Sometimes human intervention is necessary to help an abandoned litter of kittens. If you find yourself with the responsibility of caring for orphaned kittens, it is important to recognize the hard work involved and the chance that, despite the best care, some of the litter may not survive.
That said, by following these basic tips you could offer an orphaned litter of kittens the best possible chance of survival. Hand rearing a kitten can be exhausting, but it is not overly complicated. However, if you are in any doubt about the health of the kittens you are caring for, it is wise to seek the assistance of a veterinarian.
1. It is essential to keep orphaned kittens warm. Newborn cats have no way to regulate their own body temperature and would naturally snuggle with their mother to prevent hypothermia. Without an adult cat, a litter of kittens requires a source of heat, such as a hot water bottle. Never use a heat blanket, because this can lead to the kittens overheating.
2. Hand rearing kittens is a round the clock job, as they require feeds at 2-3 hour intervals, including overnight. However, this is not a long-term commitment, as the kittens will be able to go without nighttime feeds at approximately 3-4 weeks old. When bottle-feeding kittens, you should purchase a good kitten milk alternative, which can be food in all good pet stores. It is crucial that you do not feed kittens with cow’s milk, as this will make them very sick.
3. You will need to keep the kittens clean, which will require regular bathing or wiping with a damp cloth. However, it is equally important to ensure that they are thoroughly dried afterwards.
4. Young kittens will not be able to excrete without assistance. You will need to gently wipe the kittens’ bottoms with a damp cloth or ball of cotton wool, which will enable the kitten to evacuate its bowel.
5. When your litter reaches 2 weeks, you may choose to mix some solid kitten food with the milk replacement. Even if they don’t eat it, this allows the kittens to become accustomed to the taste and smell of solid food, which will help with the weaning process at 5-6 weeks.
6. If one or more of your kittens seems weak, try testing its temperature by placing your fingers in its mouth. If the kitten’s mouth feels cold, then its body temperature has become too low.
7. A kitten that may be suffering from hypothermia can be helped by wrapping him, or her, in a blanket and rubbing continuously to increase blood flow and overall temperature. While rubbing the kitten, keep testing the temperature of its mouth.
8. Once the kitten’s mouth no longer feels cold, try offering some milk on your fingers. Hopefully, the kitten will lap up the offered milk. If so, you may choose to try a bottle. Never attempt to feed a kitten that is still cold, because this may prove fatal, as often the milk will enter the kitten’s lungs.
9. If the kitten will not take the bottle resume the rubbing action for a few minutes and try again. Some kittens may take longer to recover, so don’t give up after one attempt.
10. Remember, nature can be cruel sometimes and a weak kitten may not survive. This does not mean that you have done anything wrong.
Looking after orphaned kittens can be an extremely rewarding experience. Obviously, it is exhausting and, for the first few weeks, relentless, but it is well worth it to see healthy kittens thrive and become mature cats.
Tags: hot water bottle, hand, Kittens, Rearing, bottle feeding kittens, milk
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