Newborn kittens (from one day old to about three weeks old) need a lot of attention and care. Kittens abandoned by their mothers are quite helpless and unable to care for themselves. Kittens can't even defecate or pee without the help of their mother. If you are rescuing a kitten that is less than three weeks old, you will need to know how to encourage the newborn kitten to defecate. Kittens under three weeks old need stimulation after feeding to help them defecate. Continue reading to learn how to make a kitten poop.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Using Massage to Make Kittens Poop
Step 1. Position the kitten to stimulate it
After the kitten has been fed, hold the cat and place your non-holding hand under the cat's belly and its bottom facing you. Your grip should feel soft, but tight enough that the kitten can't escape your grasp. Make sure you stimulate the kitten in a warm room. Newborn kittens will get sick or even die if they catch a cold.
Step 2. Cover your dominant hand with a warm, damp washcloth
You will use this washcloth to stimulate the kitten's stomach and rectal areas to allow them to defecate. The mother cat bathes her kittens thoroughly with her tongue after she finishes eating, but a warm, damp washcloth can be a substitute for the mother cat's tongue. It's a good idea to use a light-colored cloth so you can see if the kitten has peed or not.
- Use a washcloth made specifically for pet use. Do not use washcloths that you use in the kitchen or to wash your face.
- You can also use cotton or gauze soaked in warm water to help the kitten defecate.
Step 3. Move the hand protected by the washcloth toward the kitten's bottom
Using your thumbs and fingers, gently massage the kitten's anal area with a washcloth. Your thumb will have to work a lot and act as the mother's tongue as she licks the kitten's bottom to get her to pee.
Step 4. Check now and see if the kitten has pooped or peed
If not, continue massaging the anal area. When the kitten starts to pee, you will feel something warm on the hand that is massaging the kitten's bottom. Keep massaging until the kitten has finished peeing, and check to see if the kitten is almost pooping.
This process is carried out for no more than 60 seconds. If your kitten is not pooping or urinating after feeding, you should contact your veterinarian
Step 5. Adjust the washcloth in your hand so that your thumb is covered with the clean part of the cloth
Continue to massage the kitten and readjust the cloth if necessary. Every now and then, move the cloth so that the feces don't make the kitten's body dirty. If you used cotton or gauze, discard any soiled cotton or gauze and continue massaging the kitten with new cotton or gauze.
Keep in mind that a kitten's stool is normally soft as long as the kitten is drinking formula. Dense stools will not form until the kitten has switched to solid food
Part 2 of 2: Cleaning the Kitten
Step 1. Clean and dry the kitten's bottom after it's finished defecating
After the kitten has finished defecating, wipe the cat's bottom to make sure it's clean. Then, using a dry towel or other dry cloth, wipe the cat's bottom as dry as possible. Making sure the kitten's bottom is clean and dry will prevent the kitten from getting rashes or infections.
Step 2. Return the kitten to its original place
Put the kitten back with its siblings in the box or cage where you kept it. Repeat the rectal massage process for each kitten you care for. Make sure you use a clean rag for each kitten.
Step 3. Clean the tools you use
If you use cotton or gauze, you can throw it away right away. If using a washcloth, wash it thoroughly after stimulation. The best option is to wash it in a hot washing machine with detergent and bleach.
DO NOT leave the washcloth dirty and use it later to make the kitten defecate. Reusing soiled cloths can give your kitten an infection, which can cause serious health problems
Step 4. Wash your hands thoroughly after massaging the kitten's anal area
Even if you use a washcloth between your kitten's hand and anus, that doesn't mean that urine and feces won't stick to your hands. Be sure to wash your hands with antibacterial soap and warm water after stimulating the kitten to defecate.
Tips
- Schedule an appointment with the vet for 24 hours from the time the kitten is found. It's important to get your kitten checked by a vet as soon as possible to make sure it's healthy and that it's been vaccinated or given the medications the kitten needs to grow up healthy. The vet can also answer some of the questions you may have about caring for a new kitten, including stimulating them to defecate.
- Massage the kitten's anal area after each feeding. That is, about every 2 to 3 hours, 24/7 until the kitten is three weeks old. Some kittens will meow and “complain” when you do this, but don't give in to the crying because it has to be done.
- Kittens around 4 weeks old can be introduced to the litter box. Put the kitten in the litter box after feeding to help it understand what to do.
- Ivory white or pink fabrics are the best fabric colors to use. This cloth should have a fairly rough texture (with a knitted fabric) and not soft because it has to follow the mother cat's rough tongue while cleaning her kittens.
Warning
- Don't be rude to the kitten. After all, kittens are babies, and kittens should be treated with tenderness and kindness. Violence or rough massage can break a kitten's bones or worse.
- Do not grip the kitten too tightly as you could crush it and cause internal injuries or even death. A soft but tight grip is really needed when holding a kitten!!
- Do not hold the kitten too gently while doing the massage. If you drop the kitten, you can cause serious trouble for the cat. Your grip should be tight enough that the kitten can't escape, no matter how hard it tries to escape!
