How to Get Kittens to Be Quiet

If you decide to adopt or foster a litter of kittens, you need to provide them with feedings every couple of hours and care to ensure they grow up strong and healthy. Kittens who cry do so to alert you to their discomfort, so you can give them the attention they need. To keep your litter of kittens quiet, and allow both you and them to sleep, make sure you take steps to ensure they are healthy and free of distress.

Things You'll Need

  • Box
  • Blankets
  • Towels
  • Hot water bottle
  • Heating pad
  • Kitten milk replacement formula
  • Kitten nursing bottle
  • Paper towels
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Instructions

    • 1

      Warm the kittens in a homemade nest made from a box lined with blankets. Wrap a towel or blanket around a heating pad or hot water bottle, and place it on one side of the box. Set the heating pad to the lowest setting. Kittens younger than 3 weeks cannot regulate their body temperature and may cry when chilly. In kittens, hypothermia can cause death.

    • 2

      Feed kittens younger than 6 weeks with a kitten nursing bottle filled with warmed kitten milk replacement formula. Test the formula on the back of your hand or inside of your wrist; it should feel comfortable to the touch. Place each kitten stomach-down on your lap and insert the bottle nipple at a 45-degree angle to feed the kitten. Squeeze one or two drops into the kitten's mouth to start it suckling. Feed the kittens six to 12 times per day. Hungry kittens cry for food; feeding quiets them.

    • 3

      Stimulate the kittens to eliminate. Kittens younger than 4 weeks require assistance with elimination and cry if they need to urinate or defecate. Rub the anal and genital area of each kitten gently with a paper towel dampened with warm water until the kitten eliminates. For older kittens, place a litter box in their room or area that they can access at all times. Show them the location a few times, so they understand where to go.

    • 4

      Hold the kittens and stroke their fur. Orphaned kittens require love, attention and handling as part of their care and socialization. The kittens may cry for attention; and gentle handling quiets them.

    • 5

      Take the kittens to a veterinarian for an examination, if one or more of the litter cries continuously, appears lethargic or does not eat. Crying constantly for more than 20 minutes can indicate a serious medical problem that can threaten the life of young kittens. Medical treatment will relieve the kittens' constant crying.