A stray cat gave birth to kittens this weekend in a tree behind our apartment. The mother came back and took 2 of them. But left the 'runt' probably because she didn't feel he was going to make it. He is EXTREAMLY tiny. BUT seems to be in good health otherwise. He is eating (pet milk through a kitten bottle) and peeing like a champ. He is about 4 days old. His umbillical cord just came off yesterday (his mother didn't chew it off, she just sort of left him to fend for himself) we took him in because it was 106* outside and he surely would have died.



My question is, with him being a runt, being 4 days old, and having been left alone in the heat for so long, could he still have a chance? He mews nice and loud. And climbs around and nuzzles for nipples and all the good signs. But I've never 'nursed' a kitten before. Puppys yes, but not kittens. Especially not a runt kitten.

Sounds like he is going strong if he is moving around and has a good set of lungs on him.

Just keep an eye out for laboured/raspy breathing as well as eye problems.

I imagine it would be very similar to raising a young pup, feed every few hours, stimulate with a wet cloth so he urinates and defacates.

Are you going to keep him?

My mom wants him :p but I might fight her for him. He is all white. And SOOO cute. Hehe. He is so young! His eyes are still closed and his ears don't even pop up unless he is eating :P then they sort of go up and down.

He isn't pooping yet. Should we be worried about that do you think? He pees amlost ALL the time, but no poop yet at all.

I would be a little worried about the pooping.
Just use a warm rag and keep rubbing him bottom, make sure he is in a comfortable position while you are doing it.
I remember years ago we had a runt puppy that the mother rejected and we had to go through all this... just trying to jog my memory!

OK thanks hon :D

You know there must be pictures right :D

Not yet lol. He is at my moms place cause we live in an apartmetn and are not allowed to have pets without paying gfor them first. But I can probably find a picture that looks like him.

Let me look...

Here we go :D this looks exactly like him/her except the ears are down completely against his head.


http://farm1.static.flickr.com/217/5...9e4d9e8f9f.jpg

Awwwww, he's so tiny :)

He is even tiner than this. This picture is a pic of an average sized newborn I think. The kitten we have fits in my daughters 5 year old hands! He is so tiny. I'm just glad he is just tiny. He doesn't seem to be showing any signs of weakness or anything. Just no poop.

How to Raise Orphan Kittens

Here's a link. Cow or goat's milk shouldn't be used. The article recommends cat milk replacer from a veterinarian. Also, they should be "stimulated" to pee and poop after every feeding. It tells how. Good luck, and keep us posted! :)

Oooh thanks! He is now pooping! Hehe

Wow, that's very tiny... I didn't expect it to be as small as that! Glad that it is doing good Jennie! :)

Do you guys think we can clip his nails? The only thing I can find on it is clipping their nails after a month old. But can you do it BEFORE that? I know how to clip without hitting the quick. So no worries about that. But I don't want to do it too soon. His nails are NEEDLE sharp though lol

They do have sharp little nails, but I'd hold off until he's a bit older. If he's that tiny, it would be difficult to miss the quick. Just wait until those "needle sharp" teeth come in... good times! :) Glad he's pooping, keep up the good work!

Hehe. Yeah I can't wait till his teeth come in. he is already showing that he is a vigorous biter :P he gums us to death when he eats :P I know it's a natural rooting process but I do NOT envy mother cats! At least my newborn didn't bite DOWN! (at least until she was older)

Just following the thread.
That kitten has gorgeous!
Any names picked yet,and how are the others doing?

He is midget :P he is doing great. Starting to try walking, already climbs up shirts when he is getting fed. We still don't evne know if it's a boy or a girl. But we are hoping for boy, because my mom already has 2 boy cats. Throwing a girl in there wouldn't be good

Midget.. thats brillent,he will probably grow into a massive tom! Or massive she cat.

Haha yeah your right. He is midget now, but he will be HUGE just because we named him midget :P

Please keep us posted about Midget... and post some pics when you are able!

Ill be at my moms place this weekend, ill take a cell pic of him. It might not be a perfect picture but it should be all right

Hello everyone :) I don't have a good pick hon him/her yet. But he is THRIVING! His ears are perked up now. And he opened his eyes for the first time today. Such a beautifull deep blue! He still walks with that newborn jerky motion, but he is moving awesomely. And boy can he PUR!!

If you are updating on a thread you have started previously, you need to just post to that thread so that readers have all of the information.

You are now an Ultra Member, this is something you should know now.

Congrats Jennie! Pat him for me :)!

He will most likely be OK as long as you become the mommy and continue to feed him and keep him in out of the heat. You are doing a good job keep it up.

I can't wait to see some pics!

I hope those of you who wanted to know have this thread on your subscriptions. I got pictures

I am posting them in order of age. First one is the first day, then so on and so fourth

There were big smiles on my post (smilies) but they count as 'pictures' too so I had to delete them because I can only have 6 pics lol


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...i/DSCF3862.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...i/DSCF3970.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...i/DSCF4120.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...i/DSCF4167.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...i/DSCF4177.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...i/DSCF4186.jpg

Is it normal for kittens to start one color and then change? He was ALL white when I found him, now he is mostly grey. And he keeps getting darker :P

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jenniepepsi

is it normal for kittens to start out one color and then change? he was ALL white when i found him, now he is mostly grey. and he keeps getting darker :P

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I'm pretty sure it's normal.
My friend's cat was orange when they bought her and now she's brownish.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jenniepepsi

I hope those of you who wanted to know have this thread on your subscriptions. i got pictures :D :D :D

i am posting them in order of age. first one is the first day, then so on and so fourth

there were big smiles on my post (smilies) but they count as 'pictures' too so i had to delete them because i can only have 6 pics lol


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...i/DSCF3862.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...i/DSCF3970.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...i/DSCF4120.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...i/DSCF4167.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...i/DSCF4177.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...i/DSCF4186.jpg

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Hey! The little guy is growing! :)

Wow, talk about CUTE!! Looks like he's coming along very well!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ren6

Wow, talk about CUTE!!!! Looks like he's coming along very well!

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Yea, I've never seen anything cuter!:)

I love the color of it's eyes.
The prettiest shade of blue.

From the pictures you can tell it's growing.

Well, Good luck with midget.

Just wondering, when the genitals will start forming more so that I can tell if it's a girl or a boy? I THINK its going to be a girl, because when it goes potty nothing 'pokes out' but I don't even know if it would be 'poking out' at this age even if it WAS a boy.

http://www.paws-and-effect.com/2007/...a-kittens-sex/
Here you go... a tutorial!

Oh wow thank you hon! He is a boy!! YAY! That's great because I already have a boy cat and I wouldn't want to have to deal with a girl/boy in the house, fixed or not :P

Awww what a cutie!
I like the picture with the bottle, he sure has a good grip on it! :D

I KNOW shaz! That was my favorite too! Lol.

Hello everyone who has been tracking the kitten.

He is SO FIESTY! Running through the house and biting and playing and tackling the dogs lol (big dogs too, and they just let him lol)

Here is a recent pic of him/her (we are still not 100% sure yet)

Definitely a tabby as he has the M on his forehead and the mackrel stripes. But all the other coloring and body build tells me SIAMESE :)

Sorry I can't find any other pics other than these. But if you can see well enough his ears and nose and lips and the front of his face have the dark color.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...i/HPIM3401.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...i/HPIM3399.jpg

How awesome you saved his life. It's great what you have done. Thanks for sharing the update, he's a cutie.

Yeah, definitely some Siamese in there! Thanks for the update, he's really getting big! :)

Maybe you could give us a "tail" shot? Someone out here might be able to determine the sex... not to be weird...