Need help, found kittens

nikki w

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I was at my grandparents house yesterday and went the hay barn to check on some kittens he had up there. Well after i checked on them I started back to the house when my aunt and I kept hearing a kitten meowing and crying. We search and search and finally found this poor little kitten. We could see its face from a hole that was in a board. It was so sad. It only had one eye part of the way open, the other has completely closed and covered with nasty stuff.
anyways, we finally got the board cut and got this little kitten out. we have no idea where these kittens came from or anything. While we were trying to get this kitten out another kitten fell out of the hay barn. It fell about 7ft. I ran over and grabbed it and checked it out and got it started eating. it was starving. we got looking around some more to see if there was more or only these 2 and we found a third one. we also found the momma. momma wasnt alive. we have never seen this cat before. my grandpa has not a clue where she came from. anyways, i said i would bring these kittens home and try to get them healthy again. When i got home i got the little ones eyes cleaned up and now both are completely open and look great. these kittens are about the size of my kittens that are only 1 1/2 weeks old. i am guessing that these kittens are between 3-4 weeks old. they are all walking around pretty good and they can go potty on there own. they will also drink from a little bowl and eat canned food.

so my question to you all is should i just keep giving them milk replacement and canned food? How long should i wait before giving them to good homes? I think i should keep them until i think they are about ten weeks old but since they dont have a momma anymore i dont know if i can give them away sooner or not. keep in mind my husband wasnt thrilled when he came home to three more kittens.

BTW Sponges kittens are doing great. They are so big. They are actually a little bigger than these little guys but i think its b/c these kittens have been starving and everything. if anyone has any advice at all plz let me know. Also, i tried to see if Sponge may take them in and be a momma to them but she would only hiss and slap at them. so i got them away from her.
 

pondwader

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That's too bad....
I would keep them totally away from your other cats, who knows what they are carrying....
I would not let them go to new homes until they look healthy and are a good size, perhaps wait until they are whatever size yours end up to be at ten weeks or so.
 

hissy

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Give them KMR and canned food mixed and get the family to the vet. If mom cat is gone, the kittens may also be health compromised.
 

julya

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Hello,
First, congratulations on saving the 3 poor little kitties lives. Yes, I would keep them away from the other kittens. If they will eat canned kitten food....go for it! You can also offer them some crunchies softened with water. Make sure they have plenty of fresh water. If they don't appear to be drinking enough water, then you might want to offer them some milk replacer. I always try to make sure my foster kittens are spayed/neutered before letting them go to a new home. However, I've let them go to people I know and trust before they are fixed. Since I work at a vet clinic, the vets always take a peek at them to make sure all is well. I also like to make sure they get their first kitten booster before they go to a new home. If they are really 3-4 weeks old, they'll be able to get their frist booster in a few more weeks depending on your vet's vaccination schedule. Good luck and God bless the poor momma cat who didn't make it. Let me know how everything goes. :-)
 

sirha

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Well, I don't have much advice since everyone else took the words outta my mouth lol. But WTG on rescuing the kittens! Now many people would be as generous as you are
 
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nikki w

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Originally Posted by Sirha

Well, I don't have much advice since everyone else took the words outta my mouth lol. But WTG on rescuing the kittens! Now many people would be as generous as you are
TY all for your help. they are eating really good. between the three of them they ate a little over half a can of food and a little milk this morning. they keep going back and taking a bite here and there or getting a drink here and there. They dont seem to want any water. Is that ok as long as they are getting the milk?
I had no choice in saving these kittens. I couldnt just let them stay there and die. My husbnad wasnt thrilled with me at all when i called and told him about them. but i finally talked and talked and he was so so with it. I told him that he just needs to have respect that i am so soft hearted. He should be glad he is married to someone who CARES about people and animals. He seemed a lot better after that. LOL

i will try to get pics of the kittens later on.
 

momof3rugratz

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Originally Posted by hissy

Give them KMR and canned food mixed and get the family to the vet. If mom cat is gone, the kittens may also be health compromised.
This is what I was thinking also... Also dont let them nurse of Sponge just in case too...
 

tnr1

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Originally Posted by Nikki W

TY all for your help. they are eating really good. between the three of them they ate a little over half a can of food and a little milk this morning. they keep going back and taking a bite here and there or getting a drink here and there. They dont seem to want any water. Is that ok as long as they are getting the milk?
I had no choice in saving these kittens. I couldnt just let them stay there and die. My husbnad wasnt thrilled with me at all when i called and told him about them. but i finally talked and talked and he was so so with it. I told him that he just needs to have respect that i am so soft hearted. He should be glad he is married to someone who CARES about people and animals. He seemed a lot better after that. LOL

i will try to get pics of the kittens later on.
Nikki...cow's milk isn't good for kittens...I would change over to KMR (Kitten Milk Replacement) or goat's milk.

Katie
 

julya

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Originally Posted by Nikki W

They dont seem to want any water. Is that ok as long as they are getting the milk?

I told him that he just needs to have respect that i am so soft hearted. He should be glad he is married to someone who CARES about people and animals. He seemed a lot better after that. LOL

i will try to get pics of the kittens later on.
KMR has a high concentration of water. If you are mixing the KMR yourself, you can add an extra scoop of water or two also. I only say this because you said they are eating canned food too. Diluting the KMR will, of course, also dilute the nutritional value. Still encourage them to drink water though.

AND you go girl!!! Way to teach that husband to bahave.
 
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nikki w

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I am NOT giving them cows milk. I am giving them milk replacement for kittens. I didnt want to type it all out before thats why i just said milk.
 

tnr1

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I am NOT giving them cows milk. I am giving them milk replacement for kittens. I didnt want to type it all out before thats why i just said milk.
Ok...just got it....when I see "I gave milk" it is a natural assumption that it is the cow variety.

Katie
 
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nikki w

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Originally Posted by Julya

KMR has a high concentration of water. If you are mixing the KMR yourself, you can add an extra scoop of water or two also. I only say this because you said they are eating canned food too. Diluting the KMR will, of course, also dilute the nutritional value. Still encourage them to drink water though.

AND you go girl!!! Way to teach that husband to bahave.
I am not mixing the milk replacement for kittens myself. I have the cans that is already mixed. I gave them a bowl of canned food and mixed in some of the milk and between the three of them they ate every bit of it. They just keep shocking me with as much as they eat. Should I mix in a little water with it too so that they are getting water also? or is them eating it like it is fine? Maybe they are not drinking the water b/c they are eating so much? I dont know. They are all curled up together sleeping right now.
Also, i plan to take them to the vet as soon as i can to get them checked out.
 
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nikki w

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Originally Posted by TNR1

Ok...just got it....when I see "I gave milk" it is a natural assumption that it is the cow variety.

Katie
yes, i understand how everyone could assume I meant regular cows milk. Thats why I wanted to clear it up real quick. lol
 
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nikki w

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Originally Posted by pondwader

If they are not drinking water, then yes, I would add some to the kmr even if it is ready mixed...
Will start doing that. Thank you.
 
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