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Question
dear jessica,
me and my mom found two kittens outside in the winter they have no home or food and we were wondering if we cought them and they were cold and sick what should we do?!?!?!!!?!??!!
Hi Ciara. If the kittens are cold, keep them bundled up in a warm room until they have warmed up. I like to put on a sweatshirt and keep cold kittens tucked inside to use my own body heat to help warm them up. Once the kittens are warm and moving around, offer them some canned kitten food if they look like they are old enough to eat it. You can pop it in the microwave for 5-10 seconds to help warm them up a little more. Avoid cow's milk - this can cause diarrhea.
If the kittens are sick, they will definitely need to see a vet. Any sneezing, coughing, eye or nasal discharge, diarrhea or vomiting, lack of appetite or lethargy are all signs that the babies could be ill, and a vet will need to properly diagnose and treat them. Be sure to keep the kittens away from any other cats you may have until a vet looks them over and says they're free of illnesses that may be contagious.
Best of luck!
Jessica
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Answers by Expert:
Jessica
Expertise
The areas in which I have gained the most experience are cat health and feral cat management/rescue. I provide supportive care to chronically ill cats, hospice care to terminally ill cats and also am involved in trap-neuter-return efforts. My specialities lie in taming feral cats and in the allopathic treatment of cats with illnesses or special needs. I also have owned Siamese, Himalayans, Abyssinians, Russian Blues, Savannahs, Bengals, Peterbalds, Don Sphynx and Oriental Shorthairs and am well-versed in cat breeds as well as cat behavior and nutrition.
Experience
I have 15 years of extensive experience with cats ranging from breeding to medical care. My daily routine consists of caring for cats with diabetes, thyroid disease, kidney failure, feline leukemia, feline AIDS as well as feral cats. I have experience with liver patients, heart patients, feline infectious peritonitis, cancer, recovery from amputation and trauma, congenital deformities and most every disease in between. I have assisted cats giving birth and hand-nursed kittens who were neglected by their mother from 2 days old through weaning.
Education/Credentials
15 years' hands-on experience
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