Help Needed Asap! Tiny Kitten!

[All Creatures Great And Small]

Help - I have just been given a very tiny little kitten, and I have no idea what to do with it - I've never had a kitten this little and I don't know what to feed it! It has stinky greenish diarrhea right now, so I don't want to upset it's tummy any more.

My daughter and I were just at the pet store about a half hour ago, and there was a lady wandering around in there with this kitten. She asked us if we knew whether the pet store "takes animals", and said she wanted to give them the kitten which she had found on the side of the road while doing her paper route.
She didn't want to take it to her local humane society because they charge $40 to drop off animals. We said we'd take it, because I thought it should go to a humane society, not a pet store. However, when we got home, it was too late to get to our
humane society to drop it off! So now I gotta keep this little guy/girl for the night- help! What do I do???

[lailamara]

Oh dear. Not sure what to do ?? It must be weaned. Maybe you could check some internet sites to find out what to feed since you probably don't have kitten food. I don't suppose you could keep the kitten??????Poor little mite.

[Edwina's Secretary]

At Petco or any pet store they have a kit....it has kitten milk and a bottle for feeding the kitten.

Good Luck.....

[Soledad]

How tiny is it? Do you have any idea what age it is? Maybe a picture would help.

[moosmom]

First of all, STAY CALM!! Are the kitten's eyes open? If so, then it is at least 3 weeks old. Go to the pet store and buy a can of KMR kitten formula (get the stuff already mixed as it's less of a hassle) and a kitten bottle (they should be near the KMR). Fill the bottle up with formula and warm it in hot water in the sink. Puncture a hole in the nipple of the bottle with a sewing needle. Do it a couple of times then squeeze it to make sure formula comes out. Hold the kitten in a towel in an upright position (the same position as it would be in as if nursing from it's mama) and put the nipple in it's mouth. If the kitten is as young as I think, you're probably going to have to feed it every 2-2 1/2 hours. When you finish feeding it, take a soft towel/cloth and rub it's bum (just below it's tail) until it pees and poops. You'll know because the towel/facecloth will get wet. You MUST do that in order to make the kitten pee and poop.

If you have a veterinarian, call them in the morning and see if they can take it and have the staff feed it until it's old enough to eat on it's own.

I admire you for taking this precious thing in. Please keep me posted.

[Desert Arabian]

Here is a picture. The kitten is a boy...we checked. lol. We gave him some kitten replacement milk, he is so cute.

[wolf_Q]

Oh my, he sure is CUTE!! I'm so glad both of you took him in....I hope you end up keeping him, I bet he's a total sweetheart!

[NoahsMommy]

What a total doll! I don't have any advice, but I'm sure you'll get a lot here.

You'll be in my thoughts tonight.

[zippy-kat]

Awwwww..... what an adorable little face!

I, too, was going to suggest taking him to the vet. Good luck guys! It's going to be a L O N G night with 2hr feedings! (but well worth it, don'tcha think? )

[aly]

ACGAS - here's a copy of the email I just sent ya. I just saw the pic of the kitty and he looks about 3 weeks old. I was thinking he was a bit younger. Green diarrhea is bad. It could be Giardia or Coccidia. It might be nothing though... only a fecal could tell. If you guys have some Pedialyte, that would help rehydrate him.

Hi!

How old is the kitten? If you're not sure, send me a pic and I can tell. You should feed the kitten KMR formula through a bottle or syringe. Since the pet stores are closed, there is a recipe for homemade baby formula:

3 oz. condensed milk
3 oz. water
4 oz. plain yogurt (NOT low-fat)
3 large or 4 small egg yolks

The kitty should eat every 2-3 hours if its under 2 weeks old. Be sure not to overfeed though. It is better to underfeed. If you don't have a bottle or a syringe, you can use an eyedropper. Just put it in boiling water for a minute to sterilize it. The kitty formula should be room temperature or a little warmer - test it on your wrist. After the kitten eats, take a warm, damp cloth or paper towel and stimulate him to potty. I usually hold them over the trash can for this part in case of dribbles

Set up a crate or box with towels and a stuffed animal and a heating pad if you have one. Put it on the lowest setting and wrap it tightly with a cloth so the kitty can't sit directly on the pad. I also play classical music or talk radio softly.

I'm going to try to catch you on AIM to see if you have any specific questions!

[aly]

Since he looks to be 3 weeks old or a little over, you won't have to feed him every 2 hours. Every 4-6 hours would be fine. Thanks for taking the little guy in. I hope your humane society will have someone to foster him.

Going to look for ya on AIM now!

[shais_mom]

AAWW!
What a cutie!
Will be thinking of you!

[marysmerrycats]

you could take it to an open all night vet.. here's some links I found... good luck, he sure is cute!

http://www.kittenrescue.org/handbook.htm
http://www.fanciers.com/cat-faqs/orphans.html
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ridge/2969/baby.html
http://www.petstation.com/kittencare.html
http://www.safehavenforcats.com/newborn.htm

[Vio&Juni]

When I was still a student, me and my bf found a little kitten just like this (size), he was totally black. He also had diarrhea.
I don't remember anyhing about the food we gave him, but he got better very soon and I kept him. I had to fight with the management, but I kept him. And I named him Kuzea.

I hope this little bundle of fur makes it and he gets a good home

[ramanth]

He's adorable! Good luck with him! Keep us posted.