On saturday, today is Tuesday, I came across a friendly mother cat. The next day, I found her babies in my shed. When I met the mom she let me pet and feed her. So I put a bowl of food in the shed for her and did not touch the babies. I kept checking in and each day they would cry and cry and there has been no sign of the mother except 4 days ago. I called the vet and they said I should try to bottle feed them, so they don't die. They told me they only cry when they are hungry. So I got kitten formula, but no matter what I do, they don't eat. The mother does not even come when they cry. I fear she is gone or something happened to her. Now I have them in my house and will not eat. Any ideas on how to get something in their little bellies and other useful knowledge? They have been crying for almost 3 hours now...and have no clue.

Oh Geesh, I just saw this post, I am so sorry. Are the kittens still with you? If they aren't eating, is the nipple on the bottle plugged? Sometimes when you try to make a hole, it plugs up. I use small scissors and cut an X in the nipple tip while scrunching it tight to prevent to large a hole. I am sorry I missed this post and hope the kittens are thriving

How old are they? Seriously, they don't get soft foods until they are about 6-7 weeks old. Also if you are feeding them in a bowl, they usually won't eat it. I use a flat plate or a cookie tray to feed. As far as litter pans, I go to the grocery store and I buy those disposable aluminum trays the type you can cook turkeys in? Usually get four for under $2.00. I fill those with plain clay litter (not clumping) and set these out in the room where they eat. I don't let them have access to the whole house, they stay in one room until they are old enough to understand what the litter pans are for, otherwise, they just poop wherever they are. Usually at 9 weeks old, they all are litter pan trained then they go out into the main house to mix with others.

Switch to just plain clay litter no odor control stuff. Originally, cats came from the sandy dunes and they naturally take to that type of texture. Anything else, generally they will avoid and find alternate places to relieve themselves.