Help!! Newborn Kitty Abandoned

[micki76]

I posted this in cat health also. I just have no idea what to do!


I need help asap. We found a newborn (1-2 days old) kitty this morning and the mother (feral) has never came back to get it. She moved the other two. I bought the kitten milk replacement at Petco and have fed the kitty one time. Also made it potty. What do I do with it???? Keep it on a heating pad? How will I know if it's too hot? Kitten ate pretty well, I guess. I don't know how much it should take. Trying to find a wet nurse mother cat. Any help is GREATLY appreciated!!

[Cataholic]

OHHH>....way more feedings every 2-3 hours....use the washcloth to keep the bum area stimulated for poop/pee. After every meal. I think you should call a vet and locate a fostermom....the kitty needs heat.....ohh....quick someone else post!

[aly]

KEep the heating pad on a low setting and be sure the kitten can crawl off if he wants to. When they get too hot, they will move unless they are sick. My Skylar stayed on his heating pad until he was 6 weeks old, hehe.

Be sure you get the special newborn milk with colostrum in it. This is very crucial for such a young kitten. The Petsmart here doesn't carry it but Petco does.

Do you have AIM? If you do, get on it and we can talk on there!

[aly]

Oh yeah, its also really important to put a stuffed animal in there with him so he can cuddle up to it. Emotional comfort is almost as important as physical for them. When Skylar was little, I got a small stuffed animal because if it was too big, it made him get off the heating pad.

[micki76]

Arrrggghhh! No I don't have AIM. Darn it!! The heating pad is on low, and I'll make room for him to get off of it. Thanks! Anything elso I should know? How much should he eat per meal? Not very much I assume.

[aly]

At that age Skylar was eating about 3 cc's every 2-3 hours. It would vary some of course, but that was about the average.

Do you know about warming the formula and everything? Test it on your wrist and it should be about the same temp as your wrist .. not feel too hot or too cold.

[Cataholic]

Micki...bless you!!! Stay calm, follow the instructions Aly has given you, and this should work. Good luck!! And, keep an eye out for those other kitties. I ***don't***think the feral momma cat would take this one back? Does anyone know this? I think I would look for a foster mom, too!!!!!

[aly]

If you can't find a nursing mom, I'd be happy to help you or foster him for you? Not sure how your dogs feel about kitties. But I'm not too far away if you need ANY help at all so just holler, ok?

[apcrs5122]

We are taking care of 5 orphaned kittens right now. We got them at 3 weeks old and they are now 8 weeks. You need to feed babies about every 2 hours and when they are about 3 weeks, feed them every 4. Talk to your local humane society (if you have one) and they should help. Use a warm, wet washcloth on it's bottom to stimulate bowel movements. Get on the internet and do searches for babies and make sure you keep it warm. Also it would be a good idea to put in a stuffed animal about the size a mother cat would be to sybolize a mother for the baby. That's all I can think of right now.....hope you can take care of it!!!

[babolaypo65]

Boy I'm glad Aly and cataholic know so much! My heart was pounding reading this. I've never had to do this, so I have nothing to offer other than good thoughts!

[Desert Arabian]

Here are a couple of websites. I hope they have some good insights for you!!

Website 1
Website 2
Website 3- This one is the best I believe
Website 4

-YLL

[micki76]

Thanks so much Aly! Chester is trying to eat him, so hopefully I can find a Mommy for him asap. I'm going to make some calls.

Should I cover him up with anything while he's on the heating pad or will he get too hot?

Trying to stay calm. Thanks Cataholic. And no, I don't think she's coming back. Chester put the fear of dog in her. We kept him inside all day waiting for her to come back. She came and got the other two, but not this one. She's very feral and I think this was her 1st litter. I tried to get animal control to come and trap her so that at least the kitties would have a chance, but my little town won't do anything on Sunday!

[aly]

ITs good to put a blanket over them to prevent a draft. Is he in a crate?

[aly]

I cut up pieces of fabric (fleece) into sizes to cover the heating pad, and one to cover the kitty. Then I also cover the whole crate with a sheet. I check often though to be sure the kitty can get out and isn't stuck in anything.

I know a few of the rescue groups and shelters around there but don't know how they are with babies. Let me know if you can't find help. I really wouldn't mind fostering, especially since all mine are off the bottle now!

And don't get stressed out! You're doing all you can and so whatever happens, you know you tried your best and made a big difference

[micki76]

Yes he's in a dog bed in a large crate. I have a towel over the dog bed, but not touching him and he has a small stuffy now. Wow, no sleep for Mommy tonight. At least I can take him to work with me tomorrow. Glad for my boss, she's an animal person, too. Gotta go feed!