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AIBU?

Advice pls...I'm after finding a teeny tiny kitten, eyes not even open!

33 replies

FingersCrossedLegsNot · 05/09/2013 15:35

Not an aibu...but need advice quickly. As I said in title we found a tiny kitten, eyes not even open totally abandoned. I think we will keep it.

However I'm not sure how old it is or what I need to do to care for it.

It keeps bawling, for its mama I'm sure.

Can I give it milk....what should I do??

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MalcolmTuckersMistress · 05/09/2013 15:36

Do you know if mum could be near by? Can you call your local CPL?

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BuskersCat · 05/09/2013 15:37
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lunar1 · 05/09/2013 15:38

Where have you found it? Any signs of other kittens near by?

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ChazzerChaser · 05/09/2013 15:38

Get it to a vets. And no don't give it milk (unless you have some expressed cat's milk handy). Cow's milk isn't good for cats.

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AFishWithoutABicycle · 05/09/2013 15:39

Go to your nearest vet and get some kitten formula you can't use cows milk.

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AFishWithoutABicycle · 05/09/2013 15:39

Get a hot water bottle to keep it warm too.

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WandaDoff · 05/09/2013 15:39

I'd take it along to a vet or PDSA if you have one nearby.

Or phone the CPL or RSPCA for advice.

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hellymelly · 05/09/2013 15:41

The Mama might have been nearby, she could have been moving it. Sometimes they will move them one by one from one place to another if disturbed.
Anyway, if you have had a huge hunt and can't find the mother (I would go and look for the siblings too, they can crawl quite fast even though their eyes are closed) You need to get to a vet. You will need a special bottle with tiny teats to feed it, and powdered milk to make up as for a baby. Two hourly feeds I'm afraid! If the eyes are closed it is under ten days old and needs milk asap or it could dehydrate and die, so vet is needed to check its general state. Good luck! As I said there may be others out there too, as the mother may have been run over etc, or she may just be in the process of moving them still.

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Yonilovesboni · 05/09/2013 15:43

Awwwww get it checked and safe. Then a cute kitten pic please!!Grin

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Chattymummyhere · 05/09/2013 15:45

Get the cat some kitty formula (I know Whelpi and Lactol can be used for puppies not sure for kittens) and kitten bottles, you can get both from pets at home!! You will need to feed it every 2 hours I believe, you will also need to stimulate it for a toilet, warm water on cotton wool rubbed over anus and male/female apart after every feed.

Cat carrier or cardboard box with blankets to help keep warm, ideally a heatpad the type you plug in but I only know where to get them from online although a local vet may have one you can buy not cheap though!

Vets should also be able to help age the kitten for you but only sounds a couple of weeks tops.. There is a pet forum which should be able to help you as it deals with breeding and issues where mum dies or wont feed the litter.. Not sure if I am allowed to post the web address but if you want it pm me!

Good luck!!

p.s match sticks and coffee will be your friend!

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FingersCrossedLegsNot · 05/09/2013 15:46

Thanks a million all you advice will be taken on board!

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Rooners · 05/09/2013 15:54

Oh gosh please update us when you get a spare moment xx

poor little kittycat

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ClangerOnaComeDown · 05/09/2013 15:57

Marking place Smile bless the lil bundle of purr.

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LaVitaBellissima · 05/09/2013 15:58

Aww, hope it goes well!

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seagullsid · 05/09/2013 16:06

Definitely take it to the vets - it will be less than a week old, very vulnerable to all sorts of infection like cat flu, flea allergies.

Local RSPCA / Cats Protection or local shelters will also help but they will prob want to go through formal adoption process.

Without mum he/she will need to be hand reared (2 hourly feeds through the night etc) so it is a big commitment, and hand reared kits have a tendency to be naughty cats when they grow up! (Never told off by mum, and not reared with litter mates). They are also late developers as mum is not there to teach them how to clean themselves, use the litter tray etc.

Good luck, and well done for rescuing the little thing.

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MTBMummy · 05/09/2013 16:08

Good luck - like having a child it'll be hard work but very rewarding

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digerd · 05/09/2013 16:10

We had a tiny kitten all on its own in the compost heap at bottom of garden. It cried for hours - calling its mum- but she never came.
We phoned the animal rescue and luckily they had a mother cat with suckling kittens, took it and the mother cat adopted it Smile.
That would be the best outcome for a newly born.

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bellasuewow · 05/09/2013 16:31

Well done for rescuing this poor creature there is nothing cuter than a kitten I hope it makes it

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FingersCrossedLegsNot · 05/09/2013 16:50

Well we had a manic hour so far, we got tiny little syringes to feed it with and kitten formula. It was very hungry, then I stimulated it to go toilet and it went pee.

So I have a two hourly rota written, to track how much it eats, pees and poops. It's nice and warm now and sleeping.

Hopefully it will survive. I will bring it to the vet also. There was no sign of mama cat or any other kittens, my brother found it. He initially walked past it and thought it was dead but heard it bawling on his way home.

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digerd · 05/09/2013 17:47

Have you got kitchen weighing scales to make sure the kitten is gaining weight?
You will need to feed during the night too and keep it warm.
Going to be colder from tomorrow.
Good luck.

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YouTheCat · 05/09/2013 17:51

Definitely get it checked out at the vets. Mummy cats sometimes abandon kittens that have something wrong with them.

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IJustNeedANap · 05/09/2013 17:53

No advice but wishing you and kitten luck

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YoniBottsBumgina · 05/09/2013 17:54

You could try putting up a sign in the neighbourhood too to see if anyone's cat has recently had kittens.

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Porridge05 · 05/09/2013 18:32

It's probably been abandoned by its mother ; cats are fairly crap at caring for their offspring.

Get it checked at the vets, If it's been abandoned it may have abnormalities or an illness. In my (not insignificant) experience of caring for abandoned kittens, this could vary from a simple eye infection to a serious problem like a congenital dislocation (my favorite and current cat had tags and it cost ££££ to fix :/).

Set up a bed using a hot water bottle and some clean towels, and get a reasonable sized box to put this bed in as it makes them feel a little more secure if they have their own space.

Kitten formula (from vets or supermarkets) is a must, but you may find kitten it too small to drink from a saucer yet - try using a syringe and small amounts, often to get you started.

Good luck :)

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Rooners · 05/09/2013 19:43

Aw well done Smile you are a great cat mummy!

Are you in Ireland? I'm certain you are by the way you talk!

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