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How to Take Care of a Kitten

February 3, 2024 by admin Category: How To

You are viewing the article How to Take Care of a Kitten  at Tnhelearning.edu.vn you can quickly access the necessary information in the table of contents of the article below.

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This article was co-written by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott is a veterinarian with over thirty years of experience. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 and worked as a veterinary surgeon for 7 years. Then, Dr. Elliott worked as a veterinarian in a clinic for over a decade.

There are 13 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.

This article has been viewed 23,654 times.

Keeping kittens indoors is fun, but you don’t simply feed and clean. The way you interact with kittens when they are young will shape how friendly they are as they mature. When raising newborn kittens, if all goes well, the mother cat will do the hard work. Sadly, the unexpected can happen and you have to take care of the kitten yourself, either because the mother cat is unable to care for her baby, or she has abandoned the kitten. This guide will help you understand your growing kitten’s needs in regards to health care, feeding, and adaptation.

Table of Contents

  • Steps
    • Helping Mother Cat Give Birth and Care for Newborn Cats (0 to 4 weeks old)
    • Caring for Orphan Kittens (0 to 4 weeks old)
    • Weaning and Adaptation for Kittens (4-8 Weeks)
    • Caring for Adopted Kittens (8 weeks and up)
  • Advice
  • Warning
  • Things you need

Steps

Helping Mother Cat Give Birth and Care for Newborn Cats (0 to 4 weeks old)

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Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 1

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Prepare a quiet place for the birth. The mother cat will choose a place that feels safe to give birth. Either way, you can find a large cardboard box, flip it over, and line the nest with a material that will keep it warm and dry—but don’t be disappointed if the mother cat has other options. Instinct tells him to find a quiet spot, such as under the bed, behind the sofa, or inside the kitchen cupboard. [1] X Research Resources <i>Reproduction in Dogs and Cats.</i> Christianseen. Publisher: Bailliere Tindall.

  • To learn more about how to help a mother cat give birth, you can check out this article.
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Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 2

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Do not disturb the mother cat during birth and the first two days. The first 48 hours are an important time for the mother cat to bond with the kittens, so you shouldn’t disturb her. If the mother cat gives birth under the bed, you should leave her alone. Moving newborn kittens is stressful for the mother, and the worst that can happen is she will abandon her kittens. Once the mother cat is firmly attached, at about four or five days, if you feel that moving the kittens is necessary, you can do so. [2] X Research Resources <i>Reproduction in Dogs and Cats.</i> Christianseen. Publisher: Bailliere Tindall.
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Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 3

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Keep food, water, and toilet soil in the room. The mother cat will not leave the kittens for too long during the first two weeks after birth. Therefore, you should place food and water within a reasonable distance, and if possible, provide litter boxes in the same room so that the mother cat can be within sight and sound range of the kittens.

  • If the food is in another room, some mother cats will choose not to eat or drink instead of leaving their kittens in search of food. [3] X Research Resources <i>Reproduction in Dogs and Cats.</i> Christianseen. Publisher: Bailliere Tindall.
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Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 4

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Give the mother cat more food. It needs extra energy to produce milk for the kittens. [4] X Research Resources <i>Reproduction in Dogs and Cats.</i> Christianseen. Publisher: Bailliere Tindall.
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Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 5

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Let the mother cat do all the cleaning. Instinct helps cats to always keep their litter clean. Newborn cats are not self-cleaning, so the mother cat must lick her kitten’s genitals before and after nursing to stimulate excretion. This helps to keep the litter box clean. You should avoid tampering with their drive.

  • If the litter is dirty, you should wait until the mother cat jumps out to go to the toilet to clean and replace the litter box. [5] X Research Resources <i>Reproduction in Dogs and Cats.</i> Christianseen. Publisher: Bailliere Tindall.
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Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 6

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Check to see if the kitten has been breastfed. If the mother cat is there, the kittens will usually suckle immediately after she gives birth to her last pups. Newborn cats usually spend most of their time sleeping, waking up to suckle every two to three hours. If they don’t suckle, or are pushed away by a sibling, then you need to bottle-feed them as described in Section 2.
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Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 7

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Consider neutering the mother cat. Spaying cats (hysterectomy) after kittens are weaned is recommended by many veterinarians and humanitarian organizations. This helps prevent unwanted births, and also benefits the health of the spayed cat. [6] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source

  • Remember that female cats can become pregnant 3-4 days after giving birth, so you should keep her indoors to avoid this risk.
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Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 8

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Consider deworming kittens. This step can happen as early as two weeks if necessary. Consult your veterinarian for appropriate medication and dosage. [7] X Research Sources

Caring for Orphan Kittens (0 to 4 weeks old)

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Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 9

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Give the kitten a milk substitute. Cat milk substitutes (such as Cimicat) can be purchased at your veterinarian’s office, large pet store, or on the Internet. A good quality milk substitute is KMR. This type is similar to baby formula, with the same ingredients as mother’s milk. The milk substitute has instructions on how much powder is needed at each meal.

  • Do not give your cat cow’s milk because lactose can upset the kitten’s stomach. If a milk substitute is not available and the cat is hungry, you can give them cooled boiled water with a dropper or syringe until you get to the vet clinic or pet store. This provides enough water for the kittens and doesn’t upset their stomachs. [8] X Research Resources <i>Reproduction in Dogs and Cats.</i> Christianseen. Publisher: Bailliere Tindall.
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Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 10

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Use a kitten bottle with a specially designed nipple. You can buy it at your veterinarian’s office, a large pet store, or on the Internet. In an emergency use an eyedropper bottle or a small syringe to drop the milk replacer powder into the kitten’s mouth. [9] X Research Resources <i>Reproduction in Dogs and Cats.</i> Christianseen. Publisher: Bailliere Tindall.
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Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 11

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Stimulate kittens to burp after each meal. Do the same as for a newborn: hold the cat face down on your shoulder, or place one hand under its belly. Pat and rub their backs. [10] X Research Source
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Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 12

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Stimulates kittens to excrete waste. Before and after each feed, you can wipe your kitten’s genitals with a tissue or gauze soaked in warm water. This stimulates the kittens to defecate, otherwise they will not be able to excrete waste on their own. [11] X Research Resources <i>Reproduction in Dogs and Cats.</i> Christianseen. Publisher: Bailliere Tindall. Keep kittens within the litter box and rub their genitals and anal area with a washcloth after each meal. Continue doing this until the kitten has finished urinating and defecating (when the waste is no longer secreted).

  • Rub in one direction—rubbing back and forth will cause discomfort.
  • Cotton wool should not be used because the material is easily broken. [12] X Research Source
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Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 13

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Look for signs of healthy waste. Urine should be yellow with a slight odor, and stools should be a yellow-brown, lumpy appearance. Dark urine and a pungent odor are signs of dehydration; Green stools can be a sign of overfeeding, while white stools can be a sign of serious malabsorption. Call your vet if you have any concerns.

  • If the kitten does not urinate within 12 hours, you need to call the veterinarian immediately.
  • Most kittens poop once a day, but the schedule can be different for each one. Take your kitten to the vet if they haven’t gone to the bathroom for more than two days. [13] X Research Source
Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 14

Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 14

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Follow your kitten’s meal schedule. For the first two weeks after birth, kittens eat every 2-3 hours. Kittens will let you know they are hungry by meowing and writhing as if looking for a nipple. Full-fed kittens often doze while nursing and have round bellies. After two weeks, you can feed every three to four hours, with six-hour intervals overnight. [14] X Research Resources <i>Reproduction in Dogs and Cats.</i> Christianseen. Publisher: Bailliere Tindall.
Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 15

Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 15

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Keep kittens warm with a discreet heating pad. Newborn cats (under two weeks of age) cannot regulate their own body temperature and often stay warm by snuggling with the mother. You can simulate this behavior by holding them on a heating pad designed for puppies or kittens. Avoid placing them in direct contact with the pad: if the kittens come into direct contact with the heating pad, they may experience local burns or thermal shock. However, regular pads are covered with fleece so it shouldn’t be a problem, unless you remove the cover to wash it, it can be replaced with a towel.

  • As the kittens get older (over two weeks old), they may move away from the pad if they feel too hot. [15] X Research Resources <i>Reproduction in Dogs and Cats.</i> Christianseen. Publisher: Bailliere Tindall.
Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 16

Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 16

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Do not give milk to a cold kitten. If the kitten’s temperature drops, you need to warm it up slowly. Kittens are getting cold if the ears and/or pads under their paws feel cold. Put your index finger in their mouth: if kittens feel cold, their body temperature is too low which can be life-threatening. You need to warm up slowly by covering the cat’s body with a fleece blanket and bringing it close to your body, rubbing it gently with your hands for an hour or two. [16] X Research Source
Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 17

Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 17

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Learn more about caring for orphaned kittens. You can start with this article. Contact your veterinarian for more information and some recommendations. Veterinarians can also provide vaccinations against common diseases and deworming of kittens.

  • Orphaned kittens can be dewormed at two weeks of age, and, depending on their situation, can be vaccinated between 2-8 weeks of age. Kittens have weak immune systems because, unlike other kittens, they do not receive antibodies from their mother’s milk. [17] X Research Source

Weaning and Adaptation for Kittens (4-8 Weeks)

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Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 18

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Start offering more kitten food. If the mother cat is nearby, weaning (moving from breast milk to solid food) occurs spontaneously from about four weeks. At this point, the mother cat gets tired of the kitten chewing on her nipples and begins to spend time away from them. In turn, kittens when feeling hungry will eat foreign food and often discover the mother’s food.

  • Once kittens begin to eat food, they can begin the weaning process at this point. [18] X Research Resources <i>Cat Behavior: A Guide for Veterinarians</i> Bonnie Beaver. Publisher: Saunders.
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Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 19

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Water supply. Kittens don’t need water until they start weaning, around four weeks old. Any kitten this age, however, needs to be provided with a constant supply of water. Change the water when the old water is contaminated (because cats often step in and/or poop into the bowl). [19] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source
Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 20

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Provide food for hand-raised kittens. If you breastfeed your kittens yourself, the same goes for weaning. You can pour the milk replacer powder into the dish and dip your finger in it to teach the kitten how to lick first. Then, you mix more wet food with milk replacer powder to form a thick paste for kittens to practice licking food. Once they have mastered it, you can add more to thicken the mixture until the kittens are fully transitioned to solid food. [20] X Research Resources <i>Reproduction in Dogs and Cats.</i> Christianseen. Publisher: Bailliere Tindall.
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Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 21

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Adapt your kittens by introducing them to new things. Adaptation is a very important process when kittens are between three and nine weeks old. From three weeks of age on, you should be in contact with the kittens as much as possible on a daily basis. Introduce them to different sights and sounds, such as vacuum cleaners, hair dryers, bearded men, children. . . anything you can think of. Around six weeks of age, kittens are usually excited about new experiences, and what they encounter now will be as easily accepted without any question as adult cats, making kittens happy, interested, and happy. well mannered and sociable. [21] X Resources <i>Cat Behavior: A Guide for Veterinarians</i> Bonnie Beaver. Publisher: Saunders.

  • Use cat toys, balls, strings, or other objects to play with the kittens, but do not use small objects that they can swallow. (Note that kittens and cats can eat string or yarn if left unsupervised, so only allow this while interacting with you. Otherwise the kitten could suffocate.)
  • Do not train kittens to treat human fingers and hands as toys, or they may continue to bite and scratch as adults.
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Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 22

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Provide clump-free sanitary soil. Choose the placement of the litter box carefully, as once you get used to it, the kitten will likely continue to use it. If you’re potty training your cat, simply put it there after every meal, or whenever the kitten starts to crouch and scratch the floor in preparation for pooping. Clean the litter box at least once a day, or the kitten may not use it anymore.

  • Choose a tray with a low side so the kitten can get in and out easily. [22] X Trusted Source Animal Humane Society Go to Source
  • Avoid allowing the litter to clump, as kittens can eat the lumps, which can damage their digestive system. [23] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source
  • If the kitten doesn’t seem to want to go to the litter box, gently hold it by its paws and mimic the act of digging. Then let the cat dig a hole to go to the toilet on its own, and repeat the soil.
Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 23

Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 23

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Keep the cat indoors until it can control itself. With your veterinarian’s permission, you can let your cat out to explore. You need to watch carefully until the kitten knows how to return home.

  • Let the cat out when they are a bit hungry. Make them come back by calling their names and giving them food. This will remind the cat that while exploring the outdoors can be fun, its ultimate destination will always be your home.
Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 24

Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 24

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Give kittens responsibility. If selling or giving away kittens, you should wait until they are at least eight weeks old, but twelve weeks is ideal. Take them to the vet and get them vaccinated before they leave you. Always combine follow-up with the new owner to make sure the kitten is vaccinated and is expected to be spayed. Exchange phone numbers with the new owner, so you can confirm the cat is well taken care of, or in case the owner wants to return it (at least you can help the kitten find another owner).

Caring for Adopted Kittens (8 weeks and up)

Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 25

Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 25

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Ask previous cat owners to provide blankets that smell like the mother and kitten’s siblings. This smell helps them feel comfortable while in their new home. [24] X Resources <i>Cat Behavior: A Guide for Veterinarians</i> Bonnie Beaver. Publisher: Saunders.
Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 26

Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 26

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Ask about the type of food the kitten has eaten in the past. Then give them that food for a few days so it doesn’t make a big difference at once. [25] X Resources <i>Cat Behavior: A Guide for Veterinarians</i> Bonnie Beaver. Publisher: Saunders. Once the kittens have settled into their new home, here is your chance to change out their food with your choice and take it slow: replace a small amount of the kitten’s old food with food. new, increase feed intake slowly over a week. [26] X Research Sources

  • If your kitten eats dry pellets, then you should pour that into the bowl to feed them all day. If the kittens are eating wet food, you can feed them several small meals every six hours. [27] X Resources <i>Cat Behavior: A Guide for Veterinarians</i> Bonnie Beaver. Publisher: Saunders.
  • Continue to give kitten food, do not give adult cat food until they are one year old. [28] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source
Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 27

Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 27

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Water supply. Kittens over four weeks old need water, so you need to have clean water ready for them.

  • Cats tend to drink water that is not next to their food bowl. You should encourage them to drink water by placing lots of water bowls around the house.
READ More:   How to Stop Being Bossy
Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 28

Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 28

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Let the kitten get used to the new home slowly. Introduce only one room at first: letting them explore the whole house can be overwhelming on the first day. Prepare a resting place (preferably with two sides and a roof so the kitten feels as safe as in its nest), place food and water in the corner of the room, and a litter tray in the opposite corner. Show the kitten food and water and a place to go to the toilet, and then let it rest. This is a big day for little cats, so you need to let them acclimatize and get a few hours of sleep. [29 ] X Research Resources <i>Feline Behavior: a Guide for Veterinarians.</i>Cat Behavior: A Guide for Veterinarians.<i> Bonnie Beaver. Publisher: Saunders.</i>
Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 29

Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 29

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Take care of the kitten as much as possible. Spend a lot of time grooming, playing, playing, and interacting with the kittens. This will help them grow up with a sociable, friendly personality. [30] X Resources <i>Cat Behavior: A Guide for Veterinarians</i> Bonnie Beaver. Publisher: Saunders.
Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 30

Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 30

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Ensure the safety of kittens and objects in the house. Keep power cords and appliances out of reach of kittens so they don’t chew them. You can invest in a child lock for the lower closet if the cat is curious.
  • Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 31

    Image titled Take Care of Kittens Step 31

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    Plan to see the vet. At nine weeks old, kittens can get their first vaccinations. This is the ideal time for your veterinarian to examine, deworm, and start vaccinations. The basic kitten vaccine includes protection against feline flu and intestinal infections. There are also feline leukemia vaccination options. [31] X Resources <i>Cat Behavior: A Guide for Veterinarians</i> Bonnie Beaver. Publisher: Saunders.
  • Advice

    • Introduce the kitten to the new home slowly. Kittens under two weeks of age should be kept out of the reach of other pets, except in the case of a mother cat, and touched only when necessary. [32] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to the source Older kittens should stay in their nests and approach only one person at a time, until they are calm and no longer shy. human anymore.
    • When introducing kittens to other pets, it’s a good idea to keep them in your arms and another person to hold the other pet. Allow them to smell or lick the kitten, then let the kitten hide if desired.
    • If you let your kittens go outside, only allow them access to an area surrounded by a high fence, and always supervise them closely. Learn about the weather, as you don’t want the kitten to get wet, cold, or scared.
    • Use rattles to teach kittens how to hunt.
    • Wait until the cat is a little older then you can put them to sleep in the bed. Kittens may be uncomfortable and want to return to their bed.
    • Kittens are born blind. You need to make sure the surroundings are safe so that the kittens do not hurt themselves by touching sharp objects, or falling out of their nests.
    • Be careful because kittens can scratch the wallpaper if you use wallpaper in your home. Allow them to sharpen their claws elsewhere so as not to damage the wallpaper.
    • Apply and create a new activity for your cat once in a while, so they won’t get bored doing the same thing every day.
    • If your cat meows and rubs your body a lot, it’s probably hungry and needs to be fed. The important thing is that they need to eat the right meals and get enough nutrients.
    • Always do things carefully at first, especially with very young kittens.

    Warning

    • Kittens will play with anything they come across. You need to clean up sharp or easy to swallow objects so that the kitten does not have an accident.
    • The information contained in this article is not a substitute for the professional advice of a veterinarian. When in doubt, you should call the vet!
    • If you are allergic to cats, or kittens, you should not keep them. Living with a cat can make your allergies worse or lead to asthma.

    Things you need

    • Toilet tray
    • Non-clumping toilet soil bag
    • Cat toys
    • Bowl of water and food
    • Milk replacer for cats
    • Kitten bottles (or can be replaced with a dropper or syringe)
    • Kitten food (dry or wet)
    • Tissue
    • Cat bed
    • Comb (if the cat has long hair)
    • The grinding position slips
    • Clean water
    X

    This article was co-written by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott is a veterinarian with over thirty years of experience. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 and worked as a veterinary surgeon for 7 years. Then, Dr. Elliott worked as a veterinarian in a clinic for over a decade.

    There are 13 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.

    This article has been viewed 23,654 times.

    Keeping kittens indoors is fun, but you don’t simply feed and clean. The way you interact with kittens when they are young will shape how friendly they are as they mature. When raising newborn kittens, if all goes well, the mother cat will do the hard work. Sadly, the unexpected can happen and you have to take care of the kitten yourself, either because the mother cat is unable to care for her baby, or she has abandoned the kitten. This guide will help you understand your growing kitten’s needs in regards to health care, feeding, and adaptation.

    Thank you for reading this post How to Take Care of a Kitten at Tnhelearning.edu.vn You can comment, see more related articles below and hope to help you with interesting information.

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