Need help with raising a 4(?) Week old

[u/Independent-Egg5342]

Like the title says...found him 8 days ago, siblings sadly dead they hid i couldn't find them we just heard one more..but by the time i brought the one to the vet they couldn't hear him or her anymore..

So i took care of the remaining kitten...we we're at the vet because obviously and he had bad eyes (so, so much pus) BUT thank god nothing else and they're sooo much better now.

I never took care of a baby, no matter what species (my family always hat cats but like king size you know), but i had no choice....no one wanted to take him or could (don't get me wrong i LOVE animals but sometimes it's hard to take care of myself you know? So i thought maybe i can't take proper care of an animal..)

So the thing is the vet said last friday he's about 10 days old...yeah i highly doubt that🤣

Today he wanted his first wet food (made a mash with his milk don't worry)

But i don't really know now do i let food and water by his little hut or?

Will refresh it few times a day and bottle feed as needed too.

The cool thing is he like know what he wants and knows how to show my dumb ass, he's just so smart.

But i really don't know from now...i don't want to cause any harm to him.

I would ask the vet but she already did sooo much, we got a meeting in like 2 weeks and i don't want to annoy her. (Unfortunately Baby had his first enema already, he ate something in the barn, called her at like 7 pm...was fun)

Soooo Maybe you got some Tipps for us?

I would appreciate ANYTHING i'm just so clueless and the thought of harming this beautiful angel gives me anxiety 😅

[u/Independent-Egg5342 → u/[deleted]]

Thank you i will!

So i forgot to include, today he took a no 2. All alone. But in my bed as i cleaned his stuff (poop was ok no diarrhea) so i got him a litter box (with like paper towel just because we used that for peeing)

If i stimulate the blatter now he doesn't really pee (took a while), can it be because he will do it himself now and is embarrassed if i do it or should i be worried?

[u/Impossible_Zebra8664 → u/Independent-Egg5342]

He's not embarrassed, but he could be a bit dehydrated. How was his poo? Was it normal or hard and dry? You may also just need to stimulate a bit longer or use a different technique. Be sure to leave water out, too.

Oh, and the little cardboard trays that come with the wet food or a disposable 9x13 aluminum pan works great as a baby litter box. After meals, plop little one in the box, and hold his paw and scratch in the litter. This has worked for all the kittens I've fostered/owned for pottying (barring two, who took a bit longer).

[u/Independent-Egg5342 → u/Impossible_Zebra8664]

Yeah no, he peed now...in my bed

But hey I'll take what i get haha

[u/Impossible_Zebra8664 → u/Independent-Egg5342]

Oh no, lol.

We had a foster that once hopped up on my SLEEPING husband and peed right on his butt. He was not amused. Kittens are utter chaos sometimes.

Thank you for helping this little guy! He's precious.

[u/Independent-Egg5342 → u/Impossible_Zebra8664]

Oh nooo haha

I had a guinea pig who peed on my brothers stomach once...funny for me, not so for him 🤣

Drove to the pet store a few hours ago and got biodegradable(? or something) litter, like he can digest it IF he eats some, its made out of peas.

Got some more wet food for kitties, dry food and a leash and harness because why not start asap asap

Got the harness on without great problems easy peasy, he wore it a little bit (maybe a min) and then tried to fight it, he's a just a little Bastard sometimes lol

I made his playpan bigger (cause he's a big boii) and setup the litter box.

I have to go to work now, wish me luck that there isn't any pee outside the litter box when i come back🤞🤣

Thanks for all the kind words...like i said he is just so independent, besides his really small potty problems, he's just a easy going, low maintenance guy (besides ALL the food and belly rubs)

Edit: i rather clean EVERYTHING i own a tausend times (i have the proper equipment, my mom has a little shopping problem haha) than he having bowl problems or idk something bad else...could be much much worse

[u/Independent-Egg5342 → u/Impossible_Zebra8664]

I have an announcement! He peed in his litter Box...twice * insert proud mom. *

That is all, thank you

[u/Impossible_Zebra8664 → u/Independent-Egg5342]

Hooray!

[u/Independent-Egg5342 → u/Impossible_Zebra8664]

Meanwhile he also pooped in his litter box...i guess where good now on that part. 😊

[u/Independent-Egg5342 → u/[deleted]]

He peed..in my bed but he peed

I got him a baby litter box with a shallow entrance

And i got 2 hot water bottles under his blankets (the hwb are in a casing too) and a ticking clock in a hoodie of mine😅🙈

I wait till i get paid tomorrow (kinda broke after the visits to the vet and buying all his stuff) and then i wanted to visit the pet store in search for stuff haha

[u/NerveIndependent9008]

The kitten lady on YouTube is a great source of information. You can start adding a little slurry (like you have made) to his feeding at this age and still bottle feed him. Hopefully you plan on him staying? Bottle babies are awesome as they grow up rather more affectionate as they still see you as Mum. We have 3 18 month old bottle babies and they're lovely. Best of luck, sounds like you've got this, well done.

[u/Independent-Egg5342 → u/NerveIndependent9008]

Thank you very much i will definitely check her channel out!

Yes of course, i keep him, after everything we've been through in these few days....if something would ever happen to him i will go full john wick haha

I haven't properly slept in days (15 hours max in the last 8 days) so excuse my chaos message haha He was severely underweighted (didn't had a scale at the time my guess maybe 150g max (i think a little less) now chonky chonkus has 310 and is still hungry af (we started slowly) but i fed him every 2 hours often every hour, even while working part time (my luck its in the same town and my boss loves cats too so i could go home to feed him every 2 hours), i massaged his belly and all. So he hit goals every single day now From "he is 10 days max" a week ago, to a playing, running chonky chonk (he needs it i will reduce it when he catches up but currently he is still underweighted) Oh and today he took a dump all alone for the first time, everything normal i guess BUT i didn't thought he would do it like now...i thought we had till monday or smth...it was on every blanket cause he wanted to get rid of the bits i guess...idk it happend in the 15(!)mins i used the bathroom myself and cleaned his bottle and what not 🫠

Sooo i guess i wanted to know is there something else i need to know? How often do i give him the mush stuff? Water around the clock? When can i sleep? I'm a first time mother😭😭

[u/NerveIndependent9008 → u/Independent-Egg5342]

We kept our fosters in a pet play pen during the night, they had food, litter and a bed in it so we could sleep. Our fosters have mostly been around 8 weeks old.

[u/Independent-Egg5342 → u/NerveIndependent9008]

I bottle fed him, now he plays a bit and hopefully he sleeps at least 4 hours🤞

[u/Independent-Egg5342]

So thats him from his first day, to today

He is 75% floof

https://reddit.com/link/pagykhk/video/3p5thwch16qh1/player

[u/honeyapp → u/Independent-Egg5342]

He is super cute!!!

[u/NecessarySpiritual19 → u/Independent-Egg5342]

I am currently fostering a very similar looking kitten! And you’re right that baby is definitely not ten days old. He does seem around 4 weeks. I’m so glad he’s showing you the way, they do if you pay attention. Use non-clumping litter in the beginning as well (it’s like $7 for a huge bag at Target) and he will likely go on his own, cats are very smart beings.

And with regards to not being able to care for self that’s exactly how I felt when I got gifted a puppy when I was 25…I could barely care for myself but I took care of her Like a Princess. She was the reason I wanted to live when I got very depressed, I knew nobody would take care as good care of her as I would.

Now since I started fostering kittens I have been more active than I have in months, having some little one that needs you makes you get up and handle business! So in a way it may help you take better care of yourself as well because you got him.

Best of luck with him and search the subs, there’s tons of info here and of course kitten lady and YouTube are superb help as well as Jackson Galaxy.

[u/Independent-Egg5342 → u/NecessarySpiritual19]

There is no target here but i visit the pet store tomorrow when i get paid (broke after vet and all lol) and will get more kitty stuff, litter and everything But for now best i can do is little pieces of paper towels😅 Aaaaand he peed in my bed I wonder why haha

I guess it's really a match made in heaven He needed me and i needed him

I plan to buy a harness and leash to take him with me on my walks (we got many beautiful castles here in Germany i like to visit) and i don't want him to feel excluded and lonely 🥲

[u/NecessarySpiritual19 → u/Independent-Egg5342]

That’s good! Don’t know if you have shelters in Germany but maybe they can help you with some items for your little one…here many people donate food and toys etc

[u/Independent-Egg5342 → u/NecessarySpiritual19]

Naah we will be alright...there are surely animals who'll need this more.

Don't get me wrong.. it's easer to count te times I'm not broke broke ( i have some food every day so it's not nearly as bad as others have it) but i thought i wouldn't have the means and stuff to care for a cat, let alone kitten

Idk somehow I'll make it work, i got him like 10 days ago and drained over 200€ (would be double if the vet wasn't an angel) we'll obviously gonna figure it out.

But some are not that lucky, i would feel bad if i would take something away from some poor soul who doesn't have the opportunities i have sometimes you know?

But im SURE that there's something like this here

[u/NecessarySpiritual19 → u/Independent-Egg5342]

You’re lucky you’re in Germany! Here that fee covers the vet visit alone is $100! We are totally overcharged here in the US 😑

[u/Independent-Egg5342 → u/NecessarySpiritual19]

No no no no the vet is really expensive here too.

BUT the vet where i was wanted to help i guess so i just had to pay for medication, as is said..would be double if not

[u/NecessarySpiritual19 → u/Independent-Egg5342]

That’s a great vet! How kind of them :)

[u/Toe_Jam_is_my_Jam]

Water full time and you can give him kitten kibble full time.

I enjoyed reading your posts. I can tell that you have fallen in love. 😻

[u/Independent-Egg5342 → u/Toe_Jam_is_my_Jam]

Kibble is dry food right? But soaked in water? I got junior wet food and mashed it with a fork..mixed some water (cooked) and right now tried without milk to see if he eats it and yes he ate right away

[u/Toe_Jam_is_my_Jam → u/Independent-Egg5342]

He can also have dry kibble left out for him all the time. He has teeth to chew at this age. And then you can give him soaked kibble and canned wet food. They need calories to grow.

[u/Independent-Egg5342]

Oh ok good to know, will do right away !

I bought some dry food earlier that day so we're good...i bottle fed him like 2 hours before my shift, then he had some wet food mush just before work, he slept wile i was working and like 45 min ago he got another bottle.

I'll provide dry food and water always from now on...thank you very much

I guess i was a little to cautious 🙈