My orphaned 4-week-old kittens won't eat or poop. What can I do?

Question

I have two 4-week-old kittens who were orphaned around 1AM on Saturday. I've been trying to care for them, but they haven't taken to bottle or syringe, and show no interest in a wet food slurry. When I stimulate them, they'll urinate but not defecate. I can get them to a vet tomorrow, but I'm a bit panicked about them and wondered if there's any advice that might help in the meantime? They're very alert and don't seem lethargic at all, so I don't think they're sick, but I worry about them.

Jessica Desrosiers · Accepted Answer

I'm sorry to hear you're struggling with the kittens! At 4-weeks they should be starting to get a little interested in wet food, so continuing to try the slurry should help. You can put a little on a spoon or on their noses to see if they will lick it off to encourage them to try it. Keeping the formula warmed and feeding them on their stomachs (in the same position they'd be in when nursing from mom) may also help them recognize you are trying to feed them. If they're not on solid foods yet, they may not have a whole lot in the way of stool production, and any stool they produce may be very liquidy still. It's a good idea to bring them to the vet anyway, especially if orphaned, as they may need to start getting vaccinations sooner to account for the loss of mom's natural antibodies, and your vet can examine them, deworm them, and treat any issues as needed. This article about orphaned kittens may also help as well as it has feeding schedules, etc. https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-raise-orphan-kittens/

My orphaned 4-week-old kittens won't eat or poop. What can I do?

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