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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.
Steps
Helping Mother Cat Give Birth and Care for Newborn Cats (0 to 4 weeks old)
- To learn more about how to help a mother cat give birth, you can check out this article.
- 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.
- 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.
- Remember that female cats can become pregnant 3-4 days after giving birth, so you should keep her indoors to avoid this risk.
Caring for Orphan Kittens (0 to 4 weeks old)
- 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.
- 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
- 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
- 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.
- 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)
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Caring for Adopted Kittens (8 weeks and up)
- 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
- 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.
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
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.
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