Hi,
I picked this guy up about 6 days ago after his mom (after someone discovered her nest) took her other kitten and left him in a (dry) well for 6+hours. I've been feeding every 2-3 hours, the first few days using an eyedropper and now a bottle with a miracle nipple. He's had a great suckle from the very beginning but is only 118 g (as of last night at 6pm). I've been weighing him daily (finally had my scale delivered) for the past 3 days and he's gaining 8-10g per day. I'm wondering if he was maybe just on the small side when born? I don't know how old he was when I got him, but he still had a dried umbilical cord that fell off in about a day. His eyes are just now starting to loosen up in the corners. I'm wondering if that weight seems okay since he is steadily gaining and that maybe he was just the runt and I'm worrying too much?
Additionally, I'm wondering about nighttime feeding. He doesn't seem to like it. During the day he'll consistently eat 5-7 ml each at each feeding, but the 12am and 3am feeding he'll barely eat 2-3ml, and that's with me waiting a few minutes and try to push him to eat more, but not forcing him. Over a 24hr period, he's eating anywhere from 45-50 ml. I'm wondering if I should push his nighttime feedings to 4 hours or just continue with the 3hr times?
He has a covered heating pad in half his box, and a stuffed animal with a heartbeat to keep him comfy. He's always plump, warm, and pink. Burps after each feeding and poops at least once a day.
I picked this guy up about 6 days ago after his mom (after someone discovered her nest) took her other kitten and left him in a (dry) well for 6+hours. I've been feeding every 2-3 hours, the first few days using an eyedropper and now a bottle with a miracle nipple. He's had a great suckle from the very beginning but is only 118 g (as of last night at 6pm). I've been weighing him daily (finally had my scale delivered) for the past 3 days and he's gaining 8-10g per day. I'm wondering if he was maybe just on the small side when born? I don't know how old he was when I got him, but he still had a dried umbilical cord that fell off in about a day. His eyes are just now starting to loosen up in the corners. I'm wondering if that weight seems okay since he is steadily gaining and that maybe he was just the runt and I'm worrying too much?
Additionally, I'm wondering about nighttime feeding. He doesn't seem to like it. During the day he'll consistently eat 5-7 ml each at each feeding, but the 12am and 3am feeding he'll barely eat 2-3ml, and that's with me waiting a few minutes and try to push him to eat more, but not forcing him. Over a 24hr period, he's eating anywhere from 45-50 ml. I'm wondering if I should push his nighttime feedings to 4 hours or just continue with the 3hr times?
He has a covered heating pad in half his box, and a stuffed animal with a heartbeat to keep him comfy. He's always plump, warm, and pink. Burps after each feeding and poops at least once a day.
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