My new kitties!!!

[obycencio]

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Last days of July we found 4 2-weeks-old kittens laying under some mats in our gym.
Apparently their mum left them there after a terrible storm. I took 3 in and hand fed them for about a month or so. Now they're eating kibble and canned food already!
The thing here is they are on top of me or my dad (or mum) trying to suck on our ear lobes! They try to sleep on top of me too... they even fight on me too... sigh*
Is that normal? What can I do to prevent the suckling? My mum is already hating them and I'm still trying to find a new home for us all to move in...
On the other hand, they're the sweetest natured cats I've ever owned, they are so talkative and intelligent, I can't believe it! I adore them and my dad too

[Twitchin Kitten]

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It's hard to stop the suckling. They were taken from their mother too young and even though you hand fed them, they would still be suckling on the mom for another couple of weeks.

Cats nurse their babies for around 12 weeks or more. Try supplementing their diet with milk and a bottle still. It is normal to eat solid food and drink from a bottle.

Try to give them canned / wet food instead of kibble. Kibble is not very good for cats.

My Thing 1 still suckles on my hands when I let her. She was taken from her mom too soon too and some cats are very needy with this behavior.

You can simply pick them off you when they start to suckle ear lobes and put them on the floor. You'll need to do this many times. Always find a distraction when cats do something you don't want them to. DO NOT TALK! Just pick them up and put them on the floor. Then get something and play with them.

I would give them snack bottles a couple of times a day still to supplement their diet. They need the nutrition of milk for another couple of weeks.

[obycencio]

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Hi Joan! They emptied 2 cans of Royal Canin Kitten Formula already. They must be like 2 months old by now. They seem not to like their bottle anymore... they chew the plastic nipple off!!!
So, do you think it's good for them if I give them cat milk? No bottles tough, I was thinking on a dish...
And also... Is there a way to stop them eating my mum's plants?? hehe

[Twitchin Kitten]

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You can add some KMR to their diet.
http://pet-supplies.drsfostersmith.com/search?p=Q&lbc=drsfostersmith&w=kmr&af=cat1:cats%20type:product&isort=score&method=and&ts=results&rt=template_switch_search

What I used to do is buy the dry human baby cereal - the mixed grains - it's nice and flaky. I would mix the milk, some canned food and the cereal to make a nice mush and feed this to weaning kittens and even puppies.

I would supplement the KMR milk and not that 'cat milk' you find in the treat aisle. That stuff is crap.

Let them drink as much KMR as they want. It's formulated specifically for cats and has all the nutrients they need to grow strong and healthy.

Plants - get that spray bottle! Many household plants are poisonous to cats! Take the file that has all the poisonous plants for cats in it. Some for dogs are in there too I think. Use the same "pick up and put down someplace else" method to keep them out of the plants. Persistent cats give a shot of water in the ass or behind the ear - that usually works. Just be careful not to get water in ears and eyes. Again, NO WORDS! Make it seem like God is squirting them! Oh and make sure you adjust the spray to stream and not a wide misty spray.

[obycencio]

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My mum have violets and bamboos. Outside there are different types of pines, so I think they're safe.
I cannot find the milk or canned food you suggested. The only one available is Royal Canin. What brands are ok for them?

[Twitchin Kitten]

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Why don't you just mail order out of the link I sent you?

Can you get me a link to the stuff you're using? I can't seem to find any and I've even gone to the royan canin site.

[LKTraz]

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Believe it or not Wal-Mart carries Hartz kitten milk replacement. They carry both the powdered mix and the pre-mixed liquid in cans.

I've nursed a few abandoned kittens and yes......they WILL chew the nipples off of the bottles. My solution (at least it prolonged the lifespan of nipples) is to use a razor blade and slit the end of the nipple just a tiny bit bigger than the provided hole. They chew them partly in an effort to get a greater flow.
The other reason they chew is that they are getting a little older and it's a natural thing as they are also eating solid food. The chewing response is somewhat involuntary for them.

Hit Wal-Mart's website. I think you could order it from there.

[Twitchin Kitten]

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Good idea about slitting the nipple. I totally forgot about that.

Gloria is in Mexico City so I don't know whether Wally World is available to her.

I'm not big on the Hartz Mountain products that's why I suggested the KMR. I am pretty sure the Dr Foster and Smith site will deliver to her though. If not, I got more links.

KMR is the preferred brand. They also make premixed solutions but she's better off with the powder (use a blender to mix it) if she has to mail order to a different country due to expiration dates and delivery times.

[obycencio]

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Unfortunately I've checked the kmr site and they only ship to US states. No way I can get it here.
Also walmart only sells whiskas milk... which is crap, I think.
The only stuff I can get is Royal Canin milk.. http://www.royalcanin.com/produits/gb_ch...atmilk.asp

Isn't it hard to live in a 3rd world country?? :S

[Twitchin Kitten]

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Use the Royal Canin milk. That whiskas stuff is pure shit. It's meant to be a treat and not really a mothers milk replacer.