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Orphans -- Phil? Anybody?
I've got two 1-week-old orphans to raise on a bottle. I've done it
many times, and have, so far, not lost any. But, every single time I've raised orphans, about the time they're 8 weeks & older, the are *extremely* susceptible to URI's. I know the orphan babies are not getting natural immunity from mother's milk. I always get their vaccinations the moment they are old enough. That doesn't seem to completely keep them from getting "kitty colds". They're on KMR. I was wondering if there is any supplement, vitamin drops, anything that will help boost their immunity. Thanks! Sherry |
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Orphans -- Phil? Anybody?
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Orphans -- Phil? Anybody?
Sherry wrote: I've got two 1-week-old orphans to raise on a bottle. I've done it many times, and have, so far, not lost any. But, every single time I've raised orphans, about the time they're 8 weeks & older, the are *extremely* susceptible to URI's. I know the orphan babies are not getting natural immunity from mother's milk. I always get their vaccinations the moment they are old enough. That doesn't seem to completely keep them from getting "kitty colds". They're on KMR. I was wondering if there is any supplement, vitamin drops, anything that will help boost their immunity. Thanks! Sherry I have never had a problem with URIs in bottle babies. Is it possible you bring it in from the shelter, or one of your cats? The only other thing I can think to do is to be sure they are warm enough. I kept my teenies in a small carrier with towels and a heating pad underneath. Phil may know about a supplement - I do not. Good luck! -L. |
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Orphans -- Phil? Anybody?
Sherry wrote:
I've got two 1-week-old orphans to raise on a bottle. I've done it many times, and have, so far, not lost any. SNIP I have a question for those of you who have bottle raised young orphans... How soon have you been able to have them blood tested for FIV and FeLV? I just rescued what appears to be a 3-week old from the side of a highway, and our vet told us she was too small to get blood from. As a result, we have to be very careful to ensure that our adult cats don't get near her. She's doing great on kitty formula and wet cat food, so we're thinking of pushing the vet to attempt a blood sample as soon as possible. What have you guys experienced? Thanks! --- JAy -- Jay Masino "Home is where My critters are" |
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Orphans -- Phil? Anybody?
On Jun 18, 8:03 am, (Jay Masino) wrote:
Sherry wrote: I've got two 1-week-old orphans to raise on a bottle. I've done it many times, and have, so far, not lost any. SNIP I have a question for those of you who have bottle raised young orphans... How soon have you been able to have them blood tested for FIV and FeLV? I just rescued what appears to be a 3-week old from the side of a highway, and our vet told us she was too small to get blood from. As a result, we have to be very careful to ensure that our adult cats don't get near her. She's doing great on kitty formula and wet cat food, so we're thinking of pushing the vet to attempt a blood sample as soon as possible. What have you guys experienced? Thanks! --- JAy Jay, I think it was around 12 weeks before I ever did FeLV testing. You're wise IMO to consider this, as there is always the possibility they kittens were infected from the mother cat. I don't think it's extremely common though. Of all the kittens I've taken in, plus the bottle babies, I've never had one test positive. The only positives I've had are from adult strays. Remember to get their first kitten shots & boosters. I think that's very important for orphans, since they don't have mom's immunity. Good luck! I'll be glad when these are 3 weeks old. They're too tiny to enjoy right now. It's just scary. Sherry |
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Orphans -- Phil? Anybody?
"Sherry" wrote in message ups.com... I've got two 1-week-old orphans to raise on a bottle. I've done it many times, and have, so far, not lost any. But, every single time I've raised orphans, about the time they're 8 weeks & older, the are *extremely* susceptible to URI's. I know the orphan babies are not getting natural immunity from mother's milk. I always get their vaccinations the moment they are old enough. That doesn't seem to completely keep them from getting "kitty colds". They're on KMR. I was wondering if there is any supplement, vitamin drops, anything that will help boost their immunity. Thanks! Sherry I haven't had problems with URI in bottle babies this time of year. That's been something I've seen more with the really early litters, even the ones with a momma. I'd just be very careful to wash hands thoroughly before and after handling them. I'd also consider having a large shirt to wear only when handling these guys. Wendy |
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Orphans -- Phil? Anybody?
On Sun 17 Jun 2007 10:46:26p, Sherry wrote in
rec.pets.cats.health+behav oups.com: I've got two 1-week-old orphans to raise on a bottle. I've done it many times, and have, so far, not lost any. But, every single time I've raised orphans, about the time they're 8 weeks & older, the are *extremely* susceptible to URI's. I know the orphan babies are not getting natural immunity from mother's milk. I always get their vaccinations the moment they are old enough. That doesn't seem to completely keep them from getting "kitty colds". They're on KMR. I was wondering if there is any supplement, vitamin drops, anything that will help boost their immunity. AWwwwwww! I read your Oh Nooooo post and meant to email you but it's been crazy here. I have no advice or experience to share, but wanted to wish you luck with them and especially with finding homes, which I'm sure you'll have no problems with. PICTURES! ) -- Cheryl |
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Orphans -- Phil? Anybody?
On Jun 18, 6:51 pm, Cheryl wrote:
On Sun 17 Jun 2007 10:46:26p, Sherry wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav oups.com: I've got two 1-week-old orphans to raise on a bottle. I've done it many times, and have, so far, not lost any. But, every single time I've raised orphans, about the time they're 8 weeks & older, the are *extremely* susceptible to URI's. I know the orphan babies are not getting natural immunity from mother's milk. I always get their vaccinations the moment they are old enough. That doesn't seem to completely keep them from getting "kitty colds". They're on KMR. I was wondering if there is any supplement, vitamin drops, anything that will help boost their immunity. AWwwwwww! I read your Oh Nooooo post and meant to email you but it's been crazy here. I have no advice or experience to share, but wanted to wish you luck with them and especially with finding homes, which I'm sure you'll have no problems with. PICTURES! ) -- Cheryl They're doing good. Doing a lot of squalling and squirming and that's a good sign. They're very lively compared to what they were yesterday. They were a little dehydrated and very listless. They are so, so tiny though. I am actually worried about finding them homes, though. I've completely worn out family/friends over the years homing cats. I've saturated the immediate market, I'm afraid. And the shelter is so full. And they're short- haired tabbies, so common. Poor little things. Sherry |
#9
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Orphans -- Phil? Anybody?
"Sherry" wrote in message ups.com... Sherry, Could you re-send your email message? The first one disappeared. I've got two 1-week-old orphans to raise on a bottle. I've done it many times, and have, so far, not lost any. But, every single time I've raised orphans, about the time they're 8 weeks & older, the are *extremely* susceptible to URI's. I know the orphan babies are not getting natural immunity from mother's milk. I always get their vaccinations the moment they are old enough. That doesn't seem to completely keep them from getting "kitty colds". FVR/FCV vaccines don't prevent infection or symptoms- they just prevent the disease from becoming severe. They're on KMR. I was wondering if there is any supplement, vitamin drops, anything that will help boost their immunity. Thanks! Sherry Do you know if the kittens nursed at all? All the maternally-derived antibodies kittens acquire from their mothers are acquired only in the first 18 hours of life through colostrum. That's it. So if they nursed during their first day, they should have some immunity. If they didn't nurse at all, or if they were pushed out and kept from nursing enough by littermates they're highly susceptible. Speak to your vet about giving them a drop of Heska's FVR/FCP Ultranasal vaccine in about a week. The Ultranasal vaccine won't be inactivated by any maternally-derived antibodies the kittens might have acquired. But the best way to protect orphaned kittens from FVR/FCV/FP is to inoculate them with antisera (~2 ml) or whole blood from a previously vaccinated cat. I use whole blood because it also protects the kittens from bacterial infections. How's Yoda?? Phil Don't forget to resend your email (topcatATmaxshouseDOTcom) |
#10
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Orphans -- Phil? Anybody?
Sherry wrote:
On Jun 18, 6:51 pm, Cheryl wrote: On Sun 17 Jun 2007 10:46:26p, Sherry wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav groups.com: I've got two 1-week-old orphans to raise on a bottle. I've done it many times, and have, so far, not lost any. But, every single time I've raised orphans, about the time they're 8 weeks & older, the are *extremely* susceptible to URI's. I know the orphan babies are not getting natural immunity from mother's milk. I always get their vaccinations the moment they are old enough. That doesn't seem to completely keep them from getting "kitty colds". They're on KMR. I was wondering if there is any supplement, vitamin drops, anything that will help boost their immunity. AWwwwwww! I read your Oh Nooooo post and meant to email you but it's been crazy here. I have no advice or experience to share, but wanted to wish you luck with them and especially with finding homes, which I'm sure you'll have no problems with. PICTURES! ) -- Cheryl They're doing good. Doing a lot of squalling and squirming and that's a good sign. They're very lively compared to what they were yesterday. They were a little dehydrated and very listless. They are so, so tiny though. I am actually worried about finding them homes, though. I've completely worn out family/friends over the years homing cats. I've saturated the immediate market, I'm afraid. And the shelter is so full. And they're short- haired tabbies, so common. Poor little things. Sherry Sherry, you're a good mom. Those kitties are very lucky to have found you. As for advertising them -- how about taking close-up pictures of their squinty faces now and add their stories to make a poster for the vet's office? Maybe keep adding new pictures each week so people can see their progress. It could help others get attached. Rhonda |
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