We recently rescued 3 4-day old kittens and have been feeding them via a nippled syringe. We have finally gotten the feeding down pat as both my boyfriend and I were completely new to this, and have been able to get them on a schedule. We have done everything that the internet has told us to do and I also spoke with my vet, who commended us and told us to keep on keeping on.
I have two issues that I need help/advice with; I have read through a couple of threads and have found them useful but I am unsure if I can do the same things with these itty bitty babies.
1. Poop: We have not found or seen any poop since we got the kittens two days ago. I was told the momma rejected them and the owner wasn't even sure they had eaten since they were born. Since we got them, they have received a steady stream of kitten formula and have peed very often (usually on us!) but we have not experienced any #2. Are they too young to give them drops of olive oil? Are they too young to try glycerin suppositories? Is it too early to try either one?
2. Fleas: They have them. Everytime they eat, we pick off what we find and can get ahold of but we are not getting all of them. My rescue experience does not include kittens this young so I am afraid to bathe them. Are they too young to bathe? So far the infestation is not "serious" but with if these babies never received momma milk then they do not have a good immune system, if they have one at all. I don't want to risk anemia or anything like that since they already have the odds stacked against them.
I have contacted my rescue director and we are trying to find a new momma cat that might accept these babies but until then I need to see what I can do.
I have two issues that I need help/advice with; I have read through a couple of threads and have found them useful but I am unsure if I can do the same things with these itty bitty babies.
1. Poop: We have not found or seen any poop since we got the kittens two days ago. I was told the momma rejected them and the owner wasn't even sure they had eaten since they were born. Since we got them, they have received a steady stream of kitten formula and have peed very often (usually on us!) but we have not experienced any #2. Are they too young to give them drops of olive oil? Are they too young to try glycerin suppositories? Is it too early to try either one?
2. Fleas: They have them. Everytime they eat, we pick off what we find and can get ahold of but we are not getting all of them. My rescue experience does not include kittens this young so I am afraid to bathe them. Are they too young to bathe? So far the infestation is not "serious" but with if these babies never received momma milk then they do not have a good immune system, if they have one at all. I don't want to risk anemia or anything like that since they already have the odds stacked against them.
I have contacted my rescue director and we are trying to find a new momma cat that might accept these babies but until then I need to see what I can do.