I have been trapping cats near my place of employment for the past couple months. Im working with a local rescue who takes them in, gives them care, and adopts them out. Thursday, I went to check on the remainder cats and found 6 babies. I ended up with two of them due to rescues capacity. One is 3.5 months old and one is 5 weeks old. Initial vet visit (we go back 12/30) they’ve received fluids, capstar, and dewormer. Bloodwork came back clear. Minor fleas.
I have cats, I’m familiar with them and their habits but having babies like this is unknown territory for me. I’m second guessing myself on everything! Both are severely malnourished. The 5 week old is a little love but the 3.5 month old is still adjusting/very wary. Any and all advice on giving these babies the best care is welcome!!! Please and thank you!
Welcome to r/Kitten, u/missoscargoldman!
Please be respectful to everyone on the subreddit. We have a few resources for that may help you out:
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
Let them freely feed on kitten kibble all they want. The 5 week old baby might need it mixed with water and mashed to get it down though. Play and interact with the 5 week old, and allow the 3.5 month old to eventually warm up.
Okay great, thank you! They have food 24/7.. 5 week old spends a lot of time sleeping but I think this is normal given his age
That’s very normal for a baby.
Milk replacer especially for the 5 week old since its malnourished it was very likely weened off its mom early... kitten kibble mixed with a little wet food for the 3.5 month old
Excellent idea, thank you! It seems like mom abandoned the babies.. I’m familiar with the cats over there and we prioritized trapping the females so I’m not even sure who mom is. It doesn’t seem like they were fed at all, and babies were dispersed throughout the colony location. It is -2 degrees where I live, so I’m just glad to have gotten them out!
With the kitten replacement milk for the 5 weeks old you may want to even use an eye dropper if a bottle nipple is too big. I did this with one of my babies. Kitten replacement milk mixed w dry food to make soft or wet food was good too. Bundle these babies in blankets and cuddle. Thank you so much for caring, blessings to you. ❤️ 🐈 🐈⬛️
Thank you so much - babies are def bundled and warm. Made a lot of progress with Arnold, the oldest!
Take them to the vet for ANYTHING you are concerned about. I have had several cats, and knowing them, they like to hide whatever's going on. ❤️❤️ And make sure to give them plenty of love.
Great reminder - thank you so much! They are getting plenty 🥰
For right now, they are eating/drinking/using the litter box appropriately. But if I could get any advice on lighting.. the 5 week old (Bo) had his third eye lids up until Sunday-ish. I don’t want the lights to be too harsh on his eyes, but I also don’t want to add more anxiety since he’s in a new environment by having it be too dark. Also, the 3.5 month old (Arnold) is coming around, I had him playing last night, but I worry about human socialization with him. Should I push it at all or wait for him to come to me? How often should I be handling Bo?
Daily. Weigh him daily, have a little table lamp on during the day in their space/room, pick him up when you are sitting on the floor, put him on your lap etc. Churu liquid snacks are a great icebreaker but go easy on it because sometimes those little ones can get diarrhoea from it. Put some on your fingers and let both of them lick it off.
Get cotton pads, you know the ones you use for your face, but the dry ones. Let water boil and cool off and dip the cotton pads in, squeeze out excess of water and ‘clean’ him like his mom would with short strokes. He will like it or learn to like it. 5 week old kittens still have loads of socialisation to do and you can make a lot of progress with him.
Also I would place them in an (open) dog bench or large indoor bunny cage with soft blankets, maybe a Snuggle Safe and drape a blanket over top their sleeping area. Put food and water on the other end and don’t put a blanket over top at that side so they have to come out of their little cave. Put it in a place in the house where it’s busy and you walk past a lot. They’ll get used this way to noises as tv, radio, dishwasher, vacuum etc.
Hill’s mother and kitten mousse is a nice mousse that most kittens like a lot, and Royal Canin mother and baby mousse it too. Some kittens will only eat it when it’s been in the microwave for a few seconds, that will make the smell stronger.
You got this! DM me if you have more questions, I’m a foster for kittens for our local rescue shelter. :)
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this and offer advice! I appreciate it! Fosters are simply amazing - I hope the universe rewards you for all your hard work :)
Ty for caring for them ❤️
It looks like you have a question about a kitten or litter of kittens you found.
Please read our wiki about finding a kitten for more information about what to do in this situation.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.