Pawsitive OUTREACH SPAY/NEUTER ADVOCATES
HELP SAVE A LIFE!
DID YOU FIND SOME KITTENS? CONTACT US AND PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION BELOW BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING ELSE!
HYPOTHERMIA AND INCORRECT FEEDING CAN BE DEADLY TO A NEONATAL KITTEN. IF YOU ARE NOT EXPERIENCED, PLEASE SEEK ADVICE FROM A RESCUE OR VETERINARIAN BEFORE PROCEEDING. IF THE KITTEN IS COLD OR COOL TO THE TOUCH, PLEASE FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW TO GENTLY WARM THE KITTEN.
- If they are very dirty or covered in fleas, your first instinct may be to wash them. PLEASE DON'T! Getting chilled is very dangerous to a young kitten.
- If they have fleas, it's best to pick them off as best you can, and again, do not wash them. If there is any debris in the mouth or nose, clean it very gently with a soft cloth or cotton dampened with warm water. Contact a rescue or vet for further instruction.
- If the eyes are not open, do not attempt to open them, even if it seems like they are crusted shut due to debris or infection.
- If they feel cool or cold to the touch, please do not attempt to feed them. Although most people's first instinct is to get food into them, it's more important to get them warm. A kitten digestive system shuts down when they get too cold. Warm them slowly by putting them next to your skin if possible. You can also put some rice in a sock, tie it closed and microwave it until it's warm (not hot!) and cover it with a towel and place next to the kittens, please make sure the kittens can move away from the heat source if they get too warm. Please DO NOT use a heating pad unless it is specifically designed for pet use and again, make sure the kittens can move off of it if they get too warm.
- Do not give them cow's milk. Kitten formula is best or raw goat milk, and in a pinch, you can google how to make an emergency substitute and review the proper way to feed before attempting to do so. It's better to take a few minutes to learn how to feed correctly than to do it incorrectly and risk getting formula into a kitten's lungs. NEVER feed a kitten laying on his back.
- If it is after hours, you can call the Pet Emergency Clinic at (509) 326-6670 for immediate advice.