Gail who runs the animal santuary thinks this is a male kitten. She can sex a possum so I don't doubt her. Fed the little tike three times today, She will take the 11pm feeding. I am leaning toward the name of Samson, as if he survives he is a strong one. He is just an everyday tiger stipped cat, but it is sure cute at this age. The cord should drop off soon. It was all the way dry today. It is in an incubator to keep warm. This is sure an experience! Its ears are about the size of your little fingernail. ginnie

Ginnie, taking care of a little kitten like this is wonderful of you to do! Are you going to keep him? I think you would have a special bond doing this!.

You don't say if you are giving special formula. Since you have a rescue person helping, I hope you are. Cats need taurine to develop the brain, eyes and heart. So the formula has to be
specially fortified with that for hand held feeding.

Should anyone reading here have this opportunity that you are doing now, they need guidance of an experienced person or Vet to hand raise a kitten this way.

If you can provide some photos, they would be greatly appreciated! If he is an orange tabby, those are almost always male.
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Samson is a cute name!

Hi, and yes I have supervision right now, because this kitten is so young. Gail runs an animal sanctary just 5 houses away from me. This is by far the youngest cat I have taken care of.
My own scruffy, I got at 4 weeks old, and did this very thing. "samson" is day 5 now, and yes on a special formula. I go down there every 4 hours. I am having trouble getting him to go pee. Usually the mother cat, does this by licking. I have to use my finger and a warm wet paper towel. Have not really gotten the hang of that yet. When he is out of danger, and can live outside the incubator, I will bring him home. Yes a forever family. If I don't live long enough with his long life, ,my son will take him. His ears are about the size of your little fingernail, his paw fits inside your thumb nail. He is adorable.
Who ever had the mother cat....well we don't even know what happened to her. somebody did try to kill these kittens, as it litter mate died from injuries. People just dump things off to Gail. She has been doing this for all wild life for 25 years. Her home, yard, garage, every space is for the animals.

I worked for 3 years in rescue before this. while I was taking care of my mother during her decline, I worked for "pelican Man" driving a truck on saturdays, just to get me out in nature and try to do some good.

Don't worry, this little tike stands a good chance now. It is five days old right now, and if anyone can help, this woman who devotes her waking hours, can help it to live. I fed about 50 song birds this morning as well, and cleaned a bunch of smelly cages....ah for the love of nature.....
will keep you posted. I have a samsung with camers, I am going to try to get a picture tonight of this little one, and have someone help me to post it.

ginnie