My Orphaned kitties

ThorArb · 04-02-2007, 04:23 PM

I went out to get a load of hay today, came back with a big truck load of hay plus 3 kittens! *faints* They were wedged up in between the bales of hay in the barn and the owner said mom was hit by a car yesterday.

So they have just been sitting there and are so hungry! He wanted nothing to do with them and obviously didnt plan on caring for them. So I couldnt just leave them to their doom now could I.

These kittens are very young, around 3 maybe 4 weeks old tops.

There is one solid black female, one black and white female, and one black and white male. I have a friend that is interested in giving one of the females a home, dont know which one yet. They are going to come see them. I have another friend in mind as she was wanting another barn cat but I havent talked with her yet. I have already decided to keep the black and white male.

Just what I need right! 3 orphaned kitties to raise.

I am trying to think of names for my little male. Im thinking of naming him after something mythological... just got to come up with one that fits.

Any tips on raising orphaned kittens?

Brittany

Fancy's Mom · 04-02-2007, 04:27 PM

IM going through the same thing except mine is about 4 days old..Luckily i have a nursing mother cat..

http://forum.horsetopia.com/viewtopic.php?t=26114

ThorArb · 04-02-2007, 04:31 PM

I have no nursing female cats.

I have to bottle feed these guys. My "momma cat" Sierra had two litters of kittens before I had her spayed. She has taken a liking to them and is laying in their box with them. But of course she is not lactating

. I just figure she will make them feel more secure.

Brittany

Carri · 04-02-2007, 06:09 PM

Well the good news is they should only want to eat from the bottle for a couple more weeks. Are they taking the bottle feedings OK? It is fine if they don't, they can survive on normal cat food at this point. I generally crush dry kitten food, a good quality one, and soak it overnight (I usually keep some going when I have little ones!) and when it is soft, go ahead and give it to them mixed with a little bit of canned food to make it tasty. Did you get a commercial kitten milk replacer? If not, goats milk is the next best option, cows milk is really not good for them. You can probably just put the milk repacer in a bowl for them at this point, try it and see if they are receptive. Keep water available too, of course, but they will get most of their liquid from the milk replacer and the soaked food. I work at a vet clinic and we have little kitten, puppies, etc all the time, so let me know if you have any specific questions. I can always ask the vet, too!
ETA: Oh, and by the way, you are a saint for taking them! (((HUGS)))

ThorArb · 04-03-2007, 05:26 AM

The bottles didnt work out. So I put the milk replacer in a syringe. They seem to take it that way easier. A friend came yesterday evening and took in the black/white female. My black/white male, who Ive decided to name Bali after a Norse god, is very fiesty and has been eating well. Im a little concerned for the black female, she's the runt. She doesnt walk well (Bali walks very steady and plays some already) and is a little more difficult to get to eat (eating some but not near as much as Bali).

I will pick up some kitten food today and see how that goes.

Brittany

Fancy's Mom · 04-03-2007, 05:39 PM

Any pictures

Pony express · 04-03-2007, 05:42 PM

UMMM, excuse me ThoArb...... where are the pics? You know we would love to see them.

ThorArb · 04-03-2007, 06:13 PM

Oh sorry!

Pictures coming right up.

Bali thinks he's so ferocious. And the little black one is the timid/shy one. So weird.

iris_surreal_euphoria · 04-03-2007, 06:22 PM

Awwww... I found my little "Quiet" at that age. Too bad it was on vacation in Gatlinburg

Mom will never forgive me.

Anyway- we were able to get her eating wet food. We just put the milk formula in it for her. It took a little while but she got the point. She's a year and a half now.

You should name her after norse mythology like maybe Odin, Loki, Pandora, Iris or something like that.... Beautiful names.

Good luck with the little ones!

ThorArb · 04-03-2007, 06:25 PM

I had a different male cat (my black male, Bob and my grey tiger striped male, Zeus's daddy) named Odin. Bali is Odin's son according to Norse mythology.

I really dont want to name her. I only name animals I plan on getting really attached to.

I wouldnt want to let her go if I did now would I. So I will leave it up to whoever decides to take her in. If nobody, then I will name her.

Brittany

04-02-2007, 04:23 PM
ThorArb Kid Safe Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Conyers, GA Posts: 5,790	My Orphaned kitties I went out to get a load of hay today, came back with a big truck load of hay plus 3 kittens! faints They were wedged up in between the bales of hay in the barn and the owner said mom was hit by a car yesterday. So they have just been sitting there and are so hungry! He wanted nothing to do with them and obviously didnt plan on caring for them. So I couldnt just leave them to their doom now could I. These kittens are very young, around 3 maybe 4 weeks old tops. There is one solid black female, one black and white female, and one black and white male. I have a friend that is interested in giving one of the females a home, dont know which one yet. They are going to come see them. I have another friend in mind as she was wanting another barn cat but I havent talked with her yet. I have already decided to keep the black and white male. Just what I need right! 3 orphaned kitties to raise. I am trying to think of names for my little male. Im thinking of naming him after something mythological... just got to come up with one that fits. Any tips on raising orphaned kittens? Brittany __________________ Grab life by the Horns!

04-02-2007, 04:27 PM
Fancy's Mom Long Yearling Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Newbern, TN Posts: 1,466	IM going through the same thing except mine is about 4 days old..Luckily i have a nursing mother cat.. http://forum.horsetopia.com/viewtopic.php?t=26114 __________________ My horse is a reflection of me, wanna know me, talk to my horse!

04-02-2007, 04:31 PM
ThorArb Kid Safe Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Conyers, GA Posts: 5,790	I have no nursing female cats. I have to bottle feed these guys. My "momma cat" Sierra had two litters of kittens before I had her spayed. She has taken a liking to them and is laying in their box with them. But of course she is not lactating . I just figure she will make them feel more secure. Brittany __________________ Grab life by the Horns!

04-02-2007, 06:09 PM
Carri Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia Posts: 10,620	Well the good news is they should only want to eat from the bottle for a couple more weeks. Are they taking the bottle feedings OK? It is fine if they don't, they can survive on normal cat food at this point. I generally crush dry kitten food, a good quality one, and soak it overnight (I usually keep some going when I have little ones!) and when it is soft, go ahead and give it to them mixed with a little bit of canned food to make it tasty. Did you get a commercial kitten milk replacer? If not, goats milk is the next best option, cows milk is really not good for them. You can probably just put the milk repacer in a bowl for them at this point, try it and see if they are receptive. Keep water available too, of course, but they will get most of their liquid from the milk replacer and the soaked food. I work at a vet clinic and we have little kitten, puppies, etc all the time, so let me know if you have any specific questions. I can always ask the vet, too! ETA: Oh, and by the way, you are a saint for taking them! (((HUGS)))

04-03-2007, 05:26 AM
ThorArb Kid Safe Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Conyers, GA Posts: 5,790	The bottles didnt work out. So I put the milk replacer in a syringe. They seem to take it that way easier. A friend came yesterday evening and took in the black/white female. My black/white male, who Ive decided to name Bali after a Norse god, is very fiesty and has been eating well. Im a little concerned for the black female, she's the runt. She doesnt walk well (Bali walks very steady and plays some already) and is a little more difficult to get to eat (eating some but not near as much as Bali). I will pick up some kitten food today and see how that goes. Brittany __________________ Grab life by the Horns!

04-03-2007, 05:39 PM
Fancy's Mom Long Yearling Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Newbern, TN Posts: 1,466	Any pictures __________________ My horse is a reflection of me, wanna know me, talk to my horse!

04-03-2007, 05:42 PM
Pony express Started Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Mid Michigan Posts: 2,583	UMMM, excuse me ThoArb...... where are the pics? You know we would love to see them. __________________ I don't regret the things I've done. I regret the things I didn't do when I had the chance.

04-03-2007, 06:13 PM
ThorArb Kid Safe Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Conyers, GA Posts: 5,790	Oh sorry! Pictures coming right up. Bali thinks he's so ferocious. And the little black one is the timid/shy one. So weird. __________________ Grab life by the Horns!

04-03-2007, 06:22 PM
iris_surreal_euphoria Long Yearling Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Somerset, Kentucky Posts: 1,077	Awwww... I found my little "Quiet" at that age. Too bad it was on vacation in Gatlinburg Mom will never forgive me. Anyway- we were able to get her eating wet food. We just put the milk formula in it for her. It took a little while but she got the point. She's a year and a half now. You should name her after norse mythology like maybe Odin, Loki, Pandora, Iris or something like that.... Beautiful names. Good luck with the little ones! __________________ If wishes were horses this room would need a good mucking! Visit our website: http://www.freewebs.com/lazziassacres/

04-03-2007, 06:25 PM
ThorArb Kid Safe Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Conyers, GA Posts: 5,790	I had a different male cat (my black male, Bob and my grey tiger striped male, Zeus's daddy) named Odin. Bali is Odin's son according to Norse mythology. I really dont want to name her. I only name animals I plan on getting really attached to. I wouldnt want to let her go if I did now would I. So I will leave it up to whoever decides to take her in. If nobody, then I will name her. Brittany __________________ Grab life by the Horns!