Cinco was 100% bottle fed, and is a thriving 7-year-old today

You’re out on the town when something cute wobbles your way. It’s outside? It’s a kitten? It’s homeless. You spring into action.

1. PLUCK: Where there is one kitten, there are probably more. Look, listen, and gather them all.

If you can rescue the kittens’ mother now as well, great! Get mama and babes to a vet, provide healthy food, water and shelter free of all dangers, such as poisonous spiders lurking in garages, and begin to socialize the kittens. The mother should be spayed as soon as possible.

Contact a rescue organization if you need help catching the mother (links below). Without intervention, she’ll become pregnant again, perpetuating a cycle of homeless cats.

2. ASSESS: Have a vet examine the cat/kittens as soon as possible. Hyperlinks to emergency hospitals are below. Determine the kittens’ age. If their eyes are still closed or are blue, they are still nursing. If mother’s milk isn’t available, you’ll need to get them on formula. www.kittenbaby.com has very comprehensive information on kitten rescue from start to finish, and here are some more pointers:

3. SETTLE IN: Immediately isolate your rescues safely indoors, away from children and other pets, preferably in a bathroom. Don’t leave the kittens outdoors or in an untended garage, or one that hasn’t been rid of dangerous insects. You will eventually test the kittens for communicable diseases, but don’t worry about that tonight! Lay out an expendable or washable blanket and some towels as bedding. A hot water bottle between the towels is helpful.

Put tape over any nearby exposed wall outlets in case kittens are tempted to insert curious tiny paws.

4. GATHER: Cow’s milk on its own provides less nutritional value than you might think, and it can give kittens diarrhea. Goat’s milk is better, but let’s get these kittens some formula, shall we?

IF A PET SUPPLY STORE IS OPEN, FETCH:

• Milk replacement formula – KMR and Just Born are two popular brands.
• 2 or 3 small plastic baby bottles with nipples (or plastic syringes or eyedroppers from a drug store as a last resort. Just be careful if the eyedroppers are glass.)
• Kitty litter (non-clay if possible)
• Shallow litter box

Shredded newspaper substitutes for litter and a cardboard box converts into a temporary litter box if you remove the top and cut box down to about 3” in height, securing the outsides with packing tape.

If the pet supply store isn’t available to you, search your kitchen or a grocery store for formula ingredients:

• Unflavored gelatin
• Eggs
• Corn syrup (light, non-GMO)
• Plain yogurt
• Mayonnaise
• 12-oz. can evaporated milk

OTHER SUPPLIES:

• Soft, clean towels
• A needle or small craft scissors to pierce hole in bottle nipple
• Hot water bottle, if possible

Boil some water. You’ll need it for the hot water bottle, the unflavored gelatin if you’re preparing homemade kitten formula (see step #4), and to sterilize the needle or scissors, and bottles or syringes.

Pierce a tiny (1/4”) “X” on the end of the nipple of the baby bottle with the needle or scissors. This will allow the formula to flow freely, but not too quickly.

5. FEED: Follow the kitten formula directions if you have it. If not, whip up the homemade version: Dissolve 1 package of gelatin in boiling water as directed. Then thoroughly blend in 1 egg yolk, 1 tablespoon corn syrup, 2 tablespoons yogurt, 2 tablespoons mayonnaise, and 1 12-oz. can evaporated milk. Make sure the formula is a comfortable temperature before feeding. The formula will keep refrigerated for a few days. Warm each kitten until any shivering stops before you feed him or her.

The best position for feeding is on all fours with head slightly raised. (And by this I mean the kittens, silly, not you.)

Kittens require roughly 4 ccs (just under a teaspoon) of formula 6 times a day for a total of 32 cc. or 1.1 oz. daily. Yes, this means two feedings during the night, but you’re getting off easy here. Ideally, feedings would take place every TWO hours. Gently squeeze the bottle, syringe or dropper as kitten sucks formula. Don’t overfeed. If kittens have elimination problems, this could be especially dangerous.

6. TINKLE TIME: After feeding, dip a very soft, clean cloth in warm water and gently rub the kittens’ genitalia and anus from front to back to stimulate elimination. Whenever a kitten begins to eliminate place him or her in the litter. Cats and even kittens typically learn to use litter very quickly. Monitor each kitten’s elimination. If 24 hours pass without results, the kitten needs to see a vet.

7. BEDTIME: If the kittens are still nursing, try nestling a ticking clock low in the kittens’ stack of towels, blankets, etc., to simulate the beating of their mother’s heart.

8. TAKE A BREATH! Rescue may seem overwhelming at first. Take a deep breath knowing that your humane efforts will likely pay off quickly. The kittens will begin eating wet food at around four weeks, and by eight weeks, you should have socialized each to become people-friendly.

9. FIND PERMANENT HOMES: Now that the kittens adore you, how about keeping them? Eh? If you absolutely can’t, please check with rescue groups about criteria for determining suitable potential permanent homes, or foster homes if you can’t keep the kittens.

Distinguish impulsive or ill-intentioned potential adopters from responsible pet owners. Were there not so many of the former, you wouldn’t have needed to rescue these kittens.

Our animal shelters are at-capacity, and face imminent budget cuts.  I can't urge readers enough to search hearts and homes for room for homeless animals.

For more info:

Emergency Vet Hospitals Search Engine

24-hour pet hospital: Beverly Oaks Vet

Comprehensive rescue advice: http://www.kittenbaby.com/

Kitten formula advice:
http://www.hdw-inc.com/glop.htm and
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080428043616AAHuyqv

Rescue groups, vets, financial help:
http://www.rescueguide.com/

Read about the plight of our shelters: http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_12933394?source=rv