wy_kid_wrangler04 Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 How do you care for an abandoned 3 day old newborn kitten? We found this but what other advice do you have for us?? Dd 12 is taking this thing under her wing and being surrogate mommy :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SailorMom Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Didn't look at the link - but other than feeding instructions, be very careful about the baby's temp. They can't control their body temperatures yet.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristusG Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 It's very important to stimulate them to go to the bathroom....their mother usually does that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Findley2 Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Keep it warm. A heating pad works good under some towels. Make a nest with the towels so it helps keep the heat in. I would set the heating pad on low. You can buy replacement formula for kittens and feed it with a dropper or you can buy a bottle. Hope that helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unicorn. Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 They need to be fed about every 2-3 hours. Just like a human newborn. Keep warm w/ heating pad under a towel or blanket, or w/ small heat lamp. Make sure it's not too hot though! Put a soft, stuffed animal in w/it for it to cuddle up to. Wipe bottom w/ soft, damp, warm towel to stimulate it to go to bathroom-before or just after you feed it. If it survives, it will start having bigger bowel movements at about 3 wks of age, but you still need to do this everyday until they are litter box trained, which can be about 4 weeks. hth and Good Luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wy_kid_wrangler04 Posted March 26, 2011 Author Share Posted March 26, 2011 OK feeling dumb- to stimulate it to go to the bathroom do we just rub it with a cotton swab or something? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaT Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 The pet section at Walmart has the bottles and kittie milk replacement at a reasonable price. Just wipe the kitties bottom with a warm cloth to stimulate it to go to the bathroom. We had three abandoned kittens in our barn this winter. They all did fine and are my "babies" now. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wy_kid_wrangler04 Posted March 26, 2011 Author Share Posted March 26, 2011 The pet section at Walmart has the bottles and kittie milk replacement at a reasonable price. Just wipe the kitties bottom with a warm cloth to stimulate it to go to the bathroom. We had three abandoned kittens in our barn this winter. They all did fine and are my "babies" now. :001_smile: The closest Walmart is an hour and a half away :confused: We live in a very rural area. We just got baby formula but I think it is going to die :crying: Just the way its acting we don't think it will make it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhgillil Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 (edited) OK feeling dumb- to stimulate it to go to the bathroom do we just rub it with a cotton swab or something? Use a sterile cotton ball and massage its anal and genital areas after each meal. You'll need to do this until the kitten is about four weeks old. You will also need to teach it out to groom itself when it get old enough using a warm, damp washcloth to mimic a momma cat's tongue. I haven't actually had to do this, but did some research when we rescued our cat because I wasn't sure if she knew how to do it all yet. As others said, regulate the cat's temperature. Set up a clean, warm nesting box (i.e., cardboard box, Rubbermaid container) with a heating pad. Get some KMR kitten formula and a dropper while it's tiny (a baby animal bottle as it gets bigger). Do not feed it milk. It is very important to keep the kitten and its environment clean as small kittens are very susceptible to illness. Since this kitten is so young and this is the first time you have nursed a very newborn kitten, I would recommend taking it to the vet ASAP as well. Good luck! You and your family are doing a great thing by nursing an abandoned kitten! EDIT: I didn't see your above post before replying. If you can't get to WalMart or a pet supply store yet, go to the grocery store and get Pedialyte and a dropper. It will work in a pinch. But find some KMR as soon as you can. DO NOT GIVE THE KITTEN INFANT FORMULA. The iron and protein content is too high in most formulas and cats cannot digest lactose. Canned, evaporated milk will also work in a pinch (it has a much lower lactose content than plain cow's milk). Edited March 26, 2011 by mhgillil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unicorn. Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 OK feeling dumb- to stimulate it to go to the bathroom do we just rub it with a cotton swab or something? You can, we always used damp paper towels. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wy_kid_wrangler04 Posted March 26, 2011 Author Share Posted March 26, 2011 She died :crying: dd 12 is crushed. I had a feeling though. She didn't look good. Thanks for all the advice though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 :grouphug: So sorry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sewpeaceful Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 Because PP is absolutely correct: EDIT: I didn't see your above post before replying. If you can't get to WalMart or a pet supply store yet, go to the grocery store and get Pedialyte and a dropper. It will work in a pinch. But find some KMR as soon as you can. DO NOT GIVE THE KITTEN INFANT FORMULA. The iron and protein content is too high in most formulas and cats cannot digest lactose. Canned, evaporated milk will also work in a pinch (it has a much lower lactose content than plain cow's milk). If you really want to ensure the vitality of this kitten, it might be worth the drive to Walmart or a Petco to get the best food for the kitten, especially if the little one isn't doing well. I am NOT trying to guilt. We got our cat at 3 days old and had to go through this too. I understand, really, I do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 She died :crying: dd 12 is crushed. I had a feeling though. She didn't look good. Thanks for all the advice though! :grouphug::grouphug::grouphug: So sorry. We've been through this too. I'm grateful that you and your dd have such big hearts and that this poor kitty spent it's last minutes warm and loved. If this might come up again, maybe you can prepare and stash away a kitten care kit...just in case. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newlifemom Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 She died :crying: dd 12 is crushed. I had a feeling though. She didn't look good. Thanks for all the advice though! So sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wy_kid_wrangler04 Posted March 27, 2011 Author Share Posted March 27, 2011 :grouphug::grouphug::grouphug: If this might come up again, maybe you can prepare and stash away a kitten care kit...just in case. :grouphug: Yes we are going to do this for sure! Thank you everybody! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
memmerrill Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 I would suggest a moist cotton ball for bathroom stimulation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celticmom Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 :grouphug: Sorry the kitten didn't make it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 :grouphug::grouphug::grouphug: I'm so sorry. :crying: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibbygirl Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 She died :crying: dd 12 is crushed. I had a feeling though. She didn't look good. Thanks for all the advice though! Oh no! I'm so sorry. How sad. :crying: :grouphug::grouphug::grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.