Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey, me again and I need some more advice about the rather difficult situation I'm in. First I need to explain just how I found the kittens I'm in raising.

When I first found the litter of kittens in the crack of the roof of my house (I noticed them, when one of the kittens was dangling from the opening), I took them down and moved them into the backroom addition of the house (all while the momcat was looking on). At night I left the door open, and the momcat took one of the kittens away, which left me with the other two kittens. One died shortly, probably because it's hind legs were very damaged when I found it, and the other one (the one I just posted about beneath this topic) I've been raising for nearly 4 weeks now and is healthy and happy.

Now to get to the predicament I'm in...I found the other kitten that the momcat took away just yesterday wandering around the front yard. It seems the Momcat has abandoned it, and it's a little too convenient on her part to leave the kitten on our yard (maybe because I've been leaving a bowl of food out for her every night, and once let her sniff her kitten that we're raising...).

The problem is...how do I get him (the other kitten is indeed a male) to eat? It's been a day now, and he refuses to eat anything. How am I suppose to switch a kitten that has been drinking his mother's milk all this time and had no contact with humans, to kitten food cold turkey? What methods and food do you recommened? Is it a lost cause, or should I persevere with trial and error methods? All I'm doing is forcing water down his throat for now...*sigh* Oh, and another note, I had to remove like a dozen fleas off the kitten, when I found him.

BTW, for an update on my other kitten, she's now litter boxed trained, and I couldn't be happier I'll start weaning her on KMR 2nd step formula after my college semester ends. With my busy schedule, I kind of feel like I'm in over my head raising two kittens, one is more than enough...

At this point you should be bottle-feeding KMR to the newcomer. You can also make a thin gruel of KMR and kitten chow mixed together and offer it in a flat dish. Don't be surprised if he walks in it more than eats it at first. The other kitten may be able to "show" him how to eat from a dish if she is doing this already.

Thank you for caring enough to foster a second kitten. Good luck to you!
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Smile, it will make them wonder what you are up to!

Thanks for the reply.

I think I was just panicking when I wrote this topic, since I didn't know if I could raise my new kitten or not. I've read that orphaned kittens 4 wks or older might not be able to tame and would remain feral, and "euthanizing" it is not something I have the heart to do. When I first found the kitten, it was feral like, but after a few days it has calmed down considerably. Now I'm feeding it KMR (if only it would learn how to suck on the nipple instead of biting it all through the feeding), and will probably wait a week or so till I move to the second stage KMR.

Hopefully this will be the last eating related topic I do.

~ Dat Le

Feral cat's kittens can be tamed. Definately at four weeks old. I have one that is now almost three. He was a wild little boy at four weeks. But now he is a sweet/not to bright kitty.

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Jaime owned by
Mya the dog
and the cats:Crash, Moxie, Gabby and sometimes Tucker

Here are my kitties!

Dare I say, the cutest kitten in the world?

This is the second kitten I found.

They are both too precious for words!
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Smile, it will make them wonder what you are up to!

Thanks ^^

The first is really too precious for words. I swear she's the most adorable kitten I have ever laid eye's on! My brother's girlfriend instantly fell in love with her at first site, and will adopt her once she starts eating hard food. I don't know what I'm going to do with the second one yet, maybe put some ads in the paper or on petfinder.com. I would adopt the second kitty myself, but my parents really hate cats, and they won't budge on seeing him gone once it starts eating hard food :

~ Dat Le

Here's some helpful information.

Caring for Orphaned Kittens