kittens lost mom!

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Erskine - 22 Mar 2006 00:46 GMT

I have 2 week old kittens, I let the mom out for a bathroom break and
she never returned? Its been 2 days! What is the best mixture to feed
the kittens? The have no teeth but have been taking milk from a suringe.

Reply to this Message

Cheryl Sellner - 22 Mar 2006 01:46 GMT

> I have 2 week old kittens, I let the mom out for a bathroom
> break and she never returned? Its been 2 days! What is the best
> mixture to feed the kittens? The have no teeth but have been
> taking milk from a suringe.

I hope she comes back! The kittens are going to need something
richer than plain milk. Do a web search for "kitten glop". Here's
one. The entire web page link is helpful for rearing tiny kittens.
How many are there?

"If commercial kitten formula is not available, a suitable feed
mixture for healthy kittens is 1.6 ml evaporated milk, 1.6 ml
cooled boiled water, 1 level teaspoon glucose, 1 small egg yolk (no
white at all). One recommended by a veterinarian is 3 oz condensed
milk, 3 oz water, 3 oz plain full fat yoghurt, 3 large or 4 small
egg yolks (no whites). An alternative is kitten glop. These are not
suitable for sick kittens."

KITTEN GLOP

Kitten Glop is a suitable feed mixture for healthy kittens and is
also good for lactating queens. Most recipes refer to American
brand names which are not understood outside of the USA/Canada. I
have converted these to generic terms and noted alternatives.

Ingredients

* 1 envelope unflavoured gelatine
* water per gelatine package directions (approx 12 oz)
* 1 12 oz can whole evaporated milk (not skimmed) See notes
* 3 tablespoons plain yoghurt (not low fat)
* 3 teaspoons clear corn syrup See notes
* 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
* 1 or 2 raw egg yolks (optional) See notes

http://messybeast.com/handrear.htm

Best wishes!

Signature

Cheryl

Reply to this Message

Rhonda - 22 Mar 2006 02:23 GMT

Something's really wrong if the Mom didn't come back to her kittens --
have you canvassed the neighborhood? I'd go door to door and ask them to
open all garages, sheds, and out-buildings. She might be locked in
somewhere.

KMR formula would be better than cow's milk. You can buy it at most
Petco-type stores.

Good luck,

Rhonda

> I have 2 week old kittens, I let the mom out for a bathroom break and
> she never returned? Its been 2 days! What is the best mixture to feed
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> <http://community-2.webtv.net/RATbunctious/Razzie/> (M.B.)
> <http://members2.boardhost.com/RATbunctious/index.html?1071968830>

Reply to this Message

Cheryl Sellner - 22 Mar 2006 02:55 GMT

> Something's really wrong if the Mom didn't come back to her
> kittens -- have you canvassed the neighborhood? I'd go door to
> door and ask them to open all garages, sheds, and out-buildings.
> She might be locked in somewhere.

Glad you pointed that out. Rhonda, you've raised baby kittens, at
what age can you start making a slurry out of cat food and formula
for them to lap up? How long do you have to stimulate the bowel and
bladder manually? At two weeks, and if momma kitty doesn't come
back, how long will it be for the kittens to be "out of the woods"?

> KMR formula would be better than cow's milk. You can buy it at
> most Petco-type stores.

Signature

Cheryl

Reply to this Message

Rhonda - 22 Mar 2006 06:35 GMT

>>Something's really wrong if the Mom didn't come back to her
>>kittens -- have you canvassed the neighborhood? I'd go door to
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> bladder manually? At two weeks, and if momma kitty doesn't come
> back, how long will it be for the kittens to be "out of the woods"?

Hi Cheryl,

We raised one batch of kittens and the mother was with them the whole
time. We started a slurry I think around 4 weeks. Ours were pretty slow
to try cat food, they were pretty stuck on mom, so to speak. I don't
know about the stimulating the bladder and being out of the woods part,
since we've only done this with the mom, but hopefully someone else will
have that answer.

I sure hope they find the mom, she's probably frantic wherever she is.
At 2 weeks, Maggie was just beginning to spend a little time away from
the kittens but kept them in sight.

Rhonda

Reply to this Message

Wendy - 24 Mar 2006 12:36 GMT

>>>Something's really wrong if the Mom didn't come back to her
>>>kittens -- have you canvassed the neighborhood? I'd go door to
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
>
> Rhonda

I've had kittens wean at 4 weeks and others refuse to give up the bottle
until 6 weeks. The later was a single kitten the former a litter so I don't
know if that had anything to do with it.

As for the stimulating them, you do that until you find poo in their cage
and they are walking. Then set up a little litter box (low enough sides for
them to be able to get into it), put kitty in the box, take the front paws
and gently scratch in the litter. Then stimulate the kitty until they go
standing in the box. Do that a couple of times for each kitty and in no time
you should notice them using the box on their own.

As for being out of the woods part, you do the best you can. Keep them warm,
fed and clean and more than likely they will be fine. Wash your hands before
handling the kittens. Some virus can live in the environment for a long time
so you don't want to inadvertently drag something in to the kittens.

You keep looking for mom. Her milk will dry up if the kittens aren't nursing
so you may still have to feed these guys even if you find her. You don't
need her out there getting pregnant again so try to find her.

Good luck with your kitties.

W

Reply to this Message

Anna - 24 Mar 2006 19:38 GMT

>KMR formula would be better than cow's milk. You can buy it at most
>Petco-type stores.

Yes, and if you get the KMR get the liquid kind, the powder is a hassle - you
have to mix it with water and stir a lot to get the lumps out.

Reply to this Message

Matthew AKA NMR ( NO MORE RETAIL ) - 22 Mar 2006 03:40 GMT

Phil's site
http://www.maxshouse.com/kitten_care.htm#Caring%20for%20Orphan%20Kittens
I have 2 week old kittens, I let the mom out for a bathroom break and
she never returned? Its been 2 days! What is the best mixture to feed
the kittens? The have no teeth but have been taking milk from a suringe.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Roxy)(ToJo) (Dizzy) (Razzie) (M.B.)

Reply to this Message

NanCe - 24 Mar 2006 19:19 GMT

>I have 2 week old kittens, I let the mom out for a bathroom break and
>she never returned? Its been 2 days! What is the best mixture to feed
>the kittens? The have no teeth but have been taking milk from a suringe.

Another thing that you can do is call your local shelters. Sometimes they
have a nursing mom there who doesn't have very many kittens and can take on
more. When I worked in a shelter, they often gave orphans to nursing moms.
Give them a call, they might let you bring them in to do this.

NanCe

Reply to this Message