Not horsey but need advice! Kitten.

pinkiepie

pinkiepie

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Hi,

Thought I may get quicker replies in here sorry! Please remove if not appropriate though.

I found a kitten this afternoon in our log shed at work freezing in a pile of leaves. He may be about 4 weeks old. I've wrapped him up and he's near a radiator in the office at the moment and is sleeping, I thought he didn't have a chance but is continuing to brighten up now he's warmer and think I'll keep him but only had cats as a kid so my knowledge isn't up to scratch on kitten care! He's feral according to our gamekeeper who knows the mother but she may have been shot apparently.

He's a lovely looking little kitten so told my OH he's coming home tonight to the farm. I was going to pop to Pets at Home on my way home for some kitten food and kitten milk. Is there anything else he immediately will need? I'll make an appointment with the vet too.

Thank you - would like to give him the best chance of surviving. We're in Shawbury, Shropshire which was recorded as the coldest place in the UK at -13 last night/today and we didn't find him till after lunch. Not sure how long he's been outside but he was cold to the bone.
 
I wouldn't bother with the kitten milk, my feral was about 4 weeks and he wasn't interested. Water and get him on solids, i'd start with wet food and you can always go onto dry when he's a bit older. You might need to hand feed him to begin with but they soon get the hang of it once they get the taste. Enjoy your kitten and don't forget to put pictures up. I've now got two more from this year's litters so have three ginger ninjas who have completely forgotten they were born in a barn especially in all this snow :-) Oh and don't forget a litter tray good luck
 
Oh bless him he must have been freezing you can buy the heated bed pads that go in the bottom of pet beds pet's at home sell them and a nice warm blanket a cat litter tray cat litter and a scoop, feed bowls, you could always use a hot water bottle for his bed if you can't get the heat pads, he will probably need flea treatment but I would wait until you go to the vet.
 
If this was me I would take him straight to your nearest 24/7 vet hospital for an emergency appointment as he could be hypothermic, anaemic, and anything else that ends in "ic" and in need of some milk replacement. I'm sure you know that four weeks (and I appreciate it's an estimate) is way to young to be separated from mum. It's good that you found him and are going to take care of him but he really needs to be checked over by a vet. At that age the shock of what has happened could finish him off overnight.

I won't even comment on the mum potentially being shot, except I hope it wasn't done on purpose, especially given she's had kittens and there may now be more kittens with no mum to look after them.
 
BeckyFlowers said:
If this was me I would take him straight to your nearest 24/7 vet hospital for an emergency appointment as he could be hypothermic, anaemic, and anything else that ends in "ic" and in need of some milk replacement. I'm sure you know that four weeks (and I appreciate it's an estimate) is way to young to be separated from mum. It's good that you found him and are going to take care of him but he really needs to be checked over by a vet. At that age the shock of what has happened could finish him off overnight.
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I sort of agree with this TBH.....

Could your OH go to the pet shop and you take the wee kitten to the vets on your way home???

Essential purchases would be kitten pouches, feed and water bowls, bed and bedding (if nothing suitable at home) and a litter tray and wood pellet cat litter...

Best of luck x x

Fiona
 
Second going to the vet. Also last year about this time I got two kittens, one of whom was supposed to be 8 weeks old but I suspect she was younger. I bought the heated mat from Pets at Home and it was a huge success over the winter with them.
 
Try blending the kitten food into a puree and mix with a bit of warm water... They will usually lap this up.
 
Vet. Assuming that kitten survives, our orphan spent most of the next two weeks being carried around inside my jumper, so sort out an oversized fleece of some sort for whoever will be primary carer. He ate most things provided that they were pureed or mashed up.
 
I agree about taking him to the vet asap. Poor little guy! I hope he he pulls through and makes you a great pet! The vet can advise you on what supplies etc you would need, but I think the replies have covered pretty much everything! Depending on his age he may need the milk replacement every few hours, but if he is 4 weeks or older, that may not be necessary. best of luck!
 
Ooh, pictures please! :) <3
Here are the things I needed as soon as I got my kitten:
- bowls
- slicker brush
- collars with a little bell (so I know where he is, although mine was a bit older and more mobile when I got him)
- scratching post! (the taller, the better, mine is about 80 cm tall)
- TOYS! His favourite are scrunched up sheets of aluminium foil or paper
Bed-wise, we had three different beds in the house, two of them brand-new, one very old one belonging to the dog. The cat chose the latter just because. Also, he can hide under the cushion. Cobsarefab is right, hidey holes are a favourite!
 
Nici said:
Ooh, pictures please! :) <3
Here are the things I needed as soon as I got my kitten:
- bowls
- slicker brush
- collars with a little bell (so I know where he is, although mine was a bit older and more mobile when I got him)
- scratching post! (the taller, the better, mine is about 80 cm tall)
- TOYS! His favourite are scrunched up sheets of aluminium foil or paper
Bed-wise, we had three different beds in the house, two of them brand-new, one very old one belonging to the dog. The cat chose the latter just because. Also, he can hide under the cushion. Cobsarefab is right, hidey holes are a favourite!
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Here is the chosen bed :D
38128960675_1dbbf759b7_z.jpg
 
I would strongly advise a vet check. Failing that offer a weaning food followed by kitten milk Q6hrs- if not eating the weaning food you may have to teach it how to suckle from a bottle. Worm with panacur once you’re sure it’s not horrifically Ill. Stimulate to wee and poop after feeding, offer a litter tray but cover both based by checking 6 hourly. Something to cuddle up with and a bit of warmth will also be appreciated! A few days after panacur flea with frontline spray- do them other way round if obvious fleas!
 
My mum's now 15yo cat was found at about 4 wks old in a bag at the side of a canal. Suspect owner of the bag was disturbed by a dog walker thankfully. His eyes were still blue.

Vets did pop him on some antibiotics and he was very nervous of humans. Litter tray usage wasn't the best!

Keep us posted!
 
Well done for finding him and giving him a chance. I'd say for now get him somewhere warm and safe that you can put him. A cardboard box lined with fleeces or towels with either a hot water bottle, some of the wheat bags you can microwave or a snugglesafe will probably do temporarily. Get some kitten milk replacer and some kitten food (if wet then you could mash a little kitten milk in at first to encourage and if dry then would use either warm kitten milk or warm water to soak until soft initially). He does ideally need checking over by a vet and probably some flea & worming treatment when he's a bit stronger (and would reccomend eventual vaccinations when old enough). If he's now bright and active and takes milk / food well then this could be at some point in next few days. If he's still quiet / still feels cold to touch / won't take milk or food then I'd get him there as soon as is possible as he may need some fluids to treat any shock and maybe some glucose if it's a while since he last fed. The vet will also be able to age him more accurately for you as if he's younger than you think it may be that he still needs help with toileting
 
I'd go for water, warmth & soft food on your finger. Vet check definitely & things like brushes & toys can wait til the wee guy is on his feet. Keep things real & life saving. Warmies, lots of them & frequent small amounts of food.

My cat was found in a hedge at 8 months old with 4 kits. All survived through gentle, practical care. He needs heat, food & security.
 
both my boys were rescues at 3 weeks old, so still very unsteady on their feet, blue eyes etc.

one was an absolute bruiser and whilst he did lap up the kitten milk, he was on solids within a week and bulldozing round his room creating havoc by 4 weeks.

the other was more timid and weak and i had to bottle feed him every 6 hours for 2 weeks and then all of a sudden he accepted solids and improved quickly.

you need proper kitten replacement milk that comes as a powder and mixes with warm water, then some easily mashable pouch food. if he really is only 3 weeks i would offer him milk every 6 hours to start with, some will take it straight out a bowl, some need a bottle but normally if you keep offering a bit on you finger and slowly move your finger closer to the bowl, they will start to lap it up.
leave him with small quantities of well mashed pouch food too and see what he eating more of.

after each feed you need to wipe round his rear end with a moistened tissue to stimulate him to wee/poo. normally only have to do that for 3-4 days and then they are ok on their own.

i put a hot water bottle well wrapped in a towel in one side of his bed so he could chose to snuggle up to it or move away if too warm, and put lots of old towels and jumpers in so he could make a nest.

good luck.
 
Vets first. Spend the day reading up on kitten care and then google RAW feeding. Happy days, lucky kitten .... as long as you feed him raw .. otherwise I take it all back and he isnt lucky to have found you ;)
 
Antw23uk said:
Vets first. Spend the day reading up on kitten care and then google RAW feeding. Happy days, lucky kitten .... as long as you feed him raw .. otherwise I take it all back and he isnt lucky to have found you ;)
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i feed raw too but think thats a bit OTT, know loads of none raw fed happy healthy cats......................
 
I'm a bit late to this thread, so sorry if all of this is a bit late:

At around 4 weeks, a feral kitten will be almost exclusively suckling, so you will need kitten replacement milk (it must be for kittens), you can normally get this from a dedicated pet shop or a vet. The package should contain a bottle and a couple of teats to get you started.

KRM must be made with boiled and cooled water - if you mix with boiling water and allow to cool you can destroy some of the nutrients in the milk. KRM must be made fresh each time you feed.

As you don't know how old s/he is, and for how long s/he had been alone for, offer a small amount (about 5-10mls) every hour. If this is consumed immediately, increase by 5mls for the next feed.

Before and after feeding, you will need to stimulate the bladder and bowel. Use some warm water on a cotton ball and rub (quite firmly) in the genital region.

If the kitten doesn't seem to toilet, or if the kitten develops a pot/bloated belly, you must take them to a vet straight away, as constipation is a bit danger for hand raised kittens.

Be prepared to pour your heart and soul into hand feeding, and then have the kitten make a down turn - it happens occasionally, but hopefully at 4 weeks, they are not as delicate!

For other items: a box of some description with bedding in it (can be a towel, or hay/straw), and a hot water bottle well wrapped - kittens like to make nests. A litter tray (shoe box lid), with non-clumping litter (personally I prefer the silica for rodents), a scratching/climbing post and some toys. Oh, and a safe environment where they wont be disturbed constantly

I've currently got 7 cats, all of whom are rescues, and 4 of which I've bottle fed to some degree from approx 2 weeks old.

Good luck :)
 
Hi Pinkypie. Firstly good work on saving this kittens life.

I work in 'cat rescue' so have some experience of orphan kittens. As this kittens care will depend on how old (s)he is it's best to get a good estimate of that first. As a rough guide kittens put on, give or take, 100g per week so if you weigh them you can make a better guess. To make the maths easier, and as a fairly accurate guide, a four week old kitten would be 400g (five week old 500g etc)

Once you know how old the kitten is you will know whether you need substitute milk (e.g. cimicat, babycat) and how much in how many feeds it will need or whether the kitten can be weaned. Please do not feed raw, this can give adult cats a good diet if done correctly but the varying nutritional requirements of kittens mean it is far easier and better to feed specific weaning or kitten cat food. Over two weeks the kitten should be toileting itself, although not necessarily finding the litter tray successfully! Kittens get their warmth from their mums so you will need a heat pad (or a hot water bottle swaddled in blankets or towels) to keep her/him warm.

Cats are only feral if they have not been handled as kittens (primarily in the socialisation window of 2 to 7 weeks) and as this kitten has you it wont be feral for much longer! However, if the kitten is over four weeks of age and was not hissing at you when you met it may have been dumped. Sadly this happens a lot.

The one problem you will have is that kittens learn social boundaries from playing with their siblings and single orphans do miss out on that. It can lead to aggressive behaviour as they grow up. We always put single kittens with other kittens (once health checked) as this learning is so important for the kittens behavioral development. If you have another cat this will still help hugely with installing manners into the kitten, so do let them interact when the kitten is a bit older.

If you would like more advice or have any more questions please pm. As Casey76 said bringing up orphan kittens a is hugely rewarding although often exhausting and heart breaking task. You may find a local rescue to you can help you too. You can find them here www.catchat.org. Good luck.
 
Antw23uk said:
Vets first. Spend the day reading up on kitten care and then google RAW feeding. Happy days, lucky kitten .... as long as you feed him raw .. otherwise I take it all back and he isnt lucky to have found you ;)
Click to expand...

Can you get raw cat milk? I can&#8217;t imagine it being too ethical!
 
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