I found baby kittens in my barn

[Newbabykittens]

StefanZ fionasmom
Hi, I have a quick question, it’s very hot in UK My kittens using electric heating mat for pets since day one and it’s been good but it the weather wasn’t that hot as it is now
Feels like 30 degrees inside

Do they still need the pad on very hot day like this? I’m worried they will overheat

 

[Sarthur2]

No, if the air is that warm you may not need it. Always leave room for them to crawl off the heat source also.

 

[Newbabykittens]

No, if the air is that warm you may not need it. Always leave room for them to crawl off the heat source also.

Ok thanks, I left it in their box but on very very low and they have plenty of cold space too so they should be ok. One of the kittens had little fever today so I took him to vet and he’s on antibiotics. The pure dextrose arrived today how much should I mix with water and what amount should I give to my kittens?

 

[StefanZ]

Ok thanks, I left it in their box but on very very low and they have plenty of cold space too so they should be ok. One of the kittens had little fever today so I took him to vet and he’s on antibiotics. The pure dextrose arrived today how much should I mix with water and what amount should I give to my kittens?

This extra dextrose to the weak ones. Biggies dont need it. Dextrose dont tastes much so its possible to mix it quite much. But enough with just a little. Or make a water solution and smear on the gum.
Dextrose goes directly into blood alredy in mouth. It doesnt need to be digested.

 

[Newbabykittens]

This extra dextrose to the weak ones. Biggies dont need it. Dextrose dont tastes much so its possible to mix it quite much. But enough with just a little. Or make a water solution and smear on the gum.
Dextrose goes directly into blood alredy in mouth. It doesnt need to be digested.

Great. Will do
I have another question so one of the kittens really loves her bottle and she’s been eating quite a bit, should I control her portion or just let her eat as much as she wants? She also have little bit of constipation. Do you have any tips how to help her poop as stimulation isn’t working. I read about putting kitten in warm water just till tummy is covered and keep massaging kitten will help but I’m not sure how I feel about that. We went to vet the other day and the whole visit just made me angry the vet pretty much implied raising kittens this way is pointless (I’m not delusional I know sometimes kittens don’t survive but that doesn’t meant we shouldn’t try) the vet is supposed to help and not just making me more anxious
The kitten which refused to eat as he was unwell she gave me antibiotic one pill
He’s a baby why she’s giving me a pill
I rushed the pill and dissolve in water but still it was so difficult to feed it to him. I had to tube feed him for a day (vet didn’t want to teach me) Luckily I have a friend who is very well trained so she helped me. Unfortunately where we live this is the only vet we can go to which is not great because thinking of going back there just makes me feel mad again.
Kittens overall are doing good. 3 are getting really chunky, I have one runt of the litter she’s much smaller and she’s being tube feed and she wasn’t gaining any weight on syringe/bottle feeding and now she weight.

 

[Sarthur2]

Let them eat as much as they want! You can almost never over feed growing kittens!

For constipation, add 2-3 drops of olive oil to each bottle. It helps keep poop soft and moving.

I think you are doing a fantastic job! It’s a shame that vet is your only option. He doesn’t sound like he has much compassion at all.

 

[Newbabykittens]

Let them eat as much as they want! You can almost never over feed growing kittens!

For constipation, add 2-3 drops of olive oil to each bottle. It helps keep poop soft and moving.

I think you are doing a fantastic job! It’s a shame that vet is your only option. He doesn’t sound like he has much compassion at all.

That’s good I was worried with the constipation the amount of milk he was consuming was making it worse. Can this be extra virgin olive oil? 2-3 drops to each portion or to the whole bottle? I’m using 50ml bottle and feed all of them with the same bottle one by one.
Other kittens doesn’t have constipation so I might just make separate portion for him in syringe (10ml)
Yes the vet was really bad she didn’t even want to help really just keep repeating that most likely he will die
He is not dying he’s doing actually so much better now. She asked me if I deworm them and I told her no as they are not 2 weeks old yet so they are too young, she said oh they are pretty much 2 weeks now and I told her their age few time and she just kept ignoring it
Since when 8 days is 2 weeks I don’t know
Let just say this visit was so bad. My one kitten have eye infection this is the infection which develop under close eye and cloudy liquid started to come out of it so I clean the eye with cotton ball and warm water day before the visit and the vet didn’t even give me any eye drops just said to keep cleaning with warm water so I’m worried what if this doesn’t help

 

[fionasmom]

If this is the only vet available, be persistent about getting help for the kittens. It is your money, so if one of the kittens needs something it should be administered. Very young kittens can survive with care which you are certainly trying to give them.

 

[Crabbysquatch]

I think mom cats lick the baby kittens butts to help them go to the bathroom when they a real young. Not sure if you want to take on that roll though. But seriously I think sometimes they need a little lower belly rubbing to help them go.

 

[Newbabykittens]

I think mom cats lick the baby kittens butts to help them go to the bathroom when they a real young. Not sure if you want to take on that roll though. But seriously I think sometimes they need a little lower belly rubbing to help them go.

yeah definitely won’t be licking anything but I use wipes to rub them before every feeding and they usually are fine but sometimes not sure why one gets constipated, I use same KMR for all of them but maybe some just have more sensitive stomach. I added little olive oil to his bottle and we will see if that works
I have to feed him in about 2h

 

[Sarthur2]

Yes, if he is the only one with constipation, add the drops of oil to his bottles. Extra virgin is fine! And no, kittens this young are not wormed or anything else unless there is a real problem. Vaccines start at 8 weeks. If a kitten needs parasite meds or antibiotics prior to 8 weeks it is on a case by case, as needed basis. That vet sounds like she needs a new job not around pets.

Now, about the drippy eye. Are you able to order Terramycin antibiotic eye ointment? It’s legal in the U.S. without a prescription except in California. It clears eye infections very quickly. In lieu of this, a home remedy that we hear is very successful is to brew a tea bag of black tea, let the tea cool, then dip a cloth in the tea and apply to the eye a few times a day. Bathing the eye in black tea seems to clear eye infections.

I hope you can eventually find another vet in another town that has more experience and a much more positive attitude. I would not let this vet spay or neuter your pets. She just sounds horrible and uncaring. I would not even let her vaccinate. She sounds like a mean old waste of money.

N Newbabykittens

 

[Newbabykittens]

Yes, if he is the only one with constipation, add the drops of oil to his bottles. Extra virgin is fine! And no, kittens this young are not wormed or anything else unless there is a real problem. Vaccines start at 8 weeks. If a kitten needs parasite meds or antibiotics prior to 8 weeks it is on a case by case, as needed basis. That vet sounds like she needs a new job not around pets.

Now, about the drippy eye. Are you able to order Terramycin antibiotic eye ointment? It’s legal in the U.S. without a prescription except in California. It clears eye infections very quickly. In lieu of this, a home remedy that we hear is very successful is to brew a tea bag of black tea, let the tea cool, then dip a cloth in the tea and apply to the eye a few times a day. Bathing the eye in black tea seems to clear eye infections.

I hope you can eventually find another vet in another town that has more experience and a much more positive attitude. I would not let this vet spay or neuter your pets. She just sounds horrible and uncaring. I would not even let her vaccinate. She sounds like a mean old waste of money.

N Newbabykittens

Thank you I have been adding the olive oil since last night so we will see if this helps. No unfortunately terramycin is prescribed medication in the UK. To be honest most medication for pets in here is prescription meds
I will try using the black tea method.
The vet is completely useless which is really sad as if in emergency if you can’t trust your vet it’s not good situation to be in

 

[StefanZ]

I see you found the solution of feeding by tube. GOOD!

Yes, its an useful trick in some situations, and every half pro rescuer should get home dextrose - and leart how to tube feed.

The reason we usually dont mention it, is its tricky and dangerous for a new be to even attempt. While syringe feeding is usually good enough.
You must be shown by someone knowleable, and get suitable gears . As you did.

Sorrowfully, it seems many vets dont know how to do it, or arent willing to show...

 

[Newbabykittens]

I see you found the solution of feeding by tube. GOOD!

Yes, its an useful trick in some situations, and every half pro rescuer should get home dextrose - and leart how to tube feed.

The reason we usually dont mention it, is its tricky and dangerous for a new be to even attempt. While syringe feeding is usually good enough.
You must be shown by someone knowleable, and get suitable gears . As you did.

Sorrowfully, it seems many vets dont know how to do it, or arent willing to show...

Yes it’s a good skill to learn but it is still scary but it saved one of my kittens life, he refused to eat I couldn’t even give him the antibiotics prescribed so for 24h he was tube feed and now he’s eating bottle very enthusiastically
He’s better than my alarm now, he demands to be feed, he’s so cute
They are gaining weight better now, I know bottle feed babies grow bit slower so I tried not too worry too much

 

[Sarthur2]

Let us know if the tea helps!

 

[Newbabykittens]

Let us know if the tea helps!

Will do
Random question so the kitten are about 11 days old and I stimulate them to go potty before every feeding but I notice few times they have urinated on their blanket. Is that normal? I thought at this age they cannot pee without stimulation

 

[Margot Lane]

…Photos?

 

[StefanZ]

Will do
Random question so the kitten are about 11 days old and I stimulate them to go potty before every feeding but I notice few times they have urinated on their blanket. Is that normal? I thought at this age they cannot pee without stimulation

not ideal, but it certainly happens.

 

[Newbabykittens]

…Photos?

 

[Newbabykittens]

not ideal, but it certainly happens.

Fair enough. At least my constipated kitten finally poop today so one less thing to worry about