Nursing Orphaned Kittens?

[DinahInWonderland]

My cat recentaly had kittens but is now sick and unable to care for them. Mommy duties have now fallen to my husband and I but we can't seem to get them to take a bottle no matter how hungry they seem to be!

Has anyone ever raised orphaned kittens? Any tips or tricks to bottle feeding? The vet said just keep trying to put the bottle in their face but they just don't seem to want to take it!

 

[Tammi67]

I've done this. As you put the bottle in their face, squeeze some of the milk out around their mouth so they know what it is. My kitties took to the bottle pretty well. There were 7 of them and only 2 of us with bottles. They would start climbing up our arms, trying to get something to drink! At one point we even had to spoon-feed them moist food. Good luck!

 

[chabs]

I had to do this with kittens that were about two weeks old. They wouldn't take the nursing bottle that I bought at the pet store because it was too big from them to drink from. I went to the drugstore and bought a small eyedropper to feed them and this worked out great. I know this sounds kind of gross, but my dog actually helped take care of them by licking them to stimulate them to go to the bathroom because I guess that they need help with this too. You might try just rubbing their stomachs with a washcloth or rag (not wet) so that they go after they eat.