- Joined
- Aug 26, 2015
- Messages
- 11
- Purraise
- 4
Hello,
I am brand new to the forum and may need some tips and advice for a new 2-3 week old kitten I have found in a storage unit at my apartment complex.
I apologize if there is already a thread outlining all of this, if so please direct me to it.
Thank you in advance.
Here goes.
2 nights ago I heard a small kitten cry coming from a storage unit at my apartment complex. I immediately alerted my property manager and he said he could come out in a few days and check on it.
I sat out there hiding in my car at night for hours the last 2 days waiting to see if a mom cat would show up. Unfortunately, I did not see any cats come by, just kept hearing the faint cries of a small kitten in need. It was breaking my heart that there was nothing I could do. I almost wanted to jimmy open the storage unit and rescue the poor thing.
This morning the property manager stopped by with kitten in hand and asked if I would like to take it in because he's already taken in so many cats that he could not take in another one. Of course I was honored to take in such a fuzzball in need of love. So here I am a brand new mama /papa. To be honest I have never raised a kitten so young. The youngest I have raised is my other stray which was about 6-7 weeks old when I found him alone and afraid under a car in the inner city.
My current care for my new baby for what I've been reading and what other people have told me
Gender
I am unsure how to tell at such a young age. Will testicles or vulva be visible to an untrained eye?
Breed
Unknown. Solid ash grey with white fur on inner ears
Length of current fostering
About 6 hours now( It's 1:50pm (PST) )
Age
2-3 weeks I assume
Eyes are just a wee bit open and it staggers around meowing time to time
Ears are folded not pointed
Pretty much fits in palm of my hand ( I'm kind of a big guy with big hands though, no not bragging just being honest, lol )
Nursery location
In my bedroom which is very warm
Kitten is in a cat carrier with soft blanket and I wrap the kitten in a soft towel after feeding and interaction
Has a Kong monkey toy that it seems to really like, it always escapes the towel wrapping and sleeps under the monkey
I drape a blanket over the carrier to keep kitten warm
Feeding
About 2.5-3 cc of KMR formula every 2 hours
I'm using a syringe for right now but not force feeding, I allow the kitten to suck the formula and I gently let my thumb rest on the plunger.
I gently rub the lower abdomen. genitals and anus with moist warm cotton ball for about 60 seconds to stimulate defecation
I moisten a soft towel with warm water and clean the fur very gently
Then I gently massage the kitten and hold it to my chest for a few minutes
Wrap back up with a clean soft mini towel and place back in cat carrier
Concerns
The kitten smells bad. I understand being outside can cause this. Is there another way I can clean it other than what I do after feeding?
Socializing/introducing my 1 year old male Orange Tabby to the kitten. I brought him to the carrier but he become very upset and started hissing/growling. Should I wait a few weeks for introducing or just in small intervals?
Anything I should look out for in terms of health, disease, virus, infection, etc?
Again thank you in advance. Any tips, help, ideas are very appreciated.
Be well
I am brand new to the forum and may need some tips and advice for a new 2-3 week old kitten I have found in a storage unit at my apartment complex.
I apologize if there is already a thread outlining all of this, if so please direct me to it.
Thank you in advance.
Here goes.
2 nights ago I heard a small kitten cry coming from a storage unit at my apartment complex. I immediately alerted my property manager and he said he could come out in a few days and check on it.
I sat out there hiding in my car at night for hours the last 2 days waiting to see if a mom cat would show up. Unfortunately, I did not see any cats come by, just kept hearing the faint cries of a small kitten in need. It was breaking my heart that there was nothing I could do. I almost wanted to jimmy open the storage unit and rescue the poor thing.
This morning the property manager stopped by with kitten in hand and asked if I would like to take it in because he's already taken in so many cats that he could not take in another one. Of course I was honored to take in such a fuzzball in need of love. So here I am a brand new mama /papa. To be honest I have never raised a kitten so young. The youngest I have raised is my other stray which was about 6-7 weeks old when I found him alone and afraid under a car in the inner city.
My current care for my new baby for what I've been reading and what other people have told me
Gender
I am unsure how to tell at such a young age. Will testicles or vulva be visible to an untrained eye?
Breed
Unknown. Solid ash grey with white fur on inner ears
Length of current fostering
About 6 hours now( It's 1:50pm (PST) )
Age
2-3 weeks I assume
Eyes are just a wee bit open and it staggers around meowing time to time
Ears are folded not pointed
Pretty much fits in palm of my hand ( I'm kind of a big guy with big hands though, no not bragging just being honest, lol )
Nursery location
In my bedroom which is very warm
Kitten is in a cat carrier with soft blanket and I wrap the kitten in a soft towel after feeding and interaction
Has a Kong monkey toy that it seems to really like, it always escapes the towel wrapping and sleeps under the monkey
I drape a blanket over the carrier to keep kitten warm
Feeding
About 2.5-3 cc of KMR formula every 2 hours
I'm using a syringe for right now but not force feeding, I allow the kitten to suck the formula and I gently let my thumb rest on the plunger.
I gently rub the lower abdomen. genitals and anus with moist warm cotton ball for about 60 seconds to stimulate defecation
I moisten a soft towel with warm water and clean the fur very gently
Then I gently massage the kitten and hold it to my chest for a few minutes
Wrap back up with a clean soft mini towel and place back in cat carrier
Concerns
The kitten smells bad. I understand being outside can cause this. Is there another way I can clean it other than what I do after feeding?
Socializing/introducing my 1 year old male Orange Tabby to the kitten. I brought him to the carrier but he become very upset and started hissing/growling. Should I wait a few weeks for introducing or just in small intervals?
Anything I should look out for in terms of health, disease, virus, infection, etc?
Again thank you in advance. Any tips, help, ideas are very appreciated.
Be well