Taking care of a newborn kitten is not easy. Kittens need attention and care at all times. If you have recently adopted a newborn kitten, you will have a very difficult task. If the kitten is still with its mother, the mother can provide for everything the kitten needs. You can help the mother cat by feeding it and leaving the kitten alone for a week. If the mother cat isn't around or can't take care of the kittens, you'll need to take over the mother's duties, including feeding the kittens, keeping the kittens warm, and even helping the kittens to defecate.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Feeding
Step 1. Consider the situation
The care you give your newborn kitten depends on: the kitten's age, whether the mother cat still cares for it, and how healthy the kitten is. If you find several kittens separated from their mother, you will need to provide everything that the mother should provide, such as food, warmth, and help with bowel movements. Don't rush into considering the situation you'll be in before you start caring for the kitten.
- If you find a kitten that is abandoned or separated from its mother, watch it from a distance, about 10 meters, to see if the mother cat returns.
- If your kitten is in danger, you must do something about it without waiting for the mother to arrive. For example, you should intervene immediately if a kitten is cold, left in a place where it could be bumped or stepped on, or in a place where it could be attacked by a dog.
Step 2. Ask your vet or animal shelter for help
Don't feel that you have to take care of the kittens alone. Caring for a newborn kitten is a difficult task and you may not have everything you need to ensure the kitten's safety. Call your vet or nearest animal shelter for help. They may be able to provide a surrogate mother to help the kitten get the nutrients it needs or they may also be able to help you bottle-feed your kitten.
Step 3. Provide food for the mother cat if there is any
If the kitten is still with its mother and she is taking good care of the kittens, the kitten will be better taken care of by the mother herself. However, you can still help by providing food and shelter for the mother. Just make sure you keep food and shelter in separate areas as he may not want to accept both.
Step 4. Feed the kitten
If the mother cat is absent or unable to care for the kittens, you will have to prepare and feed the kittens yourself. The type of food you can prepare for your kitten will depend on its age. Be sure to ask your vet about any particular dietary needs your kitten has.
- When your kitten is 1-2 years old, bottle feed him every 1-2 hours with a commercial milk replacement formula. Do not give cow's milk to kittens as it is too difficult to digest.
- When the kitten is 3-4 years old, provide a solution of formula milk and kitten food softened with water in a low container. Feed him 4-6 times a day.
- When the kitten is 6-12 weeks old, cut back on formula and start feeding the kitten dry food. Feed him 4 times a day.
Step 5. Weigh the kitten once a week
To ensure that your kitten is getting proper nutrition and gaining weight, you should weigh it once a week and record its weight. Kittens should gain 50-11 grams of weight per week. Talk to your vet if you are concerned that your kitten is having a hard time gaining weight.
Part 2 of 3: Holding and Caring for the Kitten
Step 1. Leave the kitten alone for the first week if she is still with her mother
The mother cat will reject the kitten or get angry if the kitten is held too often, so it is best to leave the kitten alone while the mother is still around. However, from 2-7 weeks of age, it is very important to get the kitten used to being held by humans.
Step 2. Hold the kitten gently
Be careful when handling newborn kittens. If a small child will be holding the kitten, teach him how to handle it gently and never allow him to handle the kitten unsupervised. Newborn kittens are very fragile and even small children can seriously injure them.
Step 3. Provide a bed for the kitten
If your kitten doesn't have a bed yet, make sure you provide it somewhere warm, dry, and away from predators. Make sure the chosen place is safe and protected from wind that enters the house. You can use a box or cat cage lined with a clean towel or blanket.
Step 4. Keep the kitten warm
If the mother cat is not present, you should provide a heater or a warm water bottle wrapped in a towel to keep the kitten warm. Just make sure the kitten can move away from the heater if it feels hot. Check on him often to make sure he's comfortable.
Part 3 of 3: Helping the Kitten Pee
Step 1. Allow the mother cat to assist the kittens if the mother is present or can take care of her
If the mother cat is still around to help her litter, let her do her job. During the first few weeks of birth, the mother cat will lick the genital area of her babies like this.
Step 2. Help the kitten urinate if needed
If the mother isn't around, you'll need to help the kitten defecate for the first few weeks after birth. Use a damp washcloth or cotton swab or to rub each kitten's genital area until he pees and/or has a bowel movement. Wash or dispose of the rags immediately and dry the kittens before returning them to their siblings.
Step 3. Teach the kitten to use the litter box at four weeks of age
By 4 weeks of age, your kitten is ready to start using the litter box. To teach it, put the kitten in the litter box after he has finished eating. When the kitten is done using it, return it with its siblings and place the other kitten in the litter box. Allow each kitten a few minutes to use the litter box after they finish eating.
Step 4. Watch for problems
If you notice that a kitten doesn't defecate when assisted or placed in the litter box, you should contact your veterinarian as soon as possible to find out what's going on. The kitten may be constipated or have a blockage in its digestive system that needs to be cleared.
Tips
- Don't hesitate to ask your vet or animal shelter for help. They may have someone willing to help you take care of the kitten which will increase its chances of survival.
- Do not allow small children under 8 years of age to handle the kitten unsupervised and before the cat reaches 5-6 weeks of age.
Warning
- Do not hold a newborn kitten like a human baby when feeding it via a bottle. If you do this, the milk may enter the kitten's lungs. Always feed the kitten standing on the floor or on your lap.
- Do not bathe the kitten until it is over 9 weeks old as the mother may ignore it as the kitten will lose its mother's scent.
- Remember not to feed the kittens with cow's milk! Cow's milk is very difficult to digest and can make kittens sick.
- Call the vet as soon as possible if one of the kittens looks sick (weak, sneezes a lot, won't eat, etc.). Kittens can die or become malnourished if they are sick.
- If you are giving a newborn kitten to someone, make sure that the cardboard box in which you keep the kitten has holes in it and that there are plenty of blankets and food for the kitten to survive. Kittens need to stay warm, especially if exposed to cold air.
