Kittens in a bag

I put my Coffee Cup Kitties on the van on Saturday. They went to the petfair, did not get adopted, and were transferred to Look What the Cat Brought In. However, as we were loading animals onto the van, one of our volunteers told me that a local vet had some orphan kittens, so after they opened, I went over to see what the story was. Turns out that on Thursday morning, they had found 3 kittens that had been tied up in a plastic bag and left next to their dumpster. They brought the kittens in, but for some reason they had been giving them 2 percent milk in a little dish. I decided to take these kittens home as soon as I saw them. They are too young to eat from a dish yet, and who gives kittens 2 percent milk anyway? I bought them some formula and some kitten food, and got them started on the bottle. They are "swimmer kittens;" their rear legs are splayed out sideways. After getting them situated, I heard from the woman who runs LWTCBI. She had a litter of very young kittens, and she was worried about the smallest 2. She asked me if I would bottle feed these 2 kittens, and I couldn't really tell her no after all the cats she's taken from us here. So now I have 5 kittens to care for. The LWTCBI kittens seem more mature, though they are physically smaller than the "swimmers." That may be because of the mobility issues, though. Everyone is eating well, the 2 little kittens are teaching their foster sibs to eat from a dish, and my swimmers are starting to get their rear feet underneath them. Life goes on.

Somebody put kittens in a bag??? Horrible. Thank you SO much for taking these little ones in. It's good to hear they're (literally) getting back on their feet.

I'm sure the Coffee Cup gang will find their perfect peoples. They've come so far already.

I am so grateful you took all those lil kittens in. BLESS YOU! I know bottlefeeding a litter is a LOT of work (and a lot less sleep!) but well worth it in the end. I have no doubt they'd do well and be very well adjusted people loving kits.

Whoever put those kits in a plastic bag near the dumpster should be in one themselves, and actually go for a ride in the garbage truck. Who on earth could put innocent tiny babes in a bag and throw them away?

I'm also sure the coffee cup kits will find the purrfect homes soon enough.

The kittens are starting to eat out of a dish, so that makes things a little easier. The 2 I got from LWTCBI are very fond of soggy kitten food. The little bag kittens are more delayed, but they take a bottle better than any other foster kittens I've had. The 2 LWTCBI kittens also are good litterbox users. The others are a work in progress there. I'm hoping that as their mobility issues clear up they'll be able to climb into and out of the litterbox more easily. One of them walks really well now, though he's a little shakey on slippery surfaces. The other 2 are getting along well on rugs, but they can't handle the tile floors yet. One in particular has to be cleaned up a lot, because he can't really squat to do his business yet.

Well, kittens in a bag is a bit more understandable since some people out there have always been idiots! What is confusing though, is the staff at a VET'S office giving kittens MILK?!! Of all the people who should know better...!!

I'm with you Arni about people being IDIOTS, but the vet clinic feeding milk well is

That people in a vet's office would try to give suckling kits 2% milk in a dish is just beyond comprehension.

All your charges sound like they're responding beautifully, Arn. Loved the report! And you are such an angel!!!

All best wishes & vibes to the Coffee clutch! They've had the best start they could ever hope for, given their circs, and I pray they find their forever homes soon.

I would've thought folks working at a vet's office would KNOW to use KMR milk replacer.....most vets carry the bottlefeeding kits and the milk for sale. I know ours' have those things right in the waiting room. Only reason I can see for them using 2% is IF they were out of KMR and that was the only milk they had available.

Sounds like your lil kits are doing very well BTW. Any pics for us to see of them?

The 2 little kittens from LWTCBI were doing poorly yesterday. They wouldn't eat, and had loose stools. I gave them some Nutrical, made them eat some formula, and gave them some kitten version of Pedialyte, and they're doing much better today, although I'm keeping with the fluids and formula. No pics yet, but I'll try for some in the next few days.

They're probably reacting to the diet change. Sounds like they'll come through it ok. You're such a good nurse.

The little tuxie kitten with the Groucho Marx 'stache had bloody stools this evening, so I will try to get her in to see a vet tomorrow. Actually, if I can get an appointment for everyone, that may be a good idea.

That's scary "G".

The kittens are hanging in there. All but the little 'stache girl have robust appetites. She eats a little mushy kitten food, and I make her swallow some formula, plus a little Nutrical, plus the kitten Pedialyte. I'm hoping to get them in to see a doc after school today.

Might be more than diet change at work here, have the vet check for giardia if he doesn't suggest it himself (it's a protazoa-type germ). A lot of kits get that and it causes loose stools, bloody stools, and poor appetite. Meds clear it up pretty fast though. Sounds like you've got things well in hand though until they see the vet. Just give her extra feedings to get enough into her.

(((((((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))))) for all the kits.

The vet wormed the kittens, and sent some antibiotics home. She said to get them eating solid food, but the swimmer kittens have tiny little teeth, and are totally clueless about the food dish. The little LWTCBI kittens are doing pretty well on the kitten food mush, although they end up wearing almost as much as they eat. I put a little human chicken and gravy baby food in the kitten food and in the formula. I don't want to switch their food too quickly. Jennifer from LWTCBI is sending me some meds for coccidia in case they have that. Today, everyone is eating and active. I'm going in to do the morning litterbox scoop, so we'll see the state of things there soon.

That means Stasche girl is doing well too?

Great news gbste. It sounds like everyone is progressing. I hope they start figuring out eating real food. It's such a mess when they get it all over themselves. (But it's a cute mess.) I always see the picture of me as a little kid with a chocolate pudding spoon in my hand and pudding all over myself!

I remember cleaning up lil kits who hadn't learned to eat from a dish yet......so messy but yes so cute too.

All the kittens are doing much better. Charlize, the 'stache girl, ate food from a dish like a pro. So did her orange brother, and one of the swimmers (the medium furry one) gave it a try too. Charlize chewed the tops off two nipples yesterday, so I have to get new ones if I can. Here are pics of the crew. Fiffur, I'll email the pics to you.


Charlize


Charlize's brother


Furriest "swimmer"


Short hair "swimmer"
Medium furry "swimmer"

Cute!

Too Precious.

They are adorable! Look at that 'stache!!

Puleeeze start brushing that furry swimmer now, gbste, so he'll allow it later in life! I'm on a mission against mats.

I just looked real close at the stache and he/she is either Charlie Chaplin or
Groucho Marx.

The extra furry kitten gets a good go over w/ a flea comb once or twice a day. No fleas, but it's the right size for this kitty. The others get a comb out daily too. They also get a wipe down w/ a wash cloth after each meal. Here's why:

I've seen some sloppy eaters in my time but that well that definetly takes the
cat food for sure.