Orphan Kittens

treasureacres · #1 09/08/10, 08:35 PM

Not sure where to put this so I started here. We have three kittens that are about 3 weeks old become orphans sometime over the night last night and I am looking for advise to feed them. I have been using a syringe squirting a little at a time in their mouths, and they lap it up, but I am not sure I can keep up with their needs this way. Help!!

Common Tator · #2 09/08/10, 08:46 PM

They have kitten bottles and formula in the pet section of Wal Mart.

dragonjaze · #3 09/08/10, 08:54 PM

You can wean early, if you really have to. Babies can eat almost anything that adults can, it just has to be super soft and they have to eat more often.

I've successfully weaned kittens at 3 and 4 weeks before, using watered down canned food and dry food that's been soaked in broth/gravy/milk.

It will take them a few times to understand that's it food, you may have to let them suck it off your finger a couple times.

GOOD LUCK! And you'll have to keep a close eye on how much they eat and their weight.

julieq · #4 09/08/10, 08:55 PM

Yep, get those kitten bottles and they'll catch on real quick! Much easier than a syringe. Nothing cuter than a young kitten! Hope all goes well.

CarolynRenee · #5 09/08/10, 08:55 PM

Yep, they will have kitten formula in WalMart or at your local feed store. I've been "momma" to several batches of orphaned kittens & they are demanding. I used the syringe method for as long as it took them to learn how to drink the formula out of a small saucer. I'd then start mixing the milk with some wet cat food until they were weaned.

Kudos to you for saving the little darlings!

jill.costello · #6 09/09/10, 09:35 AM

You MUST remember to stimulate them to poop and urinate! A warm wet cloth rubbed over their bottoms after feeding will do the trick!

Grandmotherbear · #7 09/09/10, 09:50 AM

At least they have their siblings! We raised Yuki from 48 hrs old and he thinks he's a people! addendum we were told by the vet to cut the KMR w/goats milk 50/50 and not give cows milk as it would bloat them. WM here sells goat milk.

treasureacres · #8 09/09/10, 10:15 PM

Thanks for all of the good advise. Got cat formula and mini bottles today. They don't seem to really latch on to bottle, but lap up the formula that I slowly squirt out in their mouths. So far the seem healthy and active with the amount they have been getting for two days now, so we will see.

PhilJohnson · #9 09/09/10, 10:31 PM

I had three orphan kittens. Their mom went MIA after 4 weeks. I started feeding them soft cat food right away. They are now 12 weeks and quite fat but healthy. There are tons of cats around by me thanks to the old cat lady across the street. I notice that there are no mice though so it is a trade off.