Okay this is quite a long story but I'll sort of cut it down to the matter in hand. In my Grandma's back garden there have been many strays lately, and about five months ago, kittens were born. Really and truly my Grandma (and/or the neighbors who have also been feeding them) should've stopped there and called the cat protection league or something but it was all good intentions to be fair.

Anyway, one of the kittens became pregnant (I have no idea how old the kitten was at this stage) and on Friday gave birth to one single kitten in my Grandma's garden. (Basically a kitten gave birth to a kitten!) but as of Saturday (yesterday) the mother cat has completely abandoned her kitten and has gone off and no one has seen her since. Anyway, cutting it down, I arrived to sort of investigate it all with my Grandma and I bought the kitten home with me (the heat was sweltering in her garden and she (or he) was just laying there so alone). My Grandma said she'd ring if the mother kitten turned up at all.

Okay so as I type this I've got the tiniest kitten ever in a small box with lots of towels and she seems to like sleeping. But the problem is, she won't feed because obviously she wants her mother. She has sort of suckled on my finger but that only had water on, none of it's enough. I had some milk which I watered down considerably but she's not had that (though I did read later on the net that cow's milk is bad for kittens). I've just ordered some KMR replacement milk on amazon which will arrive tomorrow but I sort of don't know what to do until then. She doesn't seem hungry but then how would I know.

I have 4 cats but never had none of them since 2 days old! She likes to snuggle up amongst the towels and she seems more tired than she is hungry. It's kind of awkward being a weekend!

Sadly I think she will die. She is way too young to survive without her mother.

Phone the vet up. They know about kittens and things. A pipette and some kitten formula from the vets.

Maisey Moo is good with cats and kittens.

Go too a vet now. Get some cimicat milk or lactol from a pets at home store. Typu need a tiny syringe too or a bottle made for animals. The mum might have had more kittens but notion the same area too if they don't feel safe where she first had them. Also you must wipe there bottoms after each feed too make them go too toilet.
He will need feeding ever hour or so too even through he night and must be kept warm.

kittens can survive being hand reared but it is a full time job, the kitten should have been taken to a vet as soon as she was found, as maisey moo says above they will need feeding every hour or so with some lactol and you have to keep them warm, give her something to cuddle up against like a teddy and wipe their bottoms with warm damp cotton wool (not too wet),
i have hand reared a kitten from just over a week old and i had him for 17 years although he never really knew he was a cat though...good luck

Do you have any syringes? If not go and buy one or ask your chemist for them and try and feed them via the syringe. The poor thing wont really be able to feed from a bowl. You need to keep him/her warm, and clean them very carefully. Pay attention to the eyes - make sure they're clean and don't get gunked up. Same applies to the rear end.

If you're in the UK, try calling the cat protection league and tell them what's happening and they might either pick the kitten up or give you some more advice.

I don't think there are any open vets near me (being a Sunday). Although there is a medivet about 5 miles away (we don't drive).

But I'm determind to do something (even if it does fail). Thanks for your help and support guys.

The only problem really is the fact she's not wanting to eat or opening her mouth to do so

you will have to put the syringe in its mouth and make it feed...hopefully once you get some food into her she will want more.
have you called the cats protection league, blue cross or rspca?

if you gently put your index finger in one corner of their mouth, and your thumb in the other and prize their mouth open veeerrry gently, you should be able to slip the syringe in. You need to be careful and try and let the liquid out incredibly slowly and watch you're not choking them or hurting them. This is what we had to do with a stray kitten we rescued (before the cat protection league came to pick them up).

Then there is the fun of encouraging the kitten to go to the lavatory and checking the kitten for a bloated tummy as bloated tummies are not good for them.

They can get hiccoughs and wind.

http://video.au.msn.com/watch/video/...257c%257c%257c

Try some specialist milk (lactol can be found at most pet stores) and get a jay cloth or similar, soak a patch in the milk, then scrunch the soaked bit up into a teat like shape and put it in his mouth, the shape might encourage him to feed.

Call the local vets or animal shelter and get specialists to take over if possible.

Fr future: mother cats often leave babies and won't return for a while, especially if someone is around or has been there recently, it would of been best to leave baby alone tbh.

What area are you in. This kitten needs too be seen either at a vets or proper milk in her or she will not survive at all. I can put a plea out on Facebook for you.

I'm in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire. It's hard knowing what to do on a Sunday.

Are you on Facebook at all if so please add me. I'm kado Crocker on there. This little one must get help ASAP .i do my best too get it into a rescue

This is my own rescue cats group
http://www.facebook.com/KadosCatKittenSanctuary

I've put a plea out on Facebook for help for the kitten.

I have got a rescue too handrear the kitten for you please can you contact me.

Maisey-moo, thanks. I've just PM'd you

Such a wonderful thing of you to do. Hope the Kitten does well!

Big shoutout to Maisey Moo! You're both wonderful!

Maisey has been great, hopefully when she's online all can be solved.

I mean, don't get me wrong, I've got 4 cats but never from such a young age. We realized we were into deep because of lack of experience. But she's (or he?) is a darling little thing, there's no question of it.

I've sent you a friend request on Facebook.

Well done Maisey moo

Please can you keep us updated on how the kitten is doing

I hope for a positive outcome. Well done on the rescue efforts x

Well done Maisey and you too maddiesdoor.

Brilliant stuff. Hope all goes well. It's always a bit of a gamble handrearing kittens. I found 3 once, and got them to a wonderful lady from a local independent rescue (no joy from RSPCA or Cats Protection) One of the 3 survived and this lady couldn't bear to part with it after putting so much into rearing him, so there he stayed!