posted 10-28-2003 10:25 AM           

---

I've been taking care of 3 orphaned kittens since they were 2 days old, mother died. They are now 7 weeks. One of them is eating some solid, only if given in my hand, and there is always alittle water in a dish available, but I've never seen either one of them lapping it. The other two.. will not eat the solid.. I've tried KMR mixed with soft canned.. they'll sniff it and turn away. I 've placed some in their mouth, and they lick, but that's it. I don't want them to starve! So I am still bottle feeding them.. the one eating solid.. I only give her a sip, due to the fact that I'm not sure she's lapping the water..
Can someone please HELP ... I love them to death, but I'd really like to have them off the bottle....

Thanks
Glenda
(please email me if you have any further tips...I'm new to this message board and am not a regular User.. so_sweety_sweet@yahoo.com )

[This message has been edited by Gchatt (edited 10-28-2003).]

IP: Logged

posted 10-28-2003 04:04 PM           

---

AWESOME. OKAY, HERE'S WHAT WE DID WHEN WE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM: WE HAD THE KITTENS SUCK ON A BIT OF FOOD ON OUR FINGERS, THEN WE MOVED IT (THE FINGER ALONG WITH THE SUCKING KITTEN'S MOUTH) ONTO THE PAPER PLATE EDGE (IT HAD SOME FOOD ON IT) THE KITTEN CONTINUED SUCKING AND SOON WAS LAPPING. WE ONLY HAD TO DO HIS WITH ONE OUT OF FOUR BECAUSE HE JUST WOULDN'T LAP! BUT IT WORKED. THEN WE STARTED GIVING THEM THAT SOFT CAT FOOD THAT COMES IN PACKETS, THEN A SOFTER KITTEN CHOW AND NOW AT 5 MONTHS OLD, WE HAVE SOME VERY HEALTHY (AND LARGE!) TAME MALES.

IP: Logged

Member

Posts: 996
From:sheridan, wy
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 10-30-2003 10:43 AM         

---

Bottle feed kittens take longer to wean. Leave hard kitten food down, they may get interested in it. Try getting them to lap just the KMR with any soft food mixed in. That may be an easier transition for them. They will eventually get it, they just take a little longer. My bottle feed kitten wasn't weaned until 8 or 9 weeks.

IP: Logged

New Member

Posts: 5
From:New York
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 10-30-2003 11:35 AM         

---

Thanks everyone.. I'm gonna try a few of those tips.. I think they're just a bit behind due to the absence of Momma Cat..
I'll keep you all posted
Thanks again

IP: Logged

New Member

Posts: 5
From:New York
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 11-03-2003 03:22 PM         

---

WOOOOHOOOOOOO !
Well... just a quick update...
3 Orphaned Kitties are all eating solid and drinking their water... doing very well.
Thanks for all the tips guys

IP: Logged

Member

Posts: 996
From:sheridan, wy
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 11-04-2003 10:44 AM         

---

That's good to hear! Orphaned babies take a little longer, but doesn't it feel rewarding when they finally get it?

IP: Logged

New Member

Posts: 5
From:New York
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 11-04-2003 07:24 PM         

---

fleafly...
I have to say.. it surely wasn't easy.. I hated those 2 and 4 am feedings... because there were 3 it took forever! lol
But ALL WELL WORTH IT ! I was planning on giving 2 away.. but i don't know i may just have to settle for having a total of 5 cats ...hahahaha

IP: Logged

Member

Posts: 996
From:sheridan, wy
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 11-05-2003 10:27 AM         

---

That's how I ended up with so many cats!!!

I can't imagine having 3, I only had 1 to feed every 2 hours. You must have been even more sleep deprived than I was. It's nice when they eat on their own and you can finally sleep!

IP: Logged

Member

Posts: 260
From:MO, USA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 11-05-2003 04:38 PM         

---

How often are you bottle feeding them? If they have teeth and are old enough to start weening then they dont need to be fed every 2 hours.
I would cut back to 3-4 feedings a day. Instead of using 1 part formula to 2 parts water I would slowly start to thicken the formula so they are getting used to more then just a watery substance.
Make sure to offer them some sort of gruel in the beginning as well. Crush some kibble and mix it with formula, make sure it is always fresh or they wont bother.
Are you using bottles or syringes? If they are lapping at the syringe then take a bowl and kind of drip the syringe into the bowl while they are lapping it up to show them that it is possible to get food from something other then you.
I have a litter of 4 five week old orphans who are doing the same thing. Try again in a week. Once they start teething more entice them to chew on kibble it might satisfy their teething urges.

IP: Logged

All times are ET (US)