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#1
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Help feeding 3 week old kittens
Greetings,
I am currently hand rearing four 3 week old kittens. I have been hand rearing them since they were 1 or 2 days old. I work at a horse farm (a whole different story), and one of the barn kitties had this litter (6 total, but two died the third day - the runt and one found the day after the others). She abandoned them and was attacking them because she had no milk (she also had an abcessed neck). The kids at the farm were trying to hand feed them until I came in and stopped this (they were just about asperating them!) and took them home. Because they were so tiny and weak, I tube fed them for the first two days. After they got some strength, I switched them to a bottle and they took to it wonderfully. The people at the barn were feeding the Just Born brand, which I took home. I like the Pet-Ag people, so I gradually switched them over to that. They are fully on KMR, for about 2 full days now. They are very small (and may have been premature, but had fur on their legs) and currently only weigh about 4 oz at 21 days. I know they *should* be closer to 10 oz, and this concerns me. However, they have "meat on their bones" and their spines and ribs are quite cushioned. I do not know what they weighed when I brought them home as I did not have a scale at that time. They are about the size of my hand, are getting their front nibbler teeth, and are purring (or trying to) when they eat or when I pick them up. They have great lungs. =) They have just recently (8/25/04) begun to chew on the nipple of the bottle and spit it out. One suck all of the formula down, stwo suck down half and then chew and spit out the nipple, and one just will chew on and spit out the nipple. They still are not licking, except maybe one lick on my finger and then nothing else. The ones doing this are losing weight slowly and I am not sure if I should tube feed them again to get the weight built up again. I was not sure if maybe this was a teething thing and that maybe they will get over this soon. If I do not find some info on this soon, I will start tube feeding them and will get them to the vet. But I thought I would ask tonight and maybe get some answers before the vet's office opens. Thanks! Amy |
#2
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"Amy Flemming" wrote in message m... Greetings, I am currently hand rearing four 3 week old kittens. I have been hand rearing them since they were 1 or 2 days old. I work at a horse farm (a whole different story), and one of the barn kitties had this litter (6 total, but two died the third day - the runt and one found the day after the others). She abandoned them and was attacking them because she had no milk (she also had an abcessed neck). The kids at the farm were trying to hand feed them until I came in and stopped this (they were just about asperating them!) and took them home. Because they were so tiny and weak, I tube fed them for the first two days. After they got some strength, I switched them to a bottle and they took to it wonderfully. The people at the barn were feeding the Just Born brand, which I took home. I like the Pet-Ag people, so I gradually switched them over to that. They are fully on KMR, for about 2 full days now. They are very small (and may have been premature, but had fur on their legs) and currently only weigh about 4 oz at 21 days. I know they *should* be closer to 10 oz, and this concerns me. However, they have "meat on their bones" and their spines and ribs are quite cushioned. I do not know what they weighed when I brought them home as I did not have a scale at that time. They are about the size of my hand, are getting their front nibbler teeth, and are purring (or trying to) when they eat or when I pick them up. They have great lungs. =) They have just recently (8/25/04) begun to chew on the nipple of the bottle and spit it out. One suck all of the formula down, stwo suck down half and then chew and spit out the nipple, and one just will chew on and spit out the nipple. They still are not licking, except maybe one lick on my finger and then nothing else. The ones doing this are losing weight slowly and I am not sure if I should tube feed them again to get the weight built up again. I was not sure if maybe this was a teething thing and that maybe they will get over this soon. If I do not find some info on this soon, I will start tube feeding them and will get them to the vet. But I thought I would ask tonight and maybe get some answers before the vet's office opens. Thanks! Amy I've had kittens do this and it's usually when they are ready to start weaning. Your guys are a little young for that although not by much. See if you can get them to lick formula off your finger or from a spoon. If they will then try putting formula in a shallow dish and have them lick your finger while lowering toward the dish. Check the hole in the nipple and make sure they are still getting a good flow through it. If they aren't that might be tiring them out or frustrating them. I'd definitely get them to the vet. Although bottle fed kittens can be underweight these guys are really small. I'd have them checked. W |
#3
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"Amy Flemming" wrote in message m... Greetings, I am currently hand rearing four 3 week old kittens. I have been hand rearing them since they were 1 or 2 days old. I work at a horse farm (a whole different story), and one of the barn kitties had this litter (6 total, but two died the third day - the runt and one found the day after the others). She abandoned them and was attacking them because she had no milk (she also had an abcessed neck). The kids at the farm were trying to hand feed them until I came in and stopped this (they were just about asperating them!) and took them home. Because they were so tiny and weak, I tube fed them for the first two days. After they got some strength, I switched them to a bottle and they took to it wonderfully. The people at the barn were feeding the Just Born brand, which I took home. I like the Pet-Ag people, so I gradually switched them over to that. They are fully on KMR, for about 2 full days now. They are very small (and may have been premature, but had fur on their legs) and currently only weigh about 4 oz at 21 days. I know they *should* be closer to 10 oz, and this concerns me. However, they have "meat on their bones" and their spines and ribs are quite cushioned. I do not know what they weighed when I brought them home as I did not have a scale at that time. They are about the size of my hand, are getting their front nibbler teeth, and are purring (or trying to) when they eat or when I pick them up. They have great lungs. =) They have just recently (8/25/04) begun to chew on the nipple of the bottle and spit it out. One suck all of the formula down, stwo suck down half and then chew and spit out the nipple, and one just will chew on and spit out the nipple. They still are not licking, except maybe one lick on my finger and then nothing else. The ones doing this are losing weight slowly and I am not sure if I should tube feed them again to get the weight built up again. I was not sure if maybe this was a teething thing and that maybe they will get over this soon. If I do not find some info on this soon, I will start tube feeding them and will get them to the vet. But I thought I would ask tonight and maybe get some answers before the vet's office opens. Thanks! Amy I've had kittens do this and it's usually when they are ready to start weaning. Your guys are a little young for that although not by much. See if you can get them to lick formula off your finger or from a spoon. If they will then try putting formula in a shallow dish and have them lick your finger while lowering toward the dish. Check the hole in the nipple and make sure they are still getting a good flow through it. If they aren't that might be tiring them out or frustrating them. I'd definitely get them to the vet. Although bottle fed kittens can be underweight these guys are really small. I'd have them checked. W |
#4
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I have had very little luck with bottles, and tend to syringes to squirt
liquid in their mouths. start mixing the kmr with a finely ground wet food and give them the mash. Try putting a little in their mouths to help them figure out what they are supposed to do with it. Most will take right to it. I had one trying to eat at 2 weeks.. silly kitten! I also had one who had no idea how to feed herself till she was six weeks, despite her siblings doing it right in front of her!. Good luck "Amy Flemming" wrote in message m... Greetings, I am currently hand rearing four 3 week old kittens. I have been hand rearing them since they were 1 or 2 days old. I work at a horse farm (a whole different story), and one of the barn kitties had this litter (6 total, but two died the third day - the runt and one found the day after the others). She abandoned them and was attacking them because she had no milk (she also had an abcessed neck). The kids at the farm were trying to hand feed them until I came in and stopped this (they were just about asperating them!) and took them home. Because they were so tiny and weak, I tube fed them for the first two days. After they got some strength, I switched them to a bottle and they took to it wonderfully. The people at the barn were feeding the Just Born brand, which I took home. I like the Pet-Ag people, so I gradually switched them over to that. They are fully on KMR, for about 2 full days now. They are very small (and may have been premature, but had fur on their legs) and currently only weigh about 4 oz at 21 days. I know they *should* be closer to 10 oz, and this concerns me. However, they have "meat on their bones" and their spines and ribs are quite cushioned. I do not know what they weighed when I brought them home as I did not have a scale at that time. They are about the size of my hand, are getting their front nibbler teeth, and are purring (or trying to) when they eat or when I pick them up. They have great lungs. =) They have just recently (8/25/04) begun to chew on the nipple of the bottle and spit it out. One suck all of the formula down, stwo suck down half and then chew and spit out the nipple, and one just will chew on and spit out the nipple. They still are not licking, except maybe one lick on my finger and then nothing else. The ones doing this are losing weight slowly and I am not sure if I should tube feed them again to get the weight built up again. I was not sure if maybe this was a teething thing and that maybe they will get over this soon. If I do not find some info on this soon, I will start tube feeding them and will get them to the vet. But I thought I would ask tonight and maybe get some answers before the vet's office opens. Thanks! Amy |
#5
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I have had very little luck with bottles, and tend to syringes to squirt
liquid in their mouths. start mixing the kmr with a finely ground wet food and give them the mash. Try putting a little in their mouths to help them figure out what they are supposed to do with it. Most will take right to it. I had one trying to eat at 2 weeks.. silly kitten! I also had one who had no idea how to feed herself till she was six weeks, despite her siblings doing it right in front of her!. Good luck "Amy Flemming" wrote in message m... Greetings, I am currently hand rearing four 3 week old kittens. I have been hand rearing them since they were 1 or 2 days old. I work at a horse farm (a whole different story), and one of the barn kitties had this litter (6 total, but two died the third day - the runt and one found the day after the others). She abandoned them and was attacking them because she had no milk (she also had an abcessed neck). The kids at the farm were trying to hand feed them until I came in and stopped this (they were just about asperating them!) and took them home. Because they were so tiny and weak, I tube fed them for the first two days. After they got some strength, I switched them to a bottle and they took to it wonderfully. The people at the barn were feeding the Just Born brand, which I took home. I like the Pet-Ag people, so I gradually switched them over to that. They are fully on KMR, for about 2 full days now. They are very small (and may have been premature, but had fur on their legs) and currently only weigh about 4 oz at 21 days. I know they *should* be closer to 10 oz, and this concerns me. However, they have "meat on their bones" and their spines and ribs are quite cushioned. I do not know what they weighed when I brought them home as I did not have a scale at that time. They are about the size of my hand, are getting their front nibbler teeth, and are purring (or trying to) when they eat or when I pick them up. They have great lungs. =) They have just recently (8/25/04) begun to chew on the nipple of the bottle and spit it out. One suck all of the formula down, stwo suck down half and then chew and spit out the nipple, and one just will chew on and spit out the nipple. They still are not licking, except maybe one lick on my finger and then nothing else. The ones doing this are losing weight slowly and I am not sure if I should tube feed them again to get the weight built up again. I was not sure if maybe this was a teething thing and that maybe they will get over this soon. If I do not find some info on this soon, I will start tube feeding them and will get them to the vet. But I thought I would ask tonight and maybe get some answers before the vet's office opens. Thanks! Amy |
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