Sounds like she’s doing well! Feed her as much as she wants. 
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Very Young Foster Kitten - Help!
- Thread starter chromecat
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- #42
She's adorable, and it sounds like the new formulas agreeing with her! I know there's a recipe for homemade pedialyte. I haven't used it so I can't vouch for it, but I think it's pretty trusted, if you google it should come right up. It's definitely a great thing to have on hand if she hasn't been eating well, but it seems like she's doing just fine without it, so I wouldn't worry about that now. Definitely continue to feed her as much as she wants.
Also some bathroom tips to keep in mind for her transition since you mentioned it:
Most bottle babies won't learn to use the litter box right away (unlike kittens with their moms, who learn from them). You may have some accidents as you teach her to use it, but placing her in it and mimicking digging with her paws will teach her. Also putting her poop in the litter box after she goes and showing her will help.
I've found that they often reach a stage where you go to stimulate them to pee/poop, and they refuse, and then shortly after go wherever they are on their own. You may experience this, as well as peeing or pooping in her bedding, which means she's ready for the box. I use Yesterday's News pellet litter for 4-8 weeks or longer. They definitely always try to eat regular litter otherwise, but I've found they don't do that with the pellets. It's not my favorite litter to clean up after, but it's my go to for the little ones.
Also some bathroom tips to keep in mind for her transition since you mentioned it:
Most bottle babies won't learn to use the litter box right away (unlike kittens with their moms, who learn from them). You may have some accidents as you teach her to use it, but placing her in it and mimicking digging with her paws will teach her. Also putting her poop in the litter box after she goes and showing her will help.
I've found that they often reach a stage where you go to stimulate them to pee/poop, and they refuse, and then shortly after go wherever they are on their own. You may experience this, as well as peeing or pooping in her bedding, which means she's ready for the box. I use Yesterday's News pellet litter for 4-8 weeks or longer. They definitely always try to eat regular litter otherwise, but I've found they don't do that with the pellets. It's not my favorite litter to clean up after, but it's my go to for the little ones.
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I have not had to raise a very young kitten, but did successfully raise a couple of 2 day old red squirrels. You might consider making a small sling to keep the kitten sleeping on your shirt when you are doing quiet things. The sound of a heart beat seems to actually help since they would be accustomed to their mother's heart beat under normal conditions. I think that it might reduce stress. Just don't let kitty get too hot as that could cause dehydration.
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- #45
and we're back to square 1 
After some formed and kinda constipated (not rock hard, but not toothpaste as we want it) poop on Thursday, she's hasn't gone for 4 days now. She is still eating as usual (maybe a bit more fussy and trying to fight the dropper as she has much more strength) and peeing a lot, nice light yellow, so she is not dehydrated.
I called the vet again 10 minutes ago, he said he never performed an enema on such a small kitten and I might ask a breeder or someone else as in his experience at some point the kitten will just poop and it's not "the end of the world".
I added coco oil, I added olive oil, I have massaged until she could take it, massaged her back, chest, tummy, anus, everything! She just won't go.
What do I do at this stage? Do I trust this vet? I am thinking to take her to a different one, honestly.
After some formed and kinda constipated (not rock hard, but not toothpaste as we want it) poop on Thursday, she's hasn't gone for 4 days now. She is still eating as usual (maybe a bit more fussy and trying to fight the dropper as she has much more strength) and peeing a lot, nice light yellow, so she is not dehydrated. I called the vet again 10 minutes ago, he said he never performed an enema on such a small kitten and I might ask a breeder or someone else as in his experience at some point the kitten will just poop and it's not "the end of the world".
I added coco oil, I added olive oil, I have massaged until she could take it, massaged her back, chest, tummy, anus, everything! She just won't go.
What do I do at this stage? Do I trust this vet? I am thinking to take her to a different one, honestly.
She may have a blockage. I would find a vet with kitten experience.
Try a glycerin suppository. Slice off a kitten-sized sliver and insert it. Wait 10-20 minutes, then stimulate her. It usually helps.
Pee should really be clear.
Pee should really be clear.
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- #48
Thanks - but the vet and other carers said it should have a light coloured yellow - if it's clear, it's too diluted
Pale yellow is ideal. She should also be peeing a lot before and after each meal.
It is safe to perform an enema on her, and at 4 days she does need it. Some members feel comfortable doing it themselves and can advise how, my vet has always done it for me and it has always gone well. If you’re not comfortable doing it yourself you should call around and specifically say that’s what you need so you don’t waste time with another vet. She will feel a lot better afterwards.
It is safe to perform an enema on her, and at 4 days she does need it. Some members feel comfortable doing it themselves and can advise how, my vet has always done it for me and it has always gone well. If you’re not comfortable doing it yourself you should call around and specifically say that’s what you need so you don’t waste time with another vet. She will feel a lot better afterwards.
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- #50
Yup, called and booked another vet, we're seeing her in 1 hour
By the way, this morning when her cat-dad was stimulating her to pee, we heard a weird sound as if something unpeopled and there was a little bit of liquid yellow poop on the cotton pad. I sealed some in a specimen container and I am taking it with me to the vet.
By the way, this morning when her cat-dad was stimulating her to pee, we heard a weird sound as if something unpeopled and there was a little bit of liquid yellow poop on the cotton pad. I sealed some in a specimen container and I am taking it with me to the vet.
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- #52
Not to worry I forget the mark at which you'll get edit ability, the site owner decided to eliminate that for new posters due to threads with good information in them getting deleted by the poster because they didn't like the feedback they were getting
I forget the mark at which you'll get edit ability, the site owner decided to eliminate that for new posters due to threads with good information in them getting deleted by the poster because they didn't like the feedback they were getting
Liquid yellow poop often occurs with coccidia. Good you are taking a sample in.
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- #55
We came back from the vet (she was soooo good in the car! Wide awake but just looking around). Vet said she seems healthy, tiny but healthy. Checked her tummy, couldn't feel any mass/constipation/blockage. Checked her temperature, temperature is normal. The thermometer had some poop on it which means she is getting ready to go, most likely. Weighs 225 grams, meaning she gained 50 grams in 6 days, which is a bit less than I'd like. Vet overall was positive and said she should go some time soon. Said to avoid olive oil and goat's milk, just stick to water and formula. On Thursday we are going back to do a complete visit with the kitten nurse, they have this service where they offer specialised visits with a nurse that only takes care of kittens, especially hand rearing. On Thursday we'll do a weight chart, proceed to force poop if it hasn't come out by then, and deworm.
Wow, good for you and thank you so much for the update!!
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- #57
Hi all
As you know I am hand rearing an abandoned kitten, she is now about 3 weeks old (she's walking, we can feel her teeth coming up, ears are up, etc.).
She is now about 260gr so she should be eating about 70ml of formula per day. However, after a very difficult week of feeding with a dropper and a syringe, we finally found a kitten bottle and she can't get enough of it. We give her 10ml and she'll cry, so we go on and give another 5, then another 5, at 20ml we have to stop as her belly starts to grow and we don't want to overfeed her. After 3 hours we're back to square one, she wants more and more and more. Before every feeding she pees like there's no tomorrow, she soaks three or four cotton pads. I could try to distance the feedings (now it's every 3/4 hours and at night there's a 6/7 hours break), but I don't want her to hold her pee too long.
Anyone can recommend what to do? The vet and the nurse just said to let her eat, but we can't feed her 30 ml every 3 hours, she'll explode!
As you know I am hand rearing an abandoned kitten, she is now about 3 weeks old (she's walking, we can feel her teeth coming up, ears are up, etc.).
She is now about 260gr so she should be eating about 70ml of formula per day. However, after a very difficult week of feeding with a dropper and a syringe, we finally found a kitten bottle and she can't get enough of it. We give her 10ml and she'll cry, so we go on and give another 5, then another 5, at 20ml we have to stop as her belly starts to grow and we don't want to overfeed her. After 3 hours we're back to square one, she wants more and more and more. Before every feeding she pees like there's no tomorrow, she soaks three or four cotton pads. I could try to distance the feedings (now it's every 3/4 hours and at night there's a 6/7 hours break), but I don't want her to hold her pee too long.
Anyone can recommend what to do? The vet and the nurse just said to let her eat, but we can't feed her 30 ml every 3 hours, she'll explode!
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- #58
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Feed her as much as she'll eat
It's impossible to feed her too much at this age. Just give her as much as she wants.
I took in a litter of 4 orphans a while ago who were probably about a month old. They started on canned food right away and ate more than my adults cats did. She needs all the nutrition she can get at this age, so just keep feeding her.
She won't explode, I promise.
I took in a litter of 4 orphans a while ago who were probably about a month old. They started on canned food right away and ate more than my adults cats did. She needs all the nutrition she can get at this age, so just keep feeding her.
She won't explode, I promise.
