Abandoned Kitten

Question
QUESTION: I've looked through your other questions, but couldn't find one that quite answered my question. I'm sorry if I overlooked it. You see, my Cat had her second litter exactly two weeks ago, and i read somewhere that momma cat will move her kittens to get them used to moving around, and she did move them, but I'm not sure where. The problem is, she left one kitten, and never came back for it. It's been crying for nearly an hour, and I've finally picked it up after calling its Mom to come here and her not answering, since it was in my room. It's very hungry, and I can't feed it tonight, but I don't know if she left it for good, or if she just didn't come get it in time. I never picked this one up, so I don't know why she would leave this one. No one but me SHOULD be touching them, but I just don't know what to do about this hungry baby. Please respond soon, it may affect this kitten's life...Thanks so much for reading this.

ANSWER: Jamie,

Unfortunately that is a common behavior. A lot of times the mothers will do it for an instinctive reason....that there is something wrong with the baby that you may not be able to see. And sometimes they feel they can't take care of more than what they want to nurse.

The important thing is to keep the baby warm.

If you find you can not take care of the baby properly or it is not working out you can call a no-kill shelter. They have, or can tell you where there are, mother cats who have lost their kittens and are foster mothers. If you know anyone in the neighborhood with a mother cat and kittens you can put your kitten with theirs to nurse. Also a vet can help you if you can afford it.

Cow's milk is too hard on the digestive system. Get a can of KMR kitten milk replacer from Petco, Petsmart, or a a vet's office and a Kitten Nursing bottle. They have kits with everything in it too.

Here is are 3 good links on orphan care:
(copy and paste, or type, the whole links into your address bar)

http://www.feralcat.com/raising.html

http://www.2ndchance.info/orphankitten.htm

http://www.safehavenforcats.com/newborn.htm

Sometimes, sad as it is, it's best to let Mother Nature take it's course, but hopefully by the time you read this the mother will have come back for the little one. Feeding and taking care of an orphan kitten is time consuming and not an easy job. And sometimes it is heartbreaking because the baby doesn't make it. But if everything goes smoothly it is a very rewarding experience and you have a devoted cat for life.

I HOPE very much that it turns out OK. Kee me posted.

Tabbi



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

QUESTION: About two hours after I noticed the kitten's cries and started trying to keep it warm, the mother cat came back. I called her over, brought the kitten over, but I'm afraid my scent was all over it by then. She began to leave without it, but I called her back twice and she took it with her on the third attempt. I thought that was the end of it, but it turns out that she abandoned it in another room. My mom then brought it to my room, and dropped in near the doorway a few hours after that. It cried for a while, and I waited for my mom to bring the other kittens but she didn't. Eventually the Momma Cat came and took it with her, and when I got up for the day, I tracked them all down. It looks like she took him back, but I'm still worried she'll not feed him or abandon him again.

Answer
Jamie,

Well that is good news so far! The only thing you can do is hope that she continues taking care of it, OR bottle feed it yourself. I'm hoping she will continue taking care of it and it grows up to be a big, strong, beautiful kitty. If she doesn't, she may have a good reason....like a genetic defect.

Watch the mom cat because a cat can get pregnant as soon as 48 hours to 2 weeks after giving birth. Please think about spaying her so you don't have to go through anymore traumas like this one. They are hard...on everybody!

Also feed her about 4 times her normal amount of food. A nursing mother should have at least a bowl of Kitten Chow available all the time to eat while she is nursing. She needs to extra protein and nutrients to keep a good flow of milk and so she doesn't get skinny from the babies taking a lot out of her. The last mother I fostered ate 3 cans of canned food a day + kitten chow!

Good luck with the baby!

Tabbi


Tabbi