All kittens are born blind, deaf, and unable to control their own body temperature, and are very dependent on their mother. When born normal, kittens need a lot of attention. When born prematurely, the attention needed will increase. If, for some reason, the newborn kitten is separated from its mother, you can raise the newborn kitten with commitment and patience so that the cat can live a long and healthy life.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Making Baby Cats Feel Comfortable
Step 1. Dry the kitten with a warm, dry towel
A good mother cat will lick the newborn to remove the amniotic fluid in the baby. This will help dry the kitten and stimulate its breathing, which is especially important for premature kittens. If the mother cat is unable to do so, gently dry each kitten in turn using a soft, warm, dry towel. Scrub the baby cat's body in small circular motions, mimicking a cat's lick, and continue to do so until the fur is dry.
- Don't separate the kittens as the body heat between all the kittens can help protect them from the cold.
- Premature kittens have a large surface area to volume ratio so they are prone to cold. This is dangerous because baby cats cannot control their own body temperature and a cold cat will stop eating, die, and then die.
Step 2. Keep the kittens in a warm, dry nest
Premature kittens will want to cuddle other cats to keep them warm. Get a box large enough for all the kittens and limit it to towels and a warmer or hot pack.
Make sure the heater doesn't come in direct contact with the kittens, as their very delicate skin can burn. Place the heater covered in a towel so the kitten can still feel the warmth, but won't risk hurting herself
Step 3. Keep the baby cat's umbilical cord attached
You don't have to cut the baby cat's umbilical cord or get rid of the umbilical cord that hangs from each kitten's belly. Leave the umbilical cord and placenta to dry, shrivel, and fall off on their own within 7-10 days of the kitten's birth.
Cutting the placenta can cause bleeding, hernia, or even cause an infection in the cat's belly button, which can be dangerous for the kitten
Step 4. Keep the room temperature between 29-32°C
Premature kittens cannot move away from or near heat sources. Therefore, it is very important for you to provide the right temperature. For the first three weeks, a kitten's body should be between 35-37°C. To achieve this temperature, keep the room temperature between 29-32°C.
- Lower the temperature to 27°C when the kitten is two to three weeks old. At that time, the baby cat will be able to control its own body temperature.
- Instead of warming your entire house to that temperature, warm up one room and set it up as the kitten's room.
- Provide an additional source of warmth in the nest. The source of this warmth can be a heater or a warm water bottle wrapped in a towel. Fill a water bottle with boiling water but make sure the kitten can't touch it directly as it can catch fire.
- You could overheat the cat. If this happens, his ears will look red and he will feel warmer than usual to the touch. An overheated cat will show displeasure and vocalize it. If he could move, he wouldn't stay still because he wanted to move to a cooler place.
Part 2 of 3: Feeding the Baby Cat
Step 1. Consider seeking the help of a veterinarian or animal shelter in your area
Feeding a baby cat with a bottle is a tough task. You should feed your kitten every 1-2 hours during the first week of its birth. It is very important to give the kitten a chance to live.
Don't hesitate to ask your vet or local animal shelter for help. They may be able to find a surrogate mother or put you in touch with a volunteer team with experience in bottle-feeding kittens. Some organizations can even provide you with free supplies to help care for the kitten
Step 2. Purchase milk for the kittens if the mother cat is not available
Kittens can only digest milk from their mother. If the mother cat abandons her kittens, you will need to feed the kittens milk substitute for cats. Cow's milk is not suitable because it contains lactose which cats cannot digest and will cause diarrhea. In an emergency, goat's milk is unlikely to do any harm and will prevent the kitten from becoming dehydrated.
- Cat milk replacement formulas are available online or at your vet. This formula is a replica of the balance of fat, protein and vitamins present in mother cat's milk. This milk substitute can be in powder form and dissolved in boiling water as is the case with human milk substitutes.
- Make fresh milk every time she feeds her because the high fat content will encourage bacterial growth and can quickly become contaminated.
Step 3. Prepare the environment and cat food
Make sure the kitten is warm. A cold kitten will not be able to digest milk because it will thicken in his stomach and make him sick. Make milk for one meal and pour it into a clean, sterilized milk bottle. Special feeding bottles for premature kittens are available in the market so they can be advantageous because of their small size so they are easy to use on baby cats and do not waste milk.
Premature kittens have something in common with cold-blooded animals. If the room is cold, it can't create a warm enough temperature for digestive enzymes to work
Step 4. Position the kitten on its stomach while feeding it
Lay the kitten on its stomach, which is the same way it feeds its mother. You can drop a drop of milk to the end of the bottle and touch his lips. If your kitten won't suckle, try stroking its head and back to encourage it to eat. When the kitten begins to make sucking noises, try offering the pacifier again.
Let her suckle until her belly is distended, but not swollen and tight. You can check by feeling if the belly is wider than the ribs. If so, that's a sign that his stomach is full and he has enough food supplies for now. Most kittens will fall asleep while feeding if their tummy is full. If this happens, remove the pacifier from his mouth and return him to his warm nest again
Step 5. Let the kitten burp after formula feeding
Kittens need to be provoked to burp after being fed formula, so you'll have to do this yourself. To make her burp, place the kitten on your shoulder in a prone position and gently pat her on the back. Keep patting until you feel or hear a burp.
Make sure you use a damp towel to wipe off any formula that the kitten vomits up
Step 6. Make sure the kitten gets the mother's colostrum if possible
After giving birth, the mother cat will produce special milk called colostrum and contains high antibodies. Colostrum is an immune complex that helps protect kittens from diseases the mother is exposed to, much like a vaccination. Colostrum will strengthen the kitten and increase its chances of survival.
Colostrum is also rich in vitamins and minerals that kittens need for normal growth and development
Step 7. Help each kitten get its mother's milk, if necessary
A strong baby cat will suck on the mother cat's nipples when it touches it and start suckling. Weak cats need help. To do this, try putting a drop of milk/colostrum on the nipple and then hold the kitten's mouth close to the drop so he can taste it and encourage him to suckle.
- The latter tend to produce the most milk. When dripping colostrum, choose the nipple that is back most of the way and place your index finger and thumb behind the nipple. By continuing to squeeze gently, approach the cat's nipple. Keep doing it and usually, the nipple will start to secrete milk.
- Feed the kittens frequently. Premature kittens are completely dependent on mother's milk for nutrition. The mother cat feeds little by little and often, which is about once every 1-2 hours.
Part 3 of 3: Ensuring Baby Cat's Health
Step 1. Follow a healthy feeding schedule
Premature kittens have small stomachs that can only hold a small amount of milk at a time, so they must eat more often to get the nutrients they need. This means that each kitten will feed for 5-10 minutes every 1-2 hours once-day and night! There are no shortcuts to raising kittens on your own and each kitten should be fed once every 1-2 hours during the first week of its birth. Here's an example of a feeding schedule for a premature kitten:
- 1-3 days - give 2.5 ml of replacement formula every 1-2 hours
- 4-7 days-give 2.5 ml of replacement formula every 2 hours
- 6-10 days-give 5-7.5 ml of replacement formula every 2-3 hours
- 11-14 days - give 10-12, 5 ml of replacement formula every 3 hours
- 15-21 days-give 10 ml of replacement formula every 3 hours
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21 days to 6 weeks-give 12.5-25 ml of replacement formula every 6-8 hours and the kitten's usual diet.
You will notice that the kitten is hungry because it will cry and try to suckle around the nipple as if confused
Step 2. Use a dropper for a baby cat that won't eat
Some premature kittens have weak suckling reflexes and find it difficult to suckle from the mother's nipple. In this case, gently open his mouth by inserting your finger between his upper and lower lips. Using a dropper filled with milk replacement formula, drop the milk a little at a time on his tongue. Let the milk drip back and trigger the kitten's reflex to swallow.
Time and patience are crucial because this process cannot be rushed. Never give more than a few drops at a time because too much milk can go down his throat before he can swallow it. This can make the kitten short of breath
Step 3. Stimulate the kitten to urinate
Newborn kittens cannot defecate until the mother licks their anus and genital area to stimulate the kitten to defecate and pee. You should stimulate this reflex using a moistened cotton swab. Perform the process below:
- Use a cotton swab soaked in warm water to gently wipe the kitten's bottom.
- After wiping the kitten's bottom, it will soil the cotton.
- After the kitten has defecated, throw the cotton away.
- Use a moistened cotton swab again if necessary.
- Dry the kitten's bottom with a clean, dry towel before putting the kitten back into its nest.
- Repeat this process 3 to 4 times a day and wash your hands after doing it. The kitten will have to poop once a day and pee every time you do this process. If the kitten doesn't pee, it means it's dehydrated.
Step 4. Keep the baby cat's environment clean
Kittens will get sick if exposed to germs and this can be a life-threatening threat. Always wash your hands with soap and water before handling a kitten. You also need to keep clean clothes to wear outside of your everyday clothes before picking up the kittens so you can reduce the risk of contamination from the outside world.
- Sterilize all bottles and teats after use to reduce the risk of infection. To do this, use a sterilizing product designed for human baby bottles, such as Milton liquid. Or, if you have a steam sterilizer, this will work too.
- Change the kitten's bedding every day. Kittens may soil their bedding or occasionally vomit, so it's a good idea to change the litter every day.
Tips
The process of breastfeeding for kittens is about 63-69 days, so kittens born before 63 days can be categorized as premature. Premature kittens tend to weigh under 3.3 ounces, have thin coats, and appear smaller than normal newborn kittens
Warning
- Raising a premature kitten is hard work, but it's very rewarding. Do your best but don't be disappointed if you lose a kitten in the process. If you are unsure of your ability to care for a premature kitten, contact your vet or local animal shelter for help.
- Do not bathe a newborn kitten by immersing it in water. If the kitten is dirty, use a cloth dampened in warm water and dry the kitten with a clean dry towel as soon as possible.
