How often should I stimulate a kittens bowels?

Question

My cat just had kittens, now the mother has become very weak. I have stepped in as a surrogate to help out. I have been bottle feeding (the ones that let me) for a week now and I am uncertain on how often I should be stimulating their bowels. The kittens are 3 to 4 weeks old. Bare in mind, the mother still tends to them as often as she can. From what I tell she stimulates there bowels at least 1x per day. She still feeds them, but she gets up after about 5min. this goes on 24 hrs a day. The runt is unable to find a nipple within that amount of time so he never got to eat. The rest of the litter (4 all together) don't get enough to eat in 5 min. so when she leaves the kittens they try to folow her because their still hungry. I read that there feedings need to be every 2 hrs. Stimulating them to go to the bathroom every 2 hrs. seems awfully extensive. Does anyone have information regarding this?

Answer 1

Please call your vet and find out what you need to do.

Answer 2

I rescued a kitten when he was about 3 weeks old, his mother was probably dead because he was very weak and starved. I handfed him until he was a few months old, when he was about 6 months old he was so tiny, and only weighed a pound and a half! He's now very happy healthy and weighs about 10 pounds. Anyways to answer your question, I stimulated his bowels about two times a day. It depends on how much they eat as well. He pooped on his own, because by the time he had eaten enough and gotten enough food in him to have solid waste to get rid of, he was starting to get older and bigger and even eating a little bit of hard food. Good luck... it's a messy job. :D

I also just want to say, it's good to see another person who cares this much about their animals. I know some people out there would just let them die. It's respectable! I wish you the best of luck!! I also hope they all turn out to be very healthy and you will have a hard time giving them away, they'll sort of be your babies! I couldn't give the one I raised away, I was way too attached.

Answer 3

after every feed the mother usually stimulates the bowls, so this is what you should do with a damp wash cloth. Feeding every 3 - 4 hours is ok from this age. now is also about the time they should be introduced to solids. after they eat put them in the litter tray. They might not do anything for a while but they will catch onto the idea soon enough

Answer 4

if you are bottle feed them wet a wash cloth ever time they eat and wipe them with it

Answer 5

http://www.rescueguide.com/orphkits.html

good luck!