Help -- Newborn Kittens!

[Goochina & Goochissimo]

A neighborhood stray had kittens in my back yard. There were five of them, and they were tiny when we found them -- eyes and ears not open yet. So precious. We've been leaving cat food out for the mom, to make sure she is eating enough. :)

Now there is only one kitten left in the yard, and while the food is missing, I haven't seen the mom around. Yesterday my dalmatian got out of the house, and before we could stop him he had picked up the kitten in his mouth. :eek: He didn't hurt it, just set it back down covered in dog saliva... ick. We kept checking on the kitty later, and she was fine.

Why did the mom leave this kitty behind? Does she spread them out in different places for a reason? Has she abandoned this one?

:confused:

[Mocha]

Oh dear.. sounds like mummy has left this one behind for some reason or other! Maybe you should wait and see if she comes back for it, or if she drops by to check on it. If not, you might want to adopt the kitten, because it sounds like it really is too young to be left alone! They can't eat solids yet till they're a few months old, and it will have to be bottle fed. Do keep us updated with what's happened ok? :)

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Sounds like the mother is moving her babies. It can take a while so she may come back for it or something could have happened to her. I'd just keep watching for a while. If not, it will need to be bottle fed. I bottle fed my cat, Leonardo. He was about 10 days old though. He looked like Popeye the sailor with one eye almost open. There is a powdered milk available for orphaned babies. The vet could tell you more about it. Good luck.

[Ila]

Hopefully Mommy will come back for the little one. If not guess you might be Mommy to the furry baby. Good luck!!

[Goochina & Goochissimo]

Whew! Finally last night the kitten was gone. I hope she is safe and sound with momma now. She had been alone in our yard for about 48 hours... I guess the mom must have been feeding her though.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Safe with Mom!
I bet the baby is safe with its mom. It takes a while for them to all get moved because they carry them in their mouth. That's not alway easy. There was a cat in our neighborhood who moved her babies from a garage two doors down to my porch. It took her over 24 hours. It just depends on how far they have to go. They stay with them for a while after each move I guess to make sure the babies are ok. Good job on looking out for them. When they are older, Mom may bring them to you to feed.

[Randi]

Goochina & Goochissimo!

I really hope the mom has taken the last kitten to a safe place with the others! Have you looked around? It sure would be good with some shelter and a blanket for them, if you can find them. And food as well, of course! But be careful touching them!

We had a similar situation in our backyard some years ago. A cat had given birth to 5 kittens in a box attached to someones bicycle. We didn't know how the owner would react to that (the box was used to have a child in, while cycling) so a group of us build a house and put blankets in and put the 5 kittens in there. The mom saw it and followed us to her new house and moved in. But sadly, she would not feed them. We all checked 3-4 times a day, but after 3 days, the ones having cats themselves, decided it was the best to have them put down. She totally neglected them. We think the reason was that we'd touched them. Really sad! :(

I hope you'll see them all playing around in a few months time! :) Or find happy homes for them, when they're old enough! :)

[Goochina & Goochissimo]

The momma did NOT come back and get the baby -- my neighbor did. She is trying to bottle feed the baby. :( I am not sure this will work out, and afraid that the momma won't take the kitty back if it doesn't!

Keep your fingers crossed for this baby! She doesn't even NEED to take in that cat -- she has four dogs, one of which is pregnant, and a python already. The pregnant dog is also very aggressive. I'm worried about that kitty!!!!

[purrley]

I would have been so tempted to bring them in the house and raise them myself. But that's just the way I am. I would try and get a hold of Mamma kitty though and get her spayed!!!

[Lando]

I hope it survives. If you have bottle feed it, I have a recipe of kitten formula that a vet gave me when I had to bottle feed some kittens. The formula helped. Just tell me if you need it.

hi Lando

I do not really need that recipe ; but I think it would be a good idea to post it here anyway !! I'm sure this will be a good thing to note down , in case we need it some day !! We never know what will happen , right !!!:) :) :)

[Former User]

Goochina & Goochissimo, any news about this kitten?