Help--kittens--I dont know what to do

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Help--kittens--I dont know what to do
19
Sat, 06-26-2004 - 9:28pm
I just received a shock. Four little boys knocked on my door and begged me to take three very dirty, little kittens. Apparently the mother cat has died and the human mother kicked the kittens out to died. The boys knowing my love for cats(these boys have played with my kids before) sneaked the kittens over here knowing I would help. I'm more then willing to help but I dont know what to do. I called the lady that I brought my second cat from, but she cant take them until 10:00 am tommorrow. So I just have to get these kittens through the night. I made a cage out of a platic box and put a heating pad on the bottom set on low. I put in some rags. I dont have any kitten forumla or bottles and the stores that do carry that sort of stuff are closed. The lady said to go buy evaropted(sp?) milk and add some water and feed them that. But I dont know how much of each and she didnt either. I guess I will have to use my fingers to feed them, too? Also, what else should I do to get them through the night? They are little. I'm not good at guessing the correct age but their eyes arent open and they are covered in something gross.

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Avatar for cl_lcni
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Sat, 06-26-2004 - 9:47pm

Oh dear. Bless your heart for caring enough to try to save them.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
Sat, 06-26-2004 - 9:53pm
OMG, what a terrible story! How sweet of those little boys to care enough about those kittens to bring them to you though.

I'm guessing these kittens are no more than a week or two old, since their eyes aren't open. If they are covered in something gross, then it sounds like the mother cat didn't even have a chance to clean them after birthing them, which means they could possibly only be a day or two old!

I've read that you can get really little kittens to eat by dabbing a clean rag or cloth in the milk, and then touching it to their nose. They will suck on it like they would their mother's nipple. I've also read that you have to wipe them down with damp cloths, to simulate the mother bathing them, or they will never learn to groom themselves. But if you are turning them over to someone else in the morning, then I would just worry about feeding them for now.

I hope someone else will see this and give you some more advice! You could also try posting this on the Kittens board.

Good luck and bless you for taking them in!



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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Sat, 06-26-2004 - 10:35pm
Lucky for me my friends came home just a few seconds after I posted my last post. They went and got the milk for me. I just finish feeding them and the boys ate 15 MLs fast! The girl wont eat much. She only ate 1 ml. How often should I feed them? I'm going to have to set an alarm clock if they cant wait until morning.


I did bathe by advice from a different lady. We have two boys and a girl.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-10-2003
Sat, 06-26-2004 - 11:02pm
Here is what it says in Anitra Frazier's classic book, "The Natural Cat" about orphaned kittens:

If the kittens are under 4 oz. (I imagine these are since they're so young) you feed them about a teaspoon of food every 2 hours for the first 2 weeks.

Where are you located? Maybe another poster is in your area and can come over to help you.

The evaporated milk you have is probably fine for tonight, but I will give you the rest of the info. on what to feed these kittens from the book. Powdered queen's milk can be purchased in a pet food store, but if that is not an option you can make your own formula using:

2 cups whole milk

2 raw organic eggs

2 tablesspoons protein powder

6 drops liquid vitamins for children

Beat mixture with fork or whisk. Warm the formula to bath water temperature (101degrees). feed kittens in a doll bottle or pet nurser. I think an eyedropper will do too.

It sounds as if you are doing great, if the kittens are eating.

Cynthia

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Sat, 06-26-2004 - 11:51pm
I'm in Florida but thankfully I just have to get them through tonight. The lady I brought my second cat from is going to take them at 10:00AM. She has all the stuff to do it proper but couldnt take them tonight. I guess I'll be setting an alarm clock. I dont mind, it reminds me of when my kids where newborns. :)
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Sun, 06-27-2004 - 7:38am
We have made it through the night. I used evaporated milk with water in it and a eye dropper.The boys eat like little piggys but the girl just isnt eating much but she is still alive. I did clean the privates with a cotton ball and warm clean water. One has pooped already.The homemade recipe sounds like a good idea. IF I keep one I made just try it instead of the kitten forumala. Yes, yes, we may keep one. I have three hours to decide. The final decision is mine but the hubby says to go for it. He wanted to keep all three but I had to put my foot down on that one. That would more then double our cat population in the house. Now that I have gone through it one night, I have a good idea whats involved. We wanted a third cat anyways but.... I dont know what about aids and leukmia???? I'm receiving lots of advice from three different boards. I know you all would help me with raising it. I'm crazy for even thinking about it. I'll probably wont. I could always try it and if I didnt feel like I'm doing the kitten justice, I could still turn it over to the Cat Resuce Lady. I dont know............If we did keep one, it will be one of the boys. The girl is making me nervous and I feel like she needs more experience then I can give her.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Sun, 06-27-2004 - 9:48am

I don't think the recipe should be used at this young age (if at all) - raw eggs (even organic ones)

Cat =^..^=
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Sun, 06-27-2004 - 11:02am
The kittens have distemperment. I cant afford the right care for them and the rescues wont take them. I'm have no choice but to turn over to animal control.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Sun, 06-27-2004 - 11:15am
They will probably be put to sleep - distemper is generally fatal and those who do make it (a slim percentage) usually have neurologic problems their whole lives.
Cat =^..^=
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Sun, 06-27-2004 - 11:24am
Thats excatly whats going to happen. My husband is taking them to a animal hospital right now. I just wanted them out of the house. I cant take it. Delete this thread please, I'm going to pretend this never happen.

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