Having a pet kitten at home is certainly a fun thing. However, owning a pet kitten doesn't just stop at feeding and cleaning them. You need to interact and play with the kitten to make it grow into a friendly adult cat to interact with. In raising kittens, the mother cat also plays an important role even when things are going well. However, in some cases you are also required to be able to care for newborn kittens because their mother is not able to care for them or even does not want to take care of them. The steps below will help you take care of your kittens, especially in terms of health care, food and interactions.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Helping Your Female Cat in Childbirth and Caring for Newborn Kittens (Week 0-4)
Step 1. Provide a quiet place to give birth
Your cat will choose a safe place to give birth. In this case, you can provide a fairly large cardboard box with a warm and dry base for the bed. However, sometimes cats also choose a place to give birth on their own. Instinctively, cats will try to find a hidden and quiet place, such as under a bed, behind a sofa, or even in a closet.
To learn more about ways to help a cat give birth, you can check out the article How to Help a Cat Give Birth
Step 2. Do not disturb the cat during delivery and during the first two days
The initial 48 hours are the most important time for a mother cat to bond with her baby, so never bother her! If your cat gave birth under the bed, then leave him there! Moving a newborn kitten can be stressful for the mother, so she may reject the presence of her own kitten. When the mother cat is fully fused with the kitten, which will take about five days, you can move the kitten.
Step 3. Provide food, drink and cat litter box indoors
Mother cats usually don't want to leave their kittens for long periods of time during the first two weeks. So, try to always provide food and drinks near the cage where the mother looks after her baby. In addition, also put a litter box to dispose of cat litter and try to place it in one room. So, the mother cat can always monitor her child even if he has to urinate or defecate.
Some mother cats choose to starve rather than leave their kittens to look for food that is placed in a separate room
Step 4. Give your mother cat food meant for kittens
Mother cats need extra energy to produce milk for their kittens.
Step 5. Let the mother cat clean the cage and kittens
Animal instinct will help the mother cat to always keep the cage clean. Newborn kittens cannot urinate or defecate on their own, so the mother cat must lick her kitten's underside before and after feeding. It also aims to keep the cage clean at all times. Try not to disturb the cat's cage.
If the cat's bed is wet, wait until the mother comes out of the cage to go to the toilet! After that you can replace the dirty bedding with a new one
Step 6. Make sure all the kittens suckle
If the mother cat is still around, the kittens will nurse as soon as they are born. Newborn kittens will spend most of their time sleeping and only wake up every two or three hours to feed. If the kitten is not suckling, or one of the kittens is pushed away when another kitten wants to feed, you can supplement the kitten's diet with bottled milk. How to feed a cat with a bottle will be explained in section 2.
Step 7. Consider spaying your mother cat
Efforts to neuter (spare) the mother cat as soon as the kittens are finished feeding is highly recommended by veterinarians and animal-loving organizations. This aims to prevent unwanted kittens and can also benefit the health of the mother cat.
Step 8. Treat your kitten immediately so it doesn't get worms
This can be done in as little as two weeks. You can consult a veterinarian to find out the right dose and how to handle it.
Method 2 of 4: Caring for a Motherless Kitten (weeks 0-4)
Step 1. Feed the newborn kitten with a milk substitute
Powdered milk for cats, such as Cimicat, can be obtained at veterinary clinics, veterinary stores, or ordered from the internet. This milk is the same as formula milk for kittens and has the same composition as the milk produced by the mother cat. This milk substitute product has rules for the dosage that should be given to kittens.
Do not give cow's milk to kittens! The lactose content in cow's milk is not good for a kitten's stomach which is still sensitive. You can give your kitten cold boiled water instead of milk by using a special pipette or syringe, which you can find at a vet clinic or veterinary store. The water will keep the cat hydrated, but will not harm the kitten's stomach health
Step 2. Use a cat feeding bottle with a pacifier specially designed for your kitten
You can get them at veterinary clinics, pet stores or from the internet. In a state of urgency, you can use a pipette to drip milk into the kitten's mouth.
Step 3. Get your kitten to burp after every meal
Do this as often as possible while the kitten is small. You can hold the kitten and place it on your shoulder, or place one hand under its belly. Gently, stroke and pat the kitten's back.
Step 4. Get the kitten to pee
Clean the kitten's underside with a towel or gauze that has been soaked in warm water before and after your kitten eats. This will stimulate the kitten to urinate. Place the kitten in the litter box to remove the litter and use a towel to wash the genitals and anus after each meal. Do this repeatedly until your kitten has finished urinating and defecating, or when nothing else is coming out.
- Wash your kitten's genitals in the same direction, as washing back and forth can cause irritation.
- Cotton is not allowed to be used in cleaning your cat's genitals!
Step 5. Watch for signs of healthy urine and stool
Healthy urine is pale yellow in color and does not have a strong odor. While healthy feces will be brownish yellow in the shape of a small oval. Dark, strong-smelling urine is a sign that your kitten is dehydrated; while green stools are caused by eating too much. If your kitten's stool is white, this indicates that it has serious problems absorbing the nutrients from its food. Immediately go to the vet to get the right treatment.
- If you have a kitten that hasn't urinated for 12 hours, take it to the vet right away!
- Normally a kitten will defecate once a day, although each kitten has its own schedule. If you find your kitten has not defecated for two days, take it to the vet immediately for treatment
Step 6. Pay attention to your kitten's feeding schedule
In the first two weeks, the kitten will eat every two or three hours. When a kitten is hungry, it will cry or meow while looking for its mother's nipple. Kittens who feel full will usually fall asleep while feeding and have a fat stomach. After two weeks, the kitten's feeding schedule can be changed to every three or four hours, with six hours at night.
Step 7. Make sure the kitten is always warm with a heating pad
Cats under two weeks old cannot regulate their body temperature and will usually curl up to their mother to keep themselves warm. You can keep them warm with heaters specially designed for kittens and puppies. Avoid direct contact between the kitten and the heater to avoid the risk of burning or overheating. Usually these heaters are available in the form of a fleece blanket, so this isn't too much of a problem. However, be careful when washing the blanket.
Kittens older than two weeks will move out of the warm blanket if they feel hot
Step 8. Never feed a cold kitten
If you find the kitten's body temperature is cold, you should try to warm the kitten slowly. A sign of a cold cat is that the cat's ears and paws will feel cold to the touch. Try to touch the kitten's mouth. If the kitten's mouth feels cold, this means that the cat's body temperature is too low which can threaten the cat's life. You can warm the kitten slowly with a heating blanket and bring the kitten close to you. Gently rub the kitten's body for one to two hours until the kitten feels warm.
Step 9. Learn more about how to care for a motherless cat
You can start by reading the wikiHow article How to Take Care of a Kitten Less Than Three Weeks Old that Doesn't Have a Mother. You can also contact your veterinarian for further information and suggestions. Your vet can also give your kitten deworming and various disease vaccines.
Kittens that do not have a mother have a risk of contracting worms from the first two weeks, or depending on the condition of the kitten. So, you can start vaccinating your kitten from two to eight weeks of age. This kitten has a lower immune system than other kittens that still have mothers. This is because they do not get antibodies from their mother's milk
Method 3 of 4: Weaning and Introducing Your Cat (4-8)
Step 1. Begin to leave extra special food for your kitten
With the presence of a mother cat, the weaning process will usually occur naturally in the 4th week. At this stage, the mother cat usually starts to feel tired from having to nurse their kittens continuously and will start to slowly move away from the kittens. Instead, a hungry kitten will start looking for food around it and will usually find the mother cat's food.
The weaning process begins as kittens learn to feed themselves
Step 2. Get some water
Basically, kittens don't need water until they are weaned at four weeks of age. Kittens over four weeks old should have permanent access to their water bowl. Change the water whenever the water looks dirty or cloudy because kittens have a habit of stepping into the bowl of water or defecating in it.
Step 3. Lay out food for a self-bred kitten
If you usually give a bottle of milk to the kitten, the weaning process is also not much different. You can help the kitten by pouring milk into a plate and letting the kitten learn to lick it. Next, you can mix special kitten food into the milk to make porridge for the kitten. Your kitten will begin to learn to lick the mush. Slowly, you can increase the amount of food mixed into the milk to make the mixture denser, until your kitten is ready to fully digest the solid food.
Step 4. Introduce your kitten to new things
This process is an important process in the developmental stages of the kitten and is usually carried out during the third to ninth week. Starting in week three, introduce your kitten to a variety of sounds and shapes, such as the sound and shape of a vacuum cleaner, the sound and shape of a hair dryer, a bearded boy, children, and many other things. Starting from the sixth week, kittens will usually start to open up to new things and accept anything around them. This will make him a happy, adaptable and sociable cat.
- Use cat toys, balls, spools of wool or other things to play with the kitten! Avoid giving small easy-to-swallow objects to play with. A special note for you, kittens can eat their toy string or string if you let the kitten play unsupervised. This is very dangerous because kittens can choke.
- Don't teach kittens that their hands and fingers are their toys! This can result in cats having a habit of biting and scratching your hands when they are adults.
Step 5. Provide a non-clumping sandbox
You have to choose where to put the litter box carefully, because that's where the cat will always use it. If you are training your kitten to defecate, you can start by placing the kitten in the litter box every time they finish eating or are seen starting to scratch the floor to relieve themselves. You should also clean the litter box at least once a day, or the kitten will stop using it because it gets dirty.
- Choose a box that has sides that are not too high, so the kitten will be easy to get in and out of
- Avoid clumping sand, as cats may eat clumps of sand. This can upset the kitten's digestion if it happens.
Step 6. Keep the cat in the house until it understands its surroundings
You can allow the kitten to get out of the house and start exploring around the house if your vet allows it. Be sure to always keep an eye on your kitten until it knows its way back home.
Let the kitten play outside until he is hungry, then call him inside for food! This is so that the kitten learns to understand that even though playing outside is fun, he still has to always come back into the house
Step 7. Be responsible for the kitten to be given
If you are planning to sell or give away a kitten, wait until it is about eight weeks old. Even better, you wait until the kitten is twelve weeks old. Don't forget to get your kitten checked by the vet and inject vaccines before giving or selling the kitten. Always monitor the cat's condition with its new owner to make sure he gets the vaccine shots and also has a schedule for spaying or neutering. Also make sure you have the phone number of your kitten's new employer to make sure it's in good hands. This can also be useful if the new owner wants to return your cat or at least you can help him find another one.
Method 4 of 4: Caring for an Adopted Kitten (8th week and beyond)
Step 1. Ask for a blanket that smells like a mother cat or sibling
You can ask the staff at the shelter or farm where you adopted the cat. The familiar smell of the blanket will provide comfort while the kitten adjusts to its new home.
Step 2. Ask what kind of food your adopted kitten usually eats
You can give the same type of food for several days. This is so that the kitten is not too surprised by all the sudden changes that occur. When the kitten is getting used to its new place, you can slowly change the type of food he consumes according to your choice. Note that you have to do this slowly by mixing the new type of food with the old type. You can increase the portion of the new type of food along with reducing the portion of the old type of food that is usually consumed.
- If your cat eats dry food, you can leave the bowl out for the day. However, feed your cat every six hours if you are feeding the kitten wet food.
- Give special kitten food until your cat is one year old!
Step 3. Always have clean water available
Cats four weeks of age and older need water to drink, so don't forget to always provide it.
Cats will usually be more attracted to water that is not close to their feeding bowl. You can place several bowls of water in different parts of the house for the cat to drink
Step 4. Introduce the kitten to its new home slowly
For starters, you can introduce the kitten to a room in your house. Introducing the whole house on the first day will leave your cat too confused. Prepare a mattress or bed with a roof, so the cat will feel more secure. Also prepare a bowl to put food and drinks in the corner of the room along with a sandbox across from it. You can indicate where the objects are before you let the cat rest. The first day may be a little confusing for the cat, so let him rest for the next few hours.
Step 5. Give your cat as much attention as possible
You can play, interact, brush or do other activities to keep your cat close to you. This will also make the kitten grow into a friendly and sociable cat.
Step 6. Keep the cat and the objects around it safe
Keep your kitten away from objects that conduct electricity to prevent them from chewing on them. Locking the bottom cupboard can be a good option if you have an overactive kitten.
Step 7. Plan a visit to the vet
At nine weeks of age, cats can get their first shot of the vaccine. This is also an ideal time for the vet to check on the kitten as well as to deworm it and administer the vaccine. The most basic vaccine injection for cats is protection against flu and bacteria. In addition, there is also the option of giving cats an injection against cancer.
Tips
- Introduce the home environment slowly to the kitten! Kittens under two weeks of age should be kept away from other pets, except the mother. Try not to touch the kitten too much if it's not absolutely essential. Older kittens should be left in the cage and should only be approached by one person at a time until the kitten has calmed down and is no longer hiding from people.
- If you want to introduce the kitten to other animals, try to hold the kitten in your hand. Then, ask someone else to hold the other animal. Let the other animal sniff or lick the kitten and allow the kitten to hide if he wants to.
- Always try to wash your hands with soap and water before and after handling kittens less than eight weeks old. At this age, kittens have weak immune systems which can easily catch bacteria from dirty hands. In addition, kittens adopted from animal shelters sometimes get diseases that can pass to you.
- When you want to lift a kitten, make sure you support all of its legs. Over time, you will learn how each cat prefers to be held. However, holding on to the cat's four paws will help calm her down and not try to scratch her in a panic.
- Provide a board as a place to scratch! Cats love to use their paws. It's better to provide a special place or board for the cat to scratch. This is better than letting the cat scratch anywhere and damage the sofa or chair in your house. You can also prepare an unused piece of carpet as a place for the cat to scratch or nail the carpet to a board.
- Never hit your cat. This can frighten your cat, and may even hurt her. You can gently force the cat to make him obey. For example, you can praise your cat for a good behavior by using a claw board.
- If you let your kitten play outside, make sure that she is safe and protected. You can let the kitten play in a place that has a high fence and you always keep an eye on it. Also pay attention to the weather factor when the kitten is playing. This is so that the cat does not get rained on so that it will be wet, cold and scared.
Warning
- If you have allergies to cats or kittens, you are advised not to live with these cats. Living with cats can make your allergies worse and can lead to asthma.
- The information in this article cannot replace information obtained directly from a veterinarian. If you have any doubts about the information in this article, you can contact your veterinarian directly.
- Kittens are very active and like to play with anything they find. Make sure you don't put sharp objects or things that can be easily swallowed carelessly.
