i have 5 abondoned kittens and i need help!!?

Question

ok .. after i feed all of them, i pee pee them so that they dont pee all over eachother. now lately, i noticed that there has been a little bit of blood coming out of some of their butts .. it usually happens when they are screaming to get down which looks like they are straining themselves .. is that normal? also when should i begin traing them with the litterbox? they are 1 1/2 weeks old..

i'm just going to add i am keeping them all .. i've dedicated all my time taking care of them like an infant .. waking up all hours of the night to feed them .. lol

Answer 1

Here you go and the best to you and the kittens:



A kitten may need hand raising because the mother has died, become ill, rejected the kittens or abandoned them. In the case of feral cats, the kittens may have been taken from the mother for taming.

Kittens should not be taken from the mother before 5 to 6 weeks of age if possible. (For wild kittens you may want to take them away from the mother at 4 weeks to tame them. As they get older, taming gets progressively harder.) The longer the mother cat is able to feed the kittens the better since young kittens need mother's milk for best nutrition as well as important antibodies. This passive immunity usually lasts until the kittens are 6-14 weeks of age. Since orphans have no such protection, they are especially vulnerable to disease.

First try finding a foster feline mother; breeders, veterinarians and animal shelters may know of nursing cats in your area. Try calling any "cat people" that you know for leads as well. Cats will very often feed kittens other than their own.

If you must feed them yourself before weaning age, you must devote considerable energy and weeks of constant care if the kitten is to have a good chance at survival. The younger the kitten, the more fragile it is. Very young kittens may not survive without a mother no matter how good the care.

WARMTH AND FIRST AID
As soon as you find an orphaned kitten it must be protected from becoming chilled. Place it under your clothes next to your skin. Most of the young kitten's energy is needed for growth and yelling for more food, so there's not a lot left over for heat generation. Normally the mother cat and litter mates would provide a good deal of warmth. During their first week, kittens should be kept between 88 and 92 degrees F. 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.
If possible, take the kitten to a veterinarian to be checked out for dehydration and general condition. Kittens can become dehydrated very quickly without a mom and may need fluids under the skin. Kittens that are dehydrated from lack of fluids or diarrhea will have very little energy or appetite, so this is important to take care of immediately. Stools should be checked for worms and parasites. The vet can supply a lot of advice on hand raising kittens as well as needed supplies so don't skip this step.

When you get the kitten home you must continue to provide warmth. Find a place in your home that is warm, draft-free and isolated.

Feeding can be done with an eyedropper or a nursing bottle (available at the vet). If using the eyedropper be careful not to force feed the kitten. Let the baby suck the fluid at its own pace, otherwise you can fill the baby's lungs with milk and cause pneumonia.

If the baby is old enough to suckle, the bottle method is best. One company even makes a special kitten nurser which is designed to keep air bubbles out of the baby's tummy. The company is Catac ($15 to Kitte Res-Q, Dept. C, P.O. Box 723, Santa Paula, Ca 93061).

All utensils should be sterilized before each feeding.

To feed your kitten, place it stomach down on a towel or other textured surface to which it can cling. 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 at a 45-degree angle, keeping a light pull on the bottle to encourage vigorous sucking.

If a suckling kitten aspirates formula into its lungs, immediately hold it upside down until the choking subsides. If the kitten is not strong enough to suckle, seek veterinary assistance ASAP.

Formula should be warmed to body temperature and fed to small kittens every 3-4 hours. As they get older every 6-8 hours will be enough. Check the package for recommended feeding amounts and feedings per day. A kitten needs approximately 8 cc’s of formula per ounce of body weight per day. The kitten's age determines the number of daily feedings it should receive.

When a kitten has had enough formula, bubbles will form around its mouth, and its tummy will be rounded. After each meal, burp the kitten by holding it upright against you shoulder and patting it lightly on the back.

Do not overfeed kittens, as this can bring on diarrhea as well as other problems.

FEEDING GUIDE


AGE IN AVG. WEIGHT AMOUNT OF FORMULA NUMBER OF FEEDINGS
WEEKS OF KITTEN PER DAY PER DAY
1 4 ounces 32 cc 6
2 7 ounces 56 cc 4
3 10 ounces 80 cc 3
4 13 ounces 104 cc 3
5 1 pound 128 cc 3


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.
Kittens should be weighed frequently to ensure that they are growing properly. You'll soon know if your orphans are thriving because they will grow at an incredible rate.


STIMULATION
The kitten's natural mother takes care of both ends of her baby. By licking the kitten's abdomen, she stimulates the bowels and bladder and tidies up the resulting mess. A surrogate cat mom should gently rub the kitten's abdomen and bottom with a cotton ball or pad or tissues moistened with warm water. This stimulates the discharge of waste and keeps babies clean. Be careful to rub only enough to get them to expel waste materials. Keep the area clean and watch for chafing which might indicate that you are rubbing too hard or not cleaning well enough.
When you feed and clean the kittens, wash their fur all over with a barely damp 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.


FLEAS
Abandoned kittens will need to be cleaned and rid of fleas soon after they are found. Flea anemia can hamper any attempt to save the kitten and fleas carry tape worm eggs. The vet will carry flea sprays suitable for use on kittens. Always check the manufacturer’s instructions for use on kittens. Adams flea spray (according to one foster mom) has been found to be safe and effective in quick kill of fleas while not harming even day old kittens. After using the spray (as directed on the bottle for kittens) place the kitten on a towel that can be removed with the dead and dying fleas 20 to 30 minutes later.
After the spray has rid the kitten of fleas, bathe the kitten in gentle soap or surgical soap if flea sores are present making sure to prevent chilling the kitten. DRY THE KITTEN IMMEDIATELY. 1 to 3 week old kittens can be dried carefully with a hair dryer. (Be careful to avoid blowing in their faces.) Older kittens are frequently frightened by the blowing and noise, so towel dry them as best you can and place them in a container that is in a warm place (like next to a refrigerator). You may also try putting the towel-dried kitten in a pet carrier and aiming the blow-dryer into the carrier where the warm air will gently circulate to dry the kitten.


WEANING
If necessary, you may begin weaning the kitten at 4 weeks of age. Start by feeding it formula in a bowl. Then gradually introduce solid food. Strained baby food or Hill's brand "a/d" in a can works well. Or you can moisten dry kitten food with formula or water. Don't expect the kitten to be weaned overnight. As it eats more often from the bowl, reduce the bottle feedings.
Canned kitten food can also be used to introduce the kitten to solid food. Young kittens cannot chew dry kitten food without moistening. Check instructions on the container. Try to buy high quality food for the kittens (from the vet or pet food stores). Much of what is sold in supermarkets is pure junk food and may not help your kitten thrive.

Changes in diet or certain foods can cause diarrhea, so keep an eye on stools. Diarrhea can be life-threatening to a young kitten.


LITTER BOX TRAINING
The 4 week mark is a good time to introduce the kitten to the litter box too. Place the kitten in the box after each meal. You may have to take the kitten's paw and show it how to scratch in the litter. Usually the kitten will catch on quickly.

LOVE AND ATTENTION
Besides food and warmth the kitten needs emotional closeness. Pet it frequently and let it snuggle against your warm skin.
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.

Some experts argue that no adequate parental substitute for the natural mother cat exists.


MILESTONES
At birth, a kitten should weigh 2 to 4 ounces. By the end of its first week it should double in body weight. The kitten should open its eyes at about 8 days. The eyes will stay blue for about 2 more weeks. (The true eye color will not appear until the kitten is about 3 months old.)
At 2 weeks the ears will start to stand up. At about 3 weeks the kitten will try to walk. At 4 weeks kittens start to play with each other and develop teeth.

Check with your veterinarian as to the timing of the needed vaccinations.

The kitten should be ready for adoption at 8 weeks, and can be spayed or neutered at that time if in good health.


HEALTH PROBLEMS
Orphaned kittens are especially vulnerable to diseases. At the first sign of any abnormal behavior or loss of appetite, take them to the veterinarian.
Colds, like upper respiratory infections, are caused by various viruses and claim many kittens each year. Some of these same viruses, or an organism known as Chlamydia, can also cause permanent damage to a kitten's eyes. If bacteria invade the infected eye the organisms can puncture the tough covering, resulting in blindness. Even a lesser infection can leave the eyeball badly scarred.

Diarrhea can result from disease, food changes, worms, or overfeeding. The resulting dehydration can be deadly.

Distemper is also a chronic danger to young cats, especially those who did not have the advantage of the mother cat's antibodies. It is airborne, very contagious, and often a killer.


A FINAL WORD
Caring for an orphaned kitten can be difficult and even the most conscientious foster parent may lose a little one. If a kitten dies, the substitute parent should not blame himself or herself. Nor should you accept all the credit if the kitten thrives.
A kitten is most likely to die at birth, in its first week, or while weaning. But, armed with common sense and an ability to care (as well as accurate information), you have a good chance of raising a motherless waif to the adoption age - or beyond.


CREDITS
This information sheet is a compilation of articles appearing in "Cat Fancy" magazine, "I Love Cats" magazine, as well as the wealth of experience generously shared by some wonderful surrogate moms.

Answer 2

No, this may be a quick fix for a day or two but it won't do any good. Wet food is easier to digest and this is what he needs now. If he is drinking lots of water it could mean diabetes or an infection. Take him to the vet right away because he can't last long in this situation. Best wishes. At Five weeks he should still be on kitten formula. This will give him extra nutrients but won't solve the problem of a sick kitten.

Answer 3

I used to rescue a lot of animals, I'm no expert but here goes. . .

The first and easiest answer is to take them to the vet. I've never had kitten so young have blood in their stool, but there are so many different things it could be from parisites to enlarged colon. Besides that, if they've been hand reared for the past two weeks they will need vaccinations now. MUCH sooner than Mom-raised kittens because they didn't get any antibodies from the momma cat to protect them from infections.

The momma cat would usually lick their privates to encourage them to pee and poo. You could try imitating that by rubbing the kitten’s abdomen, the genitals and rectum with a moistened cotton ball, or a cotton pad. Just do it a little bit after they've eaten till satisfaction.

Kittens don't poop much at first, and when they do it is very little and very, so it may be that they are pooing a little.

"If your kitten cries in pain while trying to go potty, go to a vet, as painful bowel movements and severe constipation may indicate a presence of Megacolon. Megacolon is a condition in which the colon loses its muscular tone and enlarges. It leads to constipation and can be quite painful to cats. "

Are you feeding them kitten formula, or Goat's milk formula? that would be best for them, as cows milk is difficult for them to digest so early on (Lactose is a large molecule)

I'd say keep them away from a "litter: box for a while. As gross as it sounds, momma cat usually ingests the kitten-leavings for a long time until they are mobile enough to not "pee all over each other" . so they are not in a hurry to learn to go potty.

Once they are mobile enough and eat and eliminate regularly enough they will, on their own, look for places to doo the deed.

Most Kitty litters can do bad things to the kittens plumbing so try either shredded paper or a low dust alternative litter like peanut or wheat husks.

Good Luck, I hope everything goes well.

Answer 4

Ive Raised ALOT Of Kittens And The Best Thing To Do Is Put Them In A Box with lots of beding and feed them every two hours
it might be a good idea to wipe their butt to make them poo but not pee if the blood thing doesnt stop today take them to a vet

Answer 5

What are you feeding them? If not using special kitten formula, here is a formula that will provide the nutrition requirements:
1 can evapored (canned) milk,1/2can warm water,1egg (well beaten), 1 Tablespoon of Karo syrup, a rice cereal base of baby cereal. This was given by vets 15 yrs. ago. If questions, check with your vet. If you can find rice cereal without iron added would be benificial. Best is to find a nursing mother cat.
Have they had any diarriha? If so, call your vet. If they are bleeding at the anus, try using vaseline when stimulating; also use a very soft warm wet washcloth ( or cotton balls ).

Answer 6

What do you mean you pee pee them? they go naturally, I would put them in a box with newspaper and some soft bedding. You can use a soft wet washcloth to wipe them down but you shouldn't be rubbing them or forcing them to urinate. The blood could be irritation or from what you are feeding them. Kittens need special liquid nourishment, you can buy it at pet stores like PetSmart, PetCo or even Walmart has a version of it, you feed with a kitty bottle or even a tiny doll bottle several times a day.

I had 5 kittens and the stray mom who nearly died after giving birth, one kitten did die, it was too small. While the mom recovered she could not nurse so I had to bottle feed mine. 1 1/2 weeks is way too small to consider training them to use a box, my goodness they are still babies. Even trying to force them to pee when they might not need to isn't a good thing, let nature take it's course with a newspaper in a box. You can wipe off their fur. Things might be raw and you don't want to chance infection settling in.

One thing you can do to make things nice for them is when you are feeling them hold them near your heart and gently "burp" them after they bottle feed. You can burp them by gently rubbing the tummy and back simultanously with your finger.

I started training mine at 8 weeks old. As soon as they start eating solid foods that's a good time to watch them to note when they start to have to go and put them in the box. Be forewarned, the first solid foods that come back out, they will probably scream in pain as it's a new sensation. To start them on solid foods either try a little dab of canned or better yet if they have pretty decient teeth coming in, take dry kittnen food and wet it so it's mushy. Make sure they have water too to drink when they start eating solids.

They won't all take to eating solids at the same time. My first kitten started at 8 weeks, then 3 followed at about 10 weeks, then the last one was 14 weeks, she was reluctant to give in lol.

Good luck!

PS be sure if you keep them you get them fixed so you dont' have more kittens, the SPCA will pay for some of the surgeries if you keep the cats as the result. Be sure they are fixed by 5 months old so they don't start mating.

Answer 7

Call up Friends of Animals
http://www.friendsofanimals.org/
or the Humane Society
http://www.humanesocietymiami.org/
Both of these organizations will help you find homes for these kittens or at least tell you how to get a low cost vet for what maybe a urinary tract infection or their little stomachs may still be having a difficult time adjusting to their new diet.
Good luck with them and I hope you find them all a good home.

Answer 8

great that you are trying to rear them hun, I hope that you are not giving them cows milk its not suitable for them. you can buy a milk powder from pet shops or vets.do you wash their bottoms after they have been fed? i know you said that you pee them, gently washing their
bottoms stimulates them to go to the loo, just like the mother cat would.you can use a piece of cotton wool to wash their tummys as well this will help to stop them getting wind and colic( be sure they are dry after).its a good idea to wiegh them before and after a feed if you are not already doing this. you can then be sure they are taking enough in.dont even think about litter training untill they are eating solid food. but after they do you will still need to clean them and bottle feed them untill they are around 6 weeks old just as they would be with mum. good luck!!!!

Answer 9

If you want to keep them, then please talk to the vet's office on their condition. Also, feed them only water and watered down dry kitten food. Don't feed them milk. As far as litter training them at this age don't even think about it. Too young. They should be still nursing their mom.

If you don't want to keep them then yes, call your shelter for information. There are foster people that take care of your situation. No cost to you.

Hope this helps.

Answer 10

Please call a vet or a shelter. The kittens may have a problem. The shelter may be able to list you as a "foster home" and provide vet care for the kittens and mom until they are ready for adoption.

Hope you realize HOW EXPENSIVE 5 kittens will be. 20 vaccines,20 doses of wormer,5 desexing surgeries, 5 kittens to get sick and need vet care.

Answer 11

they definitely need to see a vet about the bleeding thing, that's not normal, I've raised kittens from a week old and i wish you goodluck, it's a lot of work. start litter training when they can walk steadily. you can email me if you want if you have any other questions, I'd be glad to help if i can.. i'm a fellow catlover.. goodluck