I found a sick wild kitten. What do I do?

Question

It doesn't seem like the mama will care for it. One of the eye is shut close, seems like an infection. The other eye is very watery. I called Animal control, they said they would come within 4 hours. Its already 8PM and I doubt they will come... I will try tomorrow morning. So far, I used a dropper to feed it some water, and some milk. I'm not sure I should've given it milk. What can I do to help her in the meantime? She is very weak and meows a lot.

Answer 1

Most emergency clinics will take sick kittens as good Samaritans. They can feed him properly, keep him warn and either find a home or call animal control.
This kitten likely has a respiratory infection and possibly other dangerous infectious diseases. Do not expose this kitten to your cats. These diseases are very contagious.
If you decide to keep this kitten, you should take him to your vet asap to test for leukemia/FIV and treat respiratory infections. They can also tell you how to care for him. No, milk we drink is not good for kittens. It does not provide them the nutritional requirements they need to survive.

Answer 2

Instead of animal control(the pound) turn the kitten over to the ASPCA or the Humane Society for the pound will just destroy it.Do not give full strength milk but dilute it a bit with water and put some sugar into it for animals if they do not eat will quickly dehydrate the sugar with the watered milk will prevent that and the sugar (glucose)will give energy. Also break open a egg and give her some of the yolk-not the egg whites since too stringy. You can take the egg yolk,some milk ,some sugar and a bit of water and mix it all together-make it luke warm or room temp not too cold best if warm for mothers milk is warm then feed with a dropper as much as the kitten will eat. In the morning you can go to Petsmart,Petco or any Pet food store and they have formula very simillar to mothers milk that will be great for the kitten . You might also call some of the local vets for cat rescue groups that will take the kitty and care for it including vet care-for the eye that is closed take a clean washcloth and wet it with Warm Water and place the warm washcloth over the eye for it will soothe it for couple of minutes and then wipe the eye best you can being careful not to get the kitty wet for would not be good for it.If the kitten is weaned offer her various foods esp meats like chicken but offer very small pieces or even if you have canned chickn gravy or the like for cats are carniverous-meat eaters. Bless you for taking the poor little kitty in.

Answer 3

The milk is very risky with a young kitten as it can give it a fatal diarrhea. If you have an all-night market available you can get a jar of baby food meat. One without ANY onion or garlic. Chicken or turkey would be best. It is usually pretty mushy and you can just smear some on the her lips or a little inside the mouth (don't choke the her on it) - just a tiny amount every fifteen minutes or so. Hopefully the kitten can get this into her tummy and make her feel a little better.

Tomorrow you could get the KMR milk for her and a bottle to see if she would take some of that too.

Of course the emergency vet is a very good choice if it is financially feasible for you. Animal control will almost certainly euthanize her as they probably don't have a foster home to care for her.

Answer 4

Cow milk may cause diarrhea. She meows because she is hungry though. You don't say how small it is. If it is under 1 month old, you must buy kitten formula milk and feed it. Or diluted low fat milk. And then rub his behind with a small wet cloth to stimulate it to poo (their mum leaks them). If he looks like he walks around on its own try to feed some boiled cchicken cut in small pieces. Or make the chicken into a mash, like baby food, and feed him with the syringe. But what I would advice most, is to take the kitten to a vet, so that they can tell you what is wrong and what to do, and most importantly cure the eye problem, because if he doesn't get treatment now he could get blind. Even blind cats can learn their way around very well, in a house, but it's better to avoid it.
And don't give it to animal control, they'd probably kill it!

Answer 5

If there is a pet store open near you, get a can of kitten formula and feed it from a dropper or a kitten bottle if they have one. You can, if you must, use still use cow's milk at this point since she's still able to deal with lactose (that will change as she's older). You might want to nuke it a few seconds just to take the chill off.

Answer 6

They sell kitten milk at some pet stores if you can get to one. Otherwise, keep up with the water and make sure the kitten stays warm and comfortable. You could see if she'd take a little chicken broth or some wet cat food. There may be a feline rescue league in your area - check the Internet and the phone book. Someone from there may be able to take the kitten in faster than animal control and nurse it back to health. You're doing a really nice thing for this little creature and it warms my heart to hear your story - thanks.

Answer 7

You need to call them back. If they do not come tonight, the kitten will probably not make it until morning. Do you have any goats milk in the cabinet? You could use that. If it is a tiny kitten, it may have urine built up in it's bladder. It could be in pain. Take a warm wet soft cloth and rub her genital area to help her pee. Little baby kittens cannot do this on their own and can die if not relieved.

Answer 8

when my old cat was a baby, i used to give him diluted milk. just water it down. i think i did 2 parts milk, one part water. and with its eyes, it would probably help if you were to wipe its eyes with a warm wet washcloth. just to release it and get some of the infection off. plus the warmth wil probably feel good.

im not a expert, but this is what i would do, at least until you can get somewhere to help it.

Answer 9

Give it milk without lactose with the dropper. Make sure to keep it warm. And take it to the vet as soon as you can.

Answer 10

Take it to a emergency vet!!!!!!! they are open late. I do this a lot. were i live there is a lot of cats. it could be seriously sick. take it in as soon as you can. do not give it any more milk!!!! it is bad for there digestive system!