Need quick help: Will nursing cat nurse another's kitten?

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SierraNevadan

SierraNevadan

Member Since 2013
Need some quick help.

A friend just called me to say she had an orphaned kitten, the other 5 kittens in the litter are dead and mother gone, and she knew I had this stray "Schmuzzy" who had kittens on my patio almost 6 weeks ago. We brought them inside and "Schmuzzy" is still nursing her 5 babies, all but one is eating kitten food.

My friend wants to know if we can attempt to let the orphan kitten nurse on "Schmuzzy." I know NOTHING about this. I'm most afraid Schmuzzy will try and harm the kitten, or her rambunctious kittens will hurt the orphan. There is quite an age difference.

We will obviously attempt this with supervision first,and I'll put her brood in the playpen away from the new kitten, but is there anything I need to know? Hints? Do I need to clean the scent off the orphan or rub Schmuzzy's kittens' scent on the orphan to help her accept it?

We have KMR and will use that if we need to and try and save the orphan.

Here was the post I made about Schmuzzy in the community forum
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=92700
 
Re: Need quick help: Will nursing cat nurse another's kitten

If you introduce the kitten slowly, and he is small enough, she will very likely take him in. One time I had taken in an injured kitten (very young, maybe 2 weeks or so) and I was bottle feeding her..... and my Peekaboo started coming and cuddling/cleaning her... I didn't mind, the kitten loved the snuggles. A few days later, I couldn't get the baby to eat, freaking out thinking, oh god, I'm going to lose her..... I just sadly waited (well, kept trying to force feed her but she wouldn't take it)..... but ... she didn't die, or get any weaker..... imagine my surprise to find out boo had somehow managed to get milk to feed this baby in just a few days! It had been over 2 years since she had her litter.

If it were me tho, I would probably isolate the tiny one for feeding if possible, if not, maybe just use your hand to guard the little one from being pushed off (assuming your mama kitty accepts it)?
 
Re: Need quick help: Will nursing cat nurse another's kitten

Try rubbing the scent of the nursing mother on the kitten. Try getting spit from her mouth. This may help the foster mom accept the kitten more readily.

R, Monica
 
Re: Need quick help: Will nursing cat nurse another's kitten

Well my friend brought the kitten over. I think it's about 2 weeks old, it's eyes are open. It's very thin but active and crying.

We cleared out Schmuzzy's kittens and let her smell the baby. She didn't act aggressive and the baby started crawling on her, then Schmuzzy started licking the baby!

We pushed Schmuzzy on her side to see if we could get the baby to take a nipple and it just sort of leapt at the nipples and the fur around them without really taking hold and sucking. My friend has been using an eyedropper to feed, I have a little bottle with a plastic nipple so maybe it will practice sucking and get the hang of it.

After a tummy full of formula, the baby is sleeping in a box,We will try again later with the two of them.

I think I'll rub some formula on her nipples next time to get the baby started.
 
Re: Need quick help: Will nursing cat nurse another's kitten

You can also try a little squeeze on the teat to express some milk. Maybe also let Mom spend some time with the baby alone, she might be able to show him how to do it.
 
Re: Need quick help: Will nursing cat nurse another's kitten

Yes, it is very possible...

Years ago we got two kittens from a rescue centre, Moses and Jonesy. The older one, Jonesy, was found as a lone kitten and was fostered with the litter that Moses was from. The Mum cat took to Jonesy just fine, even though he was more than a week older than her other kittens (and a completely different colour). The lady at the rescue centre told us that cats make really good foster Mums.

Good luck!

Eliz
 
Re: Need quick help: Will nursing cat nurse another's kitten

Barb & Mr. Frog said:
...One time I had taken in an injured kitten (very young, maybe 2 weeks or so) and I was bottle feeding her..... and my Peekaboo started coming and cuddling/cleaning her... I didn't mind, the kitten loved the snuggles. A few days later, I couldn't get the baby to eat, freaking out thinking, oh god, I'm going to lose her..... I just sadly waited (well, kept trying to force feed her but she wouldn't take it)..... but ... she didn't die, or get any weaker..... imagine my surprise to find out boo had somehow managed to get milk to feed this baby in just a few days! It had been over 2 years since she had her litter.
Click to expand...

Wow! What an amazing story! :smile:
 
Re: Need quick help: Will nursing cat nurse another's kitten

Very thin may be worms, too, especially in outdoor strays. Check with vet about if and when to do dewormer.
 
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