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Abandoned 3-4 wk old aren't "nursing"

stthoffman Apr 20, 2007 12:13 AM

I just rescued 3 3-4 week old kittens today. I have been trying all day to get them to eat from a bottle but they will not "nurse". I can drop formula in their mouth but even then they don't seem interested in eating. What can I do?

Replies (3)

PHWildCat Apr 20, 2007 04:21 AM

If they are still refusing to eat this morning, you should probably take them to the vet. Little kits deteriorate real fast. I have never had to bottle feed a kit so hopefully others who have will have some advice for you.
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PHWildCat/Tessa and 21 cats, 1 dog and even a hamster
Tabitha, in my heart forever.... earned her wings 6/26/05, Samantha, the bestest whineameezer...earned her wings 4/7/06.
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kittyromeo Apr 20, 2007 08:18 AM

Lizzycat and her siblings were 3 weeks old when I took them in. I fed them drops from the end of a straw and within a day or two they could lap (and snort) formula from a saucer. But they were active, greedy little grubbers for formula.

I'd call a vet.

Purrs,
Elizabeth

LosFeroces May 04, 2007 12:04 PM

i haven't had much experience with hand feeding either, but I am a breeder that used to belong in her home country to a group of very experienced breeders and witnessed many discussions on this subject...

It seems that the best way to feed little kitties is not the bottle but the TUBE. They can't resist you then since the milk goes right to their stomachs. I hope I am not doing anything wrong by directing you to an article that I used in feeding my baby. I bought for 10 bucks in a medical supplies store three syringues (you just need really one), several feeding tubes, and a lubrication jelly) for this purpose.

Yours are bigger and they really have a fighting chance (unlike mine unfortunately), so I think you will make it!!

Good luck!
maria (newbie here)

http://www.cfainc.org/articles/tube-feeding.html

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