New to orphaned kittens (need advice)

I recently adopted 3 orphaned kitten who are 8 days old. They've been eating well, pooping well, and sleeping well. The only problems is that they've been sneezing. They don't have any other symptoms just sneezing. My question is when do I need to take them to the vet, And what symptoms should I be looking out for? Also any other advice on taking care of this little guys would be really helpful.

If you have a scale and can weigh them it will help you figure out how much to feed the kittens at each feeding.  the scale needs to weigh in grams or 1/10th of an ounce.  They need 8ml for each ounce of weight per 24 hour period.

Do you have a heat source?  I am assuming you do.

I am unsure about the sneezing.  @catwoman707, @sarthur2, @StefanZ

We love pictures.

They will likely be given a liquid antibiotic such as clavamox, they are really never too young but to give an appropriate dose it's always best to wait until they are a couple weeks old or so, otherwise it's such a teeny dose it's hard to calculate correctly.

Just watch for diarrhea and be sure their eyes dont get stuck shut from goopy discharge. Common in baby kittens especially where there is a uri.

They got it from momma cat.

Warmth, appropriate food amts, feeding on their tummies, helping them potty, and kept in a small box with soft bedding, no pillows.

Sounds like a vet trip.

Here's the little guys!

Anyways, I don't own a scale but I can defiantly tell that they are getting bigger. I keep them in a box with plenty of soft towels/blankets to get under and nap, and a blanket over the top to prevent drafts from getting in.

I have another question also. How much should they be eating at every meal time? They usually eat from 5-7 ML each every time is that enough or too much?

Will defiantly call the vet also tomorrow thank for the help!

A few things.

First of all, please understand that warmth means a heat source. Not warmth from blankets, which would be fine if they could hold their own body temps.

Until a good 3 weeks old, they must have a heating source, whether it be from a heating pad set on low, or a sock filled with rice and heated in microwave, or a hot water bottle, but they need to stay at the same temperature as our bodies are, upper 90's.

With towels, they will drop to room temperature, then it is very dangerous to feed cold babies. Their systems become dormant below 95 degrees and they will not process the milk, it grows bacteria and will kill them.

When you touch their paws, they should feel like you are touching your own skin, not cool at all, then you will know they are the right temp.

The problem with not having a scale is, there is no real way to know if they are getting enough food to gain weight daily. Babies must gain a good 8-10 grams every single day, otherwise less gaining day after day will soon catch up to them and they will not survive.

So if you can just get them weighed somehow, run to the grocery store even and weigh on the produce scale! Any vets office will have a scale.

Just to give us a base for the correct amt they need to gain weight. Then we can live without a scale until next week

One last thing, do not be disappointed with the vet's lack of experience with newborns, the vast majority have no idea how to properly care for babies.

They CAN give sub-q fluids when needed and they can also prescribe meds, but after that, you're on your own, but you have us here    

Oh, and they are darling little snug bugs!

Thanks so much for the advice!

I am aware of their inability to regulate their temperature and I always feel their paws to make sure that they're warm before I feed them. The only reason I haven't invested in a heating pad at this point Is because I only have a part time job so my budget is kinda tight, but with this new information I surely will invest in one because I'm sure it's well worth it now.

When I go to the vet I'll get them looked at and weighed and I'll go from there!

A fab bit of advice I picked up on here for a heating source is to make one, everyone had odd socks lyingaround right? I have 4 filled with rice which I stick in the microwave for a few mins when needed, they retain the heat really well and if you dont have rice at home its very cheap to buy a small bag, much cheaper than having to pay out for a heating pad if you haven't got the spare money.
Enjoy your kittens, I have 5 little ones here, they are 15 days old now its hard exhausting work caring for them round the clock but their little faces and hearing them purr makes it so worthwhile.

The ladies here give amazing advice, I would really try and get their weights if possible as it helps a lot when feeding them to know what your target intake should be. Maybe a friend or neighbour has a kitchen scale you could borrow?

Update!!:

Just got their anti-biotic from the vet! I did not get to bring them as I called the vet while I was out and he just told me he had an anti-biotic for them so I went ahead and picked it up on my way home, so I'm still looking for a place to weigh them at. The vet is about 15-30 minutes away which is why I didn't drive all the way back home to get them.

Have you tried your neighbours to see of any of them have a kitchen scale you can borrow? Thats what I use for weighing mine, in a little plastic tub on the scale! If you know anyone who likes cooking or baking cakes they will be sure to have a scale Without their weights its so hard to know how much and how often to feed them, they are so fragile that tracking their weight is so important. Would love to see pics of them if you have any

I will certainly ask around for one! And I took your advice and put a sock with rice in there and it's been keeping them very warm!


This is the light grey one


Dark grey one


And the calico!

Ahhh gorgeous! I have two greys in amongst my 5 as well, definitely not what I was expecting their black mum to have. They look so teeny, my two greys are big monsters now lol

Thank you! I really do hope they're going to be alright, I've had many people tell me that they doubt they'd all make it. I really hope to prove all of them wrong! I've been trying to do everything I can to keep them happy and healthyx

I have a question about the anti-biotic I was given.

I was hoping for clavamox but they gave me amoxicillian.

What's the difference between the two and what are some side effects I should keep an eye out for in amoxicillan.

Found this article that may answer your questions.

http://pets.thenest.com/amoxicillin-vs-clavamox-cats-10127.html

Okay thanks! So basically the same thing only clavamox is stronger.

Yes, since they are meds virgins they will respond fine to the amoxicillin.

What adorable little snuggy bugs!

Keep them toasty warm!

I sure will! The little grey runt now has a stuffy nose, I sure hope these meds will help!

BellaD said:

Ahhh gorgeous! I have two greys in amongst my 5 as well, definitely not what I was expecting their black mum to have. They look so teeny, my two greys are big monsters now lol

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Grey is diluted black, so its not much peculiar a black mom gets grey kittens.   There must just be a diluting gene too, either form mom or from dad.

And vice versa, grey moms gets not seldom black kittens, by the same reason.