Conference misery::feline_v1

    Hang in there, Dave!
    
    I have only had to "mother" one at a time, but I didn't
    use an eyedropper.  You can get a kitten sized nursing bottle
    from a vet or a pet store, and it makes feeding a lot simpler
    (and less messy! :-))
    
    Lynne  

I know someone who had only 1 kitten that they had to
do this for. She was a schoolteacher and brought the
kitten to school, with a warm box for the kitten. She
had kids fighting over feeding the kitten! Too bad you
couldn't have a situation like that!

BTW, the kitten did very well, and living a very happy
life!

Cheryl

    A friend and I did it with 4 and I agree - they are a hand full.  The
    baby bottle works best - I would suggest having a seperate bottle for
    each kitten - make sure every thing is kept as clean as possible. 
    You'll need to stimulate the genital area so the babies can eliminate. 
    We used cotton balls dipped in warm water and did this right after they
    ate.  We also cleaned their little faces and eyes with cotton daily.  A
    heating pad on low with towels or blanket over it to keep them warm in
    their box.  
    
    I've read where it's believed to be better to seperate the kittens in
    the box by making sections in it - I can see that this might have some
    advantages and our 4 guys started to suck on eachother and a couple of
    them got a little irritated in certain places.
    
    At about 3-1/2 weeks Gail started adding some cereal to the KMR and
    then we started to ween them and getting them used to the litter box
    without too much of a problem.  By 5 weekes they were eating out of
    their dishes and using the box without any incidents.  Gail introduced
    them to a variety of foods, veggies being one of them and I now have a
    cat who doesn't turn his nose up at anything.
    
    On, weigh the kittens daily and keep a record of their progress - this
    will come in handy when you talk with the vet.  Hang in there - it's
    worth it - every minute - even though it doesn't feel like it at the
    time - I was just so thrilled that we were able to save them - there is
    also a lot of information about hand rearing in a good Cat book - The
    Book of the Cat, etc.
    
    Keep us posted,
    
    Giudi

    
    So sorry to hear about the Mom cat....my sympathy is with you and your
    wife. 
    
    Boy are you going to have your hands full.  I have never done this
    before so I can't offer any advice....but I give you all the credit
    in the world for helping these little guys get a good start on life
    after losing their Mom.
    
    If you live in the Fitchburg area or work in the Shrewsbury area...I'd
    be more then happy to let you borrow my book "the book of the cat" or
    I could copy the pages and mail them to you!!
    
    Sandy
                           

    
    	I just went thru this (with one, see note `Am I ready for this?').
    	He is now 9 weeks old and I'd do it all again in a minute (maybe
    	I'd better have my head examined...). The first week was murder,
    	getting up two or so times a night, while hubby slept right
    	thru the kitten's screaming...I found that the heating pad,
    	set on low, with a towel over it, let him (the kitten, not hubby)
    	sleep MUCH better. I left it on day and night. Fortunately,
    	`Grandma' was home during the day to babysit, so we switched
    	off until he was old enough to go most of the day bwtween meals.
    	(now we're having `custody battle', haha). 
    
    	I did not use the KMR weaning formula. With three other cats,
    	the kitten was able to steal a few bites of real food when he
    	was attracted to it, (ie old enough), usually while I was in
    	the shower...Let your kittens tell you when they're old enough,
    	you don't have to stick to the vet's schedule that strictly.
    	I feel that since my kitten got extra attention and food than
    	he would have with his mom, he grew a little faster than normal.
    	
    
    	Feel free to send me mail if you'd like, I'd be happy to help...
    	I also have part of a can of KMR left, if you're near NRO, I
    	can give it to you.
    
    	Sherry 

    re:4
    Thanx for the offer Sandy...I would very much appreciate if you could 
    copy the info needed to contend with this little battle.
    
    You could send them interoffice mail...
    MR01-3/K19
    Attention: David W. Smith
    
    Thanx again for the kind offer...Dave'
    

    To all who are concerned...
    So far, all is working fairly well. Three out of five are readily
    taking the KMR from minny bottles. Two are not quite sure what the hell
    this rubber nipple is, but hopefully they'll catch on soon!
    We are stimulating relief after feeding...but so far, only one is not
    responding. I may bring him to the vet this afternoon in the event
    constipation has set in. Now the only problem I have to take on is
    eliminating fleas. We have always had problems with fleas...but these
    little guys are at their mercy. So far to battle these little bests,
    I have cut a piece of a well used flea coller from an adult cat and hid it
    under the little ones blankets. I also lightly sprayed their blanket
    with flea spray and let it dry out over night, then replaced the old
    blankets with these new ones. Most flea control sprays I've seen
    recommend no younger than 4 wks. I hope this will be ok with these 
    little guys/gals.
    
    Again, I would like to thank everyone for their response, and I will
    keep all posted as to the progress (fingers x'ed).
    Dave'
     

    Don't know if your giving each one their own bottle but as in nursing
    on their mom they should be able to pick up on the nipple as being
    their own special one and should get the hang of it.  As to the
    elimination with the one who's not responding - try rubbing his tummy
    in a circular motion and see if that helps. (now this may sound grose
    but my 4 did stimulate each other "the sucking" that caused a little
    irritation - and perhaps one of his litter mates has stimulated
    elimination for him.) Maybe that's why it's been suggested to keep them
    seperated in the box.
    
    Fleas:  I'd be careful with sprays and would opt to washing the bedding
    more often and perhaps putting the blanket or towel in the dryer on
    high heat (that will kill the fleas).  You can use a flea comb on them
    and try using a premise spray recommended by your vet.  If you have a
    food scale handy that would be good for keeping track of their weight.
    The first three weeks are the worst - hang in there
    
    Giudi +3

    When you are feeding more than one kitten, it is more practical and
    time efficient to tube feed them.  This involves intubating them with a
    feeding tube, then putting the formula directly into the tummy via the
    tube.  It takes about 15 seconds per kitten once you get the hang of
    it.  Tube feeding kits are available from most vets, and from catalog
    supply houses.  Whenever I am hand raising a kitten I use the tube
    feeding method.  
    
    For flea control invest in a flea comb and comb them daily.  Due to
    their age they can't be exposed to most flea products.  You will have
    to rely on manual flea control for the next several weeks.
    
    The kittens can be taught to lap KMR from a saucer at 3 weeks, but
    again this will take time, and they still must be fed every few hours.
    You can try introducing the saucer of KMR at 3 weeks, but only give it
    to them that way during the evenings when you have more time.  For
    daytime and nighttime feedings stick with the tube feeding until the
    kittens are older and can go for longer periods without eating.
    
    Jo

    
    
    This information is perfect in timing.....a friend (and fellow deccie)
    has taken on 3 very young kittens.  The mom was given away and then
    lost, and my friend, who is, or shall I say was a non-cat person, took
    them in.  I know she has been working with her vet, but the tube
    feeding  idea might be better, as one of them has not taken to the 
    bottle.
    
    Thanks - Michele

    Dave -
      I am right here in MR03 if you need anything.  I'll be very happy
    to loan you some books too.
      Nancy DC
    

    As an update to the basenote, one kitten was constipated and relieved
    by the vet. All appeared fine now with all five this AM. I was advised
    by the vet to use the Zodiac flea powder, but to dust the inner part
    of a towel, then fold it in half so the powder will not come in contact
    with them. I have also added a hot water bottle at temps approx 110
    degress F. There are two towels over the bottle so the final temp is 
    good and warm, but not hot. Also was advised to water down the KMR
    in hot/humid weather to reduce the risk of dehydration. I will start
    to wean them over to a KMR dish feeding at 3 wks, as pointed out. 
    This should make life easier...I hope.
    
    Anyways, back to your regularly scheduled reading.
    Thanx again everyone, Dave'
    

    Dave...the copies of the pages from the Book of the Cat...are
    in the mail.  Now hopefully our Interoffice mail...won't take
    weeks to get them to you!!!!
    
    What a great dad you are!!!!!
    
    Sandy

    RE:- Thanx a bunch... from the kids as well Sandy. I'll be waiting!
    
    Dave' who just got back from lunch, and I didn't eat either.
    

    Michele,
    
    Tube feeding usually must be stopped with the baby teeth start getting
    sharp. Once the teeth are in, the kittens can sometimes bite through
    the tube.  I usually stop the tube feeding around 4-5 weeks.  By then, 
    the kittens are really fighting the tube anyway.  Also, by then they
    should be eating some sort of solids, either cat food mixed with KMR or
    cat food soaked in water.
    
    I have found that tube feeding is faster, more convenient, safer, and
    less of a hassle than bottle feeding.  With bottle feeding, if the hole
    in the nipple is too big, the risk of aspiration is really great. 
    Aspiration is dangerous for two reasons, it can lead to drowning (the
    obvious one), and if it is less severe aspiration, it can lead to
    pneumonia.
    
    Jo

    re:.15
    
    thanks Jo.....I'll pass this on.
    
    M

    Doesn't the mother cat have to do something to stimulate them to
    eliminate, also? Like for about the first week?
    
    Deb

    mom cats lick their bottoms to stimulate them to go to the bathroom. 
    this must be down for orphans (no you don't have to lick their bottoms,
    a cotton swab will do :^D). Usually the kittens won't need your help
    with this once they are eating any kind of solid food, whether mixed
    with KMR or not.  the addition of the solids gets their plumbing
    working.  this usually happens at about 3-4 weeks depending on the
    kittens.
    
    jo

    Yes, I was lucky I had Argus to take care of this when I found the
    twins and their littermates.
    
    Deb

    Just to keep everyone updated...the five little ones are all doing
    fine, and growing fast. Their eyes are open and can now see where the
    food is coming from. Wish I could hold five bottles at one time!
    Four of the five have homes when they are ready to leave. It's funny,
    no one wants a kitten untill they find out they were hand raised...then
    everyone wants one. kinda like hand raised birds I guess?
    We have also decided which female we are keeping...and has also been named 
    "Lucky".
    
    Again, the kids and I thank everyone for their input, Dave'
    

    What wonderful news that you've found homes for these babies and it's
    so great that you are going to keep one as well.  With the 4 I raised I
    just knew that I couldn't let them all go - I just had to keep one or I
    would never feel quite right - if you know what I mean.  I love all my
    cats equally but there is a little something extra I feel sometimes
    with Stitch - he went through so much.
    
    Looking forward to lots of kitten stores.
    
    Giudi +3

    That's great news Dave.  And I'd say Lucky is a very appropriate
    name.
      Nancy
    

    Update on basenote kittens. All but 1 have left home. We did keep one 
    female as mentioned, and have renamed her Cheebe... don't ask!
    She is eating well and getting big very fast. She just loves people.
    Every move you make, you have to check for her because she's always
    right behind you whereoever you go. She also thinks we have our other 
    two cats just for her as toys. They're getting pretty tired of
    Cheebe hanging on their tails whenever they move. I'm sure this will
    change soon. 
    She will be visiting the vet in March for all her shots and worming. 
    I'm sure the vet will be overjoyed to see that they all survived.
    
    Just thought an update was in order...for all the help here in
    notesland.
    
    Thanx everyone, Dave'