate?  Or lick from your fingers...

jAnd in the morning run and get them goat milk - excellent - raw if you can, but bottled full fat is OK.  Even powdered is OK.

Or some good kmr...

Give with said needleless  syringe, as they are used to mom, they prob wont take bottle, not immediately...

Good luck!
 
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Sarthur2

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Do you have tuna? Give them the tuna and tuna water in a dish. Do you have a can of evaporated milk? Open this and put some in a dish for them. If they cannot eat on their own you must put it on your finger and see if they will lick it to get interested.

Can mama get back in the house tonight if she is out? Why is she out? Nursing moms must stay inside at all times. Kittens can go downhill very quickly at this age if not fed. You must buy Fancy Feast wet food and kitten chow tomorrow along with kitten formula. You can also wet some of mom's dry food with water and make a mush for them to eat. Do you have a low pan the kittens can use for a litter box? Please let us know if they eat tonight. They must be starving and crying!
 
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roycen

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I'm just concerned on how long they can survive without food, getting kmr isn't a problem it's just waiting until the morning that concerns me because i'm not 100% on how long they have gone without food. And our cats are mainly outside cats, meaning the kittens are also outside(we found where she had them at and moved them to a safer location but still non the less they are outside). And i was concerned about that too, but if i move them and the mama will that be bad?
 

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What does mama cat eat? Give them some of her wet food mashed up or watered down. They should start eating mush at this age now anyway. Please update what you are giving them and if they are eating it.
 

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I'm just concerned on how long they can survive without food, getting kmr isn't a problem it's just waiting until the morning that concerns me because i'm not 100% on how long they have gone without food. And our cats are mainly outside cats, meaning the kittens are also outside(we found where she had them at and moved them to a safer location but still non the less they are outside). And i was concerned about that too, but if i move them and the mama will that be bad?
That is a problem of course.  But if they are healthy, they will prob survive a while, if they have water.

Adding some glucose /white caro syroup / honey, and a little salt, does buy them time, too.

Say 2 spoup spoon sugar source in one litre water
 

Sarthur2

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Right now can you just take them some food and feed them? If you need to bring the kittens in the house please do so. They also need to be warm and protected. What do you have to feed them ? Have you been feeding the mama cat anything?
 
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roycen

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Thanks so much for the speedy responses. I will keep everyone filled in momentarily on if they will eat or not!
 

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ps.   IF you can get them food along the lines SARthur suggests, you dont need to bother about my receipts... As long as this food contains water too.
 

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Thanks so much for the speedy responses. I will keep everyone filled in momentarily on if they will eat or not!
As you see, there are many wrong hits in my text, and spelling faults.  I do see them, but writing as quickly as I can, I dont have the time nor patience to correct the text...

Speed OR pretty tidiness...
 
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roycen

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I made them some warm honey water and some mushed up hard kitten food and they seem to be calming down now, they had a little sneeze fit at first but i think that was from them dipping their noses in the water becuase they have quit doing that now. Thanks for all the ideas and suggestions i'll be able to sleep soundly tonight and so will the kittens!
 

Sarthur2

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You are welcome! Glad you will sleep better! Did they eat the mush? And you should start putting some out for them daily now that they are getting bigger! :)
 

Sarthur2

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PS: Get the KMR anyway because if mama isn't sticking around, they'll need to drink it for nutrition. I wet the kitten chow with it too for my kittens. And they will take nicely to cans of wet food. Thanks for caring about these kittens! :)
 

Sarthur2

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How are the kittens today? Have you seen if the mama cat is back yet? :)
 
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