Yesterday I went to The Breeders farm to collect my milk. (The Breeder bred Daisy and is my mentor in all things Cow). She was flat out. Jogging across her quad to say Hullo. Huge tractors and trailers parked by the bins. The flat sun was shining and they were harvesting and there is no rest until the crop is all in. Can you take these criers? she said. Their mother has gone. We briskly trotted to her barn. I did not realise’ til this morning but I have been in the fields. She continued. I don’t have time. It added up slowly. The mother cat might have been gone a few days. Abandoned kittens. No longer crying. Just lying still.
Ok, I said, without thinking, following her into her barn, she scooped up three tiny, tiny kittens. Eyes still closed. This one feels cold, she said. Still alive though. She works with animals. She knows the score. She knows what a small cold body means. Pop her in, I said. I will see. Not looking good though, I agreed, as I tucked the cold wee body in with its siblings. One marmalade coloured was bigger than the rest and two the colour of fresh mushrooms.
I put the box of kittens in the car. Ton moved back, he is not a Cat Dog – Boo moved forward and lay himself on the seat next to them. We drove home. Quick Smart.
Their eyes were still closed. Glued shut. I added a hot water bottle to their box and Boo and I cleaned all the gunk from around their eyes with warm tea and the first thing this wee cat saw was this .
And all the rest of the day as I fed them with an eye dropper, every hour, with warm very diluted raw cows milk and a little egg mixed in- Boo had his face in every stage. More than once I had to tell him not to take the kittens out of the box without asking first.
And I learnt an interesting thing from Becoming Cliche who works in a zoo – so she knows about these things. I sent her an SOS as the littlest one was so cold. If you try to feed a little animal who has already gone cold, so cold they cannot digest, the food will rot in their bellies, she wrote. So it is important to warm the animal first. In your bra, she suggested! She obviously has no idea how small my bra is. However. Boo took over.
Boo has their corner.
Yes, that is a shot of a dog asleep with his head in a box of dozing kittens.
Good morning. Boo and I fed the kittens tiny feeds of milk through the night and each time they seemed stronger. I am using the same theory as the lambs. Tiny drinks often. They are in a bigger box now, which is wrapped in a duvet. The little pale fella is warm now and as noisy as the others.So far so good. They can slowly creep about the floor at feed time, though not very fast (and not far as Boo lays in front of them to prevent them getting away) but I am hoping that soon they can lap their milk from a saucer. I think they might be about a week old but it is hard for me to tell. I do not have a bottle small enough for a cat, and using the eye dropper is not ideal. Though I have read that a syringe is better so I will try that today.
I have also read a dozen alarming articles on hand rearing kittens and it seems the problems are myriad. But I am going to follow my own instincts and do the best we can.
So I did not get around to picking the apples yesterday. Today maybe?
your friend on the farmy, celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
75 responses to “Oops, she’s done it again! Boo too. Boo is as much to blame!”
As wide open as their eyes are I’m thinking they are a little older probably about 2 weeks or so. As long as their bodily functions are correct and regular, no diarrhea etc. They should do well. If they don’t eliminate wipe their bottoms with a moistened cotton swab. Sometimes they have a little trouble with digesting lactose so goats milk might be a little better. They recommended about 60 ml per day (increasing 20ml per week after that.) divided into multiple feedings as you are already doing.
What love. From Boo and you.
Boo has learned by example from you the tender care of all the animals on the farmy and is now giving his care to these babies. Thanks to you both for saving these sweet kittens.
I keep a kitten bottle and a can of milk replacer on hand for emergencies. I’m sure I did not order that from somewhere so must have come from local farm store or pet shop, maybe Walmart? Always helps to have some help. Good Boo!
What a box of cuties. You are right, small frequent meals are best. I don’t know if you know about the need to massage them or not so I’ll toss it out to you. Take a barely damp warm wash cloth and give them a good rubbing, you are trying to duplicate momma cats’s licking. You need to be sure you give the bottoms and tummies stimulation to make sure they poop. Kittens that little need the stimulation to keep the digestive system moving and they can’t clean themselves. Maybe Boo can help with that. Think about watching mommas care for their kittens and the fact that they give them a thorough (sometimes it seems rough) cleaning. Good luck, they look to be little butterballs so she was a good momma. I also think they are older than a week, which ups their chances of surviving. Boo has found his calling, Super Kitty Nanny.
I have done this so many times! Goats milk! No tummy upset and no scour. I used at first a Sue Bee honey bottle. Nice sized tip! (small bottle)Then later I went to the vets and got a bottle for little kitties. The milk replacer was okay…but they really sucked down that goats milk! If you don’t have a goat local then you can get it at the supermarket!
Goat milk is the universal donor! You also need to clean their little buts, this is the mother’s job…now yours! 🙂 It stimulates them to go! 😉 Don’t forget they will need distemper shots. (between 9 and 11 months) You can give them yourself…just go to the vets and they will give you the serum in the needles all ready to go! Easy…just pick up some skin and make sure the air is out of the needle and under the skin it goes…squeeze gently! Have fun! Wish it was me!!! I sure do miss little ones! You will love how they make you momma kitty! Unusual looking momma, but still momma! LOL Nana Boo!!!! Love it! What a gentle pup!!!! 🙂
Ooopsie! I meant 9-11 weeks for those distemper shots!!!!
Those little blondies are sooooo adorable! I love my kitties! Garfield, Zeus, Lilly, Star, Sarah, Henry and Samantha (Sam)! These are my fur babies! I bottle fed them and raised them all! All are neutered, get their rabies shots and wellness exams! Five of them have no teeth. Old timers! Henry and Sam are the youngsters! They are my possee! Except Sam who has decided that she prefers my father-in-law to his great joy!!! LOL Oh how I miss this!!!! You are soooo lucky!!!! 😀
Cows milk is a no no…it will give them diarrhea! Upsets their little tummys.
I kept mine corralled in the kitchen! Easier and handy for feeding!
Go very slowly with the syringe if you use one. Don’t want them to aspirate! You will do just fine! You care and that is a huge part of it! (((hugs))) 🙂
I love your Boo!!!! What a wonderful sweet gentle loving pup! I think that Boo just may be the new momma!!!! LOL Sorry about all the posts!!! I am soooo excited for you! I mean…who doesn’t love babies! LOL
What a wonderful canine assistant! I hope that you’re both successful.
Christine
All of your posts are lovely but this one really caught me as soon as I saw the first photo. How wonderful of you to take those little kittens & Boo for stepping up to the plate. Boo really seems to have a knack for this sort of thing. I do hope they all make it because they are all such handsome little fur balls.
What wonderful pictures! I am so glad you were able to rescue them. Boo (and all dogs of his breed) are so smart and very attentive. I bet he and the kitties will be friends for life.
Oh how darling and wonderful!! Daddy says your story reminded him of when he and mom adopted Hemi and Tybee. They were brothers that were abandoned and mom/dad took them in and bottle fed them. Great memories seeing your little family there. Love Boo! XOXO – Bacon