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https://www.chewy.com/g/metro-cat-rescue-society_b125090630
Kittens found outside separated from a community cat mom need immediate care. If at all possible, bring all the kittens and mom inside. The mother will do a better job of cleaning and feeding than you.
If the eyes are still closed, the baby is less than 10 days old.
Kittens need warmth. I use an adhesive reptile heater underneath a large Pyrex baking dish. So the kittens are not burnt and can choose a temperature they prefer, various layers of towels are placed on top of the glass.
Supplemental heating isn’t used if the mother is present.
Mother and infants can be kept in a large dog cage. The problem will be when the babies start walking. The wide bars of the dog enclosure will allow kittens to get out or catch their necks and suffocate. The growing kittens and their mother need to go in a cat playpen with closely spaced wires.
Kittens do not draw formula from a bottle by suction. They swallow as the fluid is gently squeezed from the bottle. You can’t just stick the nipple in the kitten’s mouth. You need to apply pressure to the bottle to squirt milk replacer in coordination with the kitten’s swallowing. Too much is at best a mess. The baby can suffocate.
Bottles need to be frequently thoroughly washed. I’ll keep one for a day in the fridge, warming in the microwave between feeding. After a day, any formula left in the bottle is discarded and the bottle cleaned. Float the bottle with the milk replacer in large coffee mug containing some water. This makes it easier to warm the formula in the microwave.
Defecation and urination has to be stimulated before and/or after meals by rubbing gently a kitten’s tummy and bottom with a warm, wet paper towel.
If the kittens were separated from mom outside for an extended period of time, look very closely at any scratch or other wound. Maggots (myiasis) can be a big problem. If maggots are present, they must be flushed out of the wound. Gently apply to the surrounding area (not directly in the wound) a cat flea spray using a ball of cotton or small piece of paper towels. Keep flies out of the kitten room.
The kittens will very likely need to be treated for fleas and roundworms. Check the directions on the products. Immediately, kill fleas with a feline flea spray on a ball of cotton or small piece of paper towel. The roundworm medication will probably be given when the kittens are some weeks old.
Any towels in with the kittens need to be removed and washed often.
Once the kitten’s eyes are open, watch for any crud buildup. Gently wipe it off. Don’t let the eyes go shut. My understanding is that the mucus is from a Herpes virus harmless to people. (Of course, hygiene does need to be observed.) The complication is that the virus can be followed by a secondary bacterial infection. This will damage or destroy the eye. Chewy and others have an OTC terramycin eye ointment. Of course, a trip to the vet is best. This can cost $350 to $450 for two kittens.
Keep the kittens away from your own pets until it’s certain that the little ones are healthy, disease and parasite free. When handling a rescue infant, have a towel on your lap. DO wash your hands when you are done. Disposable rubber gloves are great.
Donating any car, SUV, truck, motorcycle, or boat to Metro Cat Rescue helps us help kittens and cats in need — AND can mean a BIG TAX DEDUCTION for you! Metro Cat Rescue still needs a van or large SUV for our own use.
Donations of tools, game consoles, action figures, silver coins, and other nice things that we can sell on eBay are great, too.
Do you have empty retail space for rent? Consider donating it monthly to Metro Cat Rescue for our Garage Sale fundraisers until your location is leased to a conventional tenant.
The email address is MetroCatRescue@gmail.com
TEXT 201-205-5390
Metro Cat Rescue is a 501(c)(3). Donations, gifts, and bequests are US tax deductible. You can also check if your employer has a corporate matching gift program.
Look at the pictures at the Metro Cat Rescue Facebook Page to see just some of the many cats that we’ve helped.
https://www.facebook.com/MetroCatRescue/