My mother has this nasty habit of letting her numerous cats run rampant and breed with each other outside of her country home. I nag her about spaying but her response is "They're wild, I can't catch them. I just feed them." Well, one of her random female cats pooped out a little of babies under the porch. I came over for a visit and noticed her with a tiny newborn kitten cupped in her hand.
This kitten still has its umbilical cord attached. My mother says that the mother cat kept all of her kittens under the porch except this one, which she kept lugging out and leaving in the backyard to freeze. Mum kept placing it back under the porch, mama cat kept dragging it back out to die. We suspect there is either something wrong with it or the mama cat (who is tiny, tiny, tiny) is unable to feed them all and had to sacrifice.
She was going to leave it outside and let nature take its course, but the softie that I am could NOT allow that, so I snatched it up, went to Wal Mart and bought a few kitten feeding bottles and formula, and brought it home.
I read up on how to feed it, every two hours, poked holes in the nipple just right, warmed it just right, warmed the kitten, and tried the numerous instructions I've read to no avail. It's like this baby doesn't even know HOW to suck a nipple. I don't think it will last the night (in the morning I'm taking it to the vet. It was already 9 at night before I even discovered the poor baby). Is there any help I can get on how to get food in its tummy or get it to suck on the bottle? I'm at a loss.
Bek Ruszin wrote: I can only recommend that you check the yellow pages for an 24 hour emergency vet service in your area.
It's a no go. No license and my husband doesn't even appreciate that I brought the little thing home in the first place. It was a struggle getting him to take me to get the supplies. He's not going anywhere tonight. I just need to figure out how to keep it fed until the morning when my husband will go to work and I can call in a favor from a friend.
Bek Ruszin
Posts: 6,019
Levittown, Pennsylvania, US
My experience with infants is only with the human and bird variety...I've never had to deal with trying to feed a newborn kitten.
Were I in your shoes, I'd try gently inserting an eyedropper into the kittens mouth being careful to only let a drop of formula out...it might help stimulate the kitten to want to nurse? I'd also keep baby warm via a hot water bottle or heating pad set on a lower temperature.
That being said, I don't know if the umbilical cord is a concern. I'd also consider whether baby needs a good rub down to remove any "mucus" from nose and throat before attempting to feed it.
I hope someone here with experience in this sort of situation is able to help you.
Bek Ruszin wrote: My experience with infants is only with the human and bird variety...I've never had to deal with trying to feed a newborn kitten.
Were I in your shoes, I'd try gently inserting an eyedropper into the kittens mouth being careful to only let a drop of formula out...it might help stimulate the kitten to want to nurse? I'd also keep baby warm via a hot water bottle or heating pad set on a lower temperature.
That being said, I don't know if the umbilical cord is a concern. I'd also consider whether baby needs a good rub down to remove any "mucus" from nose and throat before attempting to feed it.
I hope someone here with experience in this sort of situation is able to help you.
Well, I did try a dropper, one drop at a time, but I had to pry the little thing jaws open and I felt like a monster. At any rate, he got enough food to fall asleep. I put him on a blanket with a heating pad on lowest setting underneath and covered the top and he slept for thirty minutes and is now crying again. Gonna attempt to feed him again.
Bek Ruszin
Posts: 6,019
Levittown, Pennsylvania, US
Hopefully, if you're diligent (and don't nod off for too long) you'll be able to keep him going until you can get him to the vet. Good luck to you! I hope the little guy pulls through!
Bek Ruszin wrote: Hopefully, if you're diligent (and don't nod off for too long) you'll be able to keep him going until you can get him to the vet. Good luck to you! I hope the little guy pulls through!
I would be effin peeved at my husband (if I had one, if I was you). But thats me, and maybe thats why I am single. I truly hope the lil one makes it. Poor lil meow meow. You are doing a good thing.
The kitten may just be too small to suckle, sometimes they need a little help. Or it could have an issue with its mouth (maybe a cleft palate). Its sounds like you are doing good. Keep the baby on the heating pad at all times, since they can't regulate their temp at that age. Putting a small stuffed animal in with it will help it think it has a littermate in with it.
Now, with feeding. If you can get some pedialyte that would be great. It sounds like kitty needs a little help to get started and you would be amazed what some pedialyte would do! Get the plain stuff, put a little taste of formula in it so its not as bad. (Don't give pedialyte as a replacement for water in the formula!!!) We use syringes instead of the bottles. You can get them from the pet store. You can control the formula so much better than the bottle. You don't want the kitten to get too much and choke. That is a whole new worry!
Here is the nursing kit- although the Pet Supplies Plus I get mine from comes with a syringe- http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j … ealth+Care You can ask your vet for a syringe, I get mine from my pharmacy. I bring an animal in wrapped in my shirt and that usually melts them enough to get them free. lol The nipple I use is the one farthest to the right, under the N.
Good luck with the baby. Just remember, this baby had a bad start. And sometimes no matter what you do or how hard you try they just don't make it.
Update! Baby made it through the night. On cue, as my alarm woke me up for a feeding the kitten did a minute or two earlier crying and nuzzling me. I slept with it under my chin for warmth, I worried the heating pad would get too hot for it. I didn't think it would make it through the night. It also seems a lot stronger after some feedings. It tried to suckle the dropper, which I take as an awesome sign. I'm gonna try introducing the bottle again today if the vet thinks it's a good idea. Going out now. Will report back.
I'm hopeful but not too hopeful. I'll post a picture when we get home, too.
BorderlineBunny wrote: Update! Baby made it through the night. On cue, as my alarm woke me up for a feeding the kitten did a minute or two earlier crying and nuzzling me. I slept with it under my chin for warmth, I worried the heating pad would get too hot for it. I didn't think it would make it through the night. It also seems a lot stronger after some feedings. It tried to suckle the dropper, which I take as an awesome sign. I'm gonna try introducing the bottle again today if the vet thinks it's a good idea. Going out now. Will report back.
I'm hopeful but not too hopeful. I'll post a picture when we get home, too.
Great to hear!
Still a lot of work ahead, but I know you'll do great.
Don't worry about the hubby, he'll get attached in no time
BorderlineBunny wrote: Update! Baby made it through the night. On cue, as my alarm woke me up for a feeding the kitten did a minute or two earlier crying and nuzzling me. I slept with it under my chin for warmth, I worried the heating pad would get too hot for it. I didn't think it would make it through the night. It also seems a lot stronger after some feedings. It tried to suckle the dropper, which I take as an awesome sign. I'm gonna try introducing the bottle again today if the vet thinks it's a good idea. Going out now. Will report back.
I'm hopeful but not too hopeful. I'll post a picture when we get home, too.
\
So happy you took the poor baby in.
After feeding, rub its belly for a few minutes, just with one finger, gently, like mom would do (it stimulates the digestion process and will make the baby 'go'), and for cleanings when I had a tiny baby, I used a damp warm washcloth to 'clean' it with, starting with the face, work your way back to the tail. You're bonding that way, and it gets the circulation going.
Thanks for all your supportive words. The vet said everything I was doing was fine and so was the kitten, but not to get my hopes up too much. He said the survival rate of a kitten this young being bottle fed is 50/50. Yikes. Well, hopefully all goes well. He told me to buy a scale and weigh him (yep, it's a him) every day to make sure that he's gaining weight. Sorry for the terrible quality photos. This camera was a baby shower gift, cheapy. And the date and time is all janky as well. Anyway, here are some pictures. I have him curled up with a warm rice socky right now.
Laura UnBound wrote: Dawww little baby kitty. Good luck with him!
Thank you! I'm optimistic. I can tell he's a fighter. And he's eating so much better now, he takes the bottle with ease. I think he was just too weak before I got food in his tummy.
Thank you! I'm optimistic. I can tell he's a fighter. And he's eating so much better now, he takes the bottle with ease. I think he was just too weak before I got food in his tummy.
He looks good! Just keep him warm and make sure he doesnt aspirate any of the formula. The first sign of a rattle or wheeze coming from him, take him to the vet for antibiotics! Babies who get aspiration pneumonia go down hill really fast!
What a sweet little baby. I just wanna snuggle him!!
He looks good! Just keep him warm and make sure he doesnt aspirate any of the formula. The first sign of a rattle or wheeze coming from him, take him to the vet for antibiotics! Babies who get aspiration pneumonia go down hill really fast!
What a sweet little baby. I just wanna snuggle him!!
We're getting a good system down. He knows when he hears my voice it's food time already and starts mewing. Effing adorable. I realize now that if this kitten doesn't make it for whatever reason, I will be utterly destroyed. Haha.
My husband came home for lunch today and I was in the middle of a bottle feeding. He leaned over and looked at it and said "alright, we'll keep him." Yay! I thought I'd nurse him, wean him, and then adopt him out to a good home but it looks like he's part of the family now. We both decided to name him Chief. And apparently, he's my husbands cat. If that's the case, I'll just let the hubby get up the five times at night and feed him. We'll see how long that lasts.
When I was eleven years old, I got home from Six Flags with a friend late at night, and when we drove up into my cul de sac, I saw the teeniest, tiniest baby kitten I'd ever seen for all of about 3 seconds before it darted away to get himself trapped hopelessly in my neighbor's stack of firewood.
I went to the neighbor the next morning to let him know he had a stuck baby kitten in his firewood, and with a little coaxing, I was able to jiggle the poor thing free.
He was only 3 weeks old, totally abandoned, and he had a cigarette burn permanently on his head He was so tiny he fit in one hand I bottle fed him until he weaned, and that cat LOVED me. He was flat out terrified of anyone else, but he slept on me, came when I called, and even let me approach him (he would run from everyone else)
I cried so hard when my stupid brother left the door open and he got outside two days before a tornado a couple of years later. We never saw him again
When I was eleven years old, I got home from Six Flags with a friend late at night, and when we drove up into my cul de sac, I saw the teeniest, tiniest baby kitten I'd ever seen for all of about 3 seconds before it darted away to get himself trapped hopelessly in my neighbor's stack of firewood.
I went to the neighbor the next morning to let him know he had a stuck baby kitten in his firewood, and with a little coaxing, I was able to jiggle the poor thing free.
He was only 3 weeks old, totally abandoned, and he had a cigarette burn permanently on his head He was so tiny he fit in one hand I bottle fed him until he weaned, and that cat LOVED me. He was flat out terrified of anyone else, but he slept on me, came when I called, and even let me approach him (he would run from everyone else)
I cried so hard when my stupid brother left the door open and he got outside two days before a tornado a couple of years later. We never saw him again
Oh my God, why would you tell me that? ;.;
I took in a bottle fed baby once, but they didn't do a very good job as he was skin and bones, but old enough to go onto solids. I started him off on egg yolks though to fatten him up. He was the sweetest little baby. He'd lay of his back in the crook of my arm and if I leaned my face in close he'd raise a paw and pat my lips a couple times. Sweet boy. Unfortunately, that cat wasn't strictly all about me. He took to my dad like crazy and that's where he remains now. That cat is nuts about my dad.
Won't leave him alone. Meows for him at the door when he goes to work. Pretty much lives on his arm while my dad surfs the net. Bottle fed babies are usually the BEST cat companions.
Still truckin'. He doesn't seem to be having any issues. I'd say I lucked out. Most people don't get it this easy when they stumble upon a kitten days old and try to nurse it back to health.
We used the bottles used for preemie human babies with our dumpster pups (they were an hour old or so when we got them) and so tiny that normal nipples were too big for them.
You can usually get little fleece baby blankets at the dollar store, stock up on those. They're great for warmth as well as using to stimulate urination and defecation. Washable but cheap enough to not worry about them getting gross. I didn't see whether or not you know (or were told) that very young kittens and puppies don't poop on their own, they need to be stimulated to do it. Just when you're washing them down after feeding, rub a damp cloth on their genitals and they'll go.
Should only have to do that for a week or two, they start to go on their own when their eyes open.
Jackie A wrote: We used the bottles used for preemie human babies with our dumpster pups (they were an hour old or so when we got them) and so tiny that normal nipples were too big for them.
You can usually get little fleece baby blankets at the dollar store, stock up on those. They're great for warmth as well as using to stimulate urination and defecation. Washable but cheap enough to not worry about them getting gross. I didn't see whether or not you know (or were told) that very young kittens and puppies don't poop on their own, they need to be stimulated to do it. Just when you're washing them down after feeding, rub a damp cloth on their genitals and they'll go.
Should only have to do that for a week or two, they start to go on their own when their eyes open.
I was on a search for a kitten from a litter living in my front yard and my neighbors said they found one and brought me a new born that was not the kitten I was looking for. They were feeding it infamil. I went and got kitten formula and fed her once. She pee'd but and I'm waiting for someone to contact me to foster.
Little Queenie wrote: I was on a search for a kitten from a litter living in my front yard and my neighbors said they found one and brought me a new born that was not the kitten I was looking for. They were feeding it infamil. I went and got kitten formula and fed her once. She pee'd but and I'm waiting for someone to contact me to foster.
Crazy cat business.
Poor little abandoned babies. I hope you find someone to care for it. Maybe even a surrogate cat mom if you can. Sometimes mama cats will take on other babies. Sometimes they won't. Make sure it poops too. It might take a while of rubbing to get it to, and a couple of feedings at that. Feed it every two hours and keep it warm warm warm.
I know it's super early still, but you'll have to teach him (what's his name?) how to clean himself, I have had success doing so with that damp washcloth. You just need to make sure you'll get into every little skinfold and stuff, and always in the same routine, he'll start licking himself in the same fashion.
I am so happy for you all!
OP, if you need help toilet training him, let me know. (This is the fun part!)
Eurocat wrote: I know it's super early still, but you'll have to teach him (what's his name?) how to clean himself, I have had success doing so with that damp washcloth. You just need to make sure you'll get into every little skinfold and stuff, and always in the same routine, he'll start licking himself in the same fashion.
I am so happy for you all!
OP, if you need help toilet training him, let me know. (This is the fun part!)
If I have to use the litter box myself to teach him, I will. I won't like it but...well, I might like it a little.
Amber Skyline
Posts: 2,082
Reading, England, United Kingdom
BorderlineBunny wrote:
Still truckin'. He doesn't seem to be having any issues. I'd say I lucked out. Most people don't get it this easy when they stumble upon a kitten days old and try to nurse it back to health.
Yay! I love watching kittys progression too. Glad hes doing well!
Yay! I love watching kittys progression too. Glad hes doing well!
Well, his umbilical cord fell off and his ear flaps are getting looser. I expect his eyes to start to open soon too. I will post more photos when they do.
Koryn Locke
Posts: 31,849
Boston, Massachusetts, US
BorderlineBunny wrote:
Well, his umbilical cord fell off and his ear flaps are getting looser. I expect his eyes to start to open soon too. I will post more photos when they do.
At any rate, he got enough food to fall asleep. I put him on a blanket with a heating pad on lowest setting underneath and covered the top and he slept for thirty minutes and is now crying again. Gonna attempt to feed him again.
He was so tiny he fit in one hand 
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