Keep the babies together as long as they are about the same age; this will help socialize them to their own species and will help in keeping them warm. Try to assemble the following equipment:

THE NEST BOX

1. The nest box in which the babies live should have tall sides so that they cannot climb out by mistake and become chilled. A cardboard pet carrier is perfect as it is portable, dark inside, and closable.  These are inexpensive and should be available from a pet store or your veterinarian.
    
2. Place towels in the bottom of the box and cover them with a diaper so the babies rest directly on the diaper. Most diapers have elastic leg holes and may have to be trimmed so they will lie flat.  Expect to change the diaper several times daily. Keeping the babies clean and dry is very important.
    
3. Place a heating pad under the nest box so that only half of the nest box is warmed.
   This way the babies may crawl off the warm
   side of the box if they feel too hot

THE DIET

1. Pet Ag manufactures KMR (Kitten Milk Replacer). It comes in a powder and a liquid.  The powdered form seems less associated with diarrhea than the liquid plus with the powdered form, the water content can be adjusted in the event of dehydration.
   
   For puppies, Pet Ag makes ESBILAC.  Again, both powder and liquid forms are available.
    
2. Mix up the powder according to the directions on the can.  If you are using the liquid form, you may want to dilute it with one part water for every two parts of formula. As the babies get older, less water may be used whether you are mixing up the powder or the liquid.  If diarrhea occurs at any time, you should add more water to the formula to make up for fluid lost as diarrhea.
    
3. Store the can of powder in the freezer after opening.  Do not mix up more than a day's worth of formula.  Use a blender to mix the formula several hours ahead to allow time for the bubbles to settle.

MAKESHIFT  FORMULA UNTIL  KMR/ESBILAC CAN  BE  OBTAINED

PUPPIES KITTENS 1 cup whole milk 1/2 cup whole milk 1 tsp. salad oil  1 egg yolk 1 drop multi-vitamins (if you have any) 1 drop multi-vitamins 2 egg yolks 3 Tums (antacid) crushed Mix in a blender whichever formula you use.

THE BOTTLE

1. Obtain a pet nurser bottle from a pet store or your veterinarian.
    
2. Use very fine scissors or a hot needle to make a hole in the nipple. The hole should be big enough that formula will slowly drip out if the bottle is held upside-down and gently squeezed. The nipple should not collapse when the baby is sucking.
    
3. Warm the bottle in a cup of hot water. Always test the formula before giving it to the babies. Taste it to be sure it is not sour.  Do not use a microwave oven to heat the bottle as it may not heat evenly with some areas of the bottle being scalding hot.

HOW/WHEN TO FEED

1. Expect to feed them every 2-3 hours during the day.  If  this is done, the babies should be able to sleep through the night.
    
2. Do not wake the babies at feeding time.  Let them sleep. When they wake up hungry, they will let you know.
    
3. During feeding be sure to tip the bottle so that no air is swallowed.
    
4. Play with/rub them after feeding to "burp" them.
    
5. Occasionally small amounts of formula will come out of the nose.  The baby is drinking too fast. If excessive amounts of formula appear to be coming out the nose or if you are concerned, call your veterinarian.

URINATION/DEFECATION

1. Infant animals are unable to take care of these matters alone and must be given help.  Normally their mother's tongue does the job as she washes them. Use a Q-tip, tissue, or your finger to gently rub the baby's genital area. Have a tissue ready to catch the urine.
    
2. Rubbing the anal area as well may also be necessary if the babies do not seem to be defecating as much as expected. Watch for diarrhea. Normal infant stool is normally very loose but should not be watery.

BATHING

1. Using baby shampoo and warm water, bathe the babies a couple of times daily. Urine will burn their tender skin and caked feces can lead to infection so keeping the babies clean is very important.
    
2. Take care not to submerge the infant in water. Be careful that it cannot drown or choke on the water and be sure the water temperature is acceptable.
    
3. Gently blow dry the babies when the bath is over.  Do not allow chilling.

STARTING SOLID FOOD

1. When the babies start biting and chewing at their bottle instead of sucking (3-4 weeks of age), they may be started on some finely textured canned food.  At first it may be necessary to mix solid food with a little formula and /or smear a little around their mouths gently with a finger.
   
   **Friskies canned Kitten Meals           **Chicken or turkey baby food
                    for kittens                                              for puppies
    
2. Between ages 4 and 6 weeks, they should begin readily accepting solid food.  New homes may be found for them at age 6 weeks as long as they are eating solid food.

NOTE

Colostrum is the first milk produced by the mother shortly after giving birth. It is rich in antibodies which will protect the babies for the first several months of life. Without colostrum (if their mother did not nurse the kittens during the first 2 days of life) the babies are virtually without an immune system. Especially great care should be taken in cleanliness and the babies should be vaccinated at 2 weeks of age. They may require a plasma transfusion to make up for the colostrum. There is no substitute for a real  mother.

For more information on raising orphan kittens see:

www.hdw-inc.com/tinykitten.htm

Many foster parents have difficulty distinguishing male and female kittens at this early age. For some guidelines and (illustrated) instructions, see:

http://vetinfo.com/csexcat.html

Will you be my new parents?