Just found some kittens. If the Mom abandons them, what should I do?

[catwoman707]

Honestly I don't think so.

I think he was on his way out when you described his breathing outside.

He is too far gone to turn around. Just too young.

You see, with no heat source, he is still cold. All the blankets in the house will not warm him.

You are thinking insulation, but there is no warmth source like with us. There is nothing next to him like a water bottle, even a ziplock baggie with hot water in it, then put it inside another baggie and lay it with him.

But so you see, he got milk while cold too. He has it sitting there and unable to digest it because their organs stop, shut down when they get too cooled off, and he is absolutely not warm. Not in the upper 90's. It's not possible.

Yeah, I do appreciate your efforts though, sad for the little baby, he should have lived. Will you do me a favor please and at least talk to him and hold your hand there on him so he isn't dying alone okay?

This makes me so sad.

 

[dagger311]

Electricity saved the day! We got an electric blanket. It's on high. Maybe he'll pull through.

 

[dagger311]

He's moving around. He started twitching, kinda yawned, and starting looking for something to curl up on. He actually stood up and... Rocked around. Then he curled up and went to sleep (not THAT sleep).

I don't know what to think. It was almost instant. God must've decided to keep this one around a while.

 

[Norachan]

That's fantastic!

You and your Mum are doing a great job.

Hope the little guy keeps fighting.

 

[dagger311]

We're taking shifts. I'm up. Pictures soon. The mom stilll hasn't come back to the washer. She must've decided three's a crowd...

His temporary name is screwjob. We can't afford to keep him. We'll probably neuter him and let him go when he's strong enough.

 

[Norachan]

Kittens that are raised by hand from such a young age are usually very friendly with people. It would be great if you could re-home him when he is old enough, rather than letting him go.

However......we musn't get ahead of ourselves. He'll still be very weak. Can you get him to a vet in the morning?

 

[dagger311]

Maybe. We're not sure what we can do right now, options are limited. However, we could probably re-home him. He's probably not even a week old. No teeth, eyes are still shut, doesn't even really walk, just kinda tumbles, pads are soft, fur is like down. It'll likely be a month or so before he's old enough to leave.

 

[dagger311]

Okay, status update. Alive and well, has long since been properly warmed and fed. Gets fed every four hours (Cheek, not throat), probably no vet until next week, low on funds.

He seems happy. Walked in there to check on him, started petting him, he meowed, which is a good sign. He kept pressing his head on my hand, I'm guessing he was doing the equivalent of a headbutt.

 

[catsfurme]

I had a friend who found a newborn much like your experience.  He kept the baby warm, held him alot, fed him and bottle fed the tiny thing.  He lived, much to their delight.  He would climb up on David's shoulder and suck on his ear lobe and fall asleep.    What a cutie!

Thanks for rescuing, he deserves a chance and Good For You!

 

[Draco]

I'm glad you and mom decided to take him in! I will be following the progress here for sure!

 

[stephenq]

Okay, status update. Alive and well, has long since been properly warmed and fed. Gets fed every four hours (Cheek, not throat), probably no vet until next week, low on funds.

He seems happy. Walked in there to check on him, started petting him, he meowed, which is a good sign. He kept pressing his head on my hand, I'm guessing he was doing the equivalent of a headbutt.

He may need feeding as often as every 2 hours....@catwoman707?

Is he being fed cow's milk or KMR?  He will need to transition to a non-cow milk soon if he hasn't already.

Do you know how to stimulate him to pee/poop?   If he's too young to go on his own his mom wold normally lick him to make him go.  You can do this by rubbing his bottom (anus/penis,all of it) with a wet paper towel while holding him over a trash can etc and he will go right away.  It will be pee only.  If he can't pee on his own he could die without stimulation.

 

[dagger311]

Cows milk, and yes, I have to do that today.

Dad doesn't want him in the house. Our property has two houses, maybe we can move him there.

 

[stephenq]

Cow's milk should be replaced by a safer milk for him, KMR available in pet stores is used by many people in this situation. The cat should be stimulated to pee directly after each meal, and if you don't the bladder will increase in size and become at risk for rupturing.

This is a GREAT video on how to help her pee and poop.


and written instructions here:

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Kitten-Poop

 

[dagger311]

Okay, I'll take a shot at it. I have very good and very bad news.

The bad news is, Mom heard whimpering and crying last night. Probably the mom....

The good news is, I have a good idea who owns the mom. There's a woman on the hill across the street, she owns a bunch of cats. Kaybe she wanted more?

 

[dagger311]

That went well. He's trying to claw out of the blanket and box now, like he's wanting out. Maybe trying to nurse? I read cats will knead their mothers.

 

[dagger311]

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• dagger311
• May 3, 2014

 

[stephenq]

He probably needs to nurse every 2 hours or so and that's around the clock, including at night, no less than every four hours so set your alarm clock.

The mom cat may belong to someone but its also possible she is a stray.  You might try and see if you can approach mom and leave her a bowl of food. 

 

[dagger311]

Happy endings everyone! Followed my gut and checked out the house on the hill. The kind woman who lived there was very helpful, polite, and sweet. I asked her if she owned any cats, she said yes. I asked if any are or were pregnant, she said yes again. Then she pointed behind her shrub to the same cat who pushed me away from the toolbox the other day.

I got the cat, brought it back to her, and told her what we were calling him:screwjob. Partly because of where we found him, and partly because I had no idea what I was doing (Mom didn't either, she was saying exactly the opposite of everything you guys said, "Warm water won't work." "You don't have to stimulate them." Honestly, she's been known to tell tall tales every now and then).

The rightful owner and mother (the cat was a first time mother) now has precious screwjob. I took a few more pictures before I returned him.

IMG_20140503_092039.jpg

• dagger311
• May 3, 2014

IMG_20140503_102901.jpg

• dagger311
• May 3, 2014

IMG_20140503_102907.jpg

• dagger311
• May 3, 2014

I'm going to miss him, but he's where he needs to be, and I honestly don't have the funds or space or time to dedicate to another kitty. The mother hissed at him, smelled him all over, and took him right in. She is feral, but taken care of by Mari (the woman who took him back).

Thanks for the help everyone! Because of you guys, this went from "comfort him in his final hours" to "reunited with his rightful mother"! Couldn't have done it without you guys!

 

[dagger311]

To clarify, feral as in she lives outside with little human interaction. Mari and her husband are the only people who can get close.

 

[catwoman707]

To clarify, feral as in she lives outside with little human interaction. Mari and her husband are the only people who can get close.

I must be honest, I was very hesitant this morning coming here to check for an update, but was so happy and relieved now!!!

Screwjob is right where he belongs, thanks to you!!

It was obvious that in the distraction of moving them, she simply forgot there was one more.

Because you are a caring person, your observations and bringing him in last night literally saved his little life!!

Great job, and a happy ending for all!!