3 day old Abandoned Kitten - Advise please!

flopit · May 12, 2016

Hi all.

A very tiny kitten has been abandoned at my house - 2/3 days old. Vet has been old and has sent me home with Royal Canin Baby Cat Milk Formula.

The little one is trying to feed and largely succeeding. I try to get her to eat 2-4 ml each feed (every 2/3 hours). She seems quite active before and after feeds.

My question for you all is this:

the Royal Caning Baby Cat milk only gives instructions for mixing the max amount (20ml water + 10ml formula). It also states that you must use all mixed formula within an hour. Discard any unused milk.

Is this for real?! This cat is eating every 2-3 hours. Only small amounts though. The milk wastage is through the roof if I make up the suggested amount.

If I reduce the proportions down to 5ml water + 2.5ml formula, then basically I am spending my life (and I need to add here I have a 2 yr old toddler + 7 month pregnant, so mixing formula at night is NOT what I want to be doing rift now) mixing and measuring formula.

Don;t get me wrong - i'll what I have to for this kitten but what I wan to know is if I can at least mix up 20 ml and keep in fridge between feeds and then warm up at feeding time? Or any other suggested shortcut so that I'm not standing about in my kitchen at 3am measuring up gallons of formula that I then just have to throw down the sink?!?!

HELP ME!!!!

newkitties · May 12, 2016

Hi! It's a really great thing what you are doing to help this baby.

Perhaps you could try a different formula. If it doesn't specifically say that it would be safe premade in the fridge, then it probably isn't.

The best kind to get would be PetAG KMR, I'm not sure what the rules are on that, I'm sure another member knows what PetAG's rules are.

The kind I have is powdered KMR, called nutri-vet. You can find it on amazon, and certain pet stores.. The instructions specify, "Mix one part formula to two parts water. Unused formula can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours then must be discarded. Unused, open powder may be refrigerated for up to three months, or kept in the freezer for up to six months."

The kitten should be fed every 2 hours, as a good base. Through the night, all the time. Every 3rd hour can work too as long as the baby is gaining weight properly.

You should also invest in a kitchen scale (preferably grams) so you can ensure the kitten is gaining weight, you can also detect health issues by weighing the kitten daily.

Are you stimulating the kitten after feeds to make sure it goes potty as well? I'm not sure if you already know, but it's better safe than sorry

Thank you for hand rearing this kitten! It's hard work!

chrikc1 · May 12, 2016

Hey! I was just in the same spot with 3 kittens! They are now over 2 weeks. I'm using the PetAg kitten replacement milk listed above. I make a whole 2 oz bottle for each cat and keep it in the fridge between feedings. That way, over night, I just heat a mug of water and pop them in for 5 min. So much easier that mixing formula and boiling bottles every time! I do clean and boil them between bottles. Just make sure you get the newborn formula! Good luck!

talkingpeanut · May 12, 2016

I would think refrigerating for a day is fine. Are you helping her to potty and all that good stuff?

We'd love to see photos!

Sarthur2 · May 12, 2016

Royal Canin formula is excellent. Just use 1 part formula to 2 parts water. Say 1/3 cup of powder to 2/3 cup of water. It stores for 2-3 days in the fridge. Stir and warm before feeding. No need to change formulas.

Good luck with the kitten! [emoji]128522[/emoji]

StefanZ · May 12, 2016

I agree with the above, this RC product is one of the best, no need to change. Also, theirs bottle is one of the better, easy to suckle.

Using refrigerator or even freeze is OK, its a standard tip as long as you dont overdo. Use perhaps small plastic pockets. and freeze them.

I would suggest though, you give a little more often, every 2 hours, not 2-3 hours. This because she seems to be thriving. If weak or otherwise in crisis, may be necessary with small amounts but every hour.

Also do weigh her on a scale, so you see she gains nicely. About 10 grams is the normal. If she is very small somewhat lesser is acceptable.

flopit · May 12, 2016

Thank you so much

flopit · May 12, 2016

Thanks all for your quick responses. I am in the UAE so far, far away from you all and I very much appreciate the support.

I've decided to: Add some holes to the RC nipple as she's fighting hard to get milk. She sucks so hard the suction is an issue. I'll also mix up a bottle a day and work our way through it for the day - keeping it refrigerated/in a cooler if we are out. I hope that's good enough for her.

My latest issue: I need to go out for the day with my husband and son. What do I do about the kitten? Can I take her with me and feed her as and when? And if so, anyone got any recommended methods of transporting a kitten around shops etc?!

It's nice and warm here so I'm not worried about her getting cold - I just want her to be safe and comfortable whilst she sleeps, and whilst we get on with our chores.

Thanks so much!

StefanZ · May 12, 2016

Flopit said:
Thanks all for your quick responses. I am in the UAE so far, far away from you all and I very much appreciate the support.

I've decided to: Add some holes to the RC nipple as she's fighting hard to get milk. She sucks so hard the suction is an issue. I'll also mix up a bottle a day and work our way through it for the day - keeping it refrigerated/in a cooler if we are out. I hope that's good enough for her.

My latest issue: I need to go out for the day with my husband and son. What do I do about the kitten? Can I take her with me and feed her as and when? And if so, anyone got any recommended methods of transporting a kitten around shops etc?!

It's nice and warm here so I'm not worried about her getting cold - I just want her to be safe and comfortable whilst she sleeps, and whilst we get on with our chores.

Thanks so much!

In nature, mom cats not always can be with them, they must sometimes go out and find food. So its not unusual they leave the kittens alone even several hours running.

Of course, with such friends, they really dont need any enemies... but you get the idea. A healthy, thriving kitten will manage, as long as its safe, comfortable, not freezing (or having too hot).

Re some sort of nice transportation: carrying at the chest is probably best. somewhat of the kangaroo method like you would do with a very weak kitten (or premature human baby, if you dont have access to a really good hospital).

Why, there is a standard way to carry small babies: you do it at your chest, in a suitable carrying harness.

Make a little sack for her, and carry her at your chest. (or your husband may do it if he wishes). The only problem is the kitten may pee, so have in there something isolating, a little towel perhaps, which you can change if necessary.

The feeding is more difficult, of course. How is it, are there possibilites to feed small human infants? In Sweden there is common many places has micros you can lend, to heat up baby food, and give the baby warmed up food. Such a station should make it possible for you too to arrange something.

If you cant, so perhaps just some home made pedialyte, ie water, glucose sugar source, salts... Its not food, but it will buy you time.

StefanZ · May 12, 2016

ps. If you by some reason make a longer pause in the feeding schedule, you must of course increase correspondingly the food amount at the other meals, so the day totale should remain roughly the same as usual. 8ml/oz a day. in a kitten of 120 grammes it gives about 32 ml kmr or goat mil a day.

talkingpeanut · May 13, 2016

I agree that you can carry the little one around with you in a sling. Maybe you could put some formula in a thermos?

I think the day's formula should be refrigerated even if you're home though.

Sarthur2 · May 13, 2016

Yes, a sling and bring the supplies to feed with you. It's best if the kitten is kept on its feeding schedule. [emoji]128522[/emoji]

flopit · May 17, 2016

Hi all,

I was here a little while back asking for advice on caring for a tiny 3 day old kitten I found abandoned in my front garden. An adorable creature who I fed every 2/3 hours. You all gave some very sound advice on feeding and preparing formula for the little one.

Sadly, yesterday I noticed her strength was decreasing and her will to eat was tapering off. I took her to the vet who told me she has Aspiration Pneumonia and put her on antibiotics.

He told me it was unlikely she would survive but i was determined. Broken hearted even.

She's refused to eat ever since. So, after we got home from vet in the early evening, through the evening and through the night she wouldn't eat. I tried to force a few drops into her every so often but she would scream and cry at me.

I worried that that struggle would use up all her strength, which she needs to fight her infection.

Amazingly, she was still alive this morning. She was moving about but I couldn't tell if it was to find a comfy dark spot, or a hunt for food, or just instinct.

I gave her her antibiotics and tried to feed her but she still refused to eat. I pressured her into a few mouthfuls and she shouted at me and tried to escape my clutches.

I left her to sleep and recover her strength but when I returned 20 mins later, she was dead.

I write this to you because I know most of you have been through this. And I want to know if there was something I could have done to help her survive the infection and get her strength back?

I know that the aspiration pneumonia is entirely my fault, from not feeding her carefully enough.

I was using Royal Canin. The nipples provided had holes too small for her to suck from, she didm;t have strength or skill, so I cut a cross in the tip.

In the end i got through 6 nipples trying to find the perfect flow - sometime sit was too fast, sometimes too slow - and all depended on temp of the milk too.

I just couldn't get it right for her.

I'm so upset and sad that I could;t save the beautiful girl. But i would like to know - for next time - what I could have done differently.

Thanks in advance,

Sarthur2 · May 17, 2016

I'm so sorry you lost her. Using a needleless syringe to feed drop by drop into the side of the mouth gives you much more control. A kitten also must be fed tummy down and head up like they feed from mom. And do not blame yourself. You tried your best. She probably had a weak immune system. Thank you for trying to save her.

jennyr · May 17, 2016

Do not beat yourself up over it. Most experts have lost kittens so young - it is very hard to get everything right. And there is often a reason why such kittens are found abandoned - the momcat knows if somethingis wrong and she takes the sick kitten out of the nest. So it starts off at a disadvantage.
I usually use a syringe rather than a bottle for very young kittens, it is easier to control and not drown them. But sadly, we cannot save them all. You tried your best, and that is all anyone can do.

StefanZ · May 17, 2016

Flopit said:
Hi all,

I was here a little while back asking for advice on caring for a tiny 3 day old kitten I found abandoned in my front garden. An adorable creature who I fed every 2/3 hours. You all gave some very sound advice on feeding and preparing formula for the little one.

Sadly, yesterday I noticed her strength was decreasing and her will to eat was tapering off. I took her to the vet who told me she has Aspiration Pneumonia and put her on antibiotics.

He told me it was unlikely she would survive but i was determined. Broken hearted even.

She's refused to eat ever since. So, after we got home from vet in the early evening, through the evening and through the night she wouldn't eat. I tried to force a few drops into her every so often but she would scream and cry at me.

I worried that that struggle would use up all her strength, which she needs to fight her infection.

Amazingly, she was still alive this morning. She was moving about but I couldn't tell if it was to find a comfy dark spot, or a hunt for food, or just instinct.

I gave her her antibiotics and tried to feed her but she still refused to eat. I pressured her into a few mouthfuls and she shouted at me and tried to escape my clutches.

I left her to sleep and recover her strength but when I returned 20 mins later, she was dead.

I write this to you because I know most of you have been through this. And I want to know if there was something I could have done to help her survive the infection and get her strength back?

I know that the aspiration pneumonia is entirely my fault, from not feeding her carefully enough.

I was using Royal Canin. The nipples provided had holes too small for her to suck from, she didm;t have strength or skill, so I cut a cross in the tip.

In the end i got through 6 nipples trying to find the perfect flow - sometime sit was too fast, sometimes too slow - and all depended on temp of the milk too.

I just couldn't get it right for her.

I'm so upset and sad that I could;t save the beautiful girl. But i would like to know - for next time - what I could have done differently.

Thanks in advance,

When they got this pneumonia, the only to try is what you did. run to the vet and get antybiotics. Sometime they survive, usually not.

Handraising IS more risky than momma. You can decrease the risks by being very careful and by good technique and experience, but still the risks are bigger than null.

Yet, we handraise / supplement when its a must, when NOT doing this is a much worse.

There is a new method whom someone learned us.

Using a sponge to suckle from.

You can probably use almost any sponge, but the proposed sponge is such a little make-up sponge. It feels almost alike suckling from momma. And is probably the least risky of the methods usually used. Works nicely sometimes, but sometimes not...

A tip. You have the kmr / goats milk in a syringe, the kitten suckles, and you drop simultaneously the fluid on the sponge...

Very experience "half professional" rescuers use often a sonde directly into stomach. But this is difficult and risky for a new be, if you hadnt been shown by someone knowleable and have the right gears. so we usually dont even mention it. The usual tricks alike a needleless syringe is good enough.

Also, it seems even many vets dont know how to do it...

But if you plan to often work with rescued orphans, it may well pay off to try and learn this technique. Find someone whom can show you etc...

talkingpeanut · May 17, 2016

I'm so sorry this happened. You did a wonderful thing for this kitten.

blueyedgirl5946 · May 18, 2016

On behalf of The Cat Site Moderating Team, we are so sorry for your loss. You might wish to post a memorial in our Crossing the Bridge Forum.

I will now lock this thread as a sign of respect.

3 day old Abandoned Kitten - Advise please!

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