Care and Feeding of Orphaned Newborn Kittens

The ideal caregiver for newborn kittens is their mother. If the mother cat rejects the kittens or is separated from them, a feline foster mother may willingly care for the kittens. If necessary, humans can take over the motherly duties. Kittens need food appropriate to their age. They also need warmth and the opportunity to develop social skills.

  1. Preparation

    • Take the kittens to a veterinarian for a check up. Particularly if the kittens are strays, you will want to be sure they have no diseases that can be transmitted to others in the household. Trained professionals will give you advice specific to your kittens' needs and can estimate their age. If you are unable to get to a vet quickly and the kittens feel cold, warm them slowly with a heating pad or hot water bottle wrapped in a towel.

    Habitat

    • Create a warm place for your kittens. Kittens are unable to control their body temperature until they are about 3 weeks old. In a box or pet carrier, place a heating pad or hot water bottle covered with two towels. If the kittens sleep around the edges of the heat source, this may be a sign that the temperature is too hot.

    Feeding

    • Kittens need warmth and food.

      Bottle-feed newborn kittens with a milk substitute every two hours. Do not feed newborn kittens until they are warm, as they are unable to digest while cold. Do not feed a kitten cow's milk. If you are unable to purchase kitten formula, use the following recipe for emergency feeding: 1 can evaporated milk, 1 egg yolk and 2 tbsp. Karo syrup mixed together and warmed before feeding. A medicine dropper can be used instead of a kitten bottle if necessary. A full kitten will have a tight, round belly and will need to be burped just like a human baby. Hold the kitten on your shoulder, and gently pat its back.

    Hygeine

    • Clean your kitten with a damp washcloth after each feeding. Do not rub. Use gentle, short strokes that mimic the way a mother cat would lick the fur. If necessary, wash the kitten in the sink with warm water, and keep the kitten warm while drying.

    Socialization

    • Newborn kittens are delicate and should be handled carefully. Always supervise children when they are handling kittens. Allow kittens to snuggle with you to encourage comfort with humans. Pet the kitten gently and often to encourage the bond between kitten and caregiver.

    Going Forward

    • At 3 weeks old, transition the kitten from bottle feeding to drinking formula from a bowl four to six times a day. At 6 weeks old, start transitioning the kitten to moistened kitten food four times a day. At 12 weeks old, kittens should be eating dry food three times a day.