Help - 2 orpahned kittens

[Magic Mood Jeep©]

Just found 2 orphaned/abandoned kittens outside one of our basement windows
(the mother was there last night when we first discovered them, and there
were 5, but she moved 3 and hasn't come back for these 2). I have received
some advice & supplies from my vet, but they seem to not want to eat. One
of them had dirt caked on it's chin & neck (I think this one's a she, while
with black spots) and sounds like she(?) might have a bit of a cold
(snuffling when she breathes). The other is a VERY robust black boy (I
think I saw boy parts on this one) that is squirming a screaming a LOT (he
has a great set of lungs), but didn't want to nurse from the bottle (maybe
the rubber nipple tastes bad?)

I believe these kittens to be under a week old, maybe only a few days as the
black one still has a bit of dried umbilical cord on him.

I plan on contacting a local pet-rescue organization (Pets Alive - they do
fosters & homing, plus have low cost spay/neuter, started by a bunch of
people that were outraged that 3 out of every 4 animals in the county
shelter were euthanized.) for any more advice and on finding a home for
them, but ANY advice I get here will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks
Nancy
The ONE and ONLY
lefthanded-pathetic-paranoid-psychotic-sarcastic-wiseass-ditzy former-blonde
in Bloomington! (And proud of it, too)©
http://www.geocities.com/the_magic_mood_jeep/
http://community.webshots.com/user/mgcmdjeep

[Karen Chuplis]

"Magic Mood Jeep©" > wrote in message
t...
> I've printed that out - Thanks!
>
> Don't think the white & black one is gonna make it - won't even open her
> mouth now, and barely moves. Black one just screams & screams - and takes
> just a bit of food, then screams some more - squirming all the while! He
> settles down once I place him back with sis, after he tries to find a
place
> to nurse on her and fails :(
>

Awww. How sad. She is maybe too week. Try to get them to eat. Poor babies.

Karen

[Magic Mood Jeep©]

Just took them to our vet, black one is fine, but has a few fleas. I'm to
use a flea comb on him several times a day (I figured every feeding). And
it is definitely a boy. He's all black with one tiny white spot on his
right 'breast' (or where a humans breast would be) and another white spot on
his belly, almost in front of his wee-wee*. I just fed him, he ate 5cc of
kitten milk, and piddled when I rubbed his bum*. He squirmed and screamed
the entire time, except when he was eating.

The white & black one is bad. She started bleeding from her nose and/or
mouth, so she must have had some trauma (probably when MommaKat 'exploded
from their nest when we past by last night, she kicked/stepped on this one),
and vet said that there really wasn't much chance, especially when she
wouldn't take any food (she'd spit up any tiny drop I'd put in her mouth),
so we agreed to end it peacefully for her. He did so at no charge. He's a
pretty good vet. I had no appointment, and he squeezed me in between
regular patients, he stuck his head out the door once and he perked up when
he hear the black kitten squealing. He's a cat lover, but also does dogs,
and probably a few others. It broke my heart to have to do that, but it was
wheezing as it breathed, and was not active at all. the only time it made
any noise was when the doc used a stethoscope to hear her breathing (I
squeal too when that cold metal touches me!).

My husband told me that one of the guys he works with might take this one,
providing that he makes it (which I think he will) and that I don't become
too attached to the bugger & decide to keep him. I haven't named him, but
I've been calling him everything from Blacky, Noisy, Squirmball to Tiny. I
even called him Guinea Pig, since his squealing reminds me of one!

*sorry, I can't think of a nicer way of putting it.
--
The ONE and ONLY
lefthanded-pathetic-paranoid-psychotic-sarcastic-wiseass-ditzy former-blonde
in Bloomington! (And proud of it, too)©
http://www.geocities.com/the_magic_mood_jeep/
http://community.webshots.com/user/mgcmdjeep


"Karen Chuplis" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Magic Mood Jeep©" > wrote in message
> t...
> > I've printed that out - Thanks!
> >
> > Don't think the white & black one is gonna make it - won't even open her
> > mouth now, and barely moves. Black one just screams & screams - and
takes
> > just a bit of food, then screams some more - squirming all the while! He
> > settles down once I place him back with sis, after he tries to find a
> place
> > to nurse on her and fails :(
> >
>
> Awww. How sad. She is maybe too week. Try to get them to eat. Poor babies.
>
> Karen
>
>

[DEBORAH RANDALL]

Just a suggestion, if you have a hard time feeding him. Use an eye dropper.
I have been fosting 3 kittens that the mother was hit and killed by a car.
They were about 3 weeks old when we got them. Two of them I had to use an
eye dropper with, the other one took the bottle fine. Also, as he gets a
little older start mixing baby rice cereal and baby chicken with it. This
will fill him up, expectionally to sleep through the night. Then when you
start with the dry food, soften it with the formula/rice/chicken mix.
Eventually take away the chicken and put let formular/rice in the dry food
so it's not so soft. For about a week after they started eating just the
dry food I would give them the formular/rice/chicken mix in a bowl so they
could get used to lapping from a bowl or dish. I also used a pie pan. It
was flat but had the rims to keep the food in it. After every feeding make
sure to rub his bum so he will boop. Put just a slight layer of litter in
the bottom of the litter box. (He may try to eat it if you don't.) Also,
please watch for diharea with blood. If he starts with that have him
checked for coxcitia. It is very contagious to other animals. If he gets
ring worm, put clear nail polish on it. It smothers it and kills it. Wash
him in Dawn or Joy dish liquid. I know I have given you a lot of
information but I hope it helps. Let me know if you have any other
questions. You can E-mail me at: .

"Magic Mood Jeep©" > wrote in message
news:vnw1b.171845$cF.58849@rwcrnsc53...
> Just took them to our vet, black one is fine, but has a few fleas. I'm to
> use a flea comb on him several times a day (I figured every feeding). And
> it is definitely a boy. He's all black with one tiny white spot on his
> right 'breast' (or where a humans breast would be) and another white spot
on
> his belly, almost in front of his wee-wee*. I just fed him, he ate 5cc of
> kitten milk, and piddled when I rubbed his bum*. He squirmed and screamed
> the entire time, except when he was eating.
>
> The white & black one is bad. She started bleeding from her nose and/or
> mouth, so she must have had some trauma (probably when MommaKat 'exploded
> from their nest when we past by last night, she kicked/stepped on this
one),
> and vet said that there really wasn't much chance, especially when she
> wouldn't take any food (she'd spit up any tiny drop I'd put in her mouth),
> so we agreed to end it peacefully for her. He did so at no charge. He's
a
> pretty good vet. I had no appointment, and he squeezed me in between
> regular patients, he stuck his head out the door once and he perked up
when
> he hear the black kitten squealing. He's a cat lover, but also does dogs,
> and probably a few others. It broke my heart to have to do that, but it
was
> wheezing as it breathed, and was not active at all. the only time it made
> any noise was when the doc used a stethoscope to hear her breathing (I
> squeal too when that cold metal touches me!).
>
> My husband told me that one of the guys he works with might take this one,
> providing that he makes it (which I think he will) and that I don't become
> too attached to the bugger & decide to keep him. I haven't named him, but
> I've been calling him everything from Blacky, Noisy, Squirmball to Tiny.
I
> even called him Guinea Pig, since his squealing reminds me of one!
>
> *sorry, I can't think of a nicer way of putting it.
> --
> The ONE and ONLY
> lefthanded-pathetic-paranoid-psychotic-sarcastic-wiseass-ditzy
former-blonde
> in Bloomington! (And proud of it, too)©
> http://www.geocities.com/the_magic_mood_jeep/
> http://community.webshots.com/user/mgcmdjeep
>
>
> "Karen Chuplis" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > "Magic Mood Jeep©" > wrote in message
> > t...
> > > I've printed that out - Thanks!
> > >
> > > Don't think the white & black one is gonna make it - won't even open
her
> > > mouth now, and barely moves. Black one just screams & screams - and
> takes
> > > just a bit of food, then screams some more - squirming all the while!
He
> > > settles down once I place him back with sis, after he tries to find a
> > place
> > > to nurse on her and fails :(
> > >
> >
> > Awww. How sad. She is maybe too week. Try to get them to eat. Poor
babies.
> >
> > Karen
> >
> >
>
>

[Linda Terrell]

On Fri, 22 Aug 2003 18:07:11 UTC, "Magic Mood Jeep©"
> wrote:

> I've printed that out - Thanks!
>
> Don't think the white & black one is gonna make it - won't even open her
> mouth now, and barely moves. Black one just screams & screams - and takes
> just a bit of food, then screams some more - squirming all the while! He
> settles down once I place him back with sis, after he tries to find a place
> to nurse on her and fails :(
>


--
Get a small syringe and force feed them. KMR from the
petstore or WM. And a little egg. A bit of karo syrum in it.

LT

[k conover]

If you really have trouble, you can tube feed the kitty--I fostered four
kittens and the runt had trouble eating...your vet can show you how and give
you the equipment--you snake a little tiny feeding tube down into the
stomach (it's not as hard as it sounds), use a syringe at one end to slowly
squeeze the milk into tummy. It's a last resort, but it makes sure the
kitty gets what they need. Upside--it's quicker than bottle feeding and you
know the kitty got a full tummy's worth of food.
Kirsten
"Linda Terrell" > wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 22 Aug 2003 18:07:11 UTC, "Magic Mood Jeep©"
> > wrote:
>
> > I've printed that out - Thanks!
> >
> > Don't think the white & black one is gonna make it - won't even open her
> > mouth now, and barely moves. Black one just screams & screams - and
takes
> > just a bit of food, then screams some more - squirming all the while! He
> > settles down once I place him back with sis, after he tries to find a
place
> > to nurse on her and fails :(
> >
>
>
> --
> Get a small syringe and force feed them. KMR from the
> petstore or WM. And a little egg. A bit of karo syrum in it.
>
> LT

[Jan A Cordes]

How sad for the little black and white one. At least you were able
to let her go peacefully.

I just had my first ever litter of bottle babies (they're 8-9 weeks
old now...were about 3 weeks when we got them). We (my helpful friends
and I) found that they seemed to prefer the "Four Paws" nipples over the
other (Pet Ag and Just Born).

It's a longer nipple and that might have been what made the difference
for them. They were sucking down 3/4 of the bottle with the Four Paws
nipples where we had a hard time getting them to eat with the others.

Jan

--
jan(at)panix.com http://www.couchtigers.com
.................................................. .................
Silicon Valley Friends of Ferals : CAT: A pigmy lion that loves
http://www.svff.org : mice, hates dogs, and
Mary Kay Cosmetics, Inc. : patronizes human beings.
http://www.marykay.com/jcordes : --Oliver Herford
...................................:.............. .................

[-L.]

Jan A Cordes > wrote in message >...
> How sad for the little black and white one. At least you were able
> to let her go peacefully.
>
> I just had my first ever litter of bottle babies (they're 8-9 weeks
> old now...were about 3 weeks when we got them

With everything you've done for cats over the last 20-some years, I
find it hard to believe that you *just* got your first set of bottle
babies! Congrats!! You know we will want pics. ;)

-L.

[Jan A Cordes]

In rec.pets.cats.rescue -L. > wrote:
> Jan A Cordes > wrote in message >...
> >
> > I just had my first ever litter of bottle babies (they're 8-9 weeks
> > old now...were about 3 weeks when we got them

> With everything you've done for cats over the last 20-some years, I
> find it hard to believe that you *just* got your first set of bottle
> babies! Congrats!! You know we will want pics. ;)

> -L.

It's true. I always got the hissy/spitty/need-to-be-tamed ones.
The bottle babies always went to someone with more experience. This
time around all of those folks were full. I even tried to trade the
bottle babies to someone who had hissy/spitty babies she was having
trouble with. It didn't work. She just showed me how to bottle feed
and then held my hand for the next week or two as we struggled to get
the babies to switch from being used to mom's nipples to taking the
bottles. One trip to the emergency room at 4am, a specific amount of
fluids calculated by the ER vet for each baby and we were on our way
to healthy, growing kittens.

I have one picture up right now. This was taken shortly after we brought
them in. I'm still working on getting more current pictures of them.
Everytime I try to take a picture I get the back end of a kitten that has
moved while the camera was in the picture process.

http://www.couchtigers.com/available/moonkittens.html

Jan

--
jan(at)panix.com http://www.couchtigers.com
.................................................. .................
Silicon Valley Friends of Ferals : CAT: A pigmy lion that loves
http://www.svff.org : mice, hates dogs, and
Mary Kay Cosmetics, Inc. : patronizes human beings.
http://www.marykay.com/jcordes : --Oliver Herford
...................................:.............. .................

[Linda E]

OMG, how cute!!! Nothing like a whole "batch" of kittens!



"Jan A Cordes" > wrote in message
...
> In rec.pets.cats.rescue -L. > wrote:
> > Jan A Cordes > wrote in message
>...
> > >
> > > I just had my first ever litter of bottle babies (they're 8-9 weeks
> > > old now...were about 3 weeks when we got them
>
> > With everything you've done for cats over the last 20-some years, I
> > find it hard to believe that you *just* got your first set of bottle
> > babies! Congrats!! You know we will want pics. ;)
>
> > -L.
>
> It's true. I always got the hissy/spitty/need-to-be-tamed ones.
> The bottle babies always went to someone with more experience. This
> time around all of those folks were full. I even tried to trade the
> bottle babies to someone who had hissy/spitty babies she was having
> trouble with. It didn't work. She just showed me how to bottle feed
> and then held my hand for the next week or two as we struggled to get
> the babies to switch from being used to mom's nipples to taking the
> bottles. One trip to the emergency room at 4am, a specific amount of
> fluids calculated by the ER vet for each baby and we were on our way
> to healthy, growing kittens.
>
> I have one picture up right now. This was taken shortly after we brought
> them in. I'm still working on getting more current pictures of them.
> Everytime I try to take a picture I get the back end of a kitten that has
> moved while the camera was in the picture process.
>
> http://www.couchtigers.com/available/moonkittens.html
>
> Jan
>
> --
> jan(at)panix.com http://www.couchtigers.com
> .................................................. ................
> Silicon Valley Friends of Ferals : CAT: A pigmy lion that loves
> http://www.svff.org : mice, hates dogs, and
> Mary Kay Cosmetics, Inc. : patronizes human beings.
> http://www.marykay.com/jcordes : --Oliver Herford
> ..................................:............... ................
>