Newborn Kittens Care With Mom

7 to make sure the kitten defecates and urinates you need to take on the role of mother.

Newborn kittens care with mom. This generally occurs by the time the kitten is about 8 weeks of age. Soon you will be rewarded with a bowel movement after every meal and will not need to give this assistance. Wrap a heating pad or hot water bottle in a blanket to create a warm bed but position it so that your kitten can move away from it if she gets too warm. The first three weeks are the most critical because of the delicate nature of the young felines.

If the kittens are 1 2 weeks old bottle feed them with milk replacer formula every 1 2 hours. If you have newborn kittens who ve been separated from their mother consult with a veterinarian shelter. Provide blankets a heat lamp or a heating pad to ensure the kittens stay warm. Mother cats encourage newborns to move their bowels by washing their bums with her tongue.

While mother cats are as attentive and loving as human mothers there are instances when they could not attend to the needs of their newborns. A mother cat s milk provides everything a kitten needs during the first four weeks of life. If the mother cat is not around you ll need to prepare and feed them yourself. Chilling is one of the most critical dangers to newborn kittens.

The mother cat can keep the babies warm but if she leaves to eat or use a litter box the kittens can get cold. Make sure the room is warm enough as kittens are unable to regulate their body temperature when they are only a few days old. When a kitten is born find a soft toy or teddy bear to comfort the newborn cat as a surrogate mother and to share warmth. Allow them to eat the gruel for about 15 20 minutes and then return them to mom.

Mom will likely appreciate this break by this time anyway. Check tummies after feeding to see if they are full. Lactating cats should be fed free choice with appropriate food that is designed for lactation. Weigh each baby regularly to ensure they are all gaining weight.

Watch the litter at feeding time to be sure everyone gets enough food. Caring for newborn kittens can be very exciting especially if you know what to do. Like a human baby a newborn kitten will need to be fed frequently approximately every two to three hours. As you can see newborn kittens can quickly grow in a span of two months.

To care for newborn kittens when the mother cat is still present feed the mother to keep her strength up but leave the kittens alone for the first week to ensure the mother doesn t reject them. Newborn kittens cuddle up with their mother and siblings to stay warm. At 3 4 weeks old provide formula and water softened kitten kibble 4 6 times daily. At 6 12 weeks old start giving them dry.

A separate room is ideal. Keep an eye on the heating pad to ensure that it s working properly and that it doesn t get too hot or malfunction. Some kittens take longer than others to acclimate to the weaning process. By the sixth week kittens can become self sufficient.

If your kitten has been abandoned you ll need to keep her warm. As a rule of thumb for every ounce of kitten body weight he or she needs 8 ccs of formula. It is up to you as the owner to. You must accomplish this task.

Do the same thing with its abdomen and butt. Keep the mother cat and her babies in a quiet part of the house.