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Hi all -
We came home from an all afternoon shopping expedition, and found two little (eyes open, but very tiny) kittens in the garage where my cat likes to sleep. My adult cat is spayed, so I know she isn't the momma, but I think maybe she found them in a field by our home, and brought them home!
I gathered them up and put them in a pet carrier for safety with a little bowl of water and cat food (dry), but I don't think they are really old enough to drink or eat it!
Help! At what age do kittens start weaning? Do I need to drive 40+ miles again tomorrow to buy kitten replacement formula? I could really use all the help I can get!
(And my daughters think the Easter bunny brought them--yikes! We already have 4 dogs and 2 cats!)
http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2107221693
Linda
<font color="#33CCCC" size="1">[ April 18, 2006 09:42 PM: Message edited by: LindaL ]</font>
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You can use baby formula and there is also a recipe using dry milk or regular milk but I don't remember what it is. You should be able to find one online. Kitten replacement formula is the best. The most important thing is that they need to eat. Melissa_Olivia has bottle fed kittens many times so she may have better advice. Good luck!
ETA: Kittens start weaning at 4 weeks at the earliest. It really depends on them. I had one kitten wean at 4 weeks and the others not until they were 7-8 weeks because I made them start weaning! They loved that bottle!
<font color="#33CCCC" size="1">[ April 15, 2006 10:35 PM: Message edited by: Ashley's Mommy ]</font>
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Awwww..... That is such a cute story. Sorry I can't help with the weaning part.
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I'm not really sure about this, but my neighbor rescued a baby kitten from a neighbor's window well. A lady friend of hers who works at an animal shelter guessed the cat to be about 3 weeks old. It took to the water and dry cat food no problem although it could have been without food or drink for a while. You could try giving them water with a syringe if they won't drink it. The story is pretty funny and you seem to be taking it all in stride. My neighbor's daughter is 17 and she cried her eyes out when her mom said they couldn't keep it because they already had 2 cats-well now they have 3.
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Do they have any teeth yet or tooth buds? That is the best way to tell their age (size can be misleading). If you can post a pic, I can probably tell you how old they are, especially if you could show their teeth.
If they have at least the beginning of teeth and can skip the bottle, I would start them with chicken or turkey baby food. That's what I feed my bottle babies first when I am weaning them.
ETA: Lonie is right about the 4 weeks -- earlier than that is too young for food. Do they look plump and healthy or are they more thin and weak?
Most importantly, how do they feel temperature-wise? Can they maintain their own body heat? If they are really young, they can't on their own, and you have to make sure you warm them. That's the #1 thing, even more important than feeding at first. Feeding a cold kitten can end up killing it.
Also check for dehydration -- pinch the skin on the back of their neck and lift up slightly in an S formation (like crimping a pie crust). If their skin sort of stays like that, they are dehydrated and need water ASAP. But if their skin lays right back down, that is a good sign that they have eaten recently.
I would look around for Mama tomorrow if you can.
<font color="#33CCCC" size="1">[ April 15, 2006 11:03 PM: Message edited by: Melissa*Olivia ]</font>
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Melissa -
I just went out and checked for teeth (they didn't like that very much!)
They barely have front teeth breaking thru. Does that give you any clue? I can probably take pics tomorrow--it's too dark outside, and I really don't want to bring them inside without knowing their health status (although they seem pretty healthy based on appearance).
Linda
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Hi, Linda~
Please read my ETA above if you haven't already.
They sound too young for food. Sounds like they are going to need formula, based on their lack of teeth.
What's the temperature where you live right now? They might need a heating pad.
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Another thing I remember is to keep the kittens warm. Our house was air conditioned so it was pretty cool and my kittens got chilled. We had to purchase a small heating pad and kept it on low heat to keep them warm. You also have to stimulate them to go to the bathroom. Sorry if I offended anyone for putting this on a post. This is very important. I was lucky in that one of my cats took over the mama role in all the kittens care but the bottle feeding. You can PM me if you need any specific information.
LOL! Melissa, we must have been posting at the same time about the same thing!
<font color="#33CCCC" size="1">[ April 15, 2006 11:13 PM: Message edited by: Ashley's Mommy ]</font>
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I've had experience with cats who were either A) mother was hit by a car when they were less then 3 weeks old. Or abandoned and ages were unknown and they obviously were not done weaning. 6 weeks is normal. Carnation canned milk diluted (heavily) with water is the best. The syringe thing is good to (I have found that baby bottle nipples can work fine as well).
You can also choose to mix in some canned cat food, forming almost a oatmeal wet mush. But I would wait until about four weeks.
Main advice, you can take them to the vet and they can try to figure out how old the kittens are and give you advice as to the best way to handle this. A vet is also good because the kittens could have FVP or FIV (which is the cat equivilent to AIDS) these are both easily communicable with other cats. Or they may have worms, which is never a good thing. So a vet may be the best option first. Though testing for FIV and FVP is usually not done at such a young age, just checking to make sure the kittens are okay is beneficial to both them and your other cats.
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In terms of temperature, it's HOT here today. Low overnight expected to be 62, high tomorrow 95.
I will check for signs of dehydration.
Linda
