I found a tiny stray kitten, I fed it KMR milk and it only drinks 1/2oz Is that right? It always crying HELP?

Question

It can walk and its eyes are opened but its only about 2 1/2 inches big. It drinks and then crys. I put it in a box and it crys itself to sleep but if it hears me walking by it crys again and it crys when its eating. Is that normal for it? does it need water? Its so tiny I think it might die but it seems to eat but not very much? I dont want to take it to the SPCA because they might kill it . They are over populated. I am just looking for advise to help this tiny kitten. It was crying in our basement for one day non-stop I herd it under the floor boards and there was no other kittens around. just the one.

Answer 1

HI,

We just went through kind of the same thing, and the kitten is growing like a weed, and chasing the other cats now!

First, how is it drinking the milk? Are you bottle feeding it or is it drinking on it's own? If it's drinking on it's own, then it's probably at least 4 weeks old, and has a really good chance of making it.

If your having to drip milk into it's mouth, you should get a kitten bottle, at either a feed store or a pet store. If it doesn't take that, use an eye dropper. It's very important that you feed it at least every couple of hours. Even a tiny bit, just keep it coming regularly. It shouldn't need water until it's eating and drinking on its own. The most important thing is nourishment.

It's probably crying out of lonliness and fear. Do your best to comfort it, wrap it in a little cloth and hold it. Keep it warm, love it, and feed it. This is the best you can do.

I'm not sure what KMR milk is, is that kitten milk replacement? If so, that's exactly what you should be giving it. Just keep up what you're doing...you're doing great! If the kitty doesn't make it, it's not out of anything you did wrong. It's just that it had a tough start.

God Bless You for taking care of this baby!

Amy

Answer 2

Sweety...The kitten is drinking the milk you are feeding her, And half and oz.is alot if the kitten is as small as you have said...Why she is crying is it has lost it's mommy and brothers and sisters...She need to bond with you, So she feels that she belong to someone...
Plus she sounds like she hasn't been feed for awhile before you found her...I would try and bottle feed her every 2 hours which is right and build her strenght up...And yes, All animals need some sort of water...Take one of your nite tops that you have been wearing, And put it on your 2nd.pillow and let her sleep by you,Specially for bonding and the closest this little girl needs so much...If the kitten is crying when you walk by,She wants to be held and she is probably alittle scare...If you can pull her through this weekend i would take her to your vet and tell him your story and have him check her out...You will or already have fallen in love with this kitty...I wish you and little 1 all the luck in the world...You are a real caring person...Keep the good work up...

Your Friend Clowmy

Answer 3

Kittens need to be burped just like human babies. Hold it in the palm of your hand or up on your shoulder and gently pat the back with two fingers. You will hear a burp. Also, kittens this small need help going to the bathroom. You need to hold him in your hand on its back and stimulate the genital area with a wet paper towel, do this GENTLY. You should have the thumb of the hand holding him across his belly very lightly and you will feel him push against you when he tries to poop. He will cry when you are doing this but it is just protesting because you are messing with him. He needs to be kept in a warm dry place, like a cardboard box with soft towels, shirts or whatever, with a heating pad underneath all that. Put your hand on the towel and when you can just feel warmth, then it is OK for him. Put a towel over the top of the box leaving some room for air to get in. I always put a small stuffed animal in with mine just for something to curl up next to. It does not need water if you are feeding the KMR.

At 2 1/2 inches long, walking and eyes open it could be 10 days to 2 weeks old. Just do the best you can until you can get some help from a vet. Try real hard to get him to use the bathroom. This is just as important as feeding him.

Good luck to you

Answer 4

I am currently weaning a kitten that I'd found when it was only about a week old. I am weaning it off of KMR formula onto regular water and cat food now. My kitten cried all the time when I first found her. Her eyes were just starting to open. Go to Petsmart and get a kitten baby bottle kit. It contains all different types of nipples and a small bottle to use. It may be near the KMR formula cans they sell. Make sure you cut an X in the nipple tip that's not too small or too big. It has to be big enough that the kitten can actually get some out of it itself without too much trouble or it will stop trying and keep crying. I even tried getting some out of it myself to test it...yes gross but it's important to get it right. I can't remember how much she drank at first. I just remember that every 2-3 hours she was hungry. After she ate she would start crying again. I had to hold her and keep her wrapped in a warm blanket and in the dark for her to settle down and go to sleep. This was how it went for a good two weeks.

My vet was the one who reminded me that I needed to "stimulate" her private areas several times a day to get her to pee and poop on her own. I would use a cotton ball soaked in lukewarm water and rub those areas gently several times a day until eventually she started going on her own without my help. Also, take a cotton ball damp with lukewarm water and rub her fur with it. This imitates the action of what a mother cat does to clean her kittens. I did this every day regularly until I started to notice the kitten doing it on her own.

Until the kitten is playing and running around I kept mine in a cat carrier with a towel when I wasn't home to watch over it.

It's very important that someone be with the kitten as much as possible while it's this young and feed it every 2-3 hours.

It's a lot of constant care in taking care of a new young kitten but you get so attached so quickly knowing that it wouldn't have survived unless you found it.

Answer 5

Mom did that and kept a kitten for about a week. It died and then we found out that the bowls need to be stimilated. At least, that's something I seen online. Apparently, the mother licks it's back area and it's bowls are stimilated. This can be accomplished with a wet wash cloth around your fingers. See if it helps. Or search for nursing a cat online for tips, but I have seen mother cats do that and I've never seen a really little kitten getting into a litter box nor have I seen any "spots" from them. So, I am inclined to believe that it's bowls need stimulated. For how long or to what age, I do not know.

Answer 6

sounds like a tummy ache from the rich milk try diluting it a bit and rubbing its tummy

is kmr milk made for kittens? if not get some from the vet thats more suitable

place her on a heating pad on low too for warmth they need the warmth at this stage and something in the box like a windup clock

it also may need stimulation to go potty if its not already just use a q-tip and rub gently around the genitals and have a paper towel handy mother cats and dogs do this and eat it which is nasty but it really works

Answer 7

Ol! I hope that this reaches you in time to save this kitty!!! 1. Kitty needs to have stimulation the Mama licks the little bum and the stimulation is what makes the kitten have a BM (poop) just dip a cottonball in warm water and rub the bum like Mama would in a little bit of a few minutes the kitty will poop! of course that need to be cleaned up right after or the risk of the baby getting sick are gonna be 100% increased! warmth for it is always nessecary w?o mom that is so important! a heating pad is definitely needed!Warmth is good Hot is not!!so be careful and dont put it directly on the heating pad, make sure that tere's a thin towel or mabe fold a soft shirt p and snuggle it on top of that!, don't forget to make sure the kitty gets liquids!not just the supplement but it must also have plenty of water just like formula is given only water! very important!!! if you can't do it yourself please call "man and beast " 210-590-7387 call they will help you not harm the baby!!! please get on it right now!

Answer 8

Good for you for taking on saving this little guy. It is definitely a challenge. I have bottled fed dozens of orphaned kittens. Stick with it, but don't blame yourself if he doesn't make it.

You are right that any animal shelter would euthanize the kitten, however you can call them (or a vet) and ask them if they have a volunteer who has experience in bottlefeeding infant cats who can coach you. Preface your request that you don't want them to take the cat, you just need advice.

Also, check out the links below or just Google "feeding orphaned kittens".

Don't forget to put him on a hot water bottle (wrap the bottle in a towel, then place the kitten on the towel and wrap them both loosely in another towel) and to help him eliminate after eating.

Good luck to you both.

Answer 9

I've rescued a few kittens in my time, and something that many people don't realize is that a mother cat has to lick the kitten's genitals to get it to urinate. Try using a cloth and rubbing that area in little circles to get it to tinkle. Look into getting a different kitty formula. You can buy them at any pet store. It may also be cold. Try putting a hot water bottle under it's blanket. I hope this helps! Good luck. You can also call any pet clinic and get more information.

Answer 10

IF IT'S STOMACH FEEL FULL TO THE TOUCH, LIKE IT'S HARD THAT MIGHT BE ENOUGH---I WOULD JUST CALL A VET AND ASK THEM EXACTLY HOW MUCH IT SHOULD BE EATING, KITTENS ARE A LITTLE ON THE WINEY SIDE-SO IT MIGHT BE NORMAL. TRY CALLING THE HUMANE SOCIETY AND SEE IF THEY CANT TAKE IT, OR IF THEY HAVE A CAT THERE THAT MAY BE NURSING. I WOULD JUST TAKE IT TO THE VET THOUGH, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT MIGHT BE ABOUT 3 WEEKS OLD BY THE SIZE OF IT AND IT'S ABILITY TO WALK AND SEE. MAYBE TRY SOFT KITTEN FOOD AND SEE IF IT WILL EAT IT ALONG WITH THE MILK,I DONT KNOW, I'D CALL YOUR LOCAL VETS OR A ANIMAL HOSPITAL THEY CAN GIVE ADVICE TOO. LAY ONE OF YOUR SHIRTS OR TOWELS THAT HAS YOUR SCENT ON IT NEXT TO HIM TO LAY ON SO THAT IT FEELS SOME REASURRANCE, I HAD TO DO THAT WITH ONE OF MY KITTENS IT WOULD NOT STOP WHINING AND MEOWING AT ALL AT NIGHT, I PUT HIM IN THE BATHROOM AT NIGHT AND PUT A T SHIRT FOR HIM TO LAY ON AND HE WAS FINE.