Help can't find mother cat

Hello,
So about 4 weeks ago a pregnant cat just adopted my house I saw her around the area for a few weeks one day I petted her and she just stayed and never left. Then I started feeding her and noticed she was pregnant and about 2 and a half weeks ago she gave birth too 6 kittens in my old dog house.she is a great mother but today there has been no sign of her. Last night she was there and I fed her and she only eat half and she hasn't been seen all day it's 5:17pm now and I was up at 7 so definetly hasn't fed the kittens in 10 hours? I rang the vet he said don't feed them until the morning if she hasn't returned. I got kitten milk and seringe I have no idea how to feed them or what too do? I'd love an explentation on everything e.g how much to give them how often how warm anything else I need to know. (She's an outdoor cat as my daughter is allergic but Ill bring the kittens inside if she dosnt return)

First things first.  The kittens need the food warmed so they can digest it. Not hot but not luke warm either - warmer.

Put the kittens on a flat surface, paws down and slightly elevate their head.  Put a drop in their cheek and wait for it to swallow and take a breath.  At this age, they may just suck it out of the syringe.  Try putting down a dish of the KMR first.  They may be able to lap it up.   Use a plate w/ high edges or a bowl with low sides.

Yes, the kittens need food asap. Please do not wait.

Ok I'll try see if they will lap it up if not I'll try the syringe

If you can record a litter of babies crying for their mom off of youtube or any other site record a few,

play back all around your yard surrounding area and see if that draws her back.

This video one of my faves, how to hold feed a newborn kitten, proper angle you don't want to get fluids in their lungs!  

Never give cold food to kittens. You will receive ample help here so you don't need to worry about a thing if they

are indeed abandoned.       (don't know if that's a real bug or not!)

Thanks for all the information they were crying like crazy it took me awhile to get them to take it they hated it but then they did it grand until they had enough they have stopped crying and I have a hot water blanket in with them. Hopefully she hasn't died she hasn't left the garden this long since she came I don't think [emoji]128550[/emoji]

You may also need to help them go to the bathroom. Rub a warm damp cloth over their belly and genitals after each feeding. They will need to eat every 2-3 hours at this age.

How much were you able to get them to eat each?

Cat momma wont abandon them because you gave them food.  Especielly not as she knows you are her friend.  So if she comes back, she will take them back if you so want. But you perhaps want to proceed to take care of them. This way you will be entireyl sure they will be properly socialized.

The only reason why it would be good to follow vets advice and wait even more, is, is you give them food via syringe carelessly or unskilled, it may be dangerous for them, getting fluids into the lungs.

But you got advices from here how to do it, so it was OK. 

I got about 4 ml into each of them and they all went to the bathroom I saw a video on YouTube of how to do it there asleep now so hopefully the mother will come back

When I was starting the bottle baby program at my shelter I found that Maddy's Fund had a lot of very helpful information on their website from videos to charts on how to care for orphaned kittens. This link will take you to the home page for that site: http://www.maddiesfund.org/orphaned-kittens.htm. Hopefully this helps you feel more comfortable with feeding them!

They are awfully vulnerable to predators without mom. Also very likely to get cold. I would consider taking them in.

Yah I have them inside now until or it mom comes back [emoji]128532[/emoji]

cat2016 said:

Yah I have them inside now until or it mom comes back [emoji]128532[/emoji]

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Thank you so much for taking in these babies and caring for them. Do you have a heat source for them in the nest? A heating pad set on low under a towel or blanket? Do you have a kitchen scale so you can weigh them daily to make sure that they are all gaining weight? They should be gaining around 10 grams per day. 

http://www.austinhumanesociety.org/sites/default/files/Foster Kitten Handbook.pdf

Good luck!! I hope mama is OK and comes back soon

Thanks for your kind comment I have a hot water bottle under one side of the blanket so they can crawl on and off if they get too hot or cold there in a warm room as it is. Should I feed them again or what time ?

And still no sign of there mother [emoji]128563[/emoji]

Thank you for taking these babies in!
I do believe the rule for feeding babies is every two-three hours, I know it's a lot of work but everyone on here is cheering you on!

Ok I'll feed them again now and I'll set my alarm for throughout the night and I'll let ye know if she's back by morning [emoji]128584[/emoji][emoji]128584[/emoji]

Yes, these kittens need to eat every 3-4 hours. They need about 10 mL's of formula apiece at each feeding in order to thrive. You need to feed them through the night as well. They will not begin weaning for a couple more weeks. They will get used to the syringe feeding, and begin sucking on the syringe.

I hate to say it, but mom is probably in heat and has gone mating. She may come back soon, and she may not. If she does, please get her inside your home and make a spay appointment for her for a couple weeks from now.

Which KMR are you using? And thank you for caring for these babies! Please continue to ask any and all questions on this thread. [emoji]128522[/emoji]

cat2016 said:

And still no sign of there mother [emoji]128563[/emoji]

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A good mom doesnt leave kittens many hours, if there is food nearby, here provided by you.

Hopefully is is just in heat, and out on adventures.  But the probability is quite hight something bad happened. - her being in heat doesnt lessens the risks either.

Cars, predators, mean people, poisoning mean people.

Count on raising them yourself now.

IF she comes back, its nice and swell - try to have her inside her too!  She will copy.

But count on your own forces.

Feeding the kittens at least every 3-4 hours, but observe it may be necessary with feeding more often, esp if one of them seems to be weaker, or not growing well enough.

3-4 hours is really for  the rescuers comfort, not for what they need.

While it is a good thing that you have taken them inside, it could also be bad if their mother is looking for them inside the old doghouse; however, I'm pretty sure she would stay around and be anxious if she does come back (which hopefully she shall).

I am worried about the length of time she's been gone, however. It's not like a mama cat to abandon an entire litter, but it is also possible that someone has taken mama in. You may want to ask around your neighborhood.

Keeping fingers crossed!!!