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Orphan baby.

Stryder Jun 18, 2006 04:51 PM

I have a kitten who is the only survivor of a litter of six. She came to me at maybe 10 hours old. She seemed a bit premature.

My daughter and I have been feeding her every two to three hours or so. She is currently in box in my herp room, as it's the warmest place in the house. It tends to stay around 90 degrees f.

She has a slight but almost constant rattle in her nose, probably from formula getting in her nasal cavity. The vet says nt to worry about it, but I do. She is so frail, I can't see that she can afford any kind of infections....

Yesterday was her 4th day, and she became constipated, and we were unable to get her to poop. Her abdomen became distended and hard, and she was unable to eat. We could see her getting weaker by the minute.

I put a small drop of Karo syrup on her toungue, and gave her an enema with a small syringe. Then repaeted at night.

She seems to have pulled through that, and is now eating, pooping, and generally being mad a lot. She is now five days old, and is begining to get peachfuzz on the places where fur hadn't developed yet.

She has grown from 2.4 oz to 3.1 oz. She seems to be doing better now, but it's pretty much moment to moment. We are getting little to no sleep, and the vet seems to not have much hope.

We are looking for any kind of advice on this. What do we need to watch for? What are the milestones that we celebrate? What are some common problems with babies like this, and what do we do about them?

She has made it five days, and is currently thriving. We really wanna keep her that way!

Thanks in advance for any input, and sorry for the long post.

Replies (9)

Stryder Jun 18, 2006 04:51 PM

Oh, and she is now on day six, and seems to be thriving right now. She's almost 3.4 oz.

PHDrTobin Jun 19, 2006 09:15 AM

To get young kittens to poop and pee, you need to stroke the rectum and urethra with a warm, moistened cloth, The mother cat does this by licking the area. If the kitten is sucking the milk replacer from a syringe or bottle, there won't be a problem with aspirating the milk, but if you are syringing it into the kittens mouth, it might get into the lungs, so if you are using a syringe, just get a drop to the tip and let the kitten suci it, don't squirt.

Stryder Jun 19, 2006 12:47 PM

Yes, we have been doing the poop/pee thing. Once her stool started to get the least bit solid, pooping became a very big deal. Sometimes it's pretty difficult to get her going.

Pooping makes her mad!

She is now on day 7, and has gone from 2.4 oz to 3.7oz. She has fur on her feet, nose and ears now, and is sickeningly cute!

astilover Jun 29, 2006 10:49 AM

Just wondered how the little one is doing now?

Colleen and the Crew
Chopper Boogotti, Honeybunny Boo, Claude LeMeiux, YokoGari and Twinkles the Wonder Boy

Stryder Jun 29, 2006 03:51 PM

Happy to report that Darlene is now 8.6 oz. She is happy, healthy and thriving. And so cute it makes me wanna puke every time I look at her!

Her eyes are opewn, and she is conteted as can be!
Image
-----
Cats; Mustard, Frodo, Ted, Eddie Poe, Puck, Ted, Todd, Fessig, Marla, Bill, Darlene, and mama cat.

Snakes; Mickey, Fido, Dead, Samson, Delalah, Jack Straw, Phobia, Tuesday, Tweeker, Elizard, Cmaeo, and babies.

Ferret; Cricket.

Dog; Stryder

etc..........

astilover Jun 30, 2006 07:41 AM

THank you so much for sharing that picture. I am so happy that this little angel found an angel of her own in you!
May you both reap the rewards of your extraordinary bond and love.

Colleen - owned and operated by:
YokoGari, Chopper Boogotti, Honeybunny Boo, Claude LeMeiux and the one and only Twinkles the Wonder Boy

Stryder Jun 30, 2006 10:08 PM

Thank'y!

She really is an angel.

The coolest part about her story is what she's done for my daughter. My kid has become totally committed to saving this baby, even when things were not going well, and even the vets gave up on her.

I have never seen my daughter passionate about anything like this before. Seeing the two of them together really makes my heart dance.
They are both doing a lot of growing!

And it's really great to have the help, too! She stays up late with the baby, and then I get to take the early morning shift, getting upevery few hours with her.

I'm so proud of the both of them for making it this far....
-----
Cats; Mustard, Frodo, Ted, Eddie Poe, Puck, Ted, Todd, Fessig, Marla, Bill, Darlene, and mama cat.

Snakes; Mickey, Fido, Dead, Samson, Delalah, Jack Straw, Phobia, Tuesday, Tweeker, Elizard, Cmaeo, and babies.

Ferret; Cricket.

Dog; Stryder

etc..........

astilover Jul 05, 2006 09:02 AM

Truly a wonderful story, inspiring. Our lives are so much fuller being enriched with the creatures God has created.

I also see that I am not the only one who houses a lot of creatures!

Take care of that angel and she will take care of you!

Colleen

Stryder Sep 22, 2006 07:33 PM

She has grown into a wonderful, happy kitten.
Image
-----
Cats; Mustard, Frodo, Ted, Eddie Poe, Puck, Ted, Todd, Fessig, Marla, Bill, Darlene, and mama cat.

Snakes; Mickey, Fido, Dead, Samson, Delalah, Jack Straw, Phobia, Tuesday, Tweeker, Elizard, Cmaeo, and babies.

Ferret; Cricket.

Dog; Stryder

etc..........

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