How old is my orphaned kitten?

Question

I've read so many things online and everything seems to contradict everything else. Maybe someone who is in the animal field or someone who has experience with orphaned kittens or breeding kittens can help... My husband was working at a local oil company and one of the drivers found 3 abandoned kitties in a ditch so of course, my husband took one home. I wish he had done all or none, but thats a whole other issue. I think she is between 2 and 3 weeks, but here is whats going on with her development:
-Her eyes are now completely open, but 3 days ago one was completely open and the other was only half open
- she tries to roam around a little bit, but her back legs seem to be very week and she flops over on her back a lot
- her ears still seem to be folded although in the past three days I think they have "unfolded" slightly
- she purred the other night when I had her cuddled on my chest
Can anyone make a good guess? Thanks!

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l196/picaka/100_0463.jpg

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l196/picaka/100_0458.jpg

Here are some photos that may help
taken 9/6/07

yes we have been feeding her KMR every 3 hours and have been rubbing her areas to help her eliminate. I think we've been doing everything right, just curious what others think of her age

Answer 1

Has she been able to eat anything? If so, then she is likely older than that, possibly two weeks or more. Does she have teeth? What are you feeding her and how? Also, you will need to take a luke warm rag or cotton ball and massage where she goes potty, both places- using a cotton ball for one area and then another for the other. This is because the mother licks her kittens to clean them (make them go to the bathroom) while they are that small. If the kitten isn't going or isn't going enough then it could die.
If you are bottle feeding the kitten, KMR is a good brand of kitten milk available in pet stores. Since she is already likely a few weeks old, you could get a pet nurser from the pet store with different kinds of nipples. Softer and longer ones are usually preferred so get a nurser that has a variety of nipples. You'll have to widen the nipples with a red hot safety pin tip to get a flow that is adequate. You may know all this already, especially since you have had the kitten for a bit. I think you are right about your guestimate of her age at two to three weeks old. That wobbling and rolling you describe is what this kitten did too for awhile and he was still wobbly for a week or so longer. He's very healthy today, but he was slow to wean to solid food, not ready to get off formula until about six weeks old. From four weeks, he was offered a "mush" of Wellness mixed with KMR. He mostly turned his nose up to the texture until he was about five and a half weeks old.
Sounds like you got a kitten that was in a litter a feral mother might have been in the process of moving. In some cases they will abandon kittens in obvious places. I recently bottle fed a kitten that was from a feral mother. She left it on the sidewalk in front of a pet store in the middle of a big city. The kitten was very weak and about eight days old and covered in fleas. Had to get the fleas off immediately (used Johnson's Baby Shampoo then flea combed, dried on low) so that didn't kill her because she was literally "drained".
He's a healthy five month old now and has a great home.
Sorry if I gave too much information and I hope your kitty makes it. Sounds like she will.
This one turned out to be a beautiful long haired cream siamese with deep blue eyes.

Answer 2

I'd guess she's not much more than 2 weeks old. The eyes and ears usually open around 8-10 days.

What are you feeding her? At this age, she needs kitten formula. I've had good results with KMR in a kitten bottle. If she has diarrhea, you can add a quarter-teaspoon of plain pumpkin puree to her bottle. After she eats, turn her over and massage her belly for a minute or so to stimulate her digestive system. You should hear a fair amount of gurgling.

If she's not yet eliminating on her own within a few minutes after eating, use a warm, damp cotton ball or soft cloth to gently wipe her bottom until she pees and poops. Have another damp cotton ball handy for clean up.

Good luck!

Answer 3

1. Use a bottle and nipple made for nursing kittens 2 Use prepared formulas for feeding orphaned kittens. Avoid using goat's milk. 3 Measure out the appropriate amount of milk for the kitten for one day: a 3-week-old needs 20mL milk per 100g body weight, a 4-week-old needs 22mL milk per 100g body weight. 4 Divide the above daily dosage by 4, and feed this dosage to the kitten four times a day. 5 Warm the milk. Not hot though 6 Invert the bottle to let the milk ooze out slowly before inserting into the kitten's mouth. 7 Avoid feeding the kitten while he's on his back. It's acceptable for the kitten to slightly lift his front paws. 8 Check that the kitten's belly is bigger but not too large after feeding. Kittens should gain 50 to 100 g per week. 9 Encourage a 3-week-old kitten to eat solid food like tuna, kitten food in a can... Good luck with your kitty

Answer 4

I'm not in the animal field but I have had alot of cats/kitten experience. From what you have written, it sounds about right with your guess - she appears to be around 2 weeks old.

Its normal for the eyes to not fully open at the same time. Lots of times one will open and the other will be partially shut.

With the walking, in another week or so she should have the hang of it. Plus her eyes are still adjusting so she can't fully see yet.

I would suggest going to a Pets Plus or another pet store to make sure that you are feeding her the right foods so she is getting all the nutrients she needs. The people there are really helpful and can usually answer any question you make have.

Good luck with your new kitten :-)

Answer 5

This kitten could not have been more than two weeks old. What kind of an animal could just dump newborn kittens in a ditch? The reason her legs are weak is that she is just learning to walk, and is still wobbly. Her ears will open completely at about one month. Yes, it's too bad your husband didn't rescue them all. But, thank God she has a home with someone like you.

Answer 6

Thank you so much for the pictures, sometimes a picture tells a thousand words!

Judging by the color of the eyes, ears and the wobbly hind legs, i would say three to five and a half weeks old.

I saved the picture where hes all curled up, i couldn't resist!

Try to find the other kittens and bring them to an animal shelter. Or at least call an animal shelter and tell them where the kittens are, the animal shelter people will check it out themselves.

Good luck!

Answer 7

I'd say your kitten is probably around 2 weeks old by looking at its eyes and size in the photos. We had 7 or 8 litters of kittens over the last six years or so, so I know what I'm talking about from personal experience. Also, like humans, kittens develop at their own pace. Keep up what you are doing -- it sounds like she's in good hands. Keep putting her down on the floor periodically, too, because that's what will help her strengthen her back legs. They usually start walking, albeit very tenatively, at 3 and a half to 4 weeks old. Start her on VERY soft food, with her milk supplement added, around 4 weeks old, as well. Best of luck with her -- she's adorable and I'm sure she will bring you many happy years together!

Answer 8

I'd say about a week to week and a half. Get a small baby bottle and talk to a vet about mixing up a formula at home.

Answer 9

I think you are pretty accurate with your guess between 2 and 3 weeks. I'm thinking more towards 2 weeks old. She sounds adorable :)

Answer 10

yes, i'd guess you need to take the animal to the vet for a thorough examination.

no one can diagnose a kitten over the internet, hon....

a vet would be very helpful.

P.s. young cats' legs aren't that strong.