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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:	Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:	FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:	MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO

Created:	Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:	Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	5089
Total number of notes:	60366

562.0. "Orphans -Care" by USFHSL::ESTES () Tue Apr 28 1987 15:09

    A quick scan of the notes file did not reveal any notes on orphan
    kittens and their care and feeding.  
    
    I do volunteer work for the local Humane Society.  We save all animals
    possible, where many other organizations put many healthy animals,
    as well as all unhealthy ones to sleep.
    
    My particular area of interest is orphan kittens.  Kittens are
    particularly difficult to raise when orphaned or abandoned very
    young.  If you ever need this information, I guarantee it will be
    in the dead of the night with absolutely no place to get the
    information.
    
    So file this away, mentally or physically.
    
    Kittens cannot maintain their own body heat for the first 72 hours
    or
    so of life without mother.  A good substitute is a small heat lamp
    or a heating pad set on low.  If you use a heating pad, put the
    heating pad under a box.  In the box put a towel and then pillow
    cases on top of the towel.  If the kittens soil the pillow case,
    it is much easier to change than wash loads of bulky towels.  Also
    little kittens get their claws caught in the nap of the towel and
    can die due to body temperature dropping.  Kittens also use each
    other to keep warm.  When you press on the pillow case, it should
    be warm, not hot.  If in doubt, the mother cats body is approx 101-104
    degrees.  This is perfect for your box too.  Remember, it will be
    warmer under the kitten than you think - just like when you lay
    on a heating pad.  I check regularly by putting my hand under the
    kitten.  If it is just toasty warm, it is OK.  If they make panting
    or hissing sounds (before their eyes are open), they are probably
    too hot.
    
    Feeding is great fun.  Kittens under three to four weeks of age
    should be fed KMR (Kitten Milk Replacer) from a bottle.  Four Paws
    makes a pet feeder that looks like a doll bottle.  You have to make
    your own nipple hole.  Even for young kittens, the hole needs to
    be bigger than what you can make with a pin.  I use a manicure scissors
    to make a hole big enough so that if you gently shake the bottle
    upside down, a drop of formula will come out.  Heat the bottle in
    the microwave slowly so the formula doesn't glob up to just above
    body temperature.  Hold the baby so that you can see what you are
    doing.  Put the nipple in the babies mouth.  Hopefully, the baby
    will taste the formula and be hungry enough to nurse.  If not, DO
    NOT squeeze formula into the babies mouth under any circumstances.
     The formula will run into the babies lungs and it will die.  It
    is fine to squeeze a drop onto the end of the nipple so that the
    baby will taste the formula and nurse.
    
    If the baby will not nurse on the bottle, there are a couple
    possibilities.
    
    The baby may be sick.  If it does not nurse, take it to the vet
    if you cannot trick it into nursing as follows.  The vet will help
    you decide if tube feeding into the stomach is required.  This is
    done with a syringe (minus the needle) and a very flexible tiny
    rubber tube.  The appropriate amount of formula is put into the
    syringe, the tube put down the babies throat, and the formula very,
    very slowly put into the babies stomach.  While this sounds gross
    and disgusting, I have saved many kittens, rabbits, etc. that were
    nearly dead in this way.  But a vet needs to show you how.  I suggest
    an emergency call because babies this sick usually don't last long
    without food.  It sounds funny, but sometimes they are too hungry,
    as in nearly dead, to eat.  First, though, try to trick the baby
    into eating.
    
    How to trick a kitten into eating.  Put the kitten into its box.
     Cover the box except for an inch or so with a towel to avoid drafts
    and to keep it dark so the kitten can sleep.  When it falls asleep,
    it will make sucking movements with its mouth when sleeping.  Very
    quietly and gently work the nipple into its mouth.  Often it will
    think it is the mother cat and it will start to nurse before it
    wakes up.  Many newborn kittens that are orphaned need to be encouraged
    to eat in this manner.  Some need to be tube fed for a few days
    first.
    
    Just when you thought you were done, you're not.  The kitten needs
    to go to the bathroom.  As we call it at our house, pooping the
    kitten.  You will find that no one wants to help with this, but
    everyone wants to feed a cute little kitten with a bottle.
    
    Mother cats lick their babies clean.  The kitten does not go to
    the bathroom, at least not much until the mother cat stimulates
    its bottom with her tongue by licking it. Yuck, yuck.  NO, no, do
    not lick the kitten.  Two cotten balls make a fine pretend tongue.
     I hold the kittens bottom under gently running warm water and use
    two cotten balls to very gently run across the kittens behind. 
    They will poop and urinate into the running water and it won't get
    into their fur where it is like glue.  The good side of this is
    that if you do it early morning, before bed and every 3 to 4 hours
    in between, they will not soil their bed very much.  If you are
    lax, you will have a messy stinky kitten.  Kittens root around and
    sometimes stimulate each other, so occasionally you will need to
    clean a kitten up.  Cotton balls are good.  Then I turn the hair
    dryer on low heat and low speed and put the kitten in its box and
    blow the dryer into the box.  Be careful of the heat, it can hurt
    their sensitive skin.
    
    
    While they are wet, do not have a window or door open.  Drafts are
    deadly to kittens.
    
    When they are a week or so old, they don't need the heating pad
    anymore, although you may want to leave it for their comfort,
    especially if there is only 1 or 2 kittens.  Be watchful for diahrea
    and eye infections, as well as any unexplained change.  If this
    happens, get to the vet within 12 hours.  Baby kittens with diahrea
    die within about 12 hours, orphan or not.
    
    DO NOT, DO NOT, feel the kittens cows milk.  Almost anything is
    better.  Get the KMR asap.  If you can't get KMR within a couple
    hours, call an emergency vet and ask what to feed.  Most 24 hour
    vet facilities have KMR or Puppy milk replacer, which can be fed
    in a pinch.  Most feed stores have KMR.  Some pet shops have KMR.
    
    I would hesitate to do this without first consulting with a vet,
    but I have heard that condensed milk from a can could be fed once
    until someone could get the KMR or that baby formula could be fed.
    I have never done this and would be leary, but I guess it is better
    than dieing overnight.  Cows milk will guaranteed, give them diahrea.
    
    When they begin to lap, buy some babyfood strained meats, no vegetables
    or cereal.  Mix some of the KMR with the baby meats.  As soon as
    they are old enough they will love it.  A week or two after that
    (5 or 6 weeks old), begin to add kitten chow to that mixture and
    begin to phase out the KMR.  Begin to give them water when you begin
    to feed the baby meats.  Eventually, feed the mixture twice a day
    but leave dry kitten chow all day for them.  Obviously by this point,
    they will be too big for their box and will have begun to use a
    litter box.  The litter box usually happens between 4 to 6 weeks.
    When kittens become too big to keep in a box, a bathroom with a
    basket that they can get in is a good solution.  Be sure that the
    floor is not too cold.
    
    Hand raised kittens make wonderful, loving pets.  Be careful who
    you adopt them to though, as they have not had a mother to teach
    them about the outside, hunting, etc.
    
    If you are in a bind or have questions, feel free to call me whenever
    and I will do what I can to help.
    
    Oh, this is a good routine for most wild animal orphans too.
    
    Roberta Estes
    Detroit ACT
    DTN 456-5435
    313-229-5085 - home
    313-553-5435 work outside number
    
    H

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
562.1	Thank you!	VICKI::BULLOCK	Living the good life	`Wed Apr 29 1987 16:21`	20
	Thank you, Roberta!! Since I am all but technically illiterate, how can I extract this and print it out? This is EXCELLENT information--my heart has always gone out to sick, injured, or orphaned animals. I would not have known what to do before in the case of orphans; now I feel much more informed. That's neat to know that it works pretty much for all "babies". I have a question on feeding, tho--when you say to hold the baby, how is best?? Do you simulate mother-and-kitten-feeding with the baby on its stomach? Or do you hold it like a baby--I ask because my weirdo cat actually LIKES being held that way (no, I don't feed her like that--she's 10 years old), unlike most cats. I like to know these things! Again, thank you for the good and welcome advice. Jane
562.2	More hints for raising orphans	PUZZLE::CORDESJA		`Wed Apr 29 1987 17:28`	13
	Hold the baby with its four paws on the ground as the baby would lay if it was nursing off mom-cat. The idea is to make it as much like the natural way as possible. Also- when I stimulate the kittens bladder and bowels I moisten the cotton ball with warm water first and then rub them with it. The cotton ball collects all the "stuff". I have a recipe at home for emergency kitten formula. It can be made using items that you would normally have on hand if I remember correctly. I will post it tomorrow. Jo Ann
562.3		USHS01::MCALLISTER	Mars or Bust!!	`Wed Apr 29 1987 17:30`	7
	Don't feed kittens, especially young kittens, on their back. It's very easy to get fluid in the lungs that way. I've got three or four home formulas for kitten food, after Jo posts hers, I'll post non-duplicates. Dave
562.4	Agreed, don't feed them on their backs!	VAXWRK::SKALTSIS	Deb	`Wed Apr 29 1987 18:16`	5
	When I was bottle feeding Panther and Eirene, I found that it was best if I myself was lying down and they were sort of standing on me. Deb
562.5	to print the helpful hints,	GLINKA::GREENE		`Wed Apr 29 1987 18:30`	15
	To print that wonderful essay on babies (I've got my copy at home "just in case..."), go back and read the note/reply of interest. Then type at the notes> prompt notes>print and when you exit from notes, the note will go to the system printer. Or you can extract it to a file: notes>extract baby.feeding or any other filename you choose. Then you can print it or save it as usual. P
562.6	I had these two with me today	PUZZLE::CORDESJA		`Wed Apr 29 1987 19:26`	40
	Here's two recipes for emergency kitten supplementation. These are from the Sacred Cat of Burma Fanciers (SCBF) newsletter. #1 1/2 cup of whole milk 1 hard boiled egg few drops of liquid vitamins for children Blend in food processor or blender until smooth. Feed one cc per ounce of weight of kitten. Warm to body temperature. #2 2 cups of whole milk 2 egg yolks 2 tbs. protein powder 1/2 tsp. nutritional yeast few drops of liquid childrens vitamins Mix well and warm to body temperature. Feed one cc per ounce of weight of kitten. If the kitten does not nurse at all from its mother (or another queen that has just given birth) it will not get the natural immunity from disease acquired in the colostrum. Should this be the case, it is recommended that the kitten be vaccinated as soon as possible to protect against Panleukopenia. The nasal vaccine can be given at a very young age to provide protection. Dave - go ahead and post your recipes since the others of mine are at home. If I remember correctly they call for evaporated (or condensed) milk instead of whole. Jo
562.7	As it so happens...	QBUS::MITCHAM	It's Spring...Time to Pollinate	`Wed Apr 29 1987 20:14`	50
	There is a good article on 'Caring for Orphan Kittens' in the June (current) issue of Cat Fancy magazine. It details everything you'd need to know in the event something were to happen to the kitten's mother. BTW, although they are similar to Jo's, I'll post the recipes they list under 'Emergency Recipes': (posted without permission of the authors) Emergency Recipes In an emergency, you may have to make a formula for orphan kittens or supplemental feeding out of what you have in the cupboard and refrigerator. Do not give straight cow's milk because it will give the kittens diarrhea and they will become dehydrated. Queen's milk is very rich, about 40 percent protein. These recipes are formulated to be nutritionally sound and easily digested by kittens. When you switch them from a homemade formula to KMR, do it gradually over a five-day period, starting with 75 percent of the old formula mixed with 25 percent of the new, then decreasing the old and increasing the new until you are feeding the new formula entirely. Borden's Formula from their 'Orphan Kittens' book * 1/2 cup whole cow's milk * 1 hardboiled egg * 1 teaspoon powdered calcium carbonate * Liquid vitamins per directions Mix in electric blender to make smooth formula. Refrigerate balance of formula between feedings. Calcium carbonate and liquid vitamins should be available from your veterinarian. AMC Formula from 'The Complete Book of Cat Health' * 1 large can evaporated whole milk (12 ounces) * 1 large can evaporated skim milk * 6-7 egg yolks * Liquid vitamins according to package directions. This makes one quart of formula. Freeze unused portion in ice cube tray and store cubes in an air-tight freezer bag. Defrost and warm to room temperature as needed. -Andy
562.8	One more recipe...	PUZZLE::CORDESJA		`Thu Apr 30 1987 13:18`	26
	Here are some of the recipes that I had at home. The first is from a book called Feeding Dogs and Cats - A Commentary on Nutritional Management by Mark L Morris Jr, DVM, PhD and Lon D Lewis, DVM, PhD. I acquired this booklet from a Science Diet Rep at a cat show. I highly reccomend it even tho it is very pro Science Diet. It has alot of useful info in it. For all you breeders out there that feed vitamin supplements and meat diets, it has very useful information on how to maintain the proper balance of vitamins without going too high or too low. Emergency Kitten Supplementation when KMR is not available: Blend .5 cup of whole milk, 1 egg yolk, 1 drop of multiple infant vitamins, 3 Tums tablets (500mg CaCO3/tablet) Kittens that are supplemented should be weaned early. Begin encouraging them to eat solid food at three weeks of age. Mix enough milk with solid food to make a gruel, Smear some on the kittens lips being careful not to get it in their nose. In licking the gruel off their lips they will find that they like it (he makes it sound so easy doesn't he?). Once they are eating the gruel, gradually decrease the amount of milk until the kittens are eating solid food.
562.9	stepmother for orphaned kittens?	CADSYS::RICHARDSON		`Thu Apr 30 1987 13:29`	2
	Just curious (all my cats are altered): how easy is it to convince a queen to accept kittens that aren't hers?
562.10	mine don't mind	DONJON::SCHREINER	Go ahead, make me PURRR...	`Thu Apr 30 1987 13:34`	11
	From my experience, it all depends on the queen.... I don't find it too difficult if you remove one of the queen's kittens and rub it all over the "orphan" to give it the smell, I guess!! Then sneak it back in in place of the real kitten....then put the real kitten back also a little while later. But maybe my cats are just a little slow!!! cin
562.11		USHS01::MCALLISTER	Mars or Bust!!	`Thu Apr 30 1987 13:48`	6
	It hasn't been real easy for me. We tried several times for other breeders, and our Maines never would accept any other kittens. Basrah, our abby, gladly accepts all other abys, but no other type kittens. Dave
562.12	It might make a difference...	DONJON::SCHREINER	Go ahead, make me PURRR...	`Thu Apr 30 1987 13:53`	7
	I've never put different breeds together!!! Always persians with a different persian mother. Maybe that's why I don't have a problem. Also, with the exception of Xotie, all of my cats are excellent mothers. cin
562.13	;-)	MASTER::EPETERSON		`Fri May 01 1987 12:29`	11
	RE: .10 > Maybee cats are a little slow!!! Yeah, Cin, but perhaps they all snicker their little kitty snickers after you go to bed at night 'cause they figure you never noticed the extra kitten! Marion
562.14	Feeding Orphan Kittens	CSC32::JOHNS	God is real, unless declared integer	`Tue May 12 1987 12:18`	4
	How often do you need to feed them? How much will they eat each time? Carol
562.15	Comments	USFHSL::ESTES		`Tue May 12 1987 13:56`	44
	Sure is nice to know so many people are out there feeding orphans. I've got a litter of 4 presently that someone abandoned on a boat. A comment on the feeding position. I try to feed them on their stomach but some kittens don't like that. Next I try it in their standing position and if all else fails, I will feed them in a more prone position. Some kittens nurse in all positions. When I can, I try to introduce orphans to other queens. It all depends on the queen. I've tried the rub the bedding on the new kitten and just introduce it while the queen is gone method and it seems to work best, if it works at all. My problems have not been with adding one kitten, but combining litters. I add them one at a time and eventually they all get there. Sometimes when the kittens are different sizes, I have to rotate the babies so the little ones can nurse. I always worry about them getting enough to eat when there are so many so I usually supplement everyone, including mother. A note on the gruel recipe. About 3 to 4 weeks of age, I introduce the kittens to a mixture of KMR and baby food meats in a bottle. Otherwise the stuff sticks to kitten fur like glue. Slowly I decrease the amount of KMR and add Purina kitten chow. I mix this in a blender and feed in on a saucer. I slo9wly decrease the amount of liquid until around 12 weeks of age they are on solid kitten chow. A note on the bathroom process. I put the kittens bottom under warm water and use the cotton ball. This spring I had a baby that is allergic to cotton balls. Some cotton balls are not cotton but rayon. Try real cotton. If they are still all red and sore, try A&D ointment. Noine of this worked for me so the vet said to stop using cotton balls and instead put vaseline on my finger and stimulate them with my finger. The water washed the mess away so its not as bad as it sounds. As for how much to feed the kitten, there are very good directions on the KMR can per ounce of body weight. If you want me to look, put a reply in this conf and I will post the info here. It's really good to know there are so many good hearted people out there. So many of the people I see doing volunteer work with the humane society arenn't deserving of an animal.
562.16		PUZZLE::CORDESJA		`Thu May 14 1987 16:32`	8
	The kittens should be fed 1cc of formula per ounce of body weight. As far as how often to feed them, when I had to do it, I fed the kittens every two or three hours. They did not eat when they weren't hungry and they cried and fussed alot when they were hungry. I just played it by ear. Perhaps someone else knows a more exact schedule. Jo Ann