Orphaned Kitten

Question
QUESTION: My partner and l are very much animal lovers, so when my partner Teresa was on her way to visit a friend 2 nights ago
(Fri/March 13th 09) she saw an adult cat in the middle of the road which had been struck by a car, still moving, Teresa turned to parck up to get her off the road, in that moment a truck ran clear over her. Distraught, my partner went to the cat crying and heard cryig, about 2 feet from the adult was her little baby kitten, eyes stil closed give or take about 4/5 days old. Not being able to hear any other cries (have since informed friends etc, in area to listen out!)due to the traffic Teresa brought the kitten home ( 20 miles from incident), with powdered formula and a bottle. A little nervous and obvioulsy scared it was a while before he started to suckle. We had been feeding every 2hours out of concern for this little new born, stimulating him before and after giving him his formula. Now, he seems very healthy,feeding well, putting on weight (though not weighed it is visable, he purs and climbs about, pee's brilliantly (clear urine) but as of yet no poop, which we are concerned about. Our local vet here is not open till another 30 hours from now and the emergency vets is an hour away...which if needed we will go to asap. Now we feed him 4 hours nightly and 3 daily, please remember we have only had him 48 hours.
Our concerned questions are as follows

Could we have over fed him?
He always seems to want more formula is that ok?
What is the best formula, powdered or ready made?
What is the best 'material' to use to help stimulate, research shows different answers cotton ball or cloth?
Is not pooping a sign of something we should be very worried about?

I sometimes wonder after only researching on line for a few hours that it has made me a tad paranoid, so thank you for your time.

Basically any information you can pass on to a couple who have already fallen for this little guy and will do whatever it takes to give him the best of chances.

Thank you very much and "Will" who sits under my shirt, purring still eyes closed,after a 0130am feeding 1cc (again peeing but no pooping) says thank you too.



ANSWER: Hi Martine.  What an awful tragedy.  I feel so awful for your partner having to witness this, but hopefully raising the baby will take some of the sting away.  To answer your questions in order:

Q: Could we have over fed him? He always seems to want more formula is that ok?
A: Kittens can be overfed, but this usually happens when they're forced.  If he's only eating what he's desiring to eat, that shouldn't be a worry.  Most kittens this age will be eating about 15mls (cc's) a meal.  But at this age, you should let your kitten tell you when he's full!  A hungry baby is a sign of a healthy baby.  The concern would come if he was constantly hungry but not growing.  Don't forget to burp him by gently patting his back after meals!

Q: What is the best formula, powdered or ready made?
A: Both are equally nutritious, but I have found that kittens enjoy the taste of powdered better.  It's also more economical and keeps fresher longer.

Q: What is the best 'material' to use to help stimulate, research shows different answers cotton ball or cloth?
A: Either material will get the job done.  Paper towels may become a little rough after a while of massaging, so a cotton ball may be a gentler choice.

Q: Is not pooping a sign of something we should be very worried about?
A: I have had constipation problems in every litter I have bottle raised except for one.  When they switch abruptly from breast milk to formula, their bodies don't seem to handle the change so well.  It's just as a sudden diet change tends to impact any animal's digestive system.  Contrary to what you may find online, kittens don't move their bowels after each meal.  Most kittens move their bowels at least every 24 hours.  Some kittens will only have a bowel movement every 48 hours normally.  Beyond that, it is considered constipation.  And when you get to 72 hours, it is worrisome.  Because you're not sure how long it had been before you found the baby that he had a bowel movement, it's impossible to say how long it's actually been that he's gone without evacuating his bowels.  When I had my first kitten with constipation, he had gone four days without a bowel movement and actually had to have an enema and feces removed with forceps!  And you want to try to avoid it from going this far.  If he continues to eat and isn't fussy but hasn't had a bowel movement by Monday morning, I would get him in to your regular vet right away.  If his belly is bloated and he's fussy, I'd probably make the trip to the emergency vet sooner.

Good luck with your baby!  Bless you both!


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------


Little Will   QUESTION: Hey there Jessica,

I just wanted to not only personaly thank you for your very helpful answers but also to update you on little Will.

He is now pooping, in fact that morning after emailing you, l fed him and once again stimulated his little bottom and he pooped, l was in tears, l guess being tired can make one a tad emtional, though to be honest l was so worried for the little guy, still am as l know such young orphaned kittens as Will, the road can be an uncertain one. Though our little baby boy seems unafraid hence the name 'Will.'

He poops at almost every feeding, is this ok?
Sometimes it is soft but formed and sometimes its runny, is this ok?
He does have a pot belly/fat belly but is only fussy when he wants something, food, burping, peeing, pooping and his cuddles and once he gets what he wants he purs, which helps me out. Is this ok?

I am sure you must think l ask some 'mainly common sense' questions, again could be lack of sleep and also because he is very spoiled, l do pur on him and rub on him like his Mummy would, also have little teddies in there to act as siblings as l had heard of the single kitten syndrome - ???

Once again thank you for the very helpful answers and l will be sure to keep yopu informed and  of course come knocking on your door if we hit another hurdle.

Thank you again Jessica

Martine, Teresa and Will xxx


ANSWER: Oh, he is just the cutest!!!  There's nothing better than having a little kitten who purrs the instant you kiss his belly.  He thinks you're mom!

Pooping at every meal isn't a problem, but do keep watch over the texture.  Soft but formed it good.  You don't want to see too many runny stools.  If you are consistently seeing runny stools, then he may become dehydrated.  He may be too young to try to diagnose or treat the root cause of the problem, but a vet might advise you to mix some Pedialyte into his formula.  I would definitely advise a vet visit before making this change.  And if you end up seeing any mucus in his stools, that's something to be alarmed over.  I have a lot of vets tell me that a kitten this little is "just too young to do anything for."  I always feel those are the ones who have lost sight of why they became veterinarians.  To us, these aren't members of the overpopulation, they're our babies!  There are some vets who manage to figure out a treatment for the littlest ones.

A kitten this age should have a nice, plump belly, especially after feeding, so that's a good sign!  When it feels solid as a rock and about to pop, it can be a sign of constipation and gas, but this is obviously not the case with Will.  

I always have stuffed animals in with my babies, too, and I don't know if it does more for them or me, but it can't hurt.  Some people even will put a small clock in with them to simulate the mother's heartbeat.

Don't hesitate to write, I would love to see more pictures!  Good luck!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks again Jessica, you are literally our life line, it really does put me at ease knowing l can just 'ASK JESSICA', so once again thank you.

Ok, let me explain the Will's poop (lol) his poop now is firm but soft, it was switching up, and l think l had a lot to do with that as in my paranoid state at the start with him not pooping, l switch his food from the powder to the ready made. Poor little guy just got used to one and l switched again on him, that first day he pooped (when l changed his formula) there was a runny gooey poop, l'm not sure if l would say mucus like but it has not happened since and that was 3 days ago. He does the same thing every time he poops, he will have his legs bent up and when he pushes his legs go straight, l hope this is normal, it sure is cute. I hope the previous gooey poop is not anything to worry about as we live in a small town in Alabama and l can not really say l like to take our pets to the vets here.
Teresa explained that she was standing there beside the Mommy cat to get her when the truck went over her, so that tells you about what part of Bama we are in!!!!
We have 5 dogs and 8 cats, all rescued, but little Will is our first Orphan kitten, hence asking you so many questions, which l can not begin to tell you how grateful we both are for your knowledge.
Back to little Will, his feeding times are pretty much down pat now, he has a little cuddle first to wake him if he isn't already, then he will pee 'like a fountain' not poop usually, them he goes nuts waiting for his bottle which he will drink a good 7 ml's every meal sometimes wanting the same again after a poop and a cuddle. Then after he eats he will cry to be burped, and pur while burping him, l usually pur rubbing my nose and chin up and down his back till he burps. Then he will cry letting me now he is ready for a poop, l get a warm wet cotton pad to stimulate him and he will purr and then do his little ritual. Then he will cry which means he is ready for his cuddles and he will pur until he goes to sleep, or cry to say get off l wanna go to sleep - lol. He is a demanding little fellow!
We weighed him last night and he weighs 7 oz, again l hope this is good to weight food ratio, l think it is, right?
He is looking as if he wants to open his eyes so any ideas of age? I think maybe 8/9 days!

Of course l will keep you updated and send pics, after all he is the cutest little kitten in the world, being his Mom l think maybe l am a tad biast!

Thanks again for all the help and l look forward to hearing from you again.

OH, l am keeping a journal of feedings extra to help keep track, as being tired my memory seems to be lacking of late, l am sure with all that you do you know where l am coming from.

Another quick question are you in the States?

Thanks again for all the inspiration, its good to know theres more of us out there who do care.

Take Care and have a great day

Answer
That's excellent, he sounds like he's right on schedule!  Ideally, kittens will gain about 1/4-1/2 ounce daily if they're growing properly.  And if he was born at the average 3.5 ounces, then 7 oz., 8 days old, eyes just about to open is all right on target!  I don't know if you have an ounce scale at home, but that's the perfect way to make sure things continue to move in the right direction over the next couple of weeks.  The first signal that something's wrong with a baby is that he doesn't gain weight.  Once in a blue moon he'll stay the same weight for two days in a row, but if he ever loses weight or if he doesn't gain weight for more than two days, it's a sure sign things are going in the wrong direction.  I always keep a written journal of my babies' weights until they hit 1 lb (my ounce scale only goes up that far!).

I live in Rhode Island, and there are a lot of reasons I don't like this place - 10-below degree winters, pot holes, high unemployment rate, government corruption (that's nothin' new) and the nation's worst drivers.  But I must say, we have AMAZING veterinary care, and the population is relatively animal rights friendly.  I've been to some places that have been really appalling.  

It's so awesome that you and your partner have all those animals where people can be so rotten.  Who knows where they'd be without you!  That poor kitty.  But lucky little Will.  Just imagine what would've happened if Teresa hadn't been passing just then...  Keep up the good work!  I know you're going insane with sleep deprivation.  You can't wait for the middle of the night feedings to be overwith, but then once the baby is weaned, you miss them so much!  I actually give my 2 1/2 year old girl who I raised a bottle of cat milk once in a while, and she still knows how to take it just like a baby. ;)