Kittens should not be taken from their mother before 5 to 6 weeks of age if possible. But if you have an orphan kitten on your hands because the mother has died, become ill, rejected the kittens or abandoned them, then here are a few pointers to help you:

As soon as you find an orphaned kitten it must be protected from becoming chilled. Placing it under your clothes next to your skin is a good way of doing this. During their first week, kittens should be kept at temperatures of between 30 and 35 degrees C. For the next 2 weeks they still need temperatures of 25 degrees or so. When they reach 5 weeks or so they can tolerate a lower room temperature.

If at all possible, take the kitten to a veterinarian to have its general condition checked, as kittens can become dehydrated very quickly. The vet can give a lot of advice on hand raising kittens as well as things you might need. Before attempting to feed the kittens yourself, try to find a feline foster mother; breeders, veterinarians and animal shelters may know of nursing cats in your area.

Feeding

All utensils should be sterilized before each feeding.

If you have to feed kittens yourself before weaning age, it will require a considerable amount of energy and weeks of constant care if the kitten is to have a good chance at survival. The younger the kitten, the more fragile it is. No matter how dedicated or how good the care, some very young kittens may not survive without their mother. When you get the kitten home you must continue to provide warmth. Find a place in your home that is warm, draft-free and isolated. Feeding should be done with an nursing bottle, or you can use an eyedropper, but be careful not to force feed the kitten. Let the baby suck at its own pace, otherwise you can fill the baby's lungs with milk and cause pneumonia.

Fill bottle with desired amount (see below) of commercial kitten milk replacement or an emergency formula . Warm the formula by placing the bottle in a bowl of very hot water, then test it against your forearm, it should be  approximately body temperature. Test the nipple to ensure the flow is just right.

Place your kitten stomach down on a towel on your lap. Open its mouth gently with the tip of your finger, then slip the nipple between its jaws. To prevent air from entering the kitten's stomach, hold the bottle at a 45° angle, keeping a slight tension on the bottle to encourage sucking. If the suckling kitten aspirates formula into its lungs,  hold it upside down immediately until the choking subsides. If the kitten is not strong enough to suckle, seek veterinary assistance ASAP.

Formula should be warmed to body temperature and fed to small kittens every 3-4 hours. As they get older every 6-8 hours will be enough. Check the packet for recommended feeding amounts and feedings per day. A kitten will need approximately 8 cc of formula per ounce of body weight per day. The age of the kitten determines the number of daily feedings it should receive.

When a kitten has had enough formula, bubbles will form around its mouth, and its tummy will be rounded. After each meal, like human babies, kittens  need "winding". This is best accomplished by holding one hand under the abdomen and gently patting the kitten's upper back. But not too hard. Do not overfeed kittens, as this can bring on diarrhoea and other problems. Kittens grow at an incredibly fast rate, and should be weighed frequently to ensure that all is well.

Surrogate Mum

Normally, the kitten's needs would be taken care of by mum, who would lick the babies abdomen to stimulate the bowels and bladder. A cotton ball or pad or tissues moistened with warm water should be used to gently rub the kitten's abdomen and bottom. This will stimulate the discharge of waste and keep the baby clean. Only rub enough to expel waste materials, and watch for chafing which might indicate that you are rubbing too hard or not cleaning well enough.

Gently wash the kitten's fur all over with a warm damp cloth, using short stokes to simulate the mother's  licking action. This will not only clean their fur, but also teach them to clean their own fur and also give them a feeling of well-being. Kittens will instinctively try to suckle, being frustrated by the lack of the mother's breast. This means  they will try to suckle their litter mate's ears, tail or genitals, often causing irritations to develop. You can help to satisfy this oral need by caressing each kitten's mouth with your finger or a soft cloth.

Fleas

Abandoned kittens must be cleaned and all fleas removed soon after they are found. Flea anaemia can be a great threat to the kitten's life, also fleas carry tape worm eggs. The vet will have flea sprays suitable for use on kittens. Always check the manufacturer’s instructions for use on kittens. Bathe the kitten in gentle soap or surgical soap if flea sores are present, making sure to prevent the kitten from getting chilled. Gently dry immediately with a warm towel.

Weaning

Weaning may begin at four weeks of age. Start by feeding your kitten formula in a bowl, then gradually introducing solid food. Changes in diet or certain foods can cause diarrhoea, so keep an eye on stools. Diarrhoea can be life-threatening to a young kitten.

The litter Tray

You can also introduce the kitten to the litter tray too. Place the kitten in the box after each meal, taking the kitten's paw you can show it how to scratch in the litter. Usually the kitten will soon catch on very quickly.

Health Problems

Orphaned kittens are especially vulnerable to diseases. At the first sign of any abnormal behaviour or loss of appetite, take them to the veterinarian. Caring for an orphaned kitten is difficult and even the most conscientious of foster parents may lose a little one. If a kitten dies, the substitute parent should not blame themselves. Kitten deaths are most likely to occur at birth, in their first week, or while weaning. But, with a caring nature, a little bit of common sense and the right information, you have a good chance of success.

Love

Besides the kitten's obvious needs of food and warmth, it will need lots of love and emotional closeness. Let the little kitten snuggle against your warm skin, and handle it often. It is believed that hand-raised kittens show higher intelligence, greater loyalty and deeper affection for their owners.

 [ Looking After Kittens ] [ Neutering ] [ Feral Cats ] [ Feline Pregnancy ]  [ Cat Care ]

 [ Site Map ] [ Feline Statistics ] [ Black Cat ] [ Cats Used in Research ] [ Feline Persecution ] [ Cat Poetry ]