Help for feeding newborn kitten?

Question

I am taking care of 3 abandoned kittens (less than 1 week old) I have formula and a bottle from the pet store. Two are doing fine, but one, the runt, doesn't nurse very well, he sucks a little, then turns away and writhes. It seems like he's in pain. Any ideas? Any other advice on taking care of these kittens?

Thanks to everyone who answered! Not to be disgusting, but I got the kitty to have a HUGE poo, and then he ate really well and went to sleep!

Answer 1

Kittens at that age do not deficate on their own. Have you been stimulating urination etc as the mother would. If not this can cause the little on pain. This website may help to explain what you need to do . Hope it helps and well done!
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=1&cat=1388&articleid=906

Answer 2

First of all, thank you for being so generous and kind to these babies. You have taken on a challenge and it's nice to see people going out of their way to save our fur kids!

I, myself, have hand-fed many abandoned kittens in my days. You will definitely need to remember to rub their behind with a cotton ball to stimulate their bowels and urinate, etc. Keep them warm (water balloons underneath a towel or wash cloth work wonderful) - also - it may be your bottle. Some of those nursing bottles have the hardest nipples ever invented. I use an eyedropper until they are at least 3 weeks old. If he refuses to eat, rub his back and encourage him then try again. Sometimes you have to force feed - but it's better than the alternative.

Best of luck!

Answer 3

just force the formula down him...I don't mean in a way that will hurt him but if you drop enough formula in his mouth and have his head tilted up some will go down. I found 3 abandoned kittens several years ago and had this same problem! Good Luck! Thank you for taking care of them! I wish more people were like you!

Answer 4

Don't forget to rub their behind with a cotton after feeding to help them pee and poop. They won't poop every time though, maybe once a day.
As for the kitty that doesn't eat much, may be use a syringe, but be very careful: you must not press milk on him unless he makes a movement of the tongue etc like he is licking or eating, because he could inhale the milk and drown. Just drop a bit of milk, drop by drop, on his tongue.

Answer 5

Take it to a vet. also let it eat what it does. the problem will be his alone. he will get so hungry he will have to eat. try buying a life size puppet cat and sticking the bottle out the bottom.

Answer 6

Ask a local pet store they might help.

Answer 7

try burping him/her.....they do get air when they bottle feed, lay it on its' back in your palm and gently rub his stomach up and down....this should help......READ ON:

You will need to be sure you have the right supplies on hand. You will need to have (or make) an incubator (or, nesting box); and you will also need a heating pad; room thermometer; sterile cotton balls and gauze; an accurate gram scale; nurser kits with bottles, nipples, and cleaning brush; Pedialyte unflavored liquid; high quality Kitten Milk Replacer formula (while the powder is more economical, we only use and recommend the liquid form in the cans); and, in case you need to do tube feeding, you will need several syringes (usually 3cc, 5cc, 12cc and 20cc), and your tube feeder, which can be purchased through veterinary clinics or supply houses. Many breeders recommend the butterfly needle infusion sets as the tube is very pliable, and soft. The 0.6mm (outer) diameter tube is most popular, and the rubber catheters you will need can be found at most major drugstores. You will need a #5 French catheter for kittens up to 2 weeks old, and you can use a #8 French for older kittens.

Bottle feeding a kitten requires special nursers designed for hand-feeding kittens. Gently insert the nipple into the mouth of the kitten - preferably while it is resting on its stomach -- then slowly pull up and forward on the bottle so that the kitten will have its head slightly elevated and extended while nursing. Be sure that the kitten is actually suckling by checking the level of formula in the nurser bottle.

How much to actually bottle feed the kittens? It is actually better to under-feed rather than over-feed a kitten in the first few days. A bottle-fed kitten will usually stop nursing when it is full. If, however, you notice milk coming out of its nose, the milk is being delivered too fast, which means that the hole in the nipple is too large. (If the kitten continues to bubble its formula out of its nose each feeding, you will want to have a vet check the kitten carefully to be sure the inside palate are of its mouth has fully developed.) You will want to warm the formula before giving it to the kitten, to 99°-101°F (the body temperature of cats), and it is recommended that you do this by putting the sterilized bottle into a warm bowl of water to warm it rather than using the microwave, which can cause "hot spots" in the formula.

At Foothill Felines, we have found it is easier to start young kittens off using a plastic syringe (without the needle of course!) instead of a small bottle. From the newborn stage until the kittens are about 1 1/2 weeks old, use a 3 cc. syringe, and feed every 2 hours. At 1 1/2 weeks old, they are ready for the 6 cc. syringe size and feeding every 3 hours, and at about 3 weeks old, move them up to a 12 cc. syringe, feeding them at least every 4 hours. An average meal for a 3 week old kitten can vary from a single syringe full (12 fluid cc) to three syringes full (36 fluid cc) for a large and hungry kitten!!! We like and use the KMR (Kitten Milk Replacer) formula, available in most large pet and feed supply stores. While the powdered form is more economical, it does not always reconstitute as lump-free as needed to flow through the syringes (best method is to mix a small amount with cold water first, similar to the process of making lump-free gravy, then add the mixture to the rest of the batch), so we always use and recommend the LIQUID FORM IN THE CANS. If you shop around, you can find the best economical source for purchasing the formula in your area. If you are unable to locate or purchase KMR in your area, we have nutritious "kitten glop" recipes on this website that you can make from ingredients at home.

How much formula to give? Normally, it is recommended that you give 2 tablespoons of liquid formula for every 4 ounces of body weight per day. For very young kittens, you will need to divide their total daily amount into six equal sized feedings, and yes, this does mean during the night, also!! As the kittens grow, the number of feedings and their frequency can be decreased. Also as they grow, they can let you know better when they are actually hungry. Kittens that are not getting enough nourishment may cry continuously, suck on each other or on themselves, and they may have prominent hips or backbones.

Do I need to burp the kitten? After each feeding, you will need to hold the kitten against your shoulder and gently burp it. Another technique is to hold the kitten so it's back is against your chest and gently cuddle it under your neck while rubbing it's tummy. A steady weight gain of about 10 grams (or 1/3 of an ounce) per day is recommended, but do not be surprised if a kitten may stay at the same weight for a day or two, then suddenly the weight gains are seen. After feeding, burping and weighing the kitten, check to see if the bedding in the nest box needs to be changed, and that the temperature is correct. Then, put the kitten back in the box so that it can sleep. A properly fed kitten will sleep through to the next feeding.

Normally, kittens will have a couple of firm, yellowish stools per day if they are being properly fed. Also after each feeding, you will need to gently massage and stimulate the anal and genital area with a sterile cotton ball or piece of gauze dipped in warm water. This will cause the kitten to urinate and have bowel movements, and it is very important that you continue to do this for the kitten until it is definitely using the litterbox on its own, even though most kittens can control their own bowel movements at about 10 days old. The skin area is very delicate and may become raw or sore from your efforts. If this happens, apply a tiny dab of Preparation H ointment to the affected area after each stimulation. Keep in mind that your kitten will probably not have a bowel movement every feeding, and sometimes even skip a day. This should be fine as long as the kitten is growing, eating well, not showing any signs of distress, and urinating.

Young kittens must be protected from disease!! ALWAYS wash your hands before and after handling the kittens, and ALWAYS clean and sterilize your bottles, nipples, brushes, or tube feeders in boiling water after each use!! If your kittens did not receive their mother's colostrum (the watery milk the queen produces in the first couple of days after giving birth), your kittens are at an even higher risk as they did not receive the antibodies present in the colostrum. In that case, be sure to keep them separated from any other animals, also.

Answer 8

Talk to your local pet store, and your vet. They will know what to do. Best wishes for your little ones. ;-). Thanks for caring.