I would feed them more often than that esp since you fear that they
were abandoned for a while. Don't stress out if they refuse to eat
each time, but do offer it to them. I'm so glad the one is seeming to
feel better. I can understand why they suggest not "over handling"
them, but they are writing this for, pardon me, but the majority of
idiots out there that would be handling them differently than you. I
don't expect that you'd be manipulating them and keeping them awake.
They will sleep just fine next to your body, probably better. I
understand you concern about disease, you do, after all, have an felv
kitty in the house, but unless you are allowing them to crawl around
with everyone else, they should be fine under your t-shirt. I don't
know, they've already been through so much, if you can give them some
warmth and a feeling of security, I think it's worth the risk. I guess
there's the possibility that they are carrying something that might
endanger your guys, but I really think if they had something horrible,
like Panluek, they'd be gone already.
Nina
catatonya wrote:
I had been carrying them around and keeping them warm inside my
shirt, but one of the websites I read said that I should keep them away
from all other cats because they may not have immunity from their
mother.
I just don't know. The other cats were in the vacated house.
One of these kittens was on one side of the trash cans and the other
was on the other side. They were not together. So basically we have
no idea if they were being moved in the house, out of the house, or
abandoned.
Since they are only 2-3 days old and were covered in maggots I
would say they had been there a while. I didn't see the place itself
to see if it was a place the cat might have felt comfortable having the
kittens in, but I doubt it. The house has 3 boxers. (2 were thrown
off an overpass July 3rd, and the reason I was at their house was
because I was passing out reward fliers for them.) There are lots of
other stray dogs and cats in that area, and those people didn't keep
their boxers confined. So I can't imagine the cat had the kittens
there and was just trying to move them in. There's been a lot of
comotion in the area since the incident with the dogs. The people were
out putting a fence up today (what a concept!). They said they kept
hearing crying and found the 2 I took. The tips of their ears are a
little bloody suggesting flies biting them and hence the maggots.
I just don't know. NO ONE is going to take in that mother cat
and the rest of those babies. And there's no way I can either. DD (my
positive) is stressing out just knowing these kittens are here. She's
overgrooming way more than normal and I just dosed her a pred.
I think I'm going to go put some honey on the sick ones gums.
He does seem to be a little better. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I
also read that I shouldn't bother them (pick them up, etc.....) too
much between feedings for the first week because they are so weak at
this age they need to sleep.
I started feeding them every 2 hours, but read on several sites
NOT to feed that frequently...........I've gone to 3 now.
always something................
thanks for the advice. I'm going to go check on them now.
Hi
Tonya,
Not a good sign that these two kittens were separated from the mother
and other babies. You know what that could mean, they may be weak and
she decided to let them go to try and save her energy and milk for the
others. It may also have meant she was in the process of moving them
and hadn't gotten back to these two yet. I have a really good home
made kitten formula made from goat's milk that I will send to you off
list. It's better than any powder form because it's fresh. When I
give a kitten light karo to try and stimulate their energy, I put the
tiniest amount on my finger, or Qtip and then wipe it on their gums,
that way there is no chance of aspirating them. As far as keeping them
warm, esp the one that's getting colder, the best thing to do, if you
can, is to keep them under your shirt next to your skin. They will
feel comforted by your warmth and heartbeat, and you will also know
immediately if they are in any sort of distress. While your up and
walking around, you can fold a large t-shirt under and secure the
"pouch" with safety pins and just carry them around like a momma
kangaroo. Be very careful that the temp of what you have rigged for
them is constant and not to hot or cold. The best thing to do is have
a container that's just large enough to afford a space that isn't on
the heating pad, or hot water bottle, but is still cushioned. With
kittens this young, I don't know if they'd even be able to move off of
it when too hot though. Bless it girl, I feel for you. I would guess
that the temp should be slightly less than normal body temp, but I'm
not sure about this. They are so young and fragile! I understand why
you would say you probably should have had them pts, and also
understand why you couldn't! You should probably be offering them food
every 1/2 hour or so at first, I wouldn't go much more than an hour
apart until they are eating consistently. With two week old kittens, I
think it's recommended to feed every two hours. I could have sworn I
had a better website than this one, but there may be some info for you
here: http://www.caring4kittens.com/index.html
Blessings and prayers for the babies, you and the ones still out
there. Hopefully momma isn't feral, you catch her ass, and she's
healthy enough to care for her kittens. If she did abandon these two,
she might change her mind about caring for them when she's safe, warm
and fed. If you do end up adding them back into her litter, make sure
you rub them on the other kittens first to pick up the scent of the
rest of them.
Have you gotten in touch with MC? I know that she's had lots of
experience with kittens. Hideyo recently took in days old kittens w/o
a mom and did really well with them too. I don't have MC's number, but
I do have Hideyo's, I'm sure she wouldn't mind a late night phone call
in an emergency.
Prayers for the babies,
Nina
catatonya wrote:
thank you. I just gave him some sugar water. I hope that
might help.
I was very careful, but I don't know if the 'drooling' means
I aspirated........... or he's got a uri or what. :( i'm going to
take his temperature. I have them in a bathroom with the vent closed
and covered. I have a heating pad on the floor and then a towel and
then a litter pan and then another towel and then the kittens and then
a towel over them. I'm going to try to check the temp of that too.
both of these kittens way around 3 oz. Sites I've been
looking at say they should be born weighing more than that!
They had maggot eggs (not crawling yet) on them......... so
they must have been there for a while. We found the mother and other
kittens in an abandoned house but we can't do anything about any of it
until tomorrow. ugh. The lady that found them is going to break into
the house and put the kittens that remain in a basket with a towel and
give the mother food and water till we can decide what to do tomorrow.
I
wouldn't have them euthanized just because they are little. I take
in small kittens all the time.
I don't use KMR. I use Fox Valley. They sell all kinds of milk for
all kinds of animals. Better IMHO than KMR and cheaper.
You have to mail order it though...I keep about a pound of the powder
on hand at all times, but I take in a lot of litters.
http://foxvalleynutrition.com/main/home.asp
Sometimes little kittens just die and there is nothing you can do:(
As I am sure you know mortality among kittens is really high:(. Is the
little one eating? If he won't suck you can feed from a syringe.
Drooling doesn't appear to be a great sign:
http://maxshouse.com/kitten_care.htm
----- Original Message -----
From: catatonya
Date: Sunday, July 16, 2006 7:52 pm
Subject: anyone got advice for me tonight? urgent!
To: "[email protected]"
> Hey guys,
>
> long story short.......... I am home with 2 (vet said 2-4.......
> I say 2 tops) 2 day old kittens.
>
> Of course it was sunday and i had to go to emergency vet. he
> said they seemed ok for the circumstances and told me to bottle
> feed and keep them warm.
>
> that cost $100
>
> I knew I should just have them euthanized. I know there are no
> homes. I know there are more than the shelter can handle
> etc.......... but I brought them home.
>
> The smaller one will suckle and take the kmr (walmart brand
> recommended by vet. is that really all right??)
>
> The other seems to be drooling from his mouth. Everytime I
> check him he seems colder and colder. I have them on a hot water
> bottles on a towel and have even put it inside a heater. I've put
> them in bed with me.
>
> I don't think he's going to make it.
>
> Any ideas as to why he might be drooling and what I might could do?
>
> tonya
>
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