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As the title says, we found a kitten that could not be more than 3 days old, umbilical still attached, amniotic fluid crusted on it, eyes glued shut, in the dirt under my fiance's parents deck. We've bought kitten milk formula, a kitten bottle with nipples, and we've fed her successfully today after warming her body temperature up. We just stimulated her genitals to get her to defecate and urinate. A very tiny little bit of urine and feces came out (like, very minimal). Do we need to do this every time we feed her? We fear she/he may be dehydrated mildly. Anyone have any tips/tricks/recommendations or next steps on how to proceed? We've had luck googling about new kittens, but if you guys have any experience with this it'd be greatly appreciated if you could share your insight.
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| # ? May 22, 2012 02:44 |
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| # ? May 21, 2013 06:16 |
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Yes, you need to stimulate the kitten to go every time you feed it. It will need to be fed every 2 hours (that includes during the night) for the first week or so, then every 2-3 hours until it is around 4 weeks old, and you'll need to keep it warm. Don't bathe it until it is older, the shock, stress, and chill could kill it. You might should call your local Humane Society or your vet (or a vet, if you don't have any other pets) to get advice on how to take care of it.
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| # ? May 22, 2012 02:57 |
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Good luck. If it dies, it's not your fault-- the odds are against you. You're really nice to help it though.
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| # ? May 22, 2012 03:05 |
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If you can, get a heating pad for her sleeping area. My parents hand-reared a kitten, and we had several near-misses with her getting chilled. It is possible for kittens to survive being hand-reared, but it is very demanding and often they just don't make it. If she's feeding successfully from a bottle that's a good sign. A vet's advice will be very useful.
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| # ? May 22, 2012 04:22 |
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If you are a ladygoon, your bra is a great place to keep a newborn kitten warm and snug. I've heard they have a better survival rate when cuddled excessively, too.
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| # ? May 22, 2012 06:31 |
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If you are unable to personally cuddle the kitten in your boobs and/or manboobs, you can put a fuzzy toy in with it near the heating pad or whatever you are using for warmth. Bonus points if you put a ticking watch in it to give the illusion of a heartbeat.
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| # ? May 22, 2012 06:49 |
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It's in my lap right now at work. No manboobs yet, but I'm making sure it stays warm. It's very hungry! It took a giant poop this morning and since then it's only urinated twice. That's normal right?
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| # ? May 22, 2012 14:34 |
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Sounds like that's about right. Just keep her on the kmr. Grab an old sock, fill it with rice and tie it off for a reusable heater pad. Just make sure to cover it with a towel to prevent burns! Are the eyes open yet? I wouldn't expect so but I've seen it happen. Congratulations on not sleeping for the next month 
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| # ? May 22, 2012 16:06 |
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The Goon posted:It's in my lap right now at work. No manboobs yet, but I'm making sure it stays warm. It's very hungry! She sounds fine. It's when they stop or there's only a tiny bit that it's really worrisome. They don't always urinate, they don't always defecate. Fu hated you so much when you tried to make him go that he'd hold it in intentionally.Babies that little are always super hungry. You'll be shocked how much KMR you go through. And your work place is awesome for letting you take care of the little one right there.
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| # ? May 22, 2012 16:11 |
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Congratulations, you now have an animal that, if it survives this phase, will grow up thinking you are its mother and will be extremely demanding and adorable. Good luck with the little one
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| # ? May 22, 2012 17:03 |
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please keep us updated as much as possible! with pics! I hope the little guy makes it...
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| # ? May 22, 2012 21:28 |
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Good luck! You're a great person for taking this on.
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| # ? May 22, 2012 22:46 |
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Also I don't want to get your hopes up but my parents' hand-reared kitten stayed kitten-size for her whole life. The only thing full size were her fangs, so she looked like a vampire kitten.
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| # ? May 23, 2012 01:10 |
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slinkimalinki posted:Also I don't want to get your hopes up but my parents' hand-reared kitten stayed kitten-size for her whole life. The only thing full size were her fangs, so she looked like a vampire kitten. I want to see this. Are there any pictures of vampire cat?
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| # ? May 23, 2012 01:13 |
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Well, good news so far! It's been having regular bowel movements and urinates frequently. It's also still very hungry, and very curious - it loves moving about and squeaking. So I think all of those are positive signs. My fiancee took over caring for it at lunch when I dropped it off from work. We're both going in for a training course together tomorrow, and I think we're going to have to bring it in with us - we don't really have anyone else to leave it with. Two questions: 1) We figure that it's 3 days old based on our research. When should we expect the eyes to open, and, since the mother isn't around, should we try to wet the eyes to ungum them? 2) The umbilical is still attached, although extremely dessicated. When should it fall off? Here's a photo of my fiance feeding it on the drive back from her parent's place yesterday: 
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| # ? May 23, 2012 03:33 |
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Kitten eyes pretty much open when they feel like it, and you should leave them alone entirely unless something is obviously wrong. It will work itself out. Good luck with your very baby kitten.
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| # ? May 23, 2012 03:51 |
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The Goon posted:Well, good news so far! It's been having regular bowel movements and urinates frequently. It's also still very hungry, and very curious - it loves moving about and squeaking. So I think all of those are positive signs. My fiancee took over caring for it at lunch when I dropped it off from work. Oh my god. Look at the tiny little black babby kitten. So loving cute! If you have the number of a vet, I'd suggest calling a vet and asking them any/every question you can think of. Just write down a list of questions you have, then go through them on the phone with a vet!
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| # ? May 23, 2012 04:16 |
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You are truly THE GOON. Goodluck on the kitten! Also, what a date to join SA.
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| # ? May 23, 2012 04:27 |
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Holy crap. It's so tiny! You know, if you post your general location, there's a chance there are goons in the area willing to help you out so you don't have to take it into work. PI goons are pretty cool. Or they just love tiny kitties.
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| # ? May 23, 2012 04:31 |
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I really hope she makes it. She's so sweet and amazing and so are you for caring for her! Don't forget about the dangers of KES. With her being so new and tiny, this is especially important. Also, slinki - I really need to see vampire kitty!
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| # ? May 23, 2012 05:17 |
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Kitten will open his own eyes! Definitely list your area, we may be able to help and we'll at least know of good vets and stuff in your area
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| # ? May 23, 2012 05:23 |
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Bash Ironfist posted:I want to see this. Are there any pictures of vampire cat? Unfortunately vampire kitty (her name was Little) died of cancer before digital cameras were really a thing (or enough of a thing for my parents to have one), so I can't show you photos. She also never learned to purr, so she used to make crackling sounds instead. The Goon, your little babby kitten looks very healthy for its circumstances. You'll be the hit of the training course. Eyes and umbilicus will sort themselves out.
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| # ? May 23, 2012 05:34 |
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mombot posted:I really hope she makes it. Wait, what is KES? I'm in Ottawa, Ontario. So if there are any other goons around here who'd like to babysit it would be very much appreciated. I think you guys give me too much credit. After finding out online that most shelters/humane society would have euthanized him (I think it's a him) due to the time consuming nature of caring for a newborn kitten, it's pretty much a no-brainer. I really hope that there wouldn't be that many people who'd opt for that option over caring for him. We had a real scare last night - he rolled off the kitchen counter at 3am while we were trying to feed him. Argh. I freaked out, I was so worried, but the kitten is in completely good health. He's still very active, still eating like a little horse, dropping gigantic poops and crawling around everywhere. I swear he's grown since last night. Thanks for all of your kind words and advice, it's very much appreciated. I really wish we could get some sleep though.
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| # ? May 24, 2012 04:43 |
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KES = kitten explosion syndrome. May occur if you don't post enough pictures of said kitten; the younger and cuter they are, the more susceptible they are to KES. So, post more pictures!  I'm nowhere near Ontario unfortunately. Good luck with the little guy!
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| # ? May 24, 2012 04:51 |
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I kind of understand why most people don't have the time, resources, or willingness to hand raise kittens, so you are indeed awesome for doing it. Even though it is such a huge amount of work and responsibility, I would rather like to bottle feed an orphaned kitten again. I got lucky the first time I did it, and he was a great cat. The second time it ended in tragedy.  Because so few people are willing to do it, I'm sure I'll get a chance to get no sleep again someday.I'm glad your little one was okay after his fall. I'm always kind of impressed by how durable kittens can be.
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| # ? May 24, 2012 04:51 |
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I wish you all the best with the kitten. You're a great person for caring so much about another living being. I respect you.
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| # ? May 24, 2012 04:58 |
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The Goon posted:
"You guys give me too much credit..So anyway, we were up at 3 a.m. feeding the kitten" You guys deserve more credit than you realise. Thanks to you, he has a fighting chance.
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| # ? May 24, 2012 07:49 |
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Oooh you should weigh him. You'd be amazed at how fast kittens grow when they're that little, I know I was. And nth'ing everyone else - you're awesome for doing this 
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| # ? May 24, 2012 08:04 |
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OP, you're a fantastic person for taking care of this kitten. I wish you the best of luck and I'll be sending good energy your way.
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| # ? May 24, 2012 20:08 |
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Tamarillo posted:Oooh you should weigh him. You'd be amazed at how fast kittens grow when they're that little, I know I was. Also weighing the catte is a good way to see how it's doing. Since it's a little kitty, it should be gaining weight steadily. By weighing it often, you'll be able to see how much weight it's gaining, or if it's not gaining any weight at all. Also post more pictures of the little baby cat.
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| # ? May 24, 2012 20:10 |
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Whatever comes of this little bundle of kitten that has come into your life, you are forever an excellent person for stepping up and caring for this little guy. Best of luck, and I dearly hope that in a few months we'll be reading stories about how he's learned to climb your curtains!
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| # ? May 24, 2012 21:10 |
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Eagerly looking forward to more pictures and stories, congratulations!
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| # ? May 24, 2012 23:12 |
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Checking in to see pictures! KES is serious (seriously, I didn't mean to scare you before - it's just vitally important, in truth, to the PI community). I really hope and pray he's okay! 
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| # ? May 25, 2012 02:14 |
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I still don't understand how a newborn kitten just appears somewhere. Under what circumstances does that happen?
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| # ? May 25, 2012 02:16 |
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Stray or feral Mom moved her litter from birth site (under his porch I think he said) to somewhere else (maybe the noise of people on the porch scared her) and either forgot or abandoned the baby. Maybe they came out to the porch before she was done (she does it one at a time) and she was too scared to go back under and just left it. Maybe she was killed or old and only birthed one live kitten. If she is alive, Goon, she is probably nearby - it might be wise to check your foundations and hidey holes to see if she's alive with her other babies. They don't go too far in a move like that.
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| # ? May 25, 2012 03:01 |
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Ema Nymton posted:I still don't understand how a newborn kitten just appears somewhere. Under what circumstances does that happen? Sometimes the mother rejects weak young, or rejects many (or all!) of their first litter out of confusion or inability to care for them. Another option is that some kid found it, then put it down somewhere and wandered off. That's how I found my first kitten! I was like, six. The neighbor kid came by claiming it was his later... then left it on a sidewalk again. We kept her after that and she lived out a happy life with my family.
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| # ? May 25, 2012 03:02 |
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mombot posted:Checking in to see pictures! KES is serious (seriously, I didn't mean to scare you before - it's just vitally important, in truth, to the PI community). I don't know if that old joke is all that appropriate to someone whose kitten still has a relatively high chance of dying.
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| # ? May 25, 2012 05:17 |
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That's probably true. But I still want more pics.
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| # ? May 25, 2012 13:51 |
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slinkimalinki posted:I don't know if that old joke is all that appropriate to someone whose kitten still has a relatively high chance of dying. I am sorry, as I said. I am hopeful for more updates and pictures, though.
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| # ? May 25, 2012 15:18 |
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| # ? May 21, 2013 06:16 |
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mombot posted:I am hopeful for more updates and pictures, though. Oh, so am I, so am I.
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| # ? May 25, 2012 21:35 |
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