How long can 3 week old kittens go without food?

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  • #45559
    JackTrades10
    Participant

    I feel horrible cause Mufasa got out again 4 hours ago. I have no money for kitten formula and don’t have baking soda for formula. I need help. They can keep themselves warm but I’m worried that they can get sick without food.

    #667424
    AZDEBRA 5/27 & crew
    Participant

    Do you have a kitten/cat rescue group near you that can take the kitten(s) in? Like any babies, they can’t go without food for very long, especially that young.

    #667425
    jcat
    Participant

    Not long — they should be fed every 2-4 hours, though you can keep them alive for longer if you give them pedialyte: here’s the thread with the recipe:

    http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/31106

    You don’t need to buy formula, you may be able to make kitten glop with things you already have in your kitchen cupboards although obviously eventually you’d have to buy more. If you can afford canned goats’ milk, you can bring them up on that. But they have a hugely increased chance of survival with their mum.

    Glop recipes at:

    http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/31099

    #667426
    jcat
    Participant

    If you don’t even have baking soda for pedialyte, you need to beg, steal or borrow some from a friend’s mum, a neighbour, or anyone else you can ask. I’m sure they would gladly give you a tiny amount of baking soda to save the lives of several kittens. If you have to take them to a shelter, try to make sure it’s a no-kill shelter, since as they need to be bottlefed around the clock, if a foster mum can’t be found (either human or cat), they will be put down.

    #667427
    jcat
    Participant

    What about your other pregnant cat, Faythe. Has she had the kittens? Can you add these ones to hers?

    Mufasa will probably try to come back to her kittens, if she can. Can you try and trap her outside the house? Can you put the kittens (temporarily and always under supervision) in a box or something on the front step and watch them, so that Mufasa might hear them cry and come back? Leave food out for her and she will probably come back or at least stick around. Can you leave a window open for her to get through or something?

    #667428
    JackTrades10
    Participant

    I had some neighbors help me catch her. My dad said the kittens would be fine so I woke up every hour to check on them. They’re fine now. Yes, Faythe had her kittens. 6 total but she had them in a box so 1 died of a broken neck, sadly, and another died at birth. The kittens seem fine now. 3 weeks old and they’ve learned to climb onto my bed. They’ve been bathed and Mufasa helped them relieve themselves. I was worried cause I read that kittens can go up to 4 hours before getting sick. Thank you for the replies though.

    Also, I’ve tried the kitten trick many times before. Mufasa just runs away from them. I fed the cats a bit of food and closed the window to the garage so she couldn’t get out.

    #667429
    JackTrades10
    Participant

    These kittens went from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. without food. I know this is silly to say but they must be really healthy. Oh, and their flea infestation is gone. Bathed them with Dial soap for 9 days.

    #667430
    Tinali
    Participant

    Give them formula, seriously. It’s like 3.64 at wal-mart. Don’t tell me you don’t have 4 dollars for formula. They will die if you don’t. God, this pisses me off.

    Here: http://www.walmart.com/ip/KMR-Kitten-Complete-Liquid-Diet-8-oz-Cats/8207730 Also, by “they’ve lived from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. without food” do you mean, they’re dead? If so, slap yourself very hard in the face, please.

    #667431
    CSBM
    Participant

    jacktrades10, please send me your email. i can help you with food. mail me at cheryljhoyt at gmail dot com

    #667432
    DuchessMom
    Participant

    Everyone calm down [not everyone], worrying too much is not healty at all for the person Jacktrade or the kittens.

    Now: it’s hard watching over 1 kitten, let alone two mama cats and their kittens. I would suggest that instead of keeping the kittens you give them up to a no kill rescue shelter, they are more equipped with watching so many kittens. Is Mufasa a first time mother? If so she is probably trying to get away from them because she is so either unprepared or not ready or just scared.

    I know you have stated you have no mone y to get formula, may I ask how you got a litter pan for mama, food for her? I assume you have these only because they are essential for a cat living, at least the food is. In my honest opinion, you either need to give up one or both mama cats and their kittens because this appears to be too much to handle, this is second time that Mufasa has gotten out, you need to watch her more carefully if she is in a garage. What is the temperature like where you live? Is your garage ventilated with the rest of your house? Or does it have no AC/heat?

    I do applaud you for taking in both cats and their kittens but it’s hard work with just one mom and kittens. No one would blame you if you gave up both for fostering. It’s a hard job and while you’ve been doing fine for three weeks, it may be time to consider that a possibility.

    Julia: There is no need to be rude, I’m sorry but formula is expensive for one kitten, it can get even higher for 4-6 kittens, however many Mufasa had. I realize you are new, but people come here for help, I’m sure Jacktrades is feeling bad enough.

    #667433
    DuchessMom
    Participant

    You also need to realize just because they seem fine doesn’t always mean they are. So please next time if there is, have formula instead.

    #667434
    JackTrades10
    Participant

    I guess some of you didn’t read clearly. I said my neighbors helped me catch Mufasa. They’ve been fine since 8 a.m. I meant they went that long without food. They’re healthy, now. And yes, I don’t have $4. I’m 19 years old living in California which is really difficult finding a job. I’m broke because my family is down in the (pardon my french) sh*thole when it comes to money. We’re barely passing by as is and we refuse to give to send the kittens elsewhere. My parents wouldn’t take me to get formula. Especially at 12 a.m. on a work day.

    Yes, I know formula is cheap at walmart. I’m not allowed to drive my parents’ car. It’s a 2 hour walk from my house. And it kinda upsets me seeing how angry people can get when someone asks for advice. It’s quite rude and unhelpful for stressful situations. And if they were dead, I’d be crying too hard to even leave my room. Don’t assume cause it makes an ASS out of U and ME.

    I would make home made formula but unfortunately I had/have no baking soda and all the other recipes require me to go to the store in which I can just buy the formula with the invisible money in my pocket. Trust me, I don’t post and wait. I search the internet for answers no matter how long it takes. Also, my local vet doesn’t give advice or instructions over the phone. They tell you to come in and pay a crap load for a checkup. As ridiculous as it sounds, I don’t give up even when I’m having anxiety and post-trauma attacks. And I get those daily.

    I appreciate everyone for their advice and help but for those who were rude, don’t get upset at someone. They’re here to ask for your help. Not to get upset for being ‘stupid’ when they simply don’t know what to do. Hence why they ask for help. They don’t know. Educate them. Not “God, this pisses me off.” That doesn’t help anything.

    #667435
    JackTrades10
    Participant

    Duchess-Gabriel:

    I don’t have a litter pan. Cut up a box for litter. Also cut up another box and put one of my small blankets and a worn shirt in there. Yes, this is Mufasa’s first litter but some of you on here didn’t see my previous posts about how she’s an outside cat and it took 7 months for her to stop being skiddish around me. She’s very loving and loves her kittens. She just wants to be outside every now and then. If she was an easy catch, I’d let her out after the kittens dinner and get her in the morning, just as she has scheduled for sleep. I only have this one litter in my room.

    I would have Faythe join her kittens and feed them all but 9 kittens would be difficult especially since her (big fat) kittens are only a week old. They live in a warm but not hot area in the garage away from the other adult cats (momma gets protective). We already have cats and 2 dogs. We buy food with the money my parents put aside specifically for the pets. But it’s a small fund so we pace the food. I’m legally babysitting my nephew and by the time I get paid the kittens should be ready for kitten mush/hard food and kitten litter training. I already have it planned out.

    Mufasa lives in my room. It gets hot in there so I open the window and put a box and fan so it circulates air and keeps mufasa from escaping. She used to be afraid of the fan but one night she sucked it up and knocked all my stuff over. This is actually the 4th time she got out. But the other 2 times were around dinner and she hadn’t eaten yet. The garage doesn’t have a heater or a/c but it doesn’t get hot in there. When it starts to get hot in there, the kittens and mama will come in the house during the day. It’s complicated to explain the animal routine but we have it planned out, as well.

    Faythe is an experienced momma and has had 8 litters before (every time we got her an appointment for being fixed it either got canceled by the vet or she was too far with the pregnancy. We even considered abortion for the 1st time ever but we just didn’t have the money.) She’s been successful with every litter. She’s has some passes but that was the cause of fading kitten and/or inbreeding. Our only unfixed male passed away from an illness months ago, so inbreeding shouldn’t be a problem anymore. Faythe=4 kittens. Mufasa=5 kittens. Baby=5 kittens, 1 died at birth, 4 suffered from prematurity and passed from organ failure. Yeah, I freaked when I saw all 3 cats prego.

    Thank you for the advice and helping me.

    #667436
    DuchessMom
    Participant

    I’m sorry Jacktrades it has been awhile since I’ve been on actively and been reading so I didn’t have time to read and see all of your other posts. I see your problem.

    I would definitely either get a coupon or go to a rescue shelter and ask them to do low cost spays, I know they have shelters like that to help people in case of this, especially since they are are pregnant.

    I am not trying to be mean, and I understand you want to help the kittens, but you are not helping them by the situation you are in. If your parents aren’t supporting you how are you going to support the kittens? Kittens and mammas require food, and lots of nuturing and I fear for them because of your parents.

    It’s not that I dont’ think you can handle it, I am more worried about the lack of help and lack of resources you currently have. It’s expensive taking care of three cats, and then 9 kittens surviving. I realize you don’t want to ship them off or send them away but you need to think about what’s best for ALL parties concerned in both the human and kitty realm.

    #667437
    ChelleM17
    Participant

    That 3.64 can of formula would last one feeding with that many kittens. I spend about $20 a week on food for one kitten, not counting the soft food I am trying to wean him on to. Kitten replacement formula is expensive. and where I live, I have to drive an hour to get some. These kittens weren’t even abandoned, but she still is concerned enough to be sure they are eating frequently enough even with a mom cat in the picture. Please try to be understanding.

    #667438
    JackTrades10
    Participant

    And an added note: We wouldn’t give up the kittens and mommas because the mommas are our cats. Tigger, Zelda, Freckles, and Faythe once lived in the house but my youngest dog Daisy (my mom got without us knowing) started to play rough with my cats (2 of them played with her when she was smaller) so we put them in the garage seeing that they like going outside every now and then. We keep the window open for air and because when we don’t have litter or time to change/clean the litter boxes so they go out and potty in the grass which gets cleaned up before doing the lawn. Mufasa and Baby came along later. We also have a young “teen” cat named Tyke but he’s never been an issue. Ever. And he’s the only one of litter that survived fading kitten. Usually when kittens are born, we cut a hole in the box, put a blanket in there, and put it somewhere safe in the garage. But Mufasa’s litter was born right before a storm and were separated: 2 in my backyard, 3 in a high box in the garage. So, I put them in my room with Mufasa. I’m the only one that lets animals live in my room. Except the dogs. Joey and Daisy had a past issue as Daisy matured and attacked Joey. Both girls. Joey lives in the living room, but young Daisy chews up everything and is a big muscular dog. Barks at everything and all. So she sleeps in my parents room.

    If you have anymore questions, I’m willing to answer anything.

    #667439
    JackTrades10
    Participant

    Duchess:

    My parents support me taking the kittens in and finding homes when they’re old enough like we usually do but my dad underestimates things and my mom gets moody cause she works all day and comes home late. This is a full house. 3 rooms. 2 parents, my brother and his gf and baby, me, and my sister with 2 kids. My sister has issues so her and my mom constantly argue. That night, my mom just had an argument and was already upset. And to make this make more sense, my mom is bipolar. As are me and my sibiling, unfortunately. I just don’t get angry. Long story but in general I’m a nice person who puts others before myself…too often.

    We all are animal lovers. It was just bad timing.

    #667440
    kaitlyn
    Participant

    You are amazing for taking up this huge responsibility and I wish the best of luck to you and the kitties 🙂

    #667441
    jcat
    Participant

    {{{{{JackTrades10 and his family}}}}} You are doing the best that you can with very few resources and a lot of extra burdens. I too wish you and the kitties the very best.

    #667442
    Kiplings_cat
    Participant

    In a pinch, corn syrup (Karo syrup) or sugar syrup can be rubbed on a kitten’s (or cat’s) gums to raise their blood sugar briefly. It does not last long though- I am guessing 30min?- since for a diabetic cat you need to follow it with food right away. Or maybe they’d suck your fingers smeared with sugar syrup.

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