tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4630860101311347283.post1050241246859999292..comments2024-02-02T12:06:48.685-08:00Comments on The Feral Life Cats: Feral Kitten How-To - Care, Feeding, Keeping Your Kitten Alive!Chriss Paganihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11644410311763728065noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4630860101311347283.post-7789116631837072502020-11-11T21:34:14.060-08:002020-11-11T21:34:14.060-08:00Thank you for helping her. At 6 weeks, she probabl...Thank you for helping her. At 6 weeks, she probably needs some more solid food. You might try mixing some warm kitten milk with a little canned kitten food on a spoon and get her to sample that. Once she gets the idea, she wlll move more easily to just can food.<br /><br />The trick to introducing a new cat or kitten is somewhat counterintuitive. When they are in the same room, give all your attention to your older cat and ignore the kitten. Your cat just needs some time to become secure with the idea that she is not being replaced. It's a slow process but works pretty well. Chriss Paganihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11644410311763728065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4630860101311347283.post-977204079097846792020-11-11T21:24:43.475-08:002020-11-11T21:24:43.475-08:00I am so happy I found your blog via Pinterest. I h...I am so happy I found your blog via Pinterest. I have a six week old abandoned by its feral mom on a bottle now. Trying to work on getting her off but she is not wanting any part of that. My sis in law I talked about in another post took her in and once she was tested to be AIDS Negative, I brought her home. She is so tiny that she has been given the run of the guest room. She is using the litter box and feeding every 3 to 4 hours, then I sit in there for about 45 mins and we play. Not sure how my Torbie is going to like her staying. So far just in a passing intro, Lily has hissed several times. I love my new Misty but if Lily can't except her I will have to find her a good home cause this is Lily's home and I do not want to cause her stress. Pamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10211965720334593365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4630860101311347283.post-12077478684987197022019-04-30T08:11:09.962-07:002019-04-30T08:11:09.962-07:00Kittens that age need kitten milk. I cover feeding...Kittens that age need kitten milk. I cover feeding them in this article, but it's important to seek veterinary assistance because the kitten may have medical problems. Not eating for three days is a crisis situation. Chriss Paganihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11644410311763728065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4630860101311347283.post-17048889090225537402019-04-30T05:55:21.836-07:002019-04-30T05:55:21.836-07:00My roommate brought home a kitten that is maybe 4 ...My roommate brought home a kitten that is maybe 4 weeks old I got kitten milk, kitten food everything the baby kitty needs but she won't eat at all for 3 days now and all she dose is sleep I'm very worried I don want her to die.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10197565639990483896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4630860101311347283.post-29914489701166353562016-12-09T07:06:49.515-08:002016-12-09T07:06:49.515-08:00Thank u so much for the info. I believe u may be r...Thank u so much for the info. I believe u may be right about the feeding .. She seems to think every time she wakes up from a nap (whether 20 min or 3 hours) she needs to eat. So it is possible she was over eatting... As she grows is she eating a lil less but not much lol... I will try to see what holding off a lil does until her appt on Monday..<br /><br />Thanks so much, have a great day. <br /><br />AshleyAshley&lilahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10722807677076909267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4630860101311347283.post-27370602669256136312016-12-06T04:28:07.468-08:002016-12-06T04:28:07.468-08:00Hi Ashley, thank you for rescuing your baby! So it...Hi Ashley, thank you for rescuing your baby! So it's hard to know what's going on but I can just talk about general guidelines for safe and healthy feeding. Digestive issues do arise frequently.<br /><br />At two to three weeks old, the only thing a kitten can consume is kitten milk replacement. It comes in powders you can mix, plus in little boxes pre-made. Both of those are fine, and both have things to watch out for. Getting the powder mixed correctly and thoroughly dissolved can be a little tricky. Going under or over in a mix can sometimes create problems. Now with the premixed boxes, they have a long shelf life, which is great. But once you open them, they need to be kept refrigerated, and the leftovers need to be thrown out after two or three days.<br /><br />Bottles or droppers need to be kept clean and unused KMR that has been warmed-up needs to be dumped after each feeding. Once you've heated it, it's not good to store it for the next feeding.<br /><br />Lastly, there's volume. Sometimes diarrhea can happen when your kitten is consuming too much. I can't suggest a specific amount although there are usually weight-based guidelines on the KMR package, and they can also be found online. Maybe let your baby drink until she seems satisfied, and then try taking the bottle away and see if she hunts for it. A kittens digestive system is still maturing and can't handle an overload. And on top of that, kittens that small don't really know how to moderate their own consumption. When they're with momma cat, consumption is dictated by supply. <br /><br />Lastly, there's the problem of intestinal parasites. Most feral kittens have them and only a vet can help with that. And your kitten definitely needs to see a vet. But for your description of the symptoms, I'm guessing this particular issue is feeding related; probably one of the items I mentioned above.<br /><br />Feeding is always tricky and we all have problems sometimes. There's just so much guesswork involved. Hopefully I've given you some things to think about and try. And thank you again for being a good person. <br /><br />Bless you.Chriss Paganihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11644410311763728065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4630860101311347283.post-13539525752008617642016-12-05T21:29:02.111-08:002016-12-05T21:29:02.111-08:00Also I have been giving her plenty of water to kee...Also I have been giving her plenty of water to keep her from dehydrating...Ashley&lilahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10722807677076909267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4630860101311347283.post-11776754036267047592016-12-05T21:27:48.833-08:002016-12-05T21:27:48.833-08:00Hello. About a week I rescued a kitten which my ne...Hello. About a week I rescued a kitten which my neighbors found at a relatives house all alone. I believe she is now around 2-3 weeks old. She is doing really well. She's eating great, urinating every time I stimulate her she sleeps well and is becoming more n more playful each day. About 4 days ago she started having diarrhea. It lasted about 2 1/2 days. On the 3rd day she seemed to become almost constipated for about 12 hrs. Now ahe finally had a bm which is solid but still quite soft. But it seems since the actual diarrhea has subsided that it seems to be more greenish is color. I've done some research n can't seem to find much about green bm's. I can't get her into the vet for a few days still and I unfortunately cannot afford to take her to a emergency animal hospital as that is out of my price range so any advice would be greatly appreciated. I just love her lol butt so much already and I hate the thought of her being sick. Thank you..Ashley&lilahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10722807677076909267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4630860101311347283.post-78578776448553506202016-09-30T11:32:26.778-07:002016-09-30T11:32:26.778-07:00Thank you so much for this blog! I've had cats...Thank you so much for this blog! I've had cats all my life but I JUST today took in a stray/feral kitten. I've been feeding a colony that lives out back of where I work. This morning after a few days of heavy rain, two of the kittens were huddled up against the building, wet and pitiful looking. I took out some food and while one of them ran, the other stayed to eat. It let me bring it inside in a car carrier. It's been sleeping ever since. I have a vet appointment after work and I plan to take it home with me. I'm not sure how old it is, maybe between 4-6 weeks. I will check back for advice as needed. Please wish me luck. Thanks for the useful information.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14971037575818852318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4630860101311347283.post-47701101164610157042016-09-15T13:19:15.412-07:002016-09-15T13:19:15.412-07:00First of all, at 5 weeks, you should be using Kitt...First of all, at 5 weeks, you should be using Kitten Milk Replacement, which you can get at many stores. Some solid food is good but it should be another week or two before it's on ONLY solid food and water. I explain bottle feeding in this post.<br /><br />Second, diarrhea can be caused by so many things, but the most common treatable cause with kittens is intestinal parasites. You really should have a vet for that but you might check with local cat rescue organizations to see if someone can help you. There might even be a cat lady around who has a supply of the medicine you need.<br /><br />Good luck and bless you for helping this kitten. Chriss Paganihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11644410311763728065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4630860101311347283.post-41574912802888245112016-09-15T13:00:35.973-07:002016-09-15T13:00:35.973-07:00Okay i'm not sure if this is were i say this o...Okay i'm not sure if this is were i say this or not.But i have a 5 week old kitten and need help on how to keel it alive this is its symptoms <br />-only eats a little food at a time or none<br />-drinks water on his own <br />-Gets off my couch and walks to find a place to lay in the floor<br />-looks like he has direhha.<br />This may sound bad but we dont have the money to take him to the vet but we have had kittens in the past to get sick and most of them make it but some dont. Me and my family wanna know how to keep him alive.or should we just keep on doing what we are <br />This is what were doing now<br />-Letting it do what it wants<br />-Keeping in on a heating pad (unless it gets off the couch and lays in the floor then we will leave it alone until we check on it and if its cold we put it on the heating pad) <br />-Love on him<br />-keep him warm<br />-be nice/care full with him<br />-Wipe him down if he has direhha <br />-Watch and see if he popps or pees (from what ive saw he has only peed once in 2 days<br />Someone please help me save this kittens life and tell me if i am doing something good or bad please help me. What should i do?<br />fluffyshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00254431925170388896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4630860101311347283.post-77268056261229578482016-08-22T13:48:12.727-07:002016-08-22T13:48:12.727-07:00I've seen this happen with kittens and it can ...I've seen this happen with kittens and it can be heartbreaking. There are so many possible causes that really only a vet can help. And it's possible something is wrong with them that even a vet can't cure. I guess just make sure they're warm but not too warm, make sure they're going potty by wiping their butts with a damp paper towel several times a day - and then just hope for the best.Chriss Paganihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11644410311763728065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4630860101311347283.post-54027455135114123512016-08-22T13:44:05.371-07:002016-08-22T13:44:05.371-07:00I recently took in 4 tiny kittens. 4 weeks old giv...I recently took in 4 tiny kittens. 4 weeks old give or take. They were doing great and then all of a sudden one just doesn't want to eat,walk or do anything. Acting lethargic. The others are fine. I recently moved and don't have work yet so I can't afford a very at the moment. I've been force feeding him to keep him going. And I flea them daily. What should I do?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05389498362023329415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4630860101311347283.post-35381283274863143852016-08-03T14:42:25.746-07:002016-08-03T14:42:25.746-07:00This sounds medically serious and a full work-up b...This sounds medically serious and a full work-up by a vet is needed. The constipation could be related to intestinal parasites, which are ubiquitous for feral kittens. That needs treatment. The peeing all the time is an even bigger concern and it sounds more like something infectious. Again, only a vet can figure this out and I would encourage you to take him in right away. Thank you for helping these kitties.Chriss Paganihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11644410311763728065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4630860101311347283.post-22079026559625273422016-08-03T13:08:12.035-07:002016-08-03T13:08:12.035-07:00I recently took in 2 baby kittens. The mother aban...I recently took in 2 baby kittens. The mother abandoned all 4 but only 2 were living when I found them. They are 2 weeks and 3 days old right now. The female is thriving just fine, but the male has not pooped in 3 days and he pees so much! He is usually soaked op yo his neck when I take him out to feed him. The vet mentioned pedialyte for the urine since the smell is so strong, but it still concerns me. He bloats very easily too. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11175356940569122940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4630860101311347283.post-73830901677806669062016-05-17T09:02:07.103-07:002016-05-17T09:02:07.103-07:00An emergency trip to the vet would be appropriate....An emergency trip to the vet would be appropriate. The lack of appetite is a concern. We'd like to think that this is caused from not eating for a long time. A kitten can get into this cycle when their blood sugar level drops from lack of nutrition, and this causes loss of appetite. In that case, patience and care will help, with extra hydration from the vet.<br /><br />But it's not at all uncommon that various diseases cause this, and none of them have very good outcomes. I've rescued many many kittens, but unfortunately I've lost many as well. This a tough thing to even talk about. I can only say that you make a best effort to save the animal, and that's all you can do. If you can say "I did my best," then you did the right thing and should be proud of yourself, regardless of the outcome.Chriss Paganihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11644410311763728065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4630860101311347283.post-27301400405209674032016-05-17T03:02:03.161-07:002016-05-17T03:02:03.161-07:00please help! I have a 2 week old kitten abandoned ...please help! I have a 2 week old kitten abandoned by it's mother. It's very tired and has been sleeping next to a warm hot water bottle wrapped in a towel. This morning I tried to feed him and again, he didn't want to eat. (He hasn't been eating and is really skinny). I squirted a few drops into his mouth and he started making a distress sound, I'm terrified maybe he inhaled the formula into his lungs? what do I do????????Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02278585014214941691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4630860101311347283.post-12071200106020393502015-02-06T09:42:10.435-08:002015-02-06T09:42:10.435-08:00Hello my name is Quinton "Q" for short a...Hello my name is Quinton "Q" for short and I run Paw Town Cats Sanctuary in Niland, CA in Imperial valley we are on Slab city out in the middle of the desert we get a lot of feral kittens but their is a group I think a lot of people do not know about this group of cats are called "fearful friendly" these cats are use to being around humans but have been abuse dumped or abandon with kittens and the fear is so strong mama cat will run off and leave her kittens and never come back for them even if kittens start to cry so if you come across a litter of kittens and there is no mother cat check on them for three to five days if they are still there and their is no mother please take them in and care for them I have found abandon kittens left behind by a fearful friendly mama cat. =^..^= Paw Town Cats Sanctuaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11700627212590088083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4630860101311347283.post-88632829210913168472014-10-09T11:11:33.657-07:002014-10-09T11:11:33.657-07:00That's great! I will add that resource to the...That's great! I will add that resource to the list. :)Chriss Paganihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11644410311763728065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4630860101311347283.post-29110353380583426732014-10-09T10:52:09.144-07:002014-10-09T10:52:09.144-07:00Update Anonymous Oct 1: This seemed like a good s...Update Anonymous Oct 1: This seemed like a good site for feral kitten: http://www.feralfelines.net/fs_kittencare.htm No relation of course, and he covers a few things this site does not. Rocky the pest has started to wean himself! He came upon a few cat treats from my other cats and Crunched Them All Up. I'm still supplementing formula & water and showing him the teeny litterbox. He is trying to groom himself. He also likes to run the house. Yesterday we did 4 laps inside and also 4 laps around the front lawn. Boy he's fast. I am in awe as to how rapidly these changes occur. I'm supervising of course, if he gets under the fridge, I might have trouble getting him out. Thanks again to the community here.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4630860101311347283.post-39158908072959022132014-10-07T13:07:00.961-07:002014-10-07T13:07:00.961-07:00My vet said that feral queens may be likely to aba...My vet said that feral queens may be likely to abandon their kits after those ever-so-sharp teeth come in. Rocky was pretty clean, no parasites or pests. I'm thinkin' he was an abandoned tame queen's kit. Bloody hell I can't get my good neighbors & friends to spay/neuter pets. Wish I had a rolled up newspaper for the Owners!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4630860101311347283.post-88193026468208253882014-10-07T11:35:18.884-07:002014-10-07T11:35:18.884-07:00Thank you for taking such good care of your kitten...Thank you for taking such good care of your kitten! :) I hope you can keep him, really, because it's so hard to find good, safe homes. Chriss Paganihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11644410311763728065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4630860101311347283.post-32708049561077591492014-10-07T11:29:33.544-07:002014-10-07T11:29:33.544-07:00UPDATE from Anonymous Oct 1, 2014: We named him R...UPDATE from Anonymous Oct 1, 2014: We named him Rocky; he's fightin' to live, rocky start in life, rocky neighborhood in rocky city, and a rocky rescue. Anyhow, I got him to vet next day. Bug-eye look was conjunctivitis & inflammation of third eyelid. Also upper respiratory infection. Might be any kind of virus, so follow clean protocols. He's prob closer to 5 weeks, his teeth are developing nicely. Vet said I could start weaning anytime. I'm taking it slowly adding couple grams canned kitten food to milk ration. He never did suckle. Did find a brand with several nipples to try: GNC Newborn Nursing kit by GNC Pets. Nother place to try anyhow. After a couple days, found that a different eyedropper worked best: rounded softer tip. I hold him close and drop milk on this tongue. I guess we both learning. Vet said 4-6 hour schedule would be alright, but because he is real dehydrated (had to have water under the skin at vets), I try to give him water between meals. I'm finally getting some sleep! He is not peeing or pooping often, usually so far only once a day for poop if we're lucky. Vet has me give him a few drops of corn oil. I use canola, dunno if olive is safe for him. I do rub his belly & genitals litely with warm water cotton. I figger this will resolve itself as he eats/drinks more. (BTW, I found a small thermos of hot water next to my bed lets me have warm water for several hours. And he loves the hot water bottle under his fluffy little blankey in the bed box) He can play a little with a toy or two, but likes my fingers best. And he can hop and run a bit and fall off the bed when I step out of the room. He's fine really. My older male cats (5 yrs) don't think much of him, so if he can't stay with us forever, he'll at least be weaned/litter trained for the lucky person or shelter to finally get him. Wish us luck, I really don't need another cat, but ...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4630860101311347283.post-28394873216130929902014-10-01T15:22:08.305-07:002014-10-01T15:22:08.305-07:00Thanks so much for ALL the advice. A neighbor coul...Thanks so much for ALL the advice. A neighbor could not keep up with the 2 hr feedings, etc, and put him in a box for animal control. He's 2 young for the Humane Society. I would like you to post some images so I can mush over how little he is. We're seeing the vet tomorrow. He looks a little bug-eyed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4630860101311347283.post-6150591186073339302014-04-11T12:20:33.506-07:002014-04-11T12:20:33.506-07:00That's very sad, anonymous. I've had this ...That's very sad, anonymous. I've had this happen with kittens and there are many possible causes, including diseases they are born with. If it's one of those, then probably nothing can be done, sadly. If it's anemia due to fleas, there might be an outside chance of fixing the problem - but I can't say that the outlook is good. Take your kitten to a vet if you can. And make sure any flea problems are taken care of.Chriss Paganihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11644410311763728065noreply@blogger.com