Missing litter and stray kitten

karlybird7

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First off, this pregnant stray that I've been taking care of gave birth last January 8. Pets aren't exactly allowed in the house so I try to feed her whenever she shows up. Anyway, I fed her before going to school and when I got back, she already gave birth. We've been looking for her nest ever since. I think she's not bringing her kittens to our house because of another feral cat that fights her for her food when we're not looking. However, last Wednesday, after feeding her, she was "talking" to me. She rarely does that because she only really meows at me when she's hungry. I thought something was up so I decided to walk to where I usually meet her when I walk. Sure enough, she always goes near this one house. Does that mean that her kittens are there? We haven't gotten in touch with the owners of the house yet.

Then, the night after that, I saw this stray kitten. About a few weeks old I think, a little shorter than an iPhone 6. He has a bent tail and is really skinny. Been trying to find time to get him to the vet. But aside from that, I've been keeping him inside a basket in the carport and covered it because he's actually quite agile. He's clearly scared at first, but just now, I let him roam around and he seems to be following me, although not instantly. He also does not brush himself against me. But after putting him back inside the basket, he would jump towards my hand instead of just out of the basket like when I first found him. That means he's already imprinting on me right? Also, this other older stray kitten I'm caring for does not seem threatened or terrified by him, since her tail does not puff up. But whenever he goes near her, she would either go away or try to smack him lightly. I do my best to supervise their meetings of course. No actual contact at first. I only let them be close to each other earlier today. Is that good or bad,(pertaining to both the meeting method and her smacking him)?
 

molly92

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I'm not sure where her kittens are, but if you can get her spayed or find a TNR group to help you get her spayed, that would make her life so much better! They can do it so she can still feed her current kittens comfortably. Cats can get pregnant again within weeks after giving birth. Setting a trap for the other feral and getting him (?) neutered would also make everyone a lot safer and healthier if you can!

Cats do not technically imprint, as in, he doesn't think you're his mother. But he does like you and is getting comfortable with you! If both kittens are healthy, it's fine for them to interact. It sounds like the older one is just annoyed with the little kitten, which is very common. By swatting at him, she's teaching him what her boundaries are and how to be polite, although it might take him a while to learn! He'll eventually get better at not annoying her and she'll eventually learn to tolerate him better, but it sounds like they're doing just fine.
 

Sarthur2

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Are you feeding this little kitten in your carport? You'll need to find a forever home for it. The kitten cannot live in a basket with a cover over it. The kitten needs a home with plenty of food, socialization, and vet care to be vaccinated and spayed or neutered. You sound like a true cat lover! Do you think you can find a home for these cats where they can receive the care they need? It's not safe outside, and they will breed endlessly. Thank you for caring for them though!
 
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karlybird7

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@molly92
Already thought of getting her spayed. I just wanna make sure her kittens are safe first before we take her away for a long period.

@sarthur2
I temporarily moved my study area to the carport. We currently don't have a car so there's a lot of free space. I let him roam around while I'm there. Then I only put him back in the basket when I go to sleep or when there's no one home. Don't worry, I'm already looking for someone who will adopt him. :D
 
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karlybird7

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@tulosa
I only found him 2 days ago so it's really hard to tell. But I've been giving him milk. Should I be feeding him something more?
 

tulosai

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If you mean just normal milk then yes, you have to feed him something different.  Most cats can't properly digest cows milk. Goat milk can do in a pinch but ideally you'll want to get kitten milk replacer. If you are in the USA this can be found at most major chain stores (Target, Walmart) and also most big grocery stores. Please note there is also something called 'cat milk' - this is a treat and NOT what you are looking for, it has to be kitten milk replacer.

This article may also have some good info:

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

In terms of telling his age, I assume his eyes are open? How is he walking? Is he steady or still kind of wobbly? Does he have teeth? Does he play? If so how? And how much does he weigh? If you can tell us these things we can probably help you make a pretty good guess.
 
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karlybird7

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Time to hit all the stores then. Hehehe. Not in the US btw so this might take a while.

Open eyes. Still a bit wobbly, but is already able to sprint and latch on to something up to a little over a foot high. Already has teeth. Plays by chasing a laser pointer, and grabbing things a put near him. Weighs approximately 300 grams.
 

curiouskitties

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Our stray kitten that we found was about 4 weeks, he had teeth but definitely couldn't jump up something a foot high. I would guess at least 5-6 weeks. I would be feeding a regular kitten food along with kitten milk replacer.
 
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talkingpeanut

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Time to hit all the stores then. Hehehe. Not in the US btw so this might take a while.

Open eyes. Still a bit wobbly, but is already able to sprint and latch on to something up to a little over a foot high. Already has teeth. Plays by chasing a laser pointer, and grabbing things a put near him. Weighs approximately 300 grams.
If he has teeth he should also be eating dry and wet kitten chow. He can eat as much as he wants at this age and should always have access to food. Drinking bowls of kitten milk is also a good idea. As others have said, he is not having his nutritional needs met by cow milk.

Do you have a litter box for him? Does he have a heat source?
 

Sarthur2

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What size is the basket? The kitten needs some space to move around. Is there no way to bring him inside?

Look for kitten chow, wet kitten or cat food, and KMR (kitten milk replacer). Do you have pet stores? The kitten will grow much faster on a proper diet. Cow's milk is a no-no. Cats cannot digest it as they are lactose intolerant. It causes diarrhea and stomach upset. Goat's milk is fine though.
 

tulosai

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I'd guess he's about 4 weeks or so, so as others have said it's okay to introduce him to regular dry or wet kitten food as well as  the milk replacer.  It might take him a while to 'get' that it's food, if you have issues with introducing him to regular kitten food let us know and we can provide help with that too. What country are you in if you don't mind my asking? In some countries it would probably be easier to just go the goats milk route than to try to find KMR, but if you are in Canada or pretty much anywhere in Europe, KMR should be findable. If you can tell us your country maybe we can help with more specific advice depending where you are. A vet can probably also quickly tell you where to go to find it and should be willing to do so.
 

StefanZ

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@molly92
Already thought of getting her spayed. I just wanna make sure her kittens are safe first before we take her away for a long period.

@sarthur2
I temporarily moved my study area to the carport. We currently don't have a car so there's a lot of free space. I let him roam around while I'm there. Then I only put him back in the basket when I go to sleep or when there's no one home. Don't worry, I'm already looking for someone who will adopt him.
Good thinking.  But the recovalescence period on semi-ferales is typically much shorter than for  family girls. They do have healing meat and immune defence system well above average. Not because living outside and having lotsa of fresh air is good for your health.  But simply, those without do perish before they gets adult.

So three days recovery is usually long and good.  If necessary, even 24hours is used.

For example in cases like here.  They do have an apparent momma, and dont know where the kittens are.  They relesase her within these 24hours nearby the place they think she has her kittens.

Why, do you think you do can go ant talk with these neigbours and ask for their permission to seek and find the kittens?   The only problem is if they are cat haters (or hate you and your family).  There could be some risk they refuse  you but seek out them kittens themselves, and do something evil.

ps.   300g in a kitten of 4weeks is little. He is undernourished, probably on the verge of emaciated.  As the other said, you must works seriously with this.   But also, not too much of goodies at once.  Make the increase stepwise.  Small portions but often.

It would be terrible if he perished on the self threshold of being saved.
 
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