Help with baby kittens !!!!!?

Question

I have two newborn kittens about 3 weeks old the mom died one week ago and I have brought the babys in to take care of I have been bottle feeding them one of them will not eat I am forcing it to eat and now the other one is not wanting to eat great and its eyes or matting up bad just started last night I took a cotton ball and warm milk and rubbed its eyes I have been calling the vets and asked should I bring them in and they say theres not much they can do this young yet any one have any advise I wanna do whats best for them I don't know if I can handle it if they die when the mom died it about killed me cause I raised her since she was a month old also do you think I should buy some can food and try it. PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

just to add my mother in laws cat had kittens about 2 months ago and she's still nursing there eating kitten food I tried to get her to nurse them and she would not also I am feeding them the cat replacement milk and I am tring to keep them warm the vet told me to but a heating pad in the box and keep in on low and put a towel on that for them I am really tring to do everything that I can do for them there sooo cute one is solid white and the other on is gray with some white strips on it face

also yes I am helping them go to the bathroom often the vet said it would be few days before the pooped but on already started yesterday

sadley to report that one kitten passed away this morning the other one is still kicking hopefully it will make it

Answer 1

Sad to hear that. I don't think warm milk on the eyes is good. Are they going to the "bathroom"? You need a cotton ball, wet it with warm water to help stimulate their area, that is what the mother does. What are you feeding them? They do sell cat nursing milk, in case your not using that and bottle feed them a few drops of water as well every hour.
Good luck

Answer 2

Ok at about 3 weeks old, their eyes should be open. If they start to get gooey, wipe them gently with a warm, soft cotton square or cloth. If it persists past another week ask your vet. At this age, a vet CAN do something. Call around and get more help. That's what they are there for.

As for feeding, try getting some wet max cat kitten, warm it up and mix a little with the milk replacement (KMR) and try bottle feeding that. Always make sure the bottle and milk replacement are warm, not hot or cold, or the kittens will hate it more. Feed them every 4 hours at this age. You can also leave a little warmed, watered down wet kitten food out for them to see if they will eat. By this point they should be walkin around and trying to explore.

Try and weigh them if you can. At a month they should be about a pound. Hope this helps. Also as long as they are eating something, staying warm and being playful little kittens, they will live. I've volunteered with a cat shelter for 9 years and was a newborn kitten foster. I've seen 100's of kittens with NO MOM on death's door live. You can do!!!

Answer 3

oh, how stressful you poor thing. Its the worst when your trying everything you can but its just not working. All i can recommend is trying to mimick an environment similar to that of the mother. People say keeping a clock under their blanket works well, however nothing beats the real thing, so while your watching Tv put them on your chest to sleep and cover them up with light blanket. It will comfort them hearing your heart beating. When you dont have time , revert to the clock ticking under a blanket and warm water bottle. Also have a look at the botte and make sure the teat is warm and soft. If the formula isnt working get some kitten milk from the pet shop. As long as they are have something in their little tummies they'll be okay. Good luck!

Answer 4

Sadly, the chances of the kittens dying are very high at this point - especially if the mother has passed. It is hard enough for a kitten to survive the first few weeks after birth but raising one without it's mother is extremely difficult. Even the most trained vets will loose kittens because they wont eat or can't seem to go to the bathroom.

One thing that seems to constantly be reminded is if the kittens do die, not to blame yourself. It would actually be a special event if they stay alive more than 2 months.

Sorry I don't have the information you wanted to keep them alive, but I wish you luck!

Answer 5

The vets office sells cat replacement milk that you need to use for them. They also sell very healthy and easy to digest canned kitten food. You should call a different vet, they will definitely be able to tell you more. I went through the same thing with mine. They have to be bottle fed very often though. Take them in for a check up and bring them home the right milk and they will be fine. You just have to be very dedicated to saving them!

Answer 6

We have fostered orphaned kittens; it is alot of work and sad when one dies. My heart is with you.

Feline milk replacement is the right choice, they should be fed about every 2-3 hours at this age; their tummies should be firm to the touch when they are full. You should also be giving them some electrolytes (children's Pedialyte or other brand diluted 50-50 with cool sterile water) and natural yogurt (no additives, thickeners, etc) is good to keep their "guts" working. Mix the yogurt with the milk replacement.

I have had more success using a medium to large syringe I get from my vet than using a bottle. You could also try dipping some cotton gauze in the milk and getting them to suck on that. Keep forcing food into them! They will probably fight it, but don't let them give up the will to live!

Check them regularly for dehydration (pull up the skin between their shoulders, it should not stay up but should go down quickly), if the skin stays up, they are dehydrated. Give them more electrolytes to rehydrate.

I used hot water bottles to keep them warm as I was worried about the electric cord for the heating pad. Large juice or pop bottles filled with hot water and covered with a flannel sheet work well too.

Use plain sterile water to clean their eyes and noses. Keep them isolated from other pets in your household as they are very susceptible to infections; rhino virus (kitty cold) can turn into pneumonia and kill a kitten.

I wish you luck and my thoughts are with you. Keep us posted as to their progress.

Answer 7

1. Don't rub the eyes with milk! Clean them with camomile infusion or human eye drops (Tobrex).
2. Do force feed them, but make sure they make an eating movement when you do. Otherwise they could inhale the milk and it could go to the lungs and they'd die.
3. Good luck. It is difficult with the kitties so young, but they do make it sometimes. Don't give up.

Answer 8

DO NOT wipe there eyes with milk! Luke warm water and a soft washcloth would do the trick. Other than that, it seems you are doing all you can and the best that you can. Keep giving them love, make sure they get plenty of rest and keep there bellies full. It's so nice to see someone who cares so much :-)

Answer 9

try getting a healthy adult cat to take care of the kittnens but still bottle feed them!

Answer 10

they probably need a mom cat.Maybe they have subsitutes for that at your local vet.But you defenitely have to bring them to see someone.They're very young and could die if early action is not taken.