Dog Community

Urgent Kitten Question--- PLZ RESPOND

Posted : 6/11/2006 11:18:40 AM

i am a horse back rider & out at the barn a cat just had a litter kittens. they have all seemed reasonably healthy all considering. but it now looks like the mother has dried up (she doesnt look to be producing any more milk). & two of the kittens eyes look a little (very small amount) (i only noticed it because my horse gets little swellings all the time) almost like they have a small infection. they are around 4 weeks old. no one noticed them until just a couple of weeks ago. i dont think that any of the cats have had any shots recently but i do no that a couple went in to get fixed and they missed one. i was wandering what the best thing to do would be? i am thinking about bringing at least the two that have the swollen eyes homebut do not know if this is too early of an age or if it is okay. they have food in the hay loft but are in a stall & cant get up there to get it. every time that i am out there i feed them but i dont think that that is enough for them. please respond.

pofi_pasquale

Posted : 6/11/2006 12:38:24 PM

Unfortunately, I have no kitten rescue experience with animals this young, but I do know that up until 4 weeks or so, if there is no mother's milk, they need a kitten formula and NOT cows milk. KMR is a brand that has been mentioned here. There are several sites on line that are posted by rescue groups with info about care and feeding:

[linkhttp://www.kittenrescue.org/handbook.htm]http://www.kittenrescue.org/handbook.htm[/link]
[linkhttp://www.petpublishing.com/catkit/articles/kitten.shtml]http://www.petpublishing.com/catkit/articles/kitten.shtml[/link]
[linkhttp://www.cathelp-online.com/health/kitten1.php]http://www.cathelp-online.com/health/kitten1.php[/link]

One of these suggests that if the kittens really are the age you think (4 weeks) you can start to give them a mix of the formula and a canned kitten food.

And we do have a few members who post here that will have first hand knowledge to offer you.

Good luck!

forpaws

Posted : 6/11/2006 1:36:19 PM

they are around 4 weeks old

Their eyes are open. right?

At four weeks old, they can start on a grool of kitten chow with KMR which is kitten milk replacer in it to soften the KC to mush and let them lap at it.
If their eyes are swollen with crusty stuff, it could be they and momma have Feline Leuk which is not a good thing. Or if their eyes are infected and they sound like they have a cold, they need to be seen by a vet to get the antibiotics which they need.
Please let me know if you are going to take them in to help them. PM me and I can answer any more of your concerns or questions you may need about them.
Good luck.

Kimmy McNamee

Posted : 6/11/2006 6:34:51 PM

thank you soooo much. i am still working on it with my parents. they are not too sure about bringing them in but i think that i will be able to. i will keep you posted. would the mom's eyes be crusty has well? i dont think they are. their (the kittens) eyes are open and they started playing with each other a couple of days ago!!!

papillon806

Posted : 6/12/2006 10:25:18 AM

Yes, they definatley can eat moistened dry food at 4 weeks, and by the sound of it, they have an upper respitory infection that needs vet attention asap (it's easy to treat, and if treated, will never show up again). Please have someone take them to the vet before it turns into an inner resp. infection!