Expert: Jana Connell RVT, CVT - 10/13/2011

Question
a cat gave birth inside our house and after some time abruptly dissapeared, the one and only kitten is very tiny and weak, it won't eat anything, i think it is very frightened, it is continuosly making cat noises non stop, it's tail is rigid all the time, i have tried to feed it milk with a dropper,given it a cardboard box with some soft cloth to sleep on but it is not eating, also the mother is not to be seen, A)pls tell me how and what to feed the kitten B)should i try to get another small kitten of another mother if that will help, i have tried to get a cat but the cat may attack the small kitten, so pls tell me how to feed the kitten and what to feed , it is very pitiful, why the mother is not coming for her kitten

Answer
Anything could have happened to that mother. Milk is not what this kitten needs. It needs a kitten replacement formula that your vet or a pet store will have and a newborn baby bottle to feed it with.

Eyedroppers won't work unless the kitten can suck on it. So get a newborn bottle quickly and get this kitten formula. If you cannot find it, you can use goat milk with a little caro syrup in it. DO NOT use honey or sugar.

But Nurturall or KMR or Esbilac kitten replacement milk is the best this for her. Getting another kitten will keep her warm, but you can keep her warm with with warm water bottles wrapped in a towel or get a warming light from the pet store. Don't use heating pads as they get too hot. The pet stores have a microwavable pad that stays warm for hours. You MUST keep this kitten warm!

Only feed enough with the bottle until her tummy is slightly rounded and then you MUST help her eliminate by using a warm, wet cloth and rubbing her tummy with soft but firm strokes down toward her tail until she urinates and has a bowel movement. You have to do this a few times a day and mostly after feeding.

Their little tails are always rigid at this age, so that is normal. If you can find a nursing cat with kittens they usually will take a new kitten. That would be a life saver for this kitten but if not do the above.

I hope that helps. There are numerous websites all over the internet on how to care for orphan kittens. Just do a Google search for them.

Good luck and let me know how the little thing does.Bless it's little heart...