Orphaned Kittens *Sad update on Holly*

You may have seen our most recent litter of kittens in the MATERNITY WARD photo thread. Well, unfortunately I am sad to say that two of the four kittens died.... We are not quite sure why. When the first kitten died, I was scared that she had gotten hurt from falling off a table, but when her sister died last night (who had also fallen and was TOTALLY fine the day before yesterday, jumping onto the side of their box and crawling out), I think it may have been something else. Both moved around a little hunched up the day before they died and a sick-acting, but they had no other symptoms – no runny noses or eyes, and one had drank some cat food water (we soaked some cat food in water, hoping to get them to eat it, as their mother had not gone in to feed them since the first baby died, and then sucked up some of the water from the bowl with a syringe and handfed it to them). It was rather strange.

So now, their mother seems to have abandoned them and we brought them into the house (they are barncats). Both yesterday and this morning they would mew VERY LOUDLY any time a human would come near them, and climb up our legs – we think they were hungry. And apparently they were. We fed them half-n-half this morning from syringes, and they took it very eagerly. Then my Dad (who's allergic to cats and had not seemed too thrilled about having to do so much with the kittens) went to the store and bought some kitten milk replacer and two bottles without being asked. I love you, Daddy! We've given them two feedings so far, and total they've had a little less than two ounces each. They've yet to get a hang of the SUCK thing – I think we threw them off with the syringes – they couldn't suck them.

So now my sister and I are going to give them a bottle before we get in bed and then either I or both of us are going to get up at two to give them another. I am hoping and praying we don't lose another by morning. I made them a warm rice sockie to curl up with, and they have a litter box and a bowl of softened cat food to try if they want. I think they're sleeping right now. Yay! They've been so unhappy and hungry the past two days.

Snow White and Holly, the orphaned kittens:



We aren't feeding them too much, are we? I'm thinking that at four weeks old they won't eat more than they should, right? Do we need to stimulate their bowel movements still? I've tried to, but I can't get them to urinate much. One of them pooped by herself in their box, and I'm pretty sure one of them at least urinated in the litterbox. Can they handle that on their own now?

 

My sister and I got up at 3:30am to feed them – Holly drank a whole ounce and Snow White drank about .7 I think. Not completely sure. We fed them again about 45 minutes ago, and Holly drank about .6 oz and Snow White drank 1.2 oz. Both are pooping and urinating by themselves. They're getting a little better at latching on.

I was VERY happy to see them both alive this morning, and hope they keep doing well.

 

I just took these pics of the girls – cuties!

 

Quote:You know your kittens – they are a little more than four and a half weeks old and will be five weeks Friday.

Thank you! This was our first litter with pointed colors (two were blue pointed with some white spots) – the mama must carry the pointed gene (she's 1/4 Siamese).

 

Gave them another bottle around eight pm. Since eight this morning, Snow White has had 3.9 oz and Holly 2.7. Is this too much? They'll be fed probably once more before bed, and then once in the night. Their tummies are VERY round when they're done. I've read about it being bad to overfeed a kitten.

Some pics of Holly nursing: