Premature Kitten Care.

{{{{{{Vibes}}}}}}}

A good day today for the babies. Timmy and Tiny have each gained 7 grams in the last 24 hours. Another 2ml SQ today as it was 107F. They're suckling well and their fur is a bit longer. They're starting to look a little more like newborn kittens, rather than baby mice LOL

Edited to add: After one of her feeds today, Tiny started up a noise that sounded like lung crackles. I turned her upside-down and patted her back, thinking she had inhaled some formula. I was pleased that the noise stopped. I used a stethescope to listen to her chest and it sounded good and clear. When I wrapped her up again, the noise started again. It had only taken me about 15 minutes and an upside-down kitten to work out she was purring! LOL I didn't think they could purr so early, especially being preemies. So Tiny has begun to purr. It does sound like a really tiny old moped in dire need of a mechanic but it's a definite purr.

I've posted more pics of them in this thread.

They are soooooo tiny. Good for you to take care of them. I hope Jeri was a good contact for you.

Katie

Katie, Jeri was very supportive but also very guarded as to the babies prognosis as she said she didn't hold much hope for them. I guess it tempered my outlook and keeps me from being over-optomistic about them. I'm not ready to give up on the babies yet though and will keep hoping they make it.

You've had a busy weekend sweetie!!!! You've already gotten great advice, but let me say - what a wonderful, wonderful thing you're doing! You are being so attentive that with all your love and attention and all of our thoughts and prayers directed your way, they'll HAVE to pull through!!!!!!!!!!!

The babies have been great today. Timmy has gained 11 grams and Tiny, 7 grams. Timmy began to purr today and they can both hold their heads up for a few seconds. The residual piece of their umbilical cords looks like it may fall off in the next day or two. Their eyes are still sealed tightly shut but they definitely raise their eyebrows and frown sometimes LOL. They're peeing and pooping well and crawling around their box more.

Thank you all so much for your support and vibes, they are very much appreciated.

Good luck Tania, staying optimistic here, I know how fragile their lives are right now. Just keep them warm, out of drafts- maybe vegamite can help you keep them warm?

MA, don't forget it's been very hot here the past few days, around 100F. Vegemite (and the other cats) tolerate the kittens, but don't show any real interest. They're on a heat pad with snugglekitty and I'm also giving lots of cuddles through the day so they should be OK. *crossing fingers*

Tania, I saw you posted and rushed in here to see the progress! I'm keeping these two little ones close to my heart. They are definitely in the best hands right now.

Hissy posted:
...I know how fragile their lives are right now. Just keep them warm, out of drafts- maybe vegamite can help you keep them warm?

Click to expand...

Valanhb posted:
...They are definitely in the best hands right now.

Click to expand...

They sure are! You're doing a FABULOUS job! GO KITTIES GO! Tania - they're gonna make it! They're gonna make it! I'm continuing to send LOTS of GONNA MAKE IT vibes!

Another good day for Timmy and Tiny. Timmy has gained 11 grams and Tiny, 12 grams. They're peeing (lots) and pooping well and are getting more squirmy as they gain strength. Both their umbilical cords are quite loose but still attached. They love kisses, and will try and shove their little faces into my mouth. I made the mistake the other day of having a glass of milk and then cuddling with them. They went mad, trying to find the place my 'milk breath' was coming from LOL.

They are now orienting towards me - if I put them down near me, they turn around and come crawling over, rather than just crawling randomly. Their eyes are still shut, though they don't have any trouble knowing when their bottle is nearby. The two six-week-old kittens I have are a bit frightened of these squawking tiny things but do try and muscle in when they see the bottle, even though they are weaned. I'm sure they remember the yummy taste of the formula well.

Timmy and Tiny will be joined by a one week old kitten tomorrow. She/he has been vet checked and is in good health. I'll be interested to see the size difference as these two are only two days younger (though prem, so really not even at their due date yet).

I do think that all those vibes you guys are sending are really working! Thank you so much and keep sending them.

P.S. Laurie, I will definitely NOT be covering the babies in Vegemite, even if it would help them keep warm!

Wieght: Tiny 109g (3.8oz.), Timmy 118g (4.2oz.)

I realised most of you guys work in ounces so I've put their weight in oz too. Just as a comparison, their weights on day 1 were Tiny 71g (2.5oz.), Timmy 76g(2.7oz.). I forgot to mention too, that on day 2, I noticed that both kittens are girls, so Timmy is short for Timothina LOL.

Timmy's umbilical stump fell off today and Tiny's doesn't look like it'll be far behind. They're both very well, although they didn't like me replacing their snugglekitty with another freshly laundered one as it must've smelt different. They're fine now, though and had a quick bath today.

They've been joined today by another grey kitten, Smokey. The vet nurse thought he was about a week old but he's closer to 10 days. He weighs 194g (6.8oz.) and is happily snuggling with Timmy and Tiny, even though they are so much smaller. He has tiny nubs where his teeth are just about to come through. I have little play sessions with him throughout the day, which he loves.

I'm feeling pretty tired today, I think the non-stop 2-hourly feeds have caught up with me LOL.

Wow, doubled in weight!! That is just fantastic. And just think - tomorrow is their "birthday". And every positive day is a credit to you, Tania!!

You rock Tania! I am sitting here shivering in the cold and forget that your climate is much more hospitable. Still sending prayers for the babies and for you-

BTW send me that article will you?

Baby celebrations today!

Weight: Tiny 119g (4.2oz.) Timmy 132g (4.6oz.)

All 3 kittens are very well and Timmy & Tiny just love snuggling up to their older step-brother, Smokey. Even at approximately 12 days, he seems to understand that they are fragile and doesn't step or lie on them or try to play-wrestle with them. I can't wait until I see Timmy or Tiny's baby blue eyes peeking out at me from the corner of those eyelids. I'll be posting weekly updates now that they're a week old.

Thank you guys for your wonderful support and your vibes for these babies. There's no doubt in my mind that you sending vibes and prayers has helped keep these little doing so well!

MA, I'll send that article as soon as I find it!

OMG! OMG! OMG! Can't beat Hissy's expression - "you rock Tania!"

More baby kitten celebrations today! The babies have reached their second week. Woo Hoo!

Weight: Tiny 189g (6.7oz.) Timmy 219g (7.7oz.)

They're doing very well, though they're keeping me in suspense by keeping their little eyelids firmly shut LOL. They're actually looking fat! I asked my vet, who is also a veterinary opthalmologist, about their eyes and of course, he says I'll just have to be patient! Kittens usually open their eyes between five and ten days so it'll be any day now.

I looked back on my notes about these two and they were brought to me about 1am on the 15th Feb after not being visited by mum since they were born about 15 hours before. So they were born on Valentines day, awwwwww! I will post updated pics as soon as I take them.

Smokey is also doing fine and getting cuter every day. He's about 2 1/2 weeks old now and starting to give me little headbonks as I cuddle him.

Thank you so much for your support guys. To quote a good friend of mine, "You rock!"

This post has taken me sooo long to write. I have 2 6-week-old kittens, Shadow and Sun-Sun, playfighting right here on my chest, ROFL!

YAY!!! As soon as I saw you had posted to the forum I RUSHED in here to see how the little babies are doing!!! You've really made me smile.

How sweet, little Valentines babies. Well, I know they have stolen my heart from oceans away...

Just stumbled into this thread.

You've done marvellous work Tania! Absolutely wonderful and they're so tiny!

I didn't realise that you lived in Perth either! And that Mt Lawley Pharmacy sees stranger things than tired hyper women buying AA batteries.

Sending out be healthy and growing vibes to the kitties.

Oh yeah, I live up the road from you in Port Hedland....ok so it's 1600 km, (1000 miles) north.

Tania, thank you so much for the updates! I cannot imagine how tired you must be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How sweet about Smokey with the babies! These are the BEST kind of smiles!