Help with 3 week old kittens? PLEASE

Question

My cat, Gracie, had 2 female kittens July 15th. Monday afternoon we noticed she wasn't being her normal self and didn't even care a bout here babies. So we took her to the vet. The doctor said, it looks like she got in a fight a few days ago and now she has absess and everything is draining in her mouth. Her tongue was hanging out of her mouth and she was doing horrible. She couldn't eat or drink because of it. They wanted to knock her out so they could explore more, but there was a chance she wouldn't wake back up. We took her back to the vet wednesday and a different doctor gave her anesthesia and found a buckshot! Her tongue was black now and the doctor found a piece of bone that shattered in her mouth. We had to put her down.. =[

So, now we are left with two 23 day old kittens with no mother. We are hand feeding them kitten milk and i washed them down today. Any tips to help me take care of them and grow up as normal as possible?

Answer 1

things the mother would do would include a "punishment" of sorts when they get to rough, you can simulate this when they bite too hard by pinching their ear lightly, it simulates the mother biting them to say, "that's enough".  other things, I know it's hard but don't hold them all the time....Bottle raised Kittens usually turn out to be the most spoiled rotten, and sometimes meanest cats if you don't do these things.  Make sure they are using the restroom on their own also, you may need to stimulate them if they aren't.  also very important, when bottle feeding make sure they are laying on their belly not like a human baby, nursing on their backs could cause them to aspirate, which could be fatal.  if I think of anything else, I will add more

Answer 2

feed them kitten formula and take a slightly wet rag to groom them. Keep them warm like in a crate with a towel covering the sides and back of the crate. You may want the vet to take care of them until 10 weeks old. it's your choice now and both ways are great.

Answer 3

Get some baby bottles to feed them with because it will help in the long run if they learn how to suck from a bottle. Get them a bed and put them in front of a heater or warm place because normally the mother will either curl around them to keep them warm or the kittens will bunch 2gether but you only have 2 so there isnt much warmth. Make sure you keep them clean and take them reagularlly to the vet just for the fact that they dont have a motherly figure. Give them much attention that they will need. And anything that seems weird you will want to get checked out because these babies will be more prone to desiese since they dont have their mother's nutrients from her milk. Good luck with your new babies!!!! :-)

Answer 4

The kittens learn to drink by sucking so you should get some bottles and feed them like that. As for carrying them carry the same way the mother grabbing them by the extra fur behind the head. Make sure you have a stable home and warm for them to live such as a bed, a comfy basket or a pet bed. Do some research for better kitten care. They should adapt to the world.

Answer 5

omg! that is the saddest thing i have ever heard! and i thought i have heard it all! it amazes me what people will do to animals! sounds like you are on the right track with your kittens, keeping them warm is another big step, either a heating pad or a kitten rock that you can heat up in the microwave. make sure you rub their poo and pee area to stimulate them to do their business, use a warm damp cloth. Good Luck and I am sorry for your loss of momma cat!

Answer 6

You need to educate yourself quickly in order to care for these abandoned babies.  Here are some articles on caring for orphaned kittens.  You need to step in as "mom" and do what mom would be doing if she were able:

http://www.best-cat-art.com/orphan-kitte...

http://catvet.homestead.com/orphan1.html

http://www.animalalliancenyc.org/newslet...

These articles take you step by step through what you need to be doing.  You need to act quickly to ensure the kittens don't die from neglect.  Best of luck to you.