I know this is clutching at straws, but does anyone know of a nursing cat that could cope with another 3 kittens?  We had 3 kittens dumped on us at work on Friday evening; they were only born in the early hours of Friday.  I am feeding them every 2 hours but could do with some feline help if any is out there!  Thanks!

Sorry I dont own a cat, but just thought I would post to say "Good Luck" with the kittens and hope you find a foster mum, can your vet not help, he might know of a cat that has recently given birth.

Thanks Marguerite

I work at a vets so know there are none around.  They are all doing well so I will just have to cope with lack of sleep!  They seem to be responding to being treated as puppies so far!

Ah good luck. It's a shame they are so much younger than my litter as that queen would happily foster and only has two -but alas mine are 7 weeks now so it wouldn't work. Just to say though, you'll be perfectly fine feeding them every 3 hours rather than two.

Thanks to you all for your responses and private messages.  The local CPL have taken two of them and are going to try and put them onto a nursing queen tomorrow - either way the girls there are happy to hand rear them.  They have left me with one so at least it won't take so long at night.

Marianne - thanks so much for the info about 3 hours instead - what a difference that will make!

Hi Jan, Not sure what area you are from, but if you are local & need someone to take the baby, I can help. I help with my local branch of Cats Protection & have nursing moms here with young kits. Also have several regular hand rearing volunteers always on standby.

Thanks very much Smudgley.  I'm a long way from you so probably not practical, but I am really grateful for the offer.  I think I'll be fine with one - it was certainly easier than three in the night - if I can't cope then our local CPL have said that they will take him as well. 

Being an optimist and thinking ahead, (!) when should I start introducing other food - would you do it earlier as you would with hand-reared puppies?

Theoretically yes, but I always find kittens are much harder to get started with weaning than pups. You could try & see how it goes, but my guess is that he won't take much solid food until he's maybe 4 weeks+.
Shame your local CP couldn't take him too, but it will be very rewarding to hand rear him, even if it will be hard work! well done.