Dolittler

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Stray kitten forensics—not what this vet planned for Memorial Day (May 28, 2007)

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How about putting the kitten in a baby sling or wrap? THat would satisfy its need for closeness and give you your hands free at the same time. It's such a little thing that the weight wouldn't get in your way at all. I actually have a friend who wore a young puppy in a baby sling for a couple weeks. It had been weaned too early and then sold and had attachment issues.

If I were going to wear a kitten this little, I would use the instructions on http://www.mobywrap.com for tying the wrap, put a cloth diaper on my shoulder, and tuck kitten in over the diaper using the newborn hold. You can see what that looks like under tying instructions. You can do all the variations on the website using any six yards of fabric. In fact, my first "moby" was a full size sheet I cut in quarters and stitched the short ends of two quarters together to get a six yard piece of fabric.

# Posted By Meri | 7/5/08 9:14 AM

OMG! Poor little baby. Thank you for helping him. What a cutie.

# Posted By Stefani | 7/5/08 12:34 PM

Meri: I don't mind holding or sleeping with him on me--but the possibility of crushing him scares me.

# Posted By Dr. Patty Khuly | 7/5/08 2:00 PM

Bless you Dr. Khuly & thank you. It is such a surprise and inborn gift, of a neonatal 'will' to suvive. I've never had the experience, but are you tube-feeding this little kittie? And the old wrapped warm bottle & alarm clock? He looks like he has an adorable and capable substitue "mom" !

# Posted By Barbara A. Albright/New Hampshire | 7/5/08 2:30 PM

I loathe maggots! One of my cats is a rescue from a bad owner who let her get maggots. She was an outdoor, long haired kitty who had feces stuck to her rear end. When we clipped away the feces, we saw a maggot infestation in her anus and her vulva. ICK! The owner decided she was not worth the cost of her vet bill and told us to just put her to sleep. The vet convinced the owner to sign her over instead. We fixed her up and I took her home.

I'm a sucker for white cats (I have four all white cats) and I live about 6 hours away, but I am up to my limit of feline companions.

Good luck with the little one and hooray for saving him!

# Posted By robyn w | 7/5/08 2:56 PM

I have a mom with a litter of 4 , 8 day old kittens, but I don't think Fed Ex would like that same day delivery...<LOL>

I'm sure a rescue group will have a mom, but since you're already attached, I like to buy an oversized t shirt, stitch a row of velcro at the bottom and one in the middle and then pull up the sides...it creates a kitten sling so you and kitty can go everywhere together...
now for the sleeping thing, I take a small cat carrier with the top off and a heat pad on the bottom, and the door off and just dangle my hand in the front to touch the kitten but protect it from getting rolled on.

I successfully raised manybottle babies just like that last summer. You can see them as they grew, as well as the new babies here: http://s223.photobucket.com/albums/dd92/LorriMcats...

don't forget a little probios with the kitten milk..<G> but I'm sure you know that already..

# Posted By LorriM | 7/5/08 6:09 PM

Even a small dog that liked cats could be a good foster mother.

# Posted By Alison | 7/5/08 11:41 PM

Hey all, I’m going to ask the group, as we have a lot of experience here. I’m lucky enough to work at home, and fostering is my life. I’m the big “sucker” who will always take the bottle babies and the orphans, and, and. I’ve raised many, and I’ve lost many more than I would like. I’ve used “first born” and “rebound” and “KMR” and sometimes “kitten glop” recipes when the babies wouldn’t eat the pre-packaged formulas. I know how to give fluids. I guess my main question is, what am I missing, what can I learn? I tuck them in my shirt, l feed them every 1.5 or 2 hours. My mantra is, “you can sleep when you’re dead.” What I’ve learned is, desire doesn’t necessarily equal success. What can you teach me? How can I be more successful? I plan on fostering for many more years, and would really like to keep getting better. I consider every kitten and puppy life a sacred trust, and I want to do better. How can I improve? Any suggestions are welcome.

# Posted By Jan | 7/5/08 11:46 PM

Jan, re:

"I consider every kitten and puppy life a sacred trust . . . "

It is really beautiful to hear you say that. It's such an opposite attitude to that possessed by many, including many in the so called shelter business. Thank you for saying that.

# Posted By Stefani | 7/6/08 12:41 AM

I'd cheat and tubefeed a baby that size- I always feel more comfortable with the tube then bottle/syringe at such a tiny size. Thank you for taking this little one on, regardless of whether he stays with you or not!@

# Posted By Trish | 7/6/08 2:07 AM

Me and my boyfriend had to watch a small litter of kittens for a night. One didn't make it, but the others did. It's a good thing that you have all those supplies on hand!!

Hope the little kitty gets better.

=)

# Posted By ashleigh | 7/6/08 3:37 PM

Jan - you may already know, but always feed the little ones prone to prevent aspiratioin of the formula. It's the most common mistake I hear clients relate. I'm sure you do a wonderful job!

# Posted By anna | 7/6/08 8:44 PM

I'd like to know why my girlfriend's cat is so fascinated with the kitchen and bathroom sinks and the toilet. I've seen him resting on the shelf next to the kitchen sink staring into it, and, on occasion, standing front paws first in the sink. My girlfriend says she's seen him standing on the toilet seat looking into the bowl. For a creature who is not supposed to like being in the water, is this looking business normal?

# Posted By Jeff | 7/11/08 9:34 AM

update on kitten?

# Posted By robyn w | 7/11/08 3:45 PM

I found a product at the AVMA convention called the 'nursing nanny'--basically a stuffed toy with bottles poking though. It seemed this might help a little with bonding related behavior issues and even aspiration risk. I donated one to a large shelter and hope to hear back about how it works out for them.

# Posted By emily | 7/25/08 12:58 PM

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