Found feral kitten who is not thriving

kristenjo11

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While I was taking a nap yesterday, my family brought in a Feral kitten.

It is tiny and adorable and my chihuahuas love it.

However, I am concerned that it is not thriving. It appears to be much smaller than the other kittens, who appear to be at least 4 weeks. One eye is matted shut with 'gunk' and it's hind legs seem under-developed. 

It's mother jumped in our truck yesterday to eat my husband's sandwich and that's when the tiny kitten showed up. It is unable to keep up with the other kittens. 

I have no idea how to care for a kitten and no resources to take it to the vet right now.

I am concerned that it may pass fleas or other unknown diseases to my dogs and that it should have medical attention.

For now I am going to give it a warm sponge bath to see if I can clean up it's eye.

I don't plan on keeping it due to too many people in my house with cat allergies, but don't mind fostering it until healthy enough for a good home.

Any suggestions or things I must know/do?
 

di and bob

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First of all, the most critical thing is to KEEP IT WARM! For now, if at all possible, just bathe his little face, he may be too weak to take the shock of a bath.  Kittens can literally die from cold. It should be old enough to eat canned cat food, preferably turkey or chicken, thinned down with some warm water. If you can afford it, get some powdered  kitten formula (it is also very nutritious) or some goats milk (found in the milk section) ans serve it warmed. You should be able to see fleas, and the best thing for a itten is to get a flea comb and comb them out. If you dogs have had all their shots you shouldn't have to worry about anything. I would still keep them apart though until the kitten improves. A lot of kittens get those kitty colds, which is really a herpes virus, and is VERY common. (don't worry it is NOT the herpes you think about) and will not spread to you.) I had 7 kittens with it!. I hope one of the advisors will come on, they are very knowledgeable about kitten care, and can help you a lot more then me. Bless you for taking this little guy in, I know it is a lot of work that you don't need, but it is good for your karma! 
 

StefanZ

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While I was taking a nap yesterday, my family brought in a Feral kitten.

It is tiny and adorable and my chihuahuas love it.

However, I am concerned that it is not thriving. It appears to be much smaller than the other kittens, who appear to be at least 4 weeks. One eye is matted shut with 'gunk' and it's hind legs seem under-developed. 

It's mother jumped in our truck yesterday to eat my husband's sandwich and that's when the tiny kitten showed up. It is unable to keep up with the other kittens. 

I have no idea how to care for a kitten and no resources to take it to the vet right now.

I am concerned that it may pass fleas or other unknown diseases to my dogs and that it should have medical attention.

For now I am going to give it a warm sponge bath to see if I can clean up it's eye.

I don't plan on keeping it due to too many people in my house with cat allergies, but don't mind fostering it until healthy enough for a good home.

Any suggestions or things I must know/do?
Di and Bob gave excellent advices.

Had you managed to get it to eat something?  What?

If not, you must probably feed it with a needleless syringe - kittens whom have had moms are usually very reluctant to bottle.

Held the tummy down, head up (may be diagonally, but tummy down), in the corner of the mouth, slowly a couple of drops a time, so you are sure it swallows.  Burp afterwards. This kitten is no newborn weak infant, so it shoulndt be too difficult.

A kmr the brand of KMR by pet ag in powder is best but there are others too.  Avoid the Hartz brand.

Goat milk is OK too, either as emergency kmr for small kittens, or supplement later on.

Stimulate it to the bathroom before feeding, but most important, after feeding...

Keep it warm and comfortable...

As they did showed up, they are probably at least 5 weeks, maybe even 6.  But yes, him being the runt he surely needs help.  Good you found him!  This way he will also be fostered and socialized...

Re the eye - wash it off as you do, carefully so it dont infect the other eye too...  Use some warm saline water...  YOu can also use some tea water. Or camomille water.  All this are good home remedies...

If the remedies dont help, or you notice its real pus, its really a vet errand.  Or at least, he will need an antibiotica ointment, terramycin is most often used.

For deworming use something containing pyrantel poaomate - its mild and effective against round worms whhick all kittens born outside have.

He may also have tape worms from fleas, but it is perhaps a later question.

If you can get Milbomax, whom is mild and takes both sorts, use it instead.

Some links, and welcome with updates and new questions!   Use the same tread as here.

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/
 

Goats milk is useful instead of kmr. Raw goat milk is best fresh or frozen, but bottled full fat is OK too.  

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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kristenjo11

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Thank you so much for your reply!

Keeping it warm: check

Good Karma: check

Will grab some goats milk and kitten food when i go out in a little bit

I was able to clean her up a little with a damp washcloth. She definitely has fleas so will work on that.

I can now finally see her right eye after getting off some of the gunk. It's still a bit weepy. Any idea what this might be?

I am going to talk to the ladies at rescue (where I adopted my dogs from) tomorrow to see if they can help with vet checkup and eventual adoption.

 

StefanZ

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Its of course also important the kittens doesnt get dehydrated...  Use clean water.  If he needs more hydrating than just some, pedialyte is good.  Either  bought or home made pedialyte. If bought, the flavorless pedialyte for infants are best.
 
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kristenjo11

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Its of course also important the kittens doesnt get dehydrated...  Use clean water.  If he needs more hydrating than just some, pedialyte is good.  Either  bought or home made pedialyte. If bought, the flavorless pedialyte for infants are best.
Thanks for the suggestion. Any tips for encouraging it to drink water? Should i use a syringe or just offer the water and leave it out for her?
 

di and bob

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Set out water and see if she can drink, if not try the canned food thinned down with water to get some water in her. A lot of kittens don't like water so you may have better luck with the kitten milk. If you don't have anything, take some tuna, or even a hot dog, and mash it with a fork and add a little water, she may like that! She looks like a fighter, and a complete sweetheart!
 
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jimvierling

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Definitely flea comb him/her as soon as possible. Fleas can take a lot out of and even end up killing very young kittens. I use a flea spray called Natural chemistry Natural Flea & Tick Spray. I was turned onto it by a woman that helped me rescue a feral colony where I live.

there was one mother with two month old kittens and the white ones fur turned pink after spraying it down with that spray. Probably saved the kitten's life. That is what the woman told me as I was not present for it. I use it on an adult cat that I have that is allergic to any of the back of the neck flea treatments.
 
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