Here's the problem my farm has become a drop off for unwanted animals this is really becoming a problem 1 dog this week and 3 cats last week. The kittens look to be about 3 weeks old one is in very bad shape it looks like someone has tried to set it on fire on the face. That I can work on with a medicated cream for burns but my next problem is how do I feed them? I have milk replacer here that I use for my goat's can I use that or do they make something for kittens. I am going to try to go to the co-op in the morning to see if I can get a bottle made for kittens, but I just need to know about the milk? Any answers would help. Thanks Tracy

-- Tracy in TN (emilyfarms@tsixroads.com), July 05, 2001

Answers

They make kitten milk replacer, it is often used for baby rabbits so I would think your co-op would have some. I've also seen it at WalMart and some pharmacies.

-- Sojourner (notime4@summer.spam), July 05, 2001.

Hi Tracy,

We adopted a kitten from the ASPCA a few years back. She was really small and was chosen because she looked like a runt. We took her immediately to the vet and she said the kitten was probably only about 3 weeks old; much too young to be away from her mother. Well, I became her mother and spoon fed her baby food and formula (as recommended by the vet). She would lay in my lap and suck her tail much like a baby would such a thumb. She grew quickly and was such a beautiful cat we decided to let her have kittens. She delivered four female kittens with no problem. When the kittens were at least 2 months old, for some unexplained reason she suddenly attacked ME! Her two legged mother! This attack had nothing to do with protecting the kittens. In fact, she came into the kitchen (where I was) and attacked me while I was putting some trash in the waste barrel. She really got me bad. She jumped in my face and worked her way down from there. I was not only scratched and bitten but bruised from temples to knees. DH heard my screams and came running and had to use the broom to knock her off me. I headed for the bathroom and she ran after me and hit the door trying to get to me. I was shocked beyond belief.

Thinking this was a one time thing, we didn't consider putting her down but I did call the vet to ask if there was anything that would cause this kind of reaction. The vet had no answers but suggested we bring her in to see the "animal behavorist". This animal behavorist thought the problem was she was taken from her mother much too early and never "bonded" with me as her mother even though I felt like her mother.

A few months later, she attacked again this time only getting me in the lip as I bent over to put her food dish down. DH didn't hesitate this time about having her put down. We took her to the vets and with a bloody lip and tears streaming down my face, we held her as she was gently put to sleep. I've never had anything effect me this way. She was my child and I was killing her!

Unfortunately that's wasn't the end of the story. I got sick with Cat Scratch Fever and was very sick for about six months!! We went several years without cats, but DH really loves them so now we have two brothers who we made absolutely sure were old enough to leave their mother. I'm still skittish around them (of any cat for that matter) and leave their care mostly up to DH.

The point of this long story is kittens who have been removed from their natural mother can have potential problems.

Thanks for reading.

-- Trevilians (Trevilians@mediaone.net), July 05, 2001.

I have heard wrapping the kittens in a warm towel while feeding them will help. I'd call the vet supply, they have milk replacement. Our FAVORITE cat's mother was killed when tiny. A lady bottle fed him & weaned him and then we got him. He "nursed" on a rug for a few months but has grown up to be wonderful and a good mouser, too. Good luck!

-- DW (djwallace@ctos.com), July 05, 2001.

Run down to the toy store and get a doll bottle, go to the grocery store and get canned milk, mix well and serve at room tempature, add kitten last.

-- mitch hearn (moopups1@aol.com), July 05, 2001.

We have a cat that we raised on a bottle since he was about 2 weeks old, and let me tell you, he is a terror! I think it affects their social skills to be separated so early, but you gotta do what you gotta do. Our little guy (he's 4 years now) had a horrible abcess on his eyeball (he's still blind in that eye), so they were going to put him and his feral mother to sleep at the SPCA but my mom worked there so we brought him home. You may have to rub his hiny with a warm damp papertowel to get him to pee (works like a mother licking him). Good luck!

-- Elizabeth (Lividia66@aol.com), July 05, 2001.

You mentioned having goats. Try this formula given to me when I was very small to use with wild bunnies and later by another vet for an emergency colostrum. To a pint of whole milk, preferably goat milk, add 1 T. honey or white corn syrup, 1 whole egg and 1/4 t. cod liver oil or infant vitamins. It mixes best in a blender if you have one but a good work out with a whisk, especially the egg is okay. Feed small amounts when the kitten seems hungry. Wash their behinds to stimulate elimination.

We also have a cat grown from a feral mom who was only about 3 weeks old when we got him. He's been neutered and for the most part is very gentle and loving but if he doesn't want attention, it's wise not to insist. He's never attacked us as an earlier post mentioned but is very shy of strangers. We have had house dogs as long as he's been with us (8 years in Sept.) and he acts as though the dogs are his.

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), July 05, 2001.

Cats should be kept inside.They kill a heck of a lot of song birds and wildlife!If they are kept inside they stay a lot healthier,so does the environment!

-- David Gibbs (dgibbs@g2a.net), July 05, 2001.

See if your vet will give you Albon, the anti-coccidia medicine. Seems like the majority of orphan kittens I come across have coccidia, which causes nasty loose stools with no odor. The parasite prevents them from absorbing nourishment, so they eat and eat but stay skinny and frail and messy. This med can be used prophylactically. Also, provide a heat source that they can use at will, such as a lamp in one corner, or a heating pad under half the box, so they can move away from the heat if they want. I strongly discourage the use of cows milk for kittens. You can buy kitten formula, which is very expensive, at most any pet supply place or even at Wal-Mart. However, I have used the lamb milk replacer and was satisfied with it. At three weeks, the kitties should also be trying canned food, and even some dry. If their eyes are open, you shouldn't need to stimulate them to make them potty. Check their box for evidence that they've been going. If not, then maybe stimulate for a couple days. Just use a warm damp paper towel and rub the little hiney.

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), July 05, 2001.

Trevilians, I too have heard of the problems with cats that were separated from their mothers at a young age. My friend has an abandoned kitten that was too young as well that she got from her veterinarian. She has had the cat for several years now and this cat too attacks her but not to the degree that your cat did. She, too, took it to a beharviourist who recommended getting another cat for companionship and this did seem to calm her terror cat down. However, the second cat disappeared a few months later so we don't know if the first cat killed it or what. Anyway, some of the bad behaviour came back but not as bad as it originally was.

-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), July 05, 2001.

you see this problem in a lot of diferent spieces raised by humans, even in horses. The problem is animals raise there young different then most humans do.With a mother cat if the kitten gets to rough she bites it hard to teach it not to bite so hard.animals raised by humans can be wonderfull [ they learn our language well and can communicate well with us]they just need firm discipline[ instead of biting a flick of your finger with a firm no works better, less fur].something that is cute in a baby animal can be dangerous in a large animal.They are like children they just need to be taught rules such as NO biting, dont crowd [horse]ect.And definitly get them spayed as hormones can make animals very aggressive, we have a calico cat who was hell on wheels and constantly attacking people but after she was spayed she mellowed out well, but she will still scratch if you pet her to long.they are individuels and each one is different. And let me commend your taking care of these kittens,the rewards will be worth the trouble.We learn so much from animals.In the original version of doctor dolittle[ made in the 50s?] there is a monologe that rex harrison does on animals which is wonderfull and very true.

-- kathy h (ckhart55@earthlink.net), July 05, 2001.

I have a female cat,Cinder,she is over a year. She was a runt and very thin. I fed her milk replacer. She is truly devoted and busy. My kids are always yelling "mom, come get your cat" She follows me around, sleeps with me, and will just about eat anything I eat. She follows me around the garden and also travels in the car. We have a wonderful relationship and has never been mean to me. I am very sad for the people who have had bad times with their kids. I love being Cinders mommy.

-- Delilah (llark@ideafamilies.org), July 05, 2001.

We have raised two orphaned kittens. One from birth and the other at about weaning age. Both are the most lovable house cats we've ever had. The newborn was discovered in the barn when Leslie went out at midnight to milk the goat and bottle feed the newborn kids. Momma cat had just given birth to two kittens and got scared off. She never came back. One kitten only survived a week. The other thrived. We fed it goat colostrum to start and then cat milk replacer from the co-op. We used an eyedropper at first and then a tiny baby bottle. Our male white shepard adopted the kitten and assumed clean up duty for the baby's urine and stools. Kittens are not able to urinate and defacate on their own without help from mama cat who licks them to stimulate the elimination response. (You can do this by massaging their hind end with a warm damp rag.) The dog was extremely gentle and faithful to fulfill this duty while I held kitty for him. Sunday Creek's Dot Com (all white with a black spot on his head) is the most lovable lap cat and gets along with everyone. The mama cat came back several months later and had another litter in the barn. She stayed and took care of these. We found them under a pile of wood when the kittens were right about weaning age and hauled them off to the pound. We trapped the mama and papa cats (both feral) and had them put down. Two days later we found that we had missed one of the kittens and took him up to the house. He tamed right up and is now very affectionate.

-- Skip Walton (sundaycreek@gnrac.net), July 05, 2001.

This is not about a kitten, but I have to tell someone about it...I have been feeding a feral cat for 2+ years, and have not been able to even pick him up to shove in a carrier and get him neutered. He was the terror of the farm to my other cats (4), who looked both ways before venturing outside to make certain he was not around. One morning he was in the box on the woodpile he often slept in during cold or rainy weather, all chewed up. He lay in the box for two days licking his wounds, not eating, then climbed down and walked right into my sun room, sent the other cats flying while he checked out the entire house, and settled down on a couch. He'd decided to join the panpered cats, and hasn't so much as hissed at the other cats, and most have accepted him now. He has not scratched me, I can pet him and pick him up...have had him neutered and given shots. All his wounds healed except an abcess on one foot, which the Vet took care of. I am still amazed at his change in behavior. That's my amazing cat story...thanks for your indulgence.

-- Duffy (hazelm@tenforward.com), July 06, 2001.

Not only do I have a cattery, but I also rescue abandoned/abused/unwanted cats. I have bottle-raised dozens of kittens. If at all possible, kittens should NEVER be separated from their mothers until they are at least 12 weeks old. 16-17 weeks is even better. Whenever it has been feasible, I have let momma cats adopt orphaned kittens. Kittens which are weaned too early display a variety of social and psychological problems. This can include, but is not limited to, aggressiveness and/or excessive fear, chewing inappropriately (such as blankets, etc), destructive behavior, poor maternal skills in females that are later allowed to reproduce, poor social skills with other cats and many other problems. There are exceptions to the rule. One kitten that had been abandoned in a ditch at about 10 days of age was one of the most wonderful cats I ever had. But the majority of cats I've had that were bottle-raised (by me or someone else), or that were weaned too young, have had definite problems. Some of them have had some extremely aggressive moments. (I have scars to prove it). Most of the cats I have now or have had in the past that were raised by a mother cat until they were at least 4 months old are very calm, loyal, and almost as trainable as a dog (provided they have been handled by humans from a few days of age). I have many cats; bottle-raised, weaned too young, and weaned at the correct age, and believe me, there is a world of difference in how they were raised.

-- Cathy<>< (trinityhealth@nativestar.net), July 06, 2001.

I have raised several orphane kittens and the BEST food I have found for the them was plain ol' fresh goats milk. I worked for a vet several years ago and the vet & cat rescue folks all wondered why I never lost any. Simple, I had a friend with a goat & they would allow me to have as much as I needed. I took it home, froze it in ice cube trays, bagged it, and heated up a cube at a time in the microwave. The kittens loved it & thrived. After they were old enough I taught them to drink from a shallow dish, then slowly mixed in canned cat food until they were weaned. Also, NEVER lay a kitty on it's back to nurse like a human infant. This will cause respiratory infection from aspirating milk into the lung = pneumonia!!! Always have them lay on their belly with the bottle infront of their face like momma's nipple

Another thing that most folks don't know is that very young kittens need to be stimulated to go potty! Use a warm, damp, soft cloth and gently stroke the anal area after you've fed them. The kitty will pee/poo for you. If you watch momma cats they always lick the kitten's bottoms after the kittens nurse. At 3 weeks this kitty is probably able to go on it's own tho.

-- elle (eagle-quest@juno.com), July 10, 2001.