Author Topic: HOW TO SAVE KITTENS WITHOUT MOTHER  (Read 28409 times)

The Italian Lifter

  • Getbig IV
  • ****
  • Posts: 3582
  • I need an English dictionary!
HOW TO SAVE KITTENS WITHOUT MOTHER
« on: August 27, 2012, 09:06:14 AM »
I write the following post hoping that it can be useful to someone who is about or just took home kittens, little cats of 0 to 2 weeks and you don’t have their mother.

To Mods: please feel free to correct my English in order to make this better understandable, if so your kind help is highly appreciated.

Edit: I'll add new things on this first post in order not to take too much space and keep the info together.
---

What follows is the result of suggestion of 2 Vets and my personal experience (together with my wife) in growing 3 little kittens without their mother: against all odds all of them survived.

1)   They don’t know yet how to eat/drink and urinate/defecate by themselves.

2)   They need to eat at least 10% of their bodyweight per day of water soluble milk, but it’s safer if you’re able to reach 15/20%

3)   In any case the little cat MUST eat every 2 (maximum 3 hours) no matter what. One of ours needed really to be forced a lot, was crying desperately, but you have no choice.

4)   If the kitten has diarrhea the a.m. point is of the utmost importance.

5)   Dysentery it’s common given that the artificial milk is a big change for them: you must buy a dough that you need to give them, just put it on your finger and force it into the kitten mouth. In Italy we have this product (see picture) so in USA you’ll have at least 10 different brands.

6)   Your biggest enemy will be diarrhea so you may need to help the kitten in not getting dehydrated by injecting Ringer’s solution 2 to 3 times a day. We almost lost one kitten for this reason but in First Aid Vet we were successful in saving her life.

7)   Keep in mind that some kittens just don’t seem to be interested at all in eating from the little baby-bottle: force them, no matter what.
Skipping a meal can really be fatal.

8   If you see that one of them seem to have trouble waking up correctly it’s a sign that he/she needs to eat more or the last meal was too far away: it’s a wake-up call.

9)   Since they are also growing teeth very frequently they just chew the rubber point of the baby-bottle but don’t give up, it’s normal.

10)   If you have more kittens and one of them is absolutely not eating, when feeding him/her keep one of the other near: competition for food will trigger, we were successful because of this.

11)   Don’t worry about water, if they eat enough milk it’s not necessary.

12)   For urine and poo they MUST be stimulated manually: the former with a soft absorbent paper, passing it over the genitals like it’s their mother’s tongue.
For poo you should buy vaseline oil and use your lubricated finger to stimulate the anus.
Every 48 hours or so they will defecate a soft light-brown material.

13) What Andy said about water is correct, but not for the first 4 to 5 weeks.
This because they really are not able to ingest so much fluids and it’s absolutely necessary to put in as much as nutrients as possible.
Remember that we’re talking about a kitten of 250 grs and just by skipping a meal we found one of them unconscious and with body temperature extremely low.
In essence we need to pack as much as nutrients as possible in that little stomach.
All three of them started drinking water by themselves by week 5 or so.

14) Another important point: as with humans you’ll always have a kitten which is smarter and starts doing vital things (like drinking water for example) before the others.
Be sure that the others are around him: they will learn from him (at least when they’ll start to see more clearly).
North of Italy

The Italian Lifter

  • Getbig IV
  • ****
  • Posts: 3582
  • I need an English dictionary!
Re: HOW TO SAVE KITTENS WITHOUT MOTHER
« Reply #1 on: August 27, 2012, 09:16:18 AM »
Tomorrow I'll add other suggestions and things we learned along the way.

If this thread will help saving just one kitten I'll be happy.
North of Italy

The Italian Lifter

  • Getbig IV
  • ****
  • Posts: 3582
  • I need an English dictionary!
Re: HOW TO SAVE KITTENS WITHOUT MOTHER
« Reply #2 on: August 27, 2012, 09:16:59 AM »
.
North of Italy

The Italian Lifter

  • Getbig IV
  • ****
  • Posts: 3582
  • I need an English dictionary!
Re: HOW TO SAVE KITTENS WITHOUT MOTHER
« Reply #3 on: August 27, 2012, 09:17:41 AM »
.
North of Italy

booty

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 14910
Re: HOW TO SAVE KITTENS WITHOUT MOTHER
« Reply #4 on: August 27, 2012, 02:10:14 PM »
My cat sooty died unexpectantly (we think she ate some poison put out by a neighbour) and she left behind four 17 day old kittens.  I had to feed them by the bottle every couple of hours.  My hands were a mess from them clawing me for food....haha  I just bought some kitten formula and made it up by the bottle when needed.  I cleaned their bums with a warm wet towel.


booty

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 14910
Re: HOW TO SAVE KITTENS WITHOUT MOTHER
« Reply #5 on: August 27, 2012, 02:13:19 PM »
.

Look how big her claws are compared to her.   ;D

Andy Griffin

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 6620
  • I know my own name, bitch.
Re: HOW TO SAVE KITTENS WITHOUT MOTHER
« Reply #6 on: August 28, 2012, 06:02:23 AM »
My cat sooty died unexpectantly (we think she ate some poison put out by a neighbour) and she left behind four 17 day old kittens.  I had to feed them by the bottle every couple of hours.  My hands were a mess from them clawing me for food....haha  I just bought some kitten formula and made it up by the bottle when needed.  I cleaned their bums with a warm wet towel.



I'm sorry to hear about Sooty.  I lost my beloved "son"  Gizmo Herbert Griffin, back in May. 

The only thing from the OP's list I would disagree with is "never mind about water"  I've always been told that milk is food, and should never be used as a substitute for water.  Granted, he may be talking about just those first few days, but all in all cats need plenty of clean, fresh water to drink.
~

The Italian Lifter

  • Getbig IV
  • ****
  • Posts: 3582
  • I need an English dictionary!
Re: HOW TO SAVE KITTENS WITHOUT MOTHER
« Reply #7 on: August 28, 2012, 08:14:32 AM »
My cat sooty died unexpectantly (we think she ate some poison put out by a neighbour) and she left behind four 17 day old kittens.  I had to feed them by the bottle every couple of hours.  My hands were a mess from them clawing me for food....haha  I just bought some kitten formula and made it up by the bottle when needed.  I cleaned their bums with a warm wet towel.



How many of them Sooty left?
All of them survived?

Our Vet was very skeptic about the possibilities of our 3 kittens: he was thinking 2 survivors excellent but 1 more realistic.
North of Italy

booty

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 14910
Re: HOW TO SAVE KITTENS WITHOUT MOTHER
« Reply #8 on: August 28, 2012, 07:22:03 PM »
I'm sorry to hear about Sooty.  I lost my beloved "son"  Gizmo Herbert Griffin, back in May. 

The only thing from the OP's list I would disagree with is "never mind about water"  I've always been told that milk is food, and should never be used as a substitute for water.  Granted, he may be talking about just those first few days, but all in all cats need plenty of clean, fresh water to drink.
Thank you Andy and sorry for your loss of Gizmo.   :(  I think the OP is referring to very young kittens.  The kitten milk formula is mixed with water.  Also kittens breastfed from their mothers do not need any water until they start drinking from a bowl themselves. 

booty

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 14910
Re: HOW TO SAVE KITTENS WITHOUT MOTHER
« Reply #9 on: August 28, 2012, 07:24:50 PM »
How many of them Sooty left?
All of them survived?

Our Vet was very skeptic about the possibilities of our 3 kittens: he was thinking 2 survivors excellent but 1 more realistic.
Sooty left 4 kittens behind.  All of them survived. I fed them around the clock every 2-3 hours pretty much like when I breastfed my two children..haha
They were so adorable, when they heard my voice or saw me they would start meowing crawling towards me.   

sync pulse

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 5604
  • Only be sure always to call it please, 'research'
Re: HOW TO SAVE KITTENS WITHOUT MOTHER
« Reply #10 on: August 28, 2012, 11:42:43 PM »
I once had a female chihuahua that adopted motherless kittens on a couple of occasions...I bottle fed the cats, and Poopsi would otherwise provide the mothering functions and a warm affectionate body to cuddle against.  It's amusing to watch a small dog groom little kittens.

booty

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 14910
Re: HOW TO SAVE KITTENS WITHOUT MOTHER
« Reply #11 on: August 29, 2012, 12:58:53 AM »
I once had a female chihuahua that adopted motherless kittens on a couple of occasions...I bottle fed the cats, and Poopsi would otherwise provide the mothering functions and a warm affectionate body to cuddle against.  It's amusing to watch a small dog groom little kittens.
Awwww that's so beautiful.  Did you end up keeping any of the kittens for Poopsi to have a companion? 

sync pulse

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 5604
  • Only be sure always to call it please, 'research'
Re: HOW TO SAVE KITTENS WITHOUT MOTHER
« Reply #12 on: August 31, 2012, 11:24:09 AM »
one black one...I will try to find a photo...but my mom sort of lost it at the end of her life and she disposed of most of my negatives, transparancies and prints when I wasn't looking.

booty

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 14910
Re: HOW TO SAVE KITTENS WITHOUT MOTHER
« Reply #13 on: August 31, 2012, 07:52:36 PM »
one black one...I will try to find a photo...but my mom sort of lost it at the end of her life and she disposed of most of my negatives, transparancies and prints when I wasn't looking.
I kept the little black kitten too from the litter.  I would love it if you could find a pic and sorry about the loss of your mother. 

The Italian Lifter

  • Getbig IV
  • ****
  • Posts: 3582
  • I need an English dictionary!
Re: HOW TO SAVE KITTENS WITHOUT MOTHER
« Reply #14 on: February 08, 2013, 12:40:34 AM »
bump
North of Italy

outby43

  • Getbig IV
  • ****
  • Posts: 3474
  • Libertarians 2016
Re: HOW TO SAVE KITTENS WITHOUT MOTHER
« Reply #15 on: February 08, 2013, 01:31:31 AM »

Geo

  • Getbig IV
  • ****
  • Posts: 3782
Re: HOW TO SAVE KITTENS WITHOUT MOTHER
« Reply #16 on: February 09, 2013, 07:58:29 PM »
Hooray kittens !

The Italian Lifter

  • Getbig IV
  • ****
  • Posts: 3582
  • I need an English dictionary!
Re: HOW TO SAVE KITTENS WITHOUT MOTHER
« Reply #17 on: July 04, 2013, 02:56:03 AM »
They are alive and well, and as you can see it's very clear who's in command.
Last 23rd of May it was one year we saved them.

Left to right: Jessica, Nando, Gigio
North of Italy

The Italian Lifter

  • Getbig IV
  • ****
  • Posts: 3582
  • I need an English dictionary!
Re: HOW TO SAVE KITTENS WITHOUT MOTHER
« Reply #18 on: July 04, 2013, 02:57:49 AM »
Gigio
North of Italy

The Italian Lifter

  • Getbig IV
  • ****
  • Posts: 3582
  • I need an English dictionary!
Re: HOW TO SAVE KITTENS WITHOUT MOTHER
« Reply #19 on: July 04, 2013, 02:58:20 AM »
Nando
North of Italy

The Italian Lifter

  • Getbig IV
  • ****
  • Posts: 3582
  • I need an English dictionary!
Re: HOW TO SAVE KITTENS WITHOUT MOTHER
« Reply #20 on: July 04, 2013, 03:00:23 AM »
The Barbarian Brothers...
North of Italy

The Italian Lifter

  • Getbig IV
  • ****
  • Posts: 3582
  • I need an English dictionary!
Re: HOW TO SAVE KITTENS WITHOUT MOTHER
« Reply #21 on: July 04, 2013, 03:04:12 AM »
Jessica sleeping...

She's the one we rescued last June thanks to intense care in a bigger city near us (16 miles in 13 minutes no highway!)
North of Italy

The Italian Lifter

  • Getbig IV
  • ****
  • Posts: 3582
  • I need an English dictionary!
Re: HOW TO SAVE KITTENS WITHOUT MOTHER
« Reply #22 on: July 04, 2013, 03:05:27 AM »
Gigio sleeping  ;D
North of Italy

The Italian Lifter

  • Getbig IV
  • ****
  • Posts: 3582
  • I need an English dictionary!
Re: HOW TO SAVE KITTENS WITHOUT MOTHER
« Reply #23 on: July 04, 2013, 03:06:20 AM »
Nando sleeping in his big confy heart...
North of Italy

TightBody

  • Guest
Re: HOW TO SAVE KITTENS WITHOUT MOTHER
« Reply #24 on: July 06, 2013, 12:09:31 PM »
thank u Italian Lifter :)   kittens are so cute