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

No, it's not really possible to overfeed a kitten. It would be best if you could measure out what you're feeding them. 15 seconds of nursing really doesn't sound like enough.

You can mark the outside of the bottle with a sharpie.  Put one ounce in and mark it.  Add another ounce and mark it, and on and on.  It won't be exact (unless you're an engineer LOL) but it will be close.

Sorry if I missed you mentioning it, but can you not weigh them evey day? That is the only way to be sure that they are all gaining.You can get a smal balance that weighs in grams from Walmart or many pharmacies.

Sharing a link here for you: this is part of the foster packet that all our neonatal fosters get. Some of the information won't be relevant to you (program manager name, our clinic phone numbers) but there's a chart for how much to feed kittens depending on their weight, the best way to mix up their food, and some sample charts to show you good ways to organize all the information from feedings and weigh-ins.

Our program has a 90% survival rate for bottle-babies and kittens, and is being copied across the country by other rescue organizations! You certainly don't have to follow these guidelines, but it's super handy and very successful.

http://www.maddiesfund.org/assets/documents/Institute/Austin Pets Alive! Resource Documents.pdf

I hope some of the info on there is helpful!

I went out today and bought a scale, so a few minutes ago I weighed them all.

This is right before their feeding time and I remind you that they are exactly 10 days old today.

Their weights were 136, 138, 140, 147 and 164 grams.

(1 Ounce = 28.3 grams)

Sometimes I think I overfeed them and sometimes I think I don't feed them enough.

Some of them can drink 10 ml's of formula in one feeding and they still seem hungry.

Some people say that it's very dangerous to overfeed them, others say it's not possible to overfeed a kitten

and you should let it eat as much as it want each time.

I've read that you should feed them 8 ml's of formula for every ounce they weigh, so I guess that's around

40 ml's for mine. That's exactly how much I'm giving them every day.

Do they seem underweight to you? Are those weights normal for 10 days old kittens?

They're a bit underweight. I wouldn't say it's critical, but good fat mother-raised kittens are usually around 100 grams at birth, and gain 10 grams a day, so they'd be around 200 grams at 10 days. But orphan kittens usually have a bad start so you can't expect the same. At this point you just want to see good gains, of at least 6-10 grams a day. On average---don't panic if one gains 0 grams one day and 12 grams the next day. As long as there's a steady gain. If they start losing weight, then you worry.

~Unless you are actually forcing food down their throats, you cannot overfeed kittens this young. The 8ml per ounce is a guide - some will take more, some a little less. And some may vary from day to day. they do need a little more than they are getting, from the sound of it. Never leave them hungry.

They need at LEAST 5% of their body weight per feeding.

Example: kitten weighs 146 grams before feeding. 5% is almost 8grams (gram = mL, so at least 8 mL of formula). Weight after feeding should be at least 154 grams.

Feed by bottle every 2-3 hrs

Quick update for you guys, since you've all been a great help and support and I'm sure you'd like to know some news:

So, after buying the scale, I realized I was putting less powder in their formula while preparing the mix. I'm guessing that's why they weren't putting on

as much weight as they should, why they were eating so hungrily even though they were being fed regularly and that's why their poops were a bit watery.

I didn't have a proper way to weigh the powder before and I was eyeballing it with some soup spoons.

After buying the scale and correctly weighing the powder, in just 3 days they've all put on a lot of weight, they eat normally

and the poops are much better.

14 days old weights (in grams):

185, 178, 172, 161, 154.

They still look healthy, all but one have opened their eyes, they eat normally and they sleep after their feedings.

Poops are inconsistent. They definitely not poop every day (only 2 of them do), but at least once every 2 days, or in some cases 3, they all take a HUGE poop.

Usually their poops are not solid, but they're not watery either, more like how those pastel colors come out of their tubes. They're also dark green.

I don't know if that's a problem. Their bellies are soft, they don't look uncomfortable and since I started mixing their formula correctly, they all put on at least 10-12 grams/day.

Peeing was never a problem, lots of it every time they're getting fed, right color.

I think they're doing ok.

That is great news, and a lesson to everone as to how important it is to have an accurate scale when trying to raise kittens. ~Their poop and pee sounds fine to me, and if they are feeling comfortable and eating well (and of course gaining weight) then you are doing well.

I'm pretty sure green poop means the food is moving too quick through the kittens system. I'm trying to remember back to when I was bottle feeding my foster kittens, I'm almost positive my vet said it was from overfeeding. I'll search around and find a site for you to reference. I'm glad the kittens are doing good, you're doing a great job! When they get a little older the fun will begin. I always loved fostering kittens.

Edit: here's a site that might help you http://www.kittenbaby.com/bowel-movement.php

It sounds like they're doing good! Keep that weight gain up and keep them warm and they'll continue to flourish! Good job!!

parisinthe30sx said:

I'm pretty sure green poop means the food is moving too quick through the kittens system. I'm trying to remember back to when I was bottle feeding my foster kittens, I'm almost positive my vet said it was from overfeeding. I'll search around and find a site for you to reference. I'm glad the kittens are doing good, you're doing a great job! When they get a little older the fun will begin. I always loved fostering kittens.

Edit: here's a site that might help you http://www.kittenbaby.com/bowel-movement.php

Click to expand...

Exactly correct.

Moving too fast so the bile is not absorbed, which causes the green color.

Simply cut back just a tad, or dilute the formula by about 1/4 less concentration should do the trick.

When you get the chance, would you take some pictures of these babies?  We'd love to see them!

When I first brought them home. 2 days old, cold and hungry.


Settling in.


A couple days later. Nice and warm. That yellow thing is a clock.



Their blanket gets changed every couple of days because it gets dirty. 5 siblings, sleeping next to each other.


Awwww!


Constantly exploring and trying to get away.


We had an accident and we're trying to get cleaned up but we don't want to.


The twins.

What absolutely precious little mites.  Why can I never see a kitten without wanting to snorgle it's widdle belly?  That and sniff behind their ears.  There is no sweeter smell in the world than behind a kitten's ear.

Adorable! Nothing cuter than little bitty kittens.it's a lot of work caring for ones that young, but it's so rewarding, not to mention a lot of fun,especially when they start showing their own little personalities. Keep us updated With photos as they get bigger!

It sounds to me like maybe the fifth one didn't need to poop because he (she?) had gone the day before.  If she (he?) doesn't go tomorrow, then you should probably think about the suppository.  However, I'm not exactly an expert on newborn kitten care.

You must be totally exhausted by now.  It's easier for the mother; she can doze while feeding them.  For that matter, she can feed all of them at once.  And, to state the obvious, cats are good at catnaps.  Humans, less so.  What you are doing is wonderful.  I'm very glad for the kittens that you found them.

Five is an awful lot to take on at this age; I don't know how you're managing.

Margret

Baator said:

 
And finally, I am SO tired. Yesterday, I've had a headache all day long. Today, I'm even worse. I don't sleep and I'm constantly stressed.

This is a very difficult task, I had no idea when I got them, I thought a bowl of milk and a safe space would do it, but they really are like babies.

And the constipation problems...if only I didn't have those I wouldn't complain. From what I see is very common, especially with formula. I read stories

online "sadly, I lost all 4 of them", "sadly, all my babies died yesterday out of nowhere" and they stress me out so much.

Ugh...thanks for the support everyone, rant time over, it's feeding time!

Click to expand...

Don't read those stories!

That's why you're here, so that won't happen.

Yes, one way or another you must get some sleep.  Do you, by any chance, have a friend or family member who would be willing to kitten sit for a few hours, if you showed them what to do?  It's not a proper solution for the problem, but it would still help quite a bit.

Margret

Wow. You have my utmost admiration! To bring them home and care for them when they desperately needed you; to care so very much for them; and to do so very well when you know nothing of cats is nothing short of amazing.

Stunning.