Well, Our Cat Decided to Send Us a Gift

Updated on October 15, 2011
T.S. asks from Roanoke, VA
8 answers

My last post was about how our oldest, Sarah, passed. Well, she decided today that she was going to give us the gift of new life! We are currently in Maryland and I am in the hotel and me and my friend were exploring outside when by the tire of the car next to ours we found a teeny, 6 week old orange tabby. Daddy decided we can keep him! He has decided that I am his.
But, does anyone have any experience with kittens so small? Hes so fragile feeling and every time he mews it breaks all of our hearts! We searched for about an hour for a mother or some more, but hes all alone.

What can I do next?

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V.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

This is going to sound weird, but it's very important to do (I've rescued 5 litters of kittens on my farm after dogs killed their moms).

You can get bottles and kitten formula from the vet (Maybe even wal-mart). After he drinks his bottle, you have to use a warm wet wash cloth and rub it on his tummy in a straight downward motion. Mother cats lick their kittens tummies to get the digestion going because otherwise digestion won't start on it's own. So just use the wash cloth as a tongue, Lol.

The first litter of kittens that I rescued ended up dying because I didn't know this. A vet told me about it, and the rest of the litters have lived.

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More Answers

M.L.

answers from Houston on

I worked at a vet and have seen many young kitten rescues. PetLand/PetSmart has special bottles and formulas for kittens this young, or slightly younger. I would call your vet in the morning to get exact directions on how to care for the baby.

This will help you age the kitten and know some basics of care, to see if you need the formula or how to make your own and feed it:
http://www.homeatlastrescue.org/html/aboutcats/kittencare...

more helpful advice, I strongly recommend you read through this as well:
http://www.kittenrescue.org/pages.php?pageid=15

He/she is old enough to start treating for round and tape worms. Which you should really do since it was a feral stray and worms are common.

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K.U.

answers from Detroit on

Get him checked at the vet's as soon as possible for parasites, etc. He's probably too young for any shots yet but he can be brought back when he is old enough. Try feeding commercial kitten formula/milk replacer with canned kitten food to see if that makes it easier for him to accept and eat it. Usually at this age bottle feeding isn't needed anymore and if he was with his mom he might periodically nurse but they are starting to eat more solid food on their own. Eventually you'll be able to phase out the formula and introduce some dry food. He might even eat some dry food now if you offer it and the pieces are small. Show him where the litter box is and take him there periodically so he figures out how to use it. Usually they learn from their mothers but instinct is a powerful thing. Keep him confined to one room or small area so he doesn't get lost. Ideally kittens would be weaned from their moms and ready for new homes at 8 weeks old but it can be done sooner and they can do just fine. Good luck!

2 moms found this helpful

J.S.

answers from Hartford on

First off, I think it's most important that you take the little critter to the vet. He could be sick, and is very likely in need of vaccinations. You've got to be sure that he doesn't have worms or ear mites or anything else that could make him really sick or uncomfortable. You can also get a better idea as to his age so that you'll know what you should be feeding him.

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R.P.

answers from Cleveland on

feed the cat milk with a dropper until he is strong enough to lick

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

We found a new kitten whose ears hadn't uncurled or his eyes opened yet. We fed him tigers milk with a tiny bottle for the same purpose. He did so well. We also took him to the vet right away. He was examined and found to be just a few days old. He had a tiny grub worm in a wound on his belly so if we had not found him he would have died. The doc pushed it like a pimple...the stiff white stuff came out then when it moved everyone but the doc took a step back.

It is so much fun raising little ones!

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L.B.

answers from Biloxi on

Oh, how wonderful!!!!
We have often, in my family, had our pets who have gone before, send us gifts like that. I think it their way of ensuring that we are not lonely for them.

The other Moms gave your good advice about running the little baby to the vet for a check up and care instructions.

Congratulations !!!

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D.K.

answers from Columbus on

I would take him into a vet if you haven't already for feline leukemia and fiv testing, deworming and vaccines if they think he is old enough. I got our youngest at four weeks, still had blue eyes and could not go potty by herself. I used One milk replacer, wet food, and dry food soaked in water for her to eat. Royal canin makes a food for baby cats under four months and the pieces are tiny. I would soak it for about five minutes and she gobbled it right up. I think by six weeks I was pretty much just giving it dry. She was about a quarter of a pound when I first got her and had been brought into the vet office I worked at when someone had found her.

Good luck with your new one. We also lost a cat and a couple of days later one showed up that was about the same age and also black and white so we kept him until he decided he wanted to live with our neighbors and not our other cats. It worked out perfectly for everyone.

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