HELLLPPP!!!!! Orphaned baby kittens:(

**dhmunoz** · 08-11-2005, 09:11 PM

Somebody please help me, I have never done this before! Aack!

Today DH and I went to the Animal Shelter (pound) because we heard on the radio that there was a dachshund there. Well, the dachshund was gone, but...

Someone had dropped off a box with 5 baby kittens in it. Their mother was hit this afternoon by a car and killed. The had the kittens--in their box--in one of the cages, and they were all crying and wiggling around, so I mentioned to one of the ladies that work there that the babies looked hungry. She said that she knew, but that they were orphaned and if they couldn't find someone to take them by the time they closed, they would have to euthanize them because they would die overnight if no one took care of them. They are only about a week old. I looked at the clock and it was already 4:45, and the placed closed at 5!!

There was NO WAY that I could let these poor babies just die. They did have a couple that they were in touch with that could take the kittens tomorrow, but they were not in town today. So they told me that they would pay for all the supplies if I wanted to take care of the kitttens overnight and then turn them over the the people that wanted them, tomorrow afternoon. Or I can keep them if I wanted to...but I'm not so sure I want to do that. I just didn't want to see them put to sleep

So anyhow, I went to Wal-Mart and bought kitten formula and some little bottles. The kittens seem hungry but very resistant to the bottles--it is so frustrating, lol. What I am wondering is, how much are they supposed to be drinking? I want them to survive...they are just so cute

Any advice? I already know that they have to be rubbed/stroked so that they will go to the bathroom. Mostly I'm concerned about how much they're supposed to eat.

My other cats are just BESIDE THEMSELVES with indignation! LOL!

**kaykwilts** · 08-11-2005, 09:32 PM

Bless your tender little heart for rescuing these babies. I hope you can get the little kitties to eat.

**Nada.Leona** · 08-11-2005, 10:10 PM

That's amazing, what a big beautiful heart you have. I have no suggestions, but please tell us how it goes tomorrow!

Bright Blessings!
Aphrodite Pretty

**halo475** · 08-11-2005, 10:20 PM

get an eye dropper and do it that way until they get used to not have their mother. It's a loooong slow process, but it will work. They will eventually drink out of the bottles. Make sure it's warm, but not too warm. Gently force the eye dropper into their mouth and drop a few drops at a time in there. They will be very resistant until they discover it's food.

Oh and plan on not sleeping for the next week or 2

I have fostered 2 batches of very young kittens, if you need any help, just holler.

Sewcrafty is our resident cat expert though, so maybe she will chime in with her vast experience too.

**Missy** · 08-11-2005, 10:28 PM

Sewcrafty has had lots of kitty rearing experience. I have used the dropper on little ones too and it works well till the got a little bigger then the bottles worked well. As for how much, i did as much as they seemed to want, i let them set the pace and the quanity.

**halo475** · 08-11-2005, 10:33 PM

Here isa a very helpful website-I did not read it all, but seemed good:

http://www.feralcat.com/raising.html

**halo475** · 08-11-2005, 10:36 PM

here is a helpful chart about halfway down the page:

http://www.kittencare.com/askKC_Feed...ns.html#jordyn

**dhmunoz** · 08-12-2005, 12:51 AM

Thanks everyone

I did some checking online, and I did get some sort of idea how much I should feed them. I just finished feeding and "bathrooming" them (for lack of better term, lol!) and NOW I am going to lay down for about 3 hours before I get up again

When I put them back in their box, the all promptly snuggled up and went to sleep, so all seems well at this point

You should see my big boys though...they are M-A-D!! The sat in the hallway and hissed while I was feeding the babies. They're not too brave though, they refuse to go out in that room. It's funny! The kittens are in an enclosed crate, so the big cats have no way of getting to them but I seriously doubt they would try. Such big scaredy-cats

**SewCrafty** · 08-12-2005, 06:13 AM

You did everything right! Patience, patience and more patience and then they will figure out that it is food and you will have screaming mimi's on your hands because you can only feed one at a time!

They are very little so they need to be kept really warm and out of drafts. When you are feeding them, massage their whole body, just like mom is washing them. You can also clean them up with a luke warm wash cloth.

Other than that, they are just like human babies, eat, sleep and potty and of course lots of cuddling!

Oh and yes your big cats will hurt them if you aren't there to supervise so keeping them in a cage is perfect.

You are a sweetheart for taking in these babies!

Holler if you need more help.

**Chea** · 08-12-2005, 09:29 PM

omg -- I almost cried at what a generous heart you have. How many other people would have just walked away?? You know -- animals are so precious and I'd say you're earning your wings girl. You have a LOOOONG night ahead of you but you can do it!

**dhmunoz** · 08-12-2005, 10:34 PM

Hi everyone

Well, the people that had previously arranged to take the kittens came and picked them up this evening. They did fabulously well all last night and today

BUT.....

(I am almost ashamed to admit this so bear with me!!) after they left, I just started feeling sad and worried. Not sure why..they live on a farm and have 2 lactating mother cats that have taken care of orphans before. These people have taken in other animals from the shelter with no problems and were recommended by the shelter workers. STILL, I bawled like a baby until finally DH called the guy's cell phone and asked if him if I could please have 1 or 2 of those kittens back. I couldn't even get on the phone I was crying so much

He said he would bring the 2 kittens to me Sunday evening. They live outside of town and had already gotten home by the time DH called.

I know, I am a BIG WUSS! LOL

**Missy** · 08-12-2005, 11:11 PM

awww,

**favesis37** · 08-22-2005, 04:39 PM

oh how sweet, i am afriadi i couldnt' have gotten rid of any of them. the fact htat you did is great, i would have called them also, how are they doing?

**tbs727** · 08-22-2005, 04:59 PM

Bless your heart DHMunoz. I would be the same way and would have a hard time letting go. It's nice of them to bring back a couple babies to you. It sounds like you are doing the right thing by letting them go with these people. I bet their hearts are as big as yours.

**dhmunoz** · 08-22-2005, 09:05 PM

Hello again

Well, I got one of the kittens back. I had wanted 2, but the guy who took them REALLY REALLY loved all the stripey ones and had named them all already...lol...so he brought me back the one little black one that I had wanted most of all.

I can't really tell if it is a boy or a girl.

It's getting really big now, moving fast too! Still feeding from the little kitten bottle. It just started going to the bathroom a little without my help, which makes for a LOT of messes because it's not quite ready to learn the litter box yet.

He/she is named "Lucky", a name chosen by DH