Never owned a cat before, I need (a LOT of) help with 5 orphaned kittens.

baator · Mar 19, 2016

4 days ago I brought home 5 orphaned kittens. First I made sure that the mom really wasn't around.

They were in miserable condition, cold and hungry. I believe they were 2 or 3 days old at that point.

I have zero experience with cats and I thought that if I just gave them a bowl of milk, they'd be fine.

Thankfully, I decided to check first if (cold) cow milk was fine for them and I discovered it's not.

I went and bought some kitten milk in powder form and read how to prepare it.

Made them a nest, put blankets inside and a heating pad next to them. Bought syringes and a couple

of feeding bottles but only 1, maybe 2 seem able to use the bottle, the rest of them use the syringe.

I try to feed them every 2 hours. I'm exhausted and what makes it harder is that they refuse to eat,

the whole procedure takes almost an hour and then an hour later I have to start all over again.

I try burping them, but I don't really ever hear a burp, a minor tiny sound every now and then perhaps,

but not something I'd describe as a burp. I don't know if I'm doing something wrong.

I feed 2.5-3ml's of formula to each one every 2-3 hours like I said. They are all still tiny.

Today it's the 4th day they are here. Until yesterday, they were all grouped up together, I'd say pretty happy

and healthy, sleeping quietly all day long. Today they all cry all the time, they are restless and they are not sleeping.

I noticed they try to nurse on each other, they make this sucking sound and then suck on each other. I think that annoys

them and they cry but I'm not sure.

My biggest problem is pooping. 1 of them pooped perfectly yesterday, 2-3 big, long poops, brown and toothpaste like.

A second one dropped 2-3 tiny brown poops but that was it. And from the other 3, nothing at all.

I stimulate them all the time, every time they pee normally and a lot but no poops. I thought that for the first 4-5 days it may be

normal, since they were starving anyway in the beginning and now they just eat a little formula.

But today I started worrying. I believe they are 6 days old now and 3 of them haven't pooped once. And now they cry.

I checked their bellies and I don't *think* that they are hard, but I wouldn't know anyway.

I tried the "3 finger method" or something (triangle method?) and that's when the other 2 pooped, but again, nothing

from the rest of them.

Please help, is it normal for them to not have pooped for so long? What do I do? Should I put some drops of olive oil

in their formula? I wish I could take them all to the vet but I'm completely broke, even the money I spent so far was really hard to find.

Thank you!

artiemom · Mar 19, 2016

I have absolutely no experience with baby kittens..sorry..

I honestly feel you are doing an excellent job at taking care of these babies..

You seem to be doing everything right...

KMR is great! I think the powder is better, but I am not sure.

They are cuddling together to keep warm. Do you have a hot water bottle you can wrap in a towel to put it in their nest? Or a heating pad that is on low and wrapped in a thick towel?

Do you have a wind up clock or watch? that can mimic mom's heart beat.

And a nice soft cuddly toy or even a sock filled with rice which is heated in the microwave?

I am just winging it by thinking of things off the top of my head....

There are many posts on here about kittens.

I am hoping someone can come on and help you..

((Hugs)) to you for taking the babies in and doing so much for them....

ginny · Mar 19, 2016

The little ones who aren't pooping do need to be seen by a vet. Is there anyone you can borrow from and then return the money by doing some favor like sewing for the other person? I'm hoping the advisors can help you so you don't have to see a vet, but still that's an option.

Do you know what the vet would charge to see the non-pooping kittens? I would specifically look for a vet who has kitten experience because I read on here once before that some vets are clueless about little ones. But not all! At least you would know how much money you might have to borrow. Hope that's not necessary though.

It's wonderful of you to care for these little kitties like this, and I think you are doing a great job!

baator · Mar 19, 2016

I don't think they're cold, it's 95 F in the room, it's uncomfortably hot for me.

And yes, I've put a big ticking clock wrapped inside a towel in their nest too, as well

as a bottle of hot water and a couple of small stuffed toys for them to suck on instead of each other.

I've just fed them again and they seem a bit quieter but my main concern is that they don't poop.

The only one that pooped was the one that did yesterday but today it was more watery instead of solid.

((

What am I doing wrong?? One thing that I'm definitely doing wrong is not sterilizing everything all the time,

they all feed from the same syringe and also by the time it's time to feed the last two, sometimes the formula

is almost cold, same with the water I use to clean them. But I am losing my mind, this "every 2 hours" thing is killing me,

even by using the same syringe and milk that goes cold it takes me an hour to feed them, burp them, make them urinate/poop and then clean them

and then a few minutes later I have to start all over again...If it was just 1 I'd manage it, but with 5 I'm starting to feel helpless and I think I'm

not doing everything right and that's why they seem worse today.

If someone could tell me if it's normal for a 6 day old kitten to not have pooped even once, I'd be grateful. I can keep them warm and clean and fed

as much as I can, but I don't know what else to do so they can poop.

ginny · Mar 19, 2016

Hope the advisors will be along soon. What about getting help from the Humane Society in your area, if you have one? NOT the pound or shelter, the Humane Society. Pound/shelters usually kill and HS usually do not. You could call the HS for advice or you could even call a vet and ask what to do. Tell them the milk is going cold and everything you are doing.

talkingpeanut · Mar 19, 2016

I'm sure you'll get some repeat advice with everyone responding at once, but here goes.

First, I think you're doing an excellent job so far!

I think 95 F may actually be too hot for the room. Make it more comfortable for you and make sure they have a heating source in the nest. Everyone will be happier.

You can try putting a bit of olive oil in the bottle. A few drops. This helps with constipation. Also, you can buy glycerin suppositories and shave off a little piece. That may help them poop. They do need to go. Six days is not normal, and probably quite uncomfortable.

How much are you feeding each one each day total? Is there any way you can get a small food or postage scale to weigh them daily?

The food has to be warm in order for them to digest it. I have seen the recommendation to heat up some water when you feed the kittens. Put the container of warmed milk into the hotter bowl of water (not mixing them, but letting the kmr cup sit in the heated water) and then it will stay warm for feedings.

StefanZ · Mar 19, 2016

Baator said:
4 days ago I brought home 5 orphaned kittens. First I made sure that the mom really wasn't around.

They were in miserable condition, cold and hungry. I believe they were 2 or 3 days old at that point.

I have zero experience with cats and I thought that if I just gave them a bowl of milk, they'd be fine.

Thankfully, I decided to check first if (cold) cow milk was fine for them and I discovered it's not.

I went and bought some kitten milk in powder form and read how to prepare it.

Made them a nest, put blankets inside and a heating pad next to them. Bought syringes and a couple

of feeding bottles but only 1, maybe 2 seem able to use the bottle, the rest of them use the syringe.

I try to feed them every 2 hours. I'm exhausted and what makes it harder is that they refuse to eat,

the whole procedure takes almost an hour and then an hour later I have to start all over again.

I try burping them, but I don't really ever hear a burp, a minor tiny sound every now and then perhaps,

but not something I'd describe as a burp. I don't know if I'm doing something wrong.

I feed 2.5-3ml's of formula to each one every 2-3 hours like I said. They are all still tiny.

Today it's the 4th day they are here. Until yesterday, they were all grouped up together, I'd say pretty happy

and healthy, sleeping quietly all day long. Today they all cry all the time, they are restless and they are not sleeping.

I noticed they try to nurse on each other, they make this sucking sound and then suck on each other. I think that annoys

them and they cry but I'm not sure.

My biggest problem is pooping. 1 of them pooped perfectly yesterday, 2-3 big, long poops, brown and toothpaste like.

A second one dropped 2-3 tiny brown poops but that was it. And from the other 3, nothing at all.

I stimulate them all the time, every time they pee normally and a lot but no poops. I thought that for the first 4-5 days it may be

normal, since they were starving anyway in the beginning and now they just eat a little formula.

But today I started worrying. I believe they are 6 days old now and 3 of them haven't pooped once. And now they cry.

I checked their bellies and I don't *think* that they are hard, but I wouldn't know anyway.

I tried the "3 finger method" or something (triangle method?) and that's when the other 2 pooped, but again, nothing

from the rest of them.

Please help, is it normal for them to not have pooped for so long? What do I do? Should I put some drops of olive oil

in their formula? I wish I could take them all to the vet but I'm completely broke, even the money I spent so far was really hard to find.

Thank you!

Ok, you have apparently done very nicely, esp as you are a newbe.

Them being restless and complaing, is in a way a good sign - they are hungry - and this hints, they do grow.

a quick calculation of what you give tells, they gets about 24ml a day, no? this is 3x3OZ - 90 grammes. Which is a normal birthing weigh. But as you did nicely, they surely grow, are at least another Oz naw, and thus, need another 8ml on every Oz they get.

It helps much to have a scale, to weight them every day, and see how much they gain. They shall gain about 10g a day... If they are born very small or had a severe crisis, 6g is Ok but not less.

The not pooping may be another cause they are restless. These with hard stomach stir up the others...

Exactly what kmr do you use? Sometimes it helps with changing of the kmr - some kmr are known to be unreliable, but even an excellent kmr as this made by PetAg in powder, called KMR - needs occasionally a change.

An OK alternative is always goat milk. Raw - fresh or frozen is really good, but almost any other is OK, as long as iits no funny processed low fat variation.

Also, in some situations it may be easier to find goat milk than a good kmr, that is why Im telling this.

OK, next step in the constipation algoritme is to give more water. The easiest way is to dilute the powder some more. Especially if you did diluted tighly from the beginning. But another useful option is to give some extra drops of water between the feedings.

And yes, adding a few drops of olive oil is another standard advice. Use coldpressed oil, preferably organic. Warmpressed oils do works too, but coldpressed are healthier... Give this oil in every meal, till it works - this is not harmful in any way - may possibly give some diarrhea if you succeed too well.

There are further steps, but begin with these.

Ah, the kmr you are giving is body warm, no?

I think it was all for now.

Good luck, and please come back with reports and further questions.

StefanZ · Mar 19, 2016

Re you not affording to go to a vet. Many vets dont know much about small kittens. so unless they do have a visibly problem - very often it is meaningsless to go to them. UNLESS you know for sure the vet has experience with small kittens, for example cooperating with rescuers, or cooperating with breeders.

Also, its very few vets whom give service with everyday normal care. That care you, the owner or here, rescuer, you must do yourself...

So, dont be sorry you dont afford to go to the vets at this moment. NOW its good everyday care they need - and this you are doing excellently.

Of course, if none of home remedies on constipation works, and you dont dare to make "flushing of the bowels" by yourself, a vet can easily help you with this. This is no rocket science for any vet. Even a big animal vet could help you with this.

You may try to find and contact rescuer groups or shelters nearby. To get tips, perhaps advice which vet nearby whom is good with small kittens and not very costly...

Shelters are usually crowded. Especielly as taking care of small kittens takes a lot of effort, as you yourself notice. So they arent happy with you sending them there. But what can sometimes be done, they agree YOU are their fostering home, under their umbrella. YOU do the job, and they help you with vet costs, perhaps even food and litter, and later on help with finding homes if necessary.

Such solutions do happens sometimes, Not always, but not unique.

SeventhHeaven · Mar 19, 2016

Syringes are free fom any pharmacy, the best are the types with just a rubber ring around the plunger the other types with rubber tips infront plunger will not hold up to being sterilized for very long the plungers will constantly stick. Never had a problem with feeding each kitten with same syringe BUT YOU MUST sterilize them between feedings dropping into already boiled water for 5 mins. Using different syringes food syringes, syringes for water,..feeding KMR kitten milk from vet clinic.(Whiskas milk for kittens is garbage to nurse kittens with, just incase you dont know) . If youre organized less chance to be overwhelmed, you will be a great mom it's wonderful you are providing for these babies! . *As Talkingpeanut mentioned NEVER feed cold food. You've come to the right site for advice these ladies are wonderful with lots of experience.

StefanZ · Mar 19, 2016

Baator said:
I don't think they're cold, it's 95 F in the room, it's uncomfortably hot for me.

And yes, I've put a big ticking clock wrapped inside a towel in their nest too, as well

as a bottle of hot water and a couple of small stuffed toys for them to suck on instead of each other.

I've just fed them again and they seem a bit quieter but my main concern is that they don't poop.

The only one that pooped was the one that did yesterday but today it was more watery instead of solid. ((

What am I doing wrong?? One thing that I'm definitely doing wrong is not sterilizing everything all the time,

they all feed from the same syringe and also by the time it's time to feed the last two, sometimes the formula

is almost cold, same with the water I use to clean them. But I am losing my mind, this "every 2 hours" thing is killing me,

even by using the same syringe and milk that goes cold it takes me an hour to feed them, burp them, make them urinate/poop and then clean them

and then a few minutes later I have to start all over again...If it was just 1 I'd manage it, but with 5 I'm starting to feel helpless and I think I'm

not doing everything right and that's why they seem worse today.

If someone could tell me if it's normal for a 6 day old kitten to not have pooped even once, I'd be grateful. I can keep them warm and clean and fed

as much as I can, but I don't know what else to do so they can poop.

You had already got enough with good advice, by our combined efforts.

I agree if they have a warm water bottle, and even stuffed animals, its not necessary to keep that warm in the room. 75F is more than enough.

Being that sterile isnt necessary. Mommas mouth isnt sterile. So as long its clean, dont overdo about pre medical sterility. Also, they lying in a heap together will catch any bacteria there is to catch.

Fussing with sterility becomes important if you DO notice there is something bad going on. In such a case, begin with the healthy, and end on the suspected...

Yes they are constipated. More water, some coldpressed olive oil, some glycering tops as someone mentioned will be next step. If nothing helps, you can "flush the bowels" - or better let a vet do it. Also, possibly changing the kmr - it depends also on exactly WHAT kmr you use.

The perfect conistence is toothpaste, but better a little watery than solid. If he whom did poo had solid sausages, or small pears, they are really somewhat constipated...

baator · Mar 19, 2016

Thanks everyone. Even your calm tone helps a lot, I am in panic mode since this morning, thinking I was killing them

and that they may die in the next few hours.

I will try adding more water and some olive oil to the formula for starters

and perhaps heating it a second time so the last 2 don't have to drink it semi-cold.

If nothing works, I'll take them to a vet and we'll see about the money.

I do not live in the US and sadly, there are no shelters nearby, no animal groups that could really help them and not even the

syringes are free here, much less a vet who could check them for free.

Thank you again and I'll keep you updated, hopefully with good news.

talkingpeanut · Mar 19, 2016

Baator said:
Thanks everyone. Even your calm tone helps a lot, I am in panic mode since this morning, thinking I was killing them
and that they may die in the next few hours.

I will try adding more water and some olive oil to the formula for starters
and perhaps heating it a second time so the last 2 don't have to drink it semi-cold.

If nothing works, I'll take them to a vet and we'll see about the money.

I do not live in the US and sadly, there are no shelters nearby, no animal groups that could really help them and not even the
syringes are free here, much less a vet who could check them for free.

Thank you again and I'll keep you updated, hopefully with good news.

You're doing a great job. Definitely do add a few drops of oil to each kitten. The suppositories would be the second option. Be careful not to dilute the formula too much. They need the calories. You may give them some extra water during the day though.

baator · Mar 19, 2016

Constipation was definitely the problem.

I added some olive oil to the formula and started massaging them with a towel dipped in warm water and after some time

a little poop became visible but wouldn't come out. Poor things were struggling and their little butts were very swollen. It took almost 20

minutes with each one but after a lot of (gross!

) massaging and pressuring and warm water, 3 of them managed to push out a huuuuuge

brown poop, with normal color and texture too thankfully. The one that had already gone in the morning also pooped a little again.

We were all exhausted in the end and now they are resting next to their bottles of hot water (inside a sock).

4 down, 1 to go, but I'm a lot more optimistic now, the olive oil worked miracles in only a few minutes and I'm happy they didn't have diarrhea too.

They didn't poop normally and it took a LOT of work with each one, but I think that is to be expected for their 1st time and after being constipated for 6 days (their whole lives basically

).

StefanZ · Mar 19, 2016

Excellent!

What country are you in, btw?

talkingpeanut · Mar 19, 2016

Great!! Keep it up with the olive oil (just a bit, right?) and things should get much easier.

ginny · Mar 19, 2016

talkingpeanut said:
Great!! Keep it up with the olive oil (just a bit, right?) and things should get much easier.

How much is just a bit? Just wondering.

ginny · Mar 19, 2016

Yay! I'm so glad they poo pooed! I bet their tummies feel better now!

talkingpeanut · Mar 19, 2016

Ginny said:
How much is just a bit? Just wondering.

A few drops in each bottle. Maybe a teaspoon in the whole batch if it's being prepared for all kittens at once?

ginny · Mar 19, 2016

talkingpeanut said:
A few drops in each bottle. Maybe a teaspoon in the whole batch if it's being prepared for all kittens at once?

And then shaken up repeatedly or even blended in to incorporate it in the the whole mixture? Or perhaps she could give a few drops separately just before the milk, to make sure each one gets the same amount? I don't know.

parisinthe30sx · Mar 19, 2016

Just out of curiosity, At what age do you stop manually helping them go to the bathroom? I know young kittens have to be rubbed with a moist towel to get them to go.

Never owned a cat before, I need (a LOT of) help with 5 orphaned kittens.

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