Five 3week old kittens, need major advice

Tagged: kittens eating enough? Meowing alot, orphans, purrito

This topic has 26 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 11 months ago by Kittyzee.

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3 May, 2015 at 12:51 am #831071

KayJay
Participant

Hi all, I’m new! 🙂
I need major advice here, I’ll explain. Just on Friday my momma cat wasn’t showing up, and my only reasoning would be that she was out hunting and got killed. The kittens were frantic, and so I brought them back to the house to try to feed and comfort them. They meow a LOT, is there something wrong with them? I am giving them the homemade formula that includes evaporated milk, an egg yolk, and corn syrup. I have a syringe (w/out needle of course) and an ag pet kit borrowed from a friend. One problem: there is NO holes in the ag kit nipples and I made some holes, but it doesn’t come out like I’d like it to. They don’t exactly suck on the nipples either, how can I get them to suck, and not give up?? And for the syringe, it does pretty good. So how MUCH of this mixture am I to be giving, and how many FEEDINGS should I do a day? Last night I stayed up til 12, got some formula down, and woke up at 3, repeat, then at 7 this morning again. Then mid-morning at 10:30, then after lunchtime around 1:30. I tried to feed them around 3:30 or 4, but they won’t really eat. <span style=”text-decoration:underline;”>Am I feeding too often?</span> Or too much, or not enough? They keep meowing, and they suck on the bigger teddy I stuck in their little box. What’s wrong, and what can I do to make sure I’m feeding enough, and that they won’t get sick? They are 3 weeks old as of today! Most have their eyes open by now. I don’t want them getting sick or dying. <span style=”text-decoration:underline;”>Any advice to get them to stop meowing? </span>

3 May, 2015 at 12:53 am #831072

KayJay
Participant

I would LOVE any advice, I don’t want to lose these kittens. It’s the first time I’ve had to bottle feed kittens this young. Thanks in advance!

3 May, 2015 at 2:04 am #831076

Anonymous
Inactive

Hi KayJay,

Welcome to TDK land. Here’s some links we use ourselves:

4 wk old kitten will no longer bottle feed and hasn't started eating wet food

http://messybeast.com/handrear.htm
http://www.safehavenforcats.com/newborn.htm

Chaos’ Guide to Constipation

Let us know if you have any other questions.

PG

3 May, 2015 at 2:14 am #831077

Anonymous
Inactive

Also, I’m sure the kits are meowing because they’re cold and/or hungry. If possible, pick up some Goats’ milk. It’s in the baking aisle or fridge section. It’s gentler on their tummies and doesn’t give them constipation. Mix it at 1 part water/1 part milk. It’s actually better than KMR and cow’s milk.

3 May, 2015 at 3:22 am #831081

Kittyzee
Participant

Hi KayJay! PG gave you some great links above, make sure you look at them because they are full of info on hand rearing kittens, I’ve used them many times to help me. Also remember: you have to make them pee and poo like mom did. I used a warm, damp washcloth over the sink and gently rub their pee area and they will pee and also their little butts to make them poo. This is also in the links above. Let us know how things are going and if you need any more help.

3 May, 2015 at 4:13 am #831082

jcat
Participant

Hi, Kay Jay, you’ve got some great advice, above. also, these videos are great for the basics and the one on feeding includes a feeding chart. Best of luck!

3 May, 2015 at 1:27 pm #831093

Cheri Hoyt
Participant

http://www.messybeast.com is a great website on how to care for little kittens. good luck !!!

4 May, 2015 at 4:16 am #831121

lissy
Participant

Just a simple question .
I just got an 8 week old kitten today and I can’t sleep at all cause all he does is meow allot . Is It Okay For Me To Leave Him Crying ?

4 May, 2015 at 12:15 pm #831130

jcat
Participant

Lissy, he is missing his mum and siblings. Kittens sleep together in a huddle to keep each other warm. I tend to put little kittens on my pillow next to my head, you won’t squash him and your head is warm. If you are worried about doing this, make him a little nest in a box, with an unwashed sweater of yours to snuggle up to (it will smell of you and hopefully comfort him) and a stuffed toy he can snuggle with. Talk to him and pet him until he goes to sleep.

4 May, 2015 at 8:42 pm #831171

Anonymous
Inactive

Hi Lissy,

I’ve heard people use wind up clocks wrapped in a towel. The ticking is supposed to mimic the mom’s heartbeat. Make sure the alarm is OFF.

PG

4 May, 2015 at 10:15 pm #831181

KayJay
Participant

Thank y’all! They are doing MUCH much better, thank the good Lord! I enjoy listening to them purr while they are sucking on the bottle…pretty cute I’d say 😉 some are starting to go to the bathroom on their own, but I still ‘do it’ for them. Again, thanks for your help!

4 May, 2015 at 10:19 pm #831182

KayJay
Participant

Aaand also, how can I keep their paws still while feeding time? some hold the bottle, but often get a wee bit antsy and hyper.

4 May, 2015 at 10:47 pm #831183

Jeankit
Participant

Welcome to TDK Kay Jay!
Happy for the encouraging updates on kittens!
Here is a pic of a Kitten “purrito” – may help you!

Good luck – keep us updated!:D

4 May, 2015 at 10:54 pm #831186

KayJay
Participant

Haha oh ok thanks so much! 😀 😆

4 May, 2015 at 10:59 pm #831187

Kittyzee
Participant

Also KayJay when they are feeding and start acting frantic and clawing, I have found that they aren’t getting the food fast enough. Make the hole bigger in the top of the nipple. Just make sure it goes in their tummies and not their lungs. You can regulate milk flow by tipping the bottle UP for faster, or DOWN to slow the flow.

4 May, 2015 at 11:01 pm #831188

KayJay
Participant

Okay great, thanks!

5 May, 2015 at 12:21 pm #831218

Charlie
Participant

Jeankit, I think you made my day with that photo 😀

5 May, 2015 at 6:08 pm #831243

Jeankit
Participant

Hee hee…one more COA:

It should work when giving meds too!

7 May, 2015 at 5:12 am #831326

KayJay
Participant

Aw thanks for that advice, just wanted to let you know it worked! 😆 I have another question: they are starting to go to the bathroom themselves (they are 3 and a half weeks old…as of yesterday!) and they poop on their own too.What should their poop look like? Right now it’s a light yellow-ish, and isn’t runny runny, but it’s not in ‘chunks’ either…is that what it’s supposed to look like? They are acting fine, love to play, (AND EAT!) and sleep…and no gooky eyes. They purr alot too. Well, have a good night y’all, I’m turnin’ in 🙂
THANKS IN ADVANCE!

7 May, 2015 at 1:01 pm #831337

jcat
Participant

Hi, KayJay, sounds like you are being a brilliant kitty mama! Okay, kitten poop for unweaned kittens (ie when they’re still just on milk). It will be yellowy brown — from a mustard to a tan colour — but will probably oxidise to dark brown after a few hours. It should ideally be the consistency of toothpaste — ie ‘formed’ but soft and a bit squishy. It sounds like your kits have good poo and are doing fine!
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