Needy Paws

Milky has hit 800 grams!

When Milky first came to me, I estimated her to be around 3 weeks old based on her size, development and behaviour.

She’s now about 7 weeks old and weighs 800 g, which fits really nicely with that original estimate.

Weight on its own can’t give an exact age, because kittens can vary quite a bit, but when you combine it with things like teeth, coordination, behaviour and overall development, it helps build a much clearer picture.

So Milky’s growth is lining up exactly where I hoped it would.

From a tiny 3-week-old survivor to a bright-eyed, 800 g, 7-week-old little character… she’s come a long way.

I recently came across a beautiful, heartwarming video of someone rescuing a newborn kitten. Thankfully, the little one survived and went on to do well.

There was one part of the video that made me think it was worth sharing a little neonatal-care reminder not to criticize the person involved, but because videos like this can sometimes be where others learn what to do.

(My picture below demonstrates the correct way for a kitten to be bottle fed)

Newborn kittens should NEVER be fed lying on their backs like a HUMAN BABY.

They should be tummy-down, with their head slightly raised, in the same natural position they would use when nursing from their mother.

Feeding on the back can increase the risk of formula being aspirated into the lungs, which can become very serious very quickly.

Sometimes everything turns out beautifully despite something being done differently and thankfully that was the case in the video I saw.

But when caring for such tiny, vulnerable lives, knowing the safest technique can make all the difference.

Sharing for education, not judgment. We all learn somewhere.

NO COWS MILK FOR KITTENS:-
There’s an important difference between kittens and adult cats.

A lot of farm cats have been given fresh cow’s milk for years, and many adult cats seem to drink it with absolutely no obvious problems. I know people personally whose farm cats have milk regularly and tolerate it just fine.

The important distinction is age and what the milk is being used for.

An adult cat may tolerate a small amount of cow’s milk without any digestive upset. Some cats handle lactose better than others, while others may develop gas, loose stools or diarrhea.

But a young kitten that still depends on milk for its nutrition is completely different.

Cow’s milk does not have the correct balance of fat, protein, calories and nutrients needed to support a growing kitten. It can also cause diarrhea, which can quickly become dangerous in a tiny neonatal kitten.

So this isn’t about saying, “Your farm cat must never have cow’s milk.”

It’s about understanding that:

😺An adult cat enjoying some milk and tolerating it is one thing.
😺Using cow’s milk to feed an orphaned or bottle-dependent kitten is another.

For kittens that still require milk, a proper kitten milk replacer is the appropriate choice.

Sometimes the details matter.

Sometimes I look at Sylvie and still can’t quite believe how far we’ve come.

From a tiny newborn, through challenges I never could have imagined, to the beautiful girl sitting here today, with the covers of the three books inspired by her journey behind her.

Raising Sylvie – The Trilogy tells the true story of Sylvie, Sam and Sawyer: how they were found, the care it took to keep them alive, Sylvie’s extraordinary additional challenges, and finally the milestones that led them to their forever homes.

And there she is… right in front of it all.

The little kitten who became a trilogy.