INDEX
FINDING AN ABANDONED KITTEN
CAN YOU DO THIS?
DO YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO ?
VET BILL?
CAN YOU LIVE WITH IT, IF THE KITTEN DOES NOT SURVIVE?
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
BRINGING THEM HOME
BASIC BUT MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS
Warmth
Feeding
Formulas & 911 formulas
Burping
Stimulate to potty
constipation
enema
diarrhea & de worming
Bathing
Affection
Weaning
food training
Litter box training
HEALTH ISSUES
MILESTONES
HOW TO TELL AGE FROM TEETH
HOW TO TELL GENDER
OTHER RESOURCES
MORE RESOURCES
FINDING AN ABANDONED KITTEN
First, make darn sure it is truly abandoned. Plump, clean, healthy looking kittens are usually not abandoned unless something dire happened to Mom. Do not take the kitten until you have waited at least a few hours and even twenty four hours (out of sight) to see if Mama returns from a hunting trip, moving the babies to a safer location, etc. Wait, or come back. Peek in and try not to touch anything. Mother cats will care for their kittens after they have been touched by a human, unlike birds, but it’s simply safer not to interfere. Take the kitten ONLY if you are positive, absolutely positive it has been abandoned or if its health or life is in danger. You could be increasing the risk of the kitten’s life because the survival rate of a kitten without its mother drops tremendously.Mothers who recognize they do not have enough milk to support the babies or can’t care for them usually leave within the first 24 hours of birth. A kitten who has been kicked out of the den have been discarded because the mother is wiser than we are and knows the kitten may not survive.
Do you have the time? Four weeks of 24/7 Little kittens, especially sick ones need carefully watching, careful tending. You have just volunteered to be Mama cat for 24 hours a day until the cat is at least six weeks old. You will have to take over all the many tasks normally performed by a Mama cat.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO ?Please, please do not be offended. It’s so easy to make one little mistake because you did not know it was an important item and lose the kitten. I still don’t know it all, and will never know it all. I can’t tell you the times some one has volunteered to help feed a kitten and the first thing they do is put it on their back or force feed it. No, no, no!If you have never taken care of an abandoned kitten, find someone who has successfully rescued kittens and give the kitten to them. Stick around and learn, learn, learn for next time. There is ALWAYS a next time.
VET BILL?
Be prepared for a vet bill if the kitten gets sick. If you don’t have the funds, don’t take the kitten. Find someone who does. Try a local SPCA or wildlife chapter.
CAN YOU LIVE WITH IT, IF THE KITTEN DOES NOT SURVIVE?
The mortality rate of abandoned or sick kittens is terribly high. My heart tears me up at every loss, but, I still keep doing it. Sometimes, it is simply in God’s hands, not ours. Kittens are most likely to die at birth, within the first week or during weaning.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
A “den” – this can be a box (at least 18″ high) that can be covered with a cloth. Some people use covered cat carriers. It must be enclosed and draft free, and large enough for the kitten to move away from the heat source. * Blankets, wash clothes and towels by the basket load * A den buddy if you only have one kitten – small fuzzy stuffed toy or stuffed sock * Heat – MILD heating pad or heat lamp for under 4 or 5 weeks old* Kitten formula – Powder is best if you only have one kitten. Emergency formulas are provided below. * Coconut water * raw honey * colostrum * Kitten bottle is by far the best, syringe or eye dropper will work* Alarm clock – with a gentle sound * Darkness for newborns * A kitty carrier if needed, fabric one for your chest.* Rectal thermometer and coconut oil * Humidifier (sick kittens) * The right mind set – you are now Mama Kitty – think and act like her* Lots and lots of patience
BRINGING THEM HOME
Select a separate area for the den, away from family traffic or other pets. Always keep a new pet in quarantine for two weeks in case the new animal is ill or diseased.Check the kitten over completely, ears, teeth, nails, eyes, skin, fur, privates, look for sores, missing fur, fleas and parasites.Most kittens, especially found in the wilds or outdoors will be covered with fleas. I have heard there are sprays made for infant kittens but I have never found one. I wash the kitten and hand pick off the fleas. Get rid of the fleas if you can. Dry the kitten (with a towel) quickly and out of any breeze.Baths have to be warm and quick, thoroughly dry the kitten immediately. Do not wash a sick kitten or an extremely young kitten.If, by any chance, you know of a litter, see if the mother will accept the baby. Even if the first greeting includes snarls, the mother might take the kitten after several encounters. Do not force the situation.
BASIC BUT MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS
Warmth, Pottying, Feeding, Burping, Stimulation, Bathing, Affection, Weaning
WARMTH
During their first week, kittens should be kept between 88 and 92 degrees. For the next 2 weeks they still need temperatures of 80 degrees or so. When they reach 5 weeks or so they can tolerate a lower room temperature. Do not rely solely on wrapping the kitten in a towel or blanket for warmth. Their bodies need all their energy for living and do not have enough strength to keep themselves warm. A den would normally contain warmth from their siblings and their mother. Warm a chilled kitten SLOWLY. Place the kitten next to your skin under your clothes and/or additional cloths. A kitten that is so frantic to eat they can’t get the nipple calms down when warmed up. Hypothermia results in dehydration very quickly. An over-warm kitten must be cooled immediately but slowly. If needed, run room temp water on the kitten, administer room temp water.
FEEDING
How old and how much the kitten weighs determines the amount of formula to feed the kitten. See the Feeding chart
Kittens should gain about 4 ounces of weight a week. The absolute minimum should be ½ ounce of formula for every ounce of body weight. Feeding might be the most difficult chore. Use a bottle nurser if at all possible. The best nursing bottle kit available on local market is from Petco under $5. The bottle is easier for you and for the kitten. It’s hard to overfeed a kitten with a bottle and overfeeding is one of the most common problems. The kitten can take a while to adjust to a new method of eating, and a 6 cc syringe has to be refilled in one feeding for larger kittens, breaking the kitten’s concentration that might have taken all your patience to accomplish. The bottle’s nipple has to be cut. Instead of several pin holes, I take itsy bitsy sharp sewing scissors and make small “X”. The formula should not drip out if held upside down, but squirt out with ease when firmly squeezed. DO NOT overfeed. Over feeding leads to diarrhea and other problems. Feed on demand, and worry only if the kitten shows signs that indicate problems. DO NOT feed a chilled kitten. Its internal organs are slower or shut down and it may die. Warm the kitten first. All utensils should be sterilized in-between each use. Keep all formula in the frig, heat only the next meal’s worth at a time. Formula should be slightly warm and tested on the wrist. DO NOT USE MICROWAVE TO HEAT WATER OR FORMULA ! Heat the bottle in hot water and SHAKE it before testing. Feed the kitten only when it is warmed and indicates it is hungry.
If the kitten is not strong enough to suckle, seek veterinary assistance ASAP. Never feed a kitten on its back with a syringe or dropper which allows formula into the lungs and causes ASPIRATION pneumonia. Let the baby suck the fluid at its own pace. If formula bubbles out the nostrils, pull back immediately – you are drowning the kitten. If a suckling kitten aspirates formula into its lungs, immediately hold it upside down until the choking subsides. If the ears start to bob, the kitten is getting just the right amount of formula. When a kitten has had enough formula, bubbles will form around its mouth, and its tummy will be rounded. After each meal, try to burp the kitten by holding it upright against you shoulder and patting it lightly on the back. A series of small meals is better than one large one. To feed your kitten, place it stomach down on a towel or other textured surface to which it can cling. Try and provide the same situation Mom would, a place to knead. Placing them on their tummies allows them to burp by themselves. DO NOT place the kitten on its back. Remember, you are simulating mom. Open its mouth gently with the tip of your finger, then slip the nipple between its jaws. To prevent air from entering the kitten’s stomach, hold the bottle so that only formula enters the nipple. Keep tugging gently with a light pull on the bottle to encourage continual and enthusiastic sucking Let the kitten tell you when it is finished eating. Use super soft toothbrush to “clean” the kitten’s head or back while it is eating like Mom would. This also keeps them awake during feeding.
Weigh the kitten daily if you can. Most pet or feed supply stores have scales you can use. After four weeks, try to start introducing the kitten to solid food and water.
VIDEOS ON HOW TO PROPERLY FEED
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXlaoLfEXjY&t=17s&list=PLY38O5mbrtkOPhLLD0qM7k2M0GaVBz3om&index=20https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dH0uyboY2U
FORMULAS
RECOMMENDED FORMULAS: CENTURY 21 (with added probiotics)
BREEDERS EDGE
KMR
POWDERED GOAT MILK
– HARTZ & WALMART BRAND FORMULAS ARE NOT RECOMMENDED AS THEY CAN LEAD TO DEATH! SO IN CASE YOU HAVE NO INGREDIENTS TO MAKE 911 FORMULAS YOU CAN GET POWDERED GOAT MILK LOCATED IN BAKING SECTION AT WALMART. THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE…
Royal Canin Babycat Kitten Milk
THIS FORMULA COMES WITH THE STATE OF THE ART NURSING BOTTLE WITH 3 DIFFERENT SIZE NIPPLES AND DIFFERENT FLOW TECHNOLOGY. IT COMES FROM ENGLAND !
911 FORMULAS
Emergency Formula
1 can evaporated milk (NOT Eagle Brand)
1 can water 1 egg yolk (whites can kill a kitten)
1/2 teaspoon Raw honey
1 tiny pinch of salt
Keep refrigerated
Emergency Coconut water Substitute 4 ¼ c water 2 t. sugar ½ t salt ½ t baking soda
Goat Milk Formula 8 oz goats milk (see notes below) Colostrum 1/4 tsp, acidophilus culture, must be refrigerated (available at health food store) 1/4 tablet crushed papaya enzyme (available at health food store) Use tinned or powdered goat’s milk, either should be kept in the fridge when opened. Powered Goat’s milk: For a newborn, kitten suffering from exposure, or sick kitten substitute Coconut water for water to reconstitute the powdered goats milk. After a week or so, substitute boiled water for the Coconut water. Recipe for kittens with diarrhea or difficulty in gaining/maintaining weight: “Mix equal parts of plain yogurt with large curd cottage cheese and then add a small amount of baby rice cereal. This can be given in addition to formula and solid food or by itself if kitten is too weak to eat. This diet seems to restore the normal bacteria in the gut and helps to get the kitten back on the road to health!”
BURPING
Kittens who feed off their mothers don’t need to be burped, but kittens who might have absorbed air feeding from a bottle do. Try putting the kitten over your shoulder just like a baby, or putting the kitten in your lap and gently rubbing its tummy with upward movements.
STIMULATING TO POTTY
Kittens cannot have a bowel movement or pass urine independently until they are about four weeks old. By licking the kitten’s abdomen, the mom stimulates the bowels and bladder. Your job, should you choose to accept it, is to stimulate the discharge of waste and keeps babies clean. “Pottying” should be done before and after each meal. With the kitten on a towel in your lap, or over the sink, lightly rub the kitten’s behind with a warmed wet cloth squeezed out completely or a tissue. The kitten may roll over and offer its bottom as it does for its mother. Gently stroke the kitten’s behind, and/or extreme lower tummy keeping the cloth in contact. The kitten will likely release an amazing amount of urine, make sure you are out of the way! Simply rotate the cloth until kitten stops urinating, then clean kitten up and dry its bottom. If this doesn’t work the first time, keep trying. Always be extremely gentle. Keep the area clean and watch for chafing which might indicate that you are rubbing too hard or not cleaning well enough. The kitten may be in excruciating pain or going toxic from having to retain its body waste. You should help the kitten empty its bladder before warming or feeding or a trip to the veterinarian. Bowels should pass once a day, they should be of toothpaste consistency and mustard color. Urine should pass after every feeding, the color should be very light, almost clear.
If there is ANY doubt, take the kitten to a vet immediately. You have to replace all the daily chores that the Mama cat would normally do, including bathing.When you feed and clean the kittens, wash their fur all over with a barely damp warmed towelette using short stokes as the mother would use. This cleans their fur, teaches them to clean their fur, and gives them a feeling of attention and well-being. If the kittens have diarrhea and become caked with stool, it is easier on their skin to wash them in warm water. The kitten’s instinctive need to suckle (frustrated by the lack of the mother’s breast) may cause the kitten to suckle its litter mate’s ears, tail or genitals, causing irritations to develop. Try to satisfy this oral need by caressing each kitten’s mouth with your finger or a soft cloth. Do not allow babies to suckle each other, sucking on genitals leads to other problems. When a kitten is four weeks old, they will start to play. If you have a lone kitten, you will have to be the kitten’s playmate, teaching them to tussle and bite gently.
VIDEO How to Stimulate an Orphaned Kitten to Urinate & Defecate
DE WORMING EVEN WITH NATURAL DE WORMERS, THEY RECOMMEND YOU WAIT 12 WEEKS OLD BEFORE U ADMINISTER ! IT IS IN ANIMALS BEST INTEREST THAT THE DEAD WORMS ARE EXPELLED AS A WHOLE BECAUSE YOU DO NOT WANT TRAPPED PARTICLES OF DEAD PARASITES FLOATING AND ROTTING IN THE DIGESTIVE TRACT. This produces ammonia gases and affects kidneys and liver and making animal sick with different side effects !!!
FOR TINY TINY BABIES UNDER 4 WEEKS OLD
USE FEW DROPS OF COCONUT WATER & CHAMOMILE TEA YOU CAN USE CHAMOMILE TEA INSTEAD OF WATER WITH FORMULA AND ADD A FEW DROPS OF COCONUT OIL
FOR BABIES 4 WEEKS & YOUNGER
REMEDY 1 – ALL U NEED IS RAW PUMPKIN SEEDS
PUMPKIN SEEDS ELIMINATES TAPE WORM, ROUND WORM, WHIP WORM, HOOK WORM & MANY OTHERS ! While pumpkin seeds are very nutritious for humans and pets, they are worm’s worst enemy! These are able to kill eggs, and they contain a natural fat that is toxic to parasite eggs. Curcurbitin in pumpkin seeds has shown anti-parasitic activity, since it has the ability to paralyze worms so they drop off the intestinal walls within a day or two or little longer is infestation is severe. Chinese scientists used pumpkin seeds to treat acute schistosomiasis and tapeworm infestations in humans. Many parasite formulas contain pumpkin seed, but it doesn’t do much in just a few capsules. Grind in coffee grinder and add to pet wet food. Grind up pumpkin seeds and add to the wet food… There is really no exact dosage. Remember you are not using poison you are using food ! So it will not harm your pet in any way ! So why would anyone in their right mind go and buy poison for their pets one for tape worm other for this worm another for that worm… when pumpkin seeds work on all worms and work so well.
REMEDY 2 PARSLEY WATER
(you can use this for puppies and kittens under 12 weeks of age)
Wash & cook bunch of parsley (about 1 to 2 inches thick at stems) in a quart of water for 3 minutes. You may need to cut up parsley in order to get it under water. Drain and throw away the parsley. After cooling, you may freeze in ice cube tray. This is a month supply. Unfreeze 1 cube (1 tablespoon) per day per pet and add to their food. You don’t have to watch it go down. Whatever amount is eaten is satisfactory. Or you can give via dropper. Safe for young ones under 12 week of age. All dosages are based on a 10 pound (5 kilo) cat or dog. Double them for a 20 pound pet, and so forth.All Pets are so full of parasites, you must be quite careful not to deparasitize too quickly. The purpose of the parsley water is to keep the kidneys flowing well so dead parasite refuse is eliminated promptly. They get quite fond of their parsley water. Perhaps they can sense the benefit it brings them. SEE DE WORMING FILE FOR MORE INFO
BATHING
The need to completely bathe the kitten may arise because of flea sores or messy bowels. Wash the kitten in a draft free area. Use a pure Castile soap. (Lavender is preferred choice) Simply hold kitten under the kitchen faucet with pleasantly warm water while holding them securely and cooing to them. Start wetting and shampoo at the neck to keep fleas from covering their head in escape. Wash the kitten’s head and face with a wet washcloth. Rinse the kitten thoroughly and move it immediately to a warm towel. Completely towel dry the kitten including under the neck and arm/leg pit areas. Use a hair dryer on low if needed, but avoid using it in their face. Make sure the kitten is completely dry before putting it to bed. A plastic lice or flea comb works well. Place the kitten on a light colored towel and keep an eye open for fleas that jump to the towel, then easy to kill.
BATHING video
HERE IS WHY YOU SHOULD NEVER USE DAWN OR OTHER COMMERCIAL SHAMPOOS ON PETS !IF THEY HAVE Sodium Laurel Sulfate – DO NOT USE ! Animals exposed to SLS can experience eye damage, depression, labored breathing, diarrhea, severe skin irritation, and even death. Young eyes may not develop properly if exposed to SLS. SLS may damage the skin’s immune system and can be transformed into nitrosamines, a potent class of carcinogens. SLS can remain in the body for up to five days and maintain residual levels in the heart, lungs, liver and brain. SLS is found in most skin products that foam.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5kMclZz75o&t=138s&list=PLY38O5mbrtkOPhLLD0qM7k2M0GaVBz3om&index=12
AFFECTION
The absence of a mother and siblings means a complete lack of normal daily and hourly affection, from grooming and cleaning to cuddling and kissing. Kittens who have not opened their eyes need at least three hours of cuddling a day. Young newborns can literally die without affection.Pet the kitten as often as you can, snuggling it to your body. Hold them near your heart so they can hear your heart beat. This is not a child that you can spoil, but a kitten who can not be loved too much. When you are preparing the kitten to go back to sleep, let the kitten fall to sleep in your arms and place them back into the den when they are completely asleep. Don’t simply feed and wash the kitten and plop her back in her bed. If you need to carry the kitten around with you during the day: Snuggle the kitten next to your body at breast level between the fronts of a wrap around belted type robe. Tighten the belt securely around your waist. Investigate a kitten carrier made out of cloth, similar to a child carrier. I will be making these asap. DO NOT be tempted to fall asleep with the kitten in your bed, a fall can kill a kitten. Some experts believe that hand-raised kittens show higher intelligence, greater loyalty and deeper affection for their owners. Cat trainers also recommend lots of handling for kittens and swear that this makes them easier to train.
WEANING
When the kitten is over four weeks old start introducing solid foods. Start out by placing the formula on a plate, dip your finger in the formula and place it on the kitten’s mouth, leading the kitten to the plate. Be prepared for a BIG mess and do not expect over night success. Advance to kitten wet food mixed with formula to make gruel. Try placing a finger tip of gruel on the kittens mouth to get the kitten to taste it, then try to lead the kitten to the plate. Reduce formula feedings as solid feedings improve. Move to good quality solid kitten food soaked with formula and finally solid kitten food. Let the kitten judge the speed of the changes. Introduce water to the kitten during this time. If a kitten is hard to wean, make the solid food more desirable than the bottle. Make the solid food much more interesting than the bottled food. Above all, take slow steps to reduce diarrhea caused by diet changes which can be fatal. This is a crucial time when kittens can die easily. A kitten who refuses to be weaned may take up to six weeks, and may just needs individual attention.
LITTER BOX TRAINING
Litter box training can start as early as four weeks old and at a time when you introduce wet food. Use a litter box with sides 2″ high or less. Place the kitten in the clean litter box a few minutes after eating. Most kittens have the instinct to scratch at the litter but you might take the kitten’s paw and scratch at the litter to show her what to do. Place the kitten in the litter box before and after feeding, after waking. Do not use a clumping litter with kittens under 4 or 5 weeks old. Beware the kitten does not try to eat the litter.
HEALTH ISSUES
ASPIRATION
Never feed a kitten on its back with a syringe or dropper which allows formula into the lungs and causes pneumonia
Let the baby suck the fluid at its own pace.
If the ears start to bob, the kitten is getting just the right amount of formula.
When a kitten has had enough formula, bubbles will form around its mouth, and its tummy will be rounded.
If formula bubbles out the nostrils, pull back immediately ‑ you are drowning the kitten.
If a suckling kitten aspirates formula into its lungs, immediately hold it upside down until the choking subsides.
If a kitten does inhale milk or is rescued from drowning, prompt clearing of the lungs can prevent aspiration pneumonia.
Hold the kitten firmly, and shake it sharply downwards supporting its neck (much like clearing a baby’s lungs after birth).
If one of the kittens gets air in its lungs, hold upside down until any coughing or choking goes away.
WATCH THIS VIDEO:
Immediate response to aspirating kitten: clearing fluid out of a newborn kitten’s mouth
CONSTIPATION
Add a few drops of coconut oil to formula & also rub some coconut oil on tush
HOW TO GIVE WATER ENEMA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BK1FShovQt4&index=23&list=PLY38O5mbrtkOPhLLD0qM7k2M0GaVBz3om&t=78s
DIARRHEA: SEE PAGE ON CONSTIPATION & DIARRHEA
Red and/or painful bottom: Wash only with warm water (no rubbing) and use coconut oil if needed for irritation. You can also use chamomile tea as wash and this will soothe the irritated skin. Deeply colored (i.e., concentrated) urine indicates dehydration. It should be close to clear. Yellow urine means dehydration.
IN CASE OF ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS TAKE THE KITTEN TO A VET IMMEDIATELY
Bowels should be toothpaste consistency and mustard colored – Gray bowels mean serious trouble, consult a vet immediately. Always take a stool sample with you to the vets. For kittens with a lack of appetite or anemia, “Pet-Tinic” vitamin/mineral supplement (available at the vet and pet food stores) will stimulate appetite and rebuild systems. Follow the directions on the bottle for dosage and give direct by dropper or add to food, and consult a vet asap. Dehydration – gently pull at the loose skin on the back of the kitten’s neck or shoulders. If the skin springs back, the kitten is fine. If the skin reluctantly returns or does not return at all, the kitten is dehydrated and needs immediate liquids under the skin. Mouth tissue will be too light a pink, dry or sticky. Consult a vet ASAP.
Diarrhea/Loose stool = over feeding, parasites, worms, serious illness, coccidia/ Over feeding leads to a depletion of digestive enzymes. Add 1/3 water to the formula. Coconut water and water should bring bowels back to normal. Stools that look like curdled milk mean no formula is being digested, switch to Coconut water and water and consult a vet.
Serious illnesses
Paneleuk (kills quickly)
Coccidia
Cerebellar Hypoplasia – result from contracting distemper in utero, lameness is an indication
Hypoglycemia – twitching, depression or convulsion – administer glucose, a drop of raw honey can save a life. Consult a vet ASAP
MILESTONES
HOW TO TELL AGE FROM TEETH
HOW TO TELL GENDER
…VIDEO ON HOW TO TELL GENDER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W66119CGCEYhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W66
OTHER RESOURCES
http://www.kittenbaby.comhttp://www.kittenlady.org/gettingstarted
MORE RESOURCES
www.hdw-inc.com/tinykitten.htmhttp://www.vetinfo.comhttp://www.kittencare.com/http://www.feralcat.com/raising.htmlwww.safehavenforcats.comhttp://www.kittenrescue.org/handbook.htm
