I Need help with one of my new kittens.

jessie kitties

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Hello,

I got a two new orphan tabby kittens name Tulip and Lilly. Their only a couple weeks old and very small. I brought them home today and bought bottles and kitten formula for them. Tulip is a little bit bigger than Lilly, but Lilly is smaller and skinnier. I fed Tulip but Lilly doesn't want to eat. Tulip is more active than Lilly. Lilly sleeps a lot though. Is this normal for her not too eat or she just need a little more time to adjust? 

Please Help!!

(Lilly is on top of Tulip)

Please help me!! 
 

riley1

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Go to www.maddiesinstitute. Or just Maddies' Fund on google.  Look up orphan kittens.  There are short videos on how to do all things kitten.  They are really good.  I tell all the fosters about them at work.
 

mani

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She really does need to eat.  Hopefully soon someone with a lot of experience will be able to guide you.
 

StefanZ

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Hello,

I got a two new orphan tabby kittens name Tulip and Lilly. Their only a couple weeks old and very small. I brought them home today and bought bottles and kitten formula for them. Tulip is a little bit bigger than Lilly, but Lilly is smaller and skinnier. I fed Tulip but Lilly doesn't want to eat. Tulip is more active than Lilly. Lilly sleeps a lot though. Is this normal for her not too eat or she just need a little more time to adjust?
Please Help!!
Nay, this is alarming.  Red alert.    With older cats would be normal, yes, but not here.

If there is a serious fault on her, you cant do much, probably not even a vet can - also, few vets are good at helping small weak kittens.   Although they can help you with rehydrating her, by injecting  fluids under her skin.   Even a not very experienced vet can do this - and this is often a good help.

What you CAN do and help with, if she is just weak.   As the recipes are fairly easy.

1. Keep Lilly warm.  Meaning, she shall be actively warmed up, by a heat pad on low warmth,  or if you Cangaroo carry her.    Also warm bedding of course - but warm bedding as such isnt enough.

2.  With the weak ones, you must forcefeed them fluid and food.  Use a needleless syringe of 1 or 1,5 ml.  Or a dropper.   Or a straw if you dont have anything else.

Tummy down, head up, in the corner of the mouth, cautiously.  It takes time, but is a safe way.       Burp afterwards like a baby.

3.  Give her some energy by smearing a little glucose sugar (=dextrose) on her gum.  If you dont have glucose sugar proper, use white caro syrup, or honey.

Do this immediately NOW.       This here works even if she isnt properly warm.

4 She is probably dehydrated.

4.  Give her water, or pedialyte, with the syringe etc,  NOW.   As described above.   The water bodywarm.

5.   When giving kmr or goat milk, be sure she is warm enough.  They cant digest food properly if not warm enough.  The food itself shall be body warm.

EXACTLY what kmr do you use?   Some kmrs are better, some are bad.    Goat milk is OK, raw goat milk is even excellent.

6-  Be sure she is eliminated.  Lack of elimination (poo) and or constipation, makes they lose appetite.   And it can in itself give sometimes very bad symptoms...

May I ask, how experienced are you with rescuing babies?   DO you have access to a vet - preferably a vet experienced with care of small and weak kittens?

Do you know anyting about te medical background of Tulip and Lilly?  Are they supposed to be healthy, or did you just got two newly found orphans, to try and save best you can?

I think this is the most important for now.  I or someone else will come with more detailed suggestions, as soon you have reported more details, and if Lilly is even still with us...

Im also sending some links.

Tx a lot for caring!

Good luck!

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/hand-rearing-kittens

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

Observe, if an orphan is much bloated, gas-filled, bloated, have colic, simethicone (google on it) may help.  1-2 drop in the bottle.

Fleece or flannel good to use in the bedding for kittens.
 
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Sarthur2

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She must eat - if she does not eat she will die! Kittens this young can go downhill very quickly, so you must see that she eats! If she will not take the bottle, you MUST feed her with a dropper or a needle-less syringe - 2 to 3 ml's per feeding every 2 to 3 hours. You give her a couple of drops in the side of her mouth, let her swallow and breathe, and go again. Tummy down, head up - never on her back. If you feed wrong she can inhale formula in her lungs and get pneumonia and die in one day, so correct feeding is important! Then you hold her upright and gently pat her on the back to burp her. Then, you must take your pointer finger and tap her bottom gently so she will go wee and poo. Kittens this age must be stimulated to go. The mom usually does it, but when they have no mom, you must do it. But you must get this baby to eat whether she likes it or not! It is vital!

You must burp the other baby after her bottle too, and stimulate her bottom to go wee and poo. And the baby that drinks from the bottle must drink 2 to 3 ml's per feeding every 2 to. 3 hours also. This means through the night also!!! They must eat around the clock at this age!

They cannot regulate their body temperature for 3 weeks, so you must put a heating pad on low under their blanket. If you have no heating pad, you must fill a sock with rice, heat it in the microwave for five minutes, wrap it in a towel, and place it nearby. Kittens normally rely on their moms for round the clock feeding and warmth. Now you must provide it.

Around 4 weeks old they can start to eat soft food and use the litter pan, but we can talk about that when they get there.

Continue to offer this baby the bottle, but if she does not take it, you must immediately feed her with the dropper or syringe!

Where is the mama cat? Are they orphans? What happened? Kittens this age need their moms very badly, and if they do not have her, you must be the mom. It is a lot of work!

If you want these babies to survive, you must be very vigilant and sacrifice your time and sleep so they can survive right now! Please ask more questions and also give an update!
 
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jessie kitties

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I saved them, the mother died and I took them both in. I couldn't leave them both to die. This is all new too me.
 

StefanZ

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I saved them, the mother died and I took them both in. I couldn't leave them both to die. This is all new too me.
OK, I see.   So you are one your own, and must play it by ear.     Quite a few had managed such sitation beautifully - you will surely do it too.

You got some advices, should be OK for a beginning.    Fight on!

If she is still alive,  come back with reports and furter question.  Now we are several in alert postition, so you will get quick answers.

Good luck!
 
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jessie kitties

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Thank you for all the advice!! I have to older cats 10 yrs each but they are afraid of them. Is that normal for my older cats to behave?
 

Sarthur2

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The new kittens are strangers to your older cats. They are behaving normally. They will get used to the kittens in time. Do not force it right now.

Have you been able to feed the kitten with a dropper and get both to go potty? Let me know! :)
 
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jessie kitties

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Tulip goes potty, and she moves around alot, but Lilly hasn't yet. I need to get her a syringe today. I need her too eat.
 

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Tulip goes potty, and she moves around alot, but Lilly hasn't yet. I need to get her a syringe today. I need her too eat.
yes, its much easier with a syringe than with a dropper.  better control too.

And yes, you must get er to eat.

If she is too weak to eat, begin wit some caro syrup or honey on the gum,  OR in the water....   Giving er pedialyte or sugar water buys you some time.

Tere are many places to get one 1ml dosage syreinge.  At the vets, at the pharmacia...  Somebody told 1,5 ml comes with the liquid ibuprofen for children.

Thsi syringe you can surely use too...
 

Sarthur2

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Yes, please hurry! This kitten needs food! I suggested a dropper if you don't have a syringe. But the kitten will get weaker quickly if it is not fed. It will gain strength and have energy once it begins to eat. Like was stated, you may have to force feed until it settles down. That kitten is missing its mom and probably scared to death. Let us know how much formula you give it. Remember, every 2 to 3 hours for both kittens!
 

StefanZ

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Yes, please hurry! This kitten needs food! I suggested a dropper if you don't have a syringe. But the kitten will get weaker quickly if it is not fed. It will gain strength and have energy once it begins to eat. Like was stated, you may have to force feed until it settles down. That kitten is missing its mom and probably scared to death. Let us know how much formula you give it. Remember, every 2 to 3 hours for both kittens!
For the weaker one its every 2 hours or even more often, till she is stabilized.  The other, more healthy, should be enough every 3 hours, or so.
 
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Sarthur2

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How is it going? Are you getting formula into this kitten? Please post an update! :)
 
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jessie kitties

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I got the syringe and bought Nutri-Cal Cat. She had her first meal and I gave her Nutritional Supplement. After I feed her peed on me when I tried to burp her, but I'm very happy she ate.
 
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Sarthur2

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Yay! Just keep feeding her as much and as often as possible and she will get strong and energetic soon! :)
 

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I got the syringe and bought Nutri-Cal Cat. She had her first meal and I gave her Nutritional Supplement. After I feed her peed on me when I tried to burp her, but I'm very happy she ate.
When you write you gave her Nutritional supplement after her first meal, do you mean the Nutri cal?

What exactly did you gave as the first meal, then?   What kmr formula do you use?   Nutri Cal is good and worth a try, but its  a vitamine supplement, not a food.

Excellent she is peeing!   :)

ps.  Goat milk is good, esp raw goat milk.  Or a kmr formula, where it is KMR, or kitten mother milk replacement on the label... so you will recognize it as soon you see it.

This kmr made by PetAg, called for KMR is the best of them, especially this in powder.  But there are also others kmr working OK.
 

Sarthur2

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As StefanZ StefanZ mentioned, did you also buy KMR, the kitten formula? She should have both. In fact, when the kittens begin to transition to eating on their own around 4 weeks, they will lap the KMR from a bowl, and it can be poured over their kitten chow to make a mush.

Has she been eating a lot? Is she gaining energy and starting to move more? :)
 
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jessie kitties

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She poop yesterday too, so I was happy. I gave her  PetAg  KMR. But Tulip keep having diarrhea. Like when she wake up she has poop on her. yes Lilly is moving a Little bit more. Is that normal for Tulip?  

I hope tulip poops normally soon
 
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Sarthur2

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A kitten who is getting accustomed to KMR after being on mama's milk may experience diarrhea. Which KMR are you using? The powder in the can is best. Just be sure she stays hydrated while having diarrhea. Hopefully it will clear up soon.

Glad to hear that Lilly went poop for you, and that her energy is picking up. How much are they drinking throughout the day and night?
 
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