Caring for Orphan Kittens

[plowjockey]

We have 4, that are about 2 weeks or so old. The mom probably became a coyote snack.

We have tried the nursing bottles, with the nipples about as soft as a car tire, but we don't seem to get a even flow, even after opening up the microscoptic hole, with an exacto knife.

Now we are sort of "force feeding" them through a syringe. this works, but most of them don't seem to like it too well, plus they seem to want/need a momma to grab on to.

Any suggestions to make this job easier until they can drink from a saucer?

Also, how about food. The "kitty" formula is more expensive than a bottle of rare scotch. Thought about calf milk replacer, but was not sure if it is all medicated, or has other undesireable ingredients. The kitten formula looks to have milk ,sugar, etc.

[suzyhomemaker09]

I've fed orphaned kittens with evaporated milk that had a raw egg mixed up in it. It is difficult to get them used to a nipple of a bottle, keep trying.

[lamoncha lover]

lots of animals will take a vinyl glove..like the exam kind with a pin prick hole. Watch those nails as they will puncture them. And make sure they are not powdered.

[brody]

be very careful not to force the fluids in - young kittens can aspirate very easily (which can lead to pnuemonia and kill them)
I actually often use a syringe (without needle) and let the milk replacer get licked off - I have more control of flow and can feed more faster without aspirating a kitten

kittens need to be warm to be able to digest the food - make sure you are keeping them warm (a hot water bottle or heating pad set on low under halg whatever you are keeping them in)

they also need help to pee and poop or they won't eat - a warm wet paper towel or washcloth rubbed over "that part" seems to do the job nicely

[Freya]

Sending good thoughts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Do you have a pic?

[Freya]

Originally Posted by brody

be very careful not to force the fluids in - young kittens can aspirate very easily (which can lead to pnuemonia and kill them)
I actually often use a syringe (without needle) and let the milk replacer get licked off - I have more control of flow and can feed more faster without aspirating a kitten

kittens need to be warm to be able to digest the food - make sure you are keeping them warm (a hot water bottle or heating pad set on low under halg whatever you are keeping them in)

they also need help to pee and poop or they won't eat - a warm wet paper towel or washcloth rubbed over "that part" seems to do the job nicely

Ditto with the syringe.

[Carolyn]

here is a site with all kinds of information--if you scroll down, there is a recipe for orphaned kittens. We use goats milk in the recipe.
<http://www.budget101.com/pets.htm>

[Carolyn]

I'm sorry, I don't know how to do links

[VT Chicklit]

I have used a plastic syringe (no needle) to feed kittens with good success. Allow the formula to dribble off the end into their mouth. I used a product called KMR (Kitten Milk Replacer) which is kind of expensive. Keep them warm withwarm water in a plastic bottle, a hot water bottle is easily punctured when they start to knead with their claws. I also supplied a 6 X 12 inch piece of fake lambs wool fleece as something that feels like "mom" if they need comforting. My cat Bosco still drags his "woobie" around sometimesand he is now 14 months old! Good luck!

[HilltopDaisy]

I bought a bottle from a pet store that was meant for nursing kittens, and it works great. Think it was $5 maybe.

[GrannyG]

This is an old recipe I have kept and used for years.....
Cat Formula
2/3 cup homogenized cow milk
3 egg yolks
1 TBSP corn oil
i drop vitamins

I usuallly use the little bottles you get in the feed store and cut the hole or heat an ice pick and run through the nipple part to enlarge it......

[Windy_jem]

They make bottles just for kitten with special nipples...they are usually right by the kitten formula cans.

[Manny]

deleted by manny

[freegal]

I used a needleless syringe and lamb milk replacer. The kittens liked the lamb formula and did very well on it and were nice & healthy.

Good Luck!

[ronbre]

i have a friend caring for a 10 day old kitten right now..she bought formula and is feeding with a dropper and then a nursing bottle..you have to wash them with warm water esp their butts to simulate mama licking for them to go potty properly

[Windy_jem]

Yep, wipe their little butts and burp them just like a tiny baby.

[Ravenlost]

Yes, very important to burp them after each feeding! Also crucial that you keep them warm. I do that by heating rice bags (just rice in a ziploc bag) and placing it under their bedding.

I also found it easier at first to feed with a needleless syringe. You can use powdered puppy formula instead of KMR, but I recommend KMR. I found it much easier to feed if I was wearing gloves. Gives the kitty something to cling to without ripping your hands all to pieces! The easiest postion was to lay the kitten on my chest while holding it with one hand and slowly using the syringe with the other. Position depends on the kitten.

Bottle raising newborn kittens takes patience, but it can be done. I've raised two, one of which had severe injuries to it's face. Both are happy, healthy cats today.

[MOgal]

Years ago as in when I was a little girl (now 60), a vet gave me a recipe similar to what GrannyG mentioned. Since then, I've run across it in information from the University of Missouri Veterinary School and I've used it for wild baby rabbits, foals, kittens, puppies, and a weak calf. It's a great substitute for colostrum especially if you can get at least one feeding of the real thing into the baby.

Mine was
1 cup whole goat milk
1 whole egg
1 T honey or white Karo syrup
1/4 t. liquid infant vitamins or cod liver oil

I always mixed it in a blender to thoroughly cut up the chalaza in the egg and fed it ad lib several times a day depending on the critter's age and other food intake for everything but the rabbits. A mother rabbit only comes to the nest twice a day to nurse her babies to avoid attracting predators to the nest.

[brody]

I'd love to know how the kittens are doing??