Rescued a kitten...

I can't believe I forgot to mention... I, too, have a chihuahua named Peanut! lol She was just 3 this past Christmas eve. I also have a Rottie rescue named Princess who will be 5 this July. Can you tell the cats rank in this house?? lol

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Originally Posted by Entropy

Yes, definately keep your current cat away for now, be sure to have all the blood tests done on this cutie, you don't want to have to deal with FIV or anything along those lines.


She's adorable though! And do you mean Bell as in 'Liberty Bell' or Belle as in 'Beauty and the Beast' ?

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FIV couldn't be spread very easily by this kitten at this time! She'd have to bite into the muscle of her other cat to even risk spreading it. I have seen FIVs live along side normals for full 16+ year lifespans even in houses that take in COUNTLESS fosters and sick kitties...

Also Royal Canin carries a baby cat formula with little tiny sized kibble that's aimed at growth... it also absorbs well to make a gruel. I have my failure to thrive foster on it and he's actually growing! He likes it straight though with no nutrical or KMR powder on it... Congratulations on the new rescue!! It's so cool you're doing this!

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

we rescued some 4 week old kittens last fall. we put the kitten formula in a bowl and kept touching their noses with the milk till they lapped it up themselves.

best of luck!

we also used soft food (nutro and nutrience) on a spoon and assisted them to eat. they had never eaten food before we got them so we had to teach them to eat. it didn't take much at all... just a nice relaxed atmosphere and lots of hands on feeding.

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Thank you:) We had a pretty quiet night after she finally settled down....every little noise had her screaming lOl

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Originally Posted by Blu Mongoose

Cute!! :D And look at those claws!:eek: She is definitely not happy with having her picture taken.

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No she wasn't...she hated the fact that I was "trying" to hold her still:P

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Originally Posted by slartibartfast

She's adorable! Definitely older than 3-4 weeks, I'd say closer to 6. At that age, you will have a lot of trouble getting her to bottle-feed, as she's read for solid food.
I'd offer her a dish of gruel made of formula mixed with canned kitten food. KMR also makes a weaning formula called 2nd Stage or 2nd Steps, something like that, that you mix into a thick glop and that works well. You can also use a little human baby rice cereal mixed in for thickener. Put dry kitten food in a ziplock baggie and add enough water to just get it to begin to float, then stick in the refrigerator overnight and you will have soft pellets that she can start learning to eat.
She will also be old enough to lap water out of a dish and use a litter box, so make sure you offer both. You can cut down a cardboard box to her size and line it with a trash bag to make a starter litter box.

When I have kittens that age, I use appliance boxes as enclosures...you can get them from appliance and hardware stores, or ask on Freecycle. Several layers of newspaper on the bottom, and put a plastic sheet underneath the whole thing, as she will undoubtedly knock her water over. They are tremendously messy little beasts when they are transitioning. Plus, the box keeps them confined near their litter and food, so they don't accidentally starve themselves, or potty under the couch. I also provide them with hides...take a small box and cut a hole in the side and place a folded up towel in it for her to sleep on. Mine always go in there to sleep; they feel much safer when they are hidden.

Around 7-8 weeks, if they are eating dry food regularly and using the box consistantly, I allow them full house privileges.

Definitely get her tested for FeLV/FIV ASAP, as well as intestinal parasites. Small stray kittens almost always have coccidia, which can cause diarrhea and failure to thrive if not eradicated and if you have other cats, they can get it from her. If she's over six weeks, she can get her first shots too.

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Thank you:)

Okay to answer the rest of the questions and comments

I went and bought a jug of powdered "just born" kitten milk. She actually drank from the bottle last night and this morning but is doing alot of chewing. She does have a mouth full of little razors LOL Will be starting the "gruel mix" today as this bottle feeding is for the birds:P
She is in a box now but I like the idea of a larger box with some food water and litter tray in there....help get her on her way to eating on her own.
She has not had a bowel movement yet and her belly is full....she has gone pee twice after eating when I clean her bottom. I am hoping she will have a bowel movement on her own.
She actually goes on Friday to the vet for check up and shots...sure she will love that:eek:

I hope I'm not insulting you by telling you something you already know, but you can use a wet Qtip to simulate mom's tongue and help her go... you could also put the teeniest tiniest amount of karo syrup in her milk if you are getting worried...good luck at the vet Friday! You're doing such a wonderful thing! Are you intending to place her or hang onto her and see if your current cat will adapt or...? :D

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Originally Posted by gibbrishclown

I hope I'm not insulting you by telling you something you already know, but you can use a wet Qtip to simulate mom's tongue and help her go... you could also put the teeniest tiniest amount of karo syrup in her milk if you are getting worried...good luck at the vet Friday! You're doing such a wonderful thing! Are you intending to place her or hang onto her and see if your current cat will adapt or...? :D

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No offense taken...If she doesn't "go" by the time I come home at 2 pm to bring the other "adoptees" home I will try the karo syrup. She is defenitely going to be sticking around and being slowly introduced the the Queen Billie:D

I hear feliway helps these introductions... Maybe you could plug it in at the outlet closest to the room you're keeping Bell in so that Queen Billie may associate Bell's smell with that feeling from the feliway? I've not ever used it (or needed to), but whenever I go to adoption events I hear somoene touting those feline pheramone calming thingies :D

CONGRATULATIONS Mama!!

No gibber (please don't be offended, I almost always shorten screen names), it couldn't be spread easily but it's much better to have this little cutie tested now then worry about it later. :)