How to Rear Kittens of 2 or 3 Weeks Old

Young kittens, between 2 and 3 weeks old, need to stay with their mother to nurse and stay warm. If you cannot find the mother or she is not available, you need to take care of her kittens to make sure they get the proper nutrition and care, because kittens this young cannot care for themselves. To take care of kittens this age, who have just started to walk and open their eyes, you need to invest a lot of time and effort, as young kittens require around-the-clock care.

Things You'll Need

  • Cat carrier or box
  • Blankets
  • Towels
  • Hot water bottle or heating pad
  • Stuffed animal
  • Kitten milk replacement formula
  • Kitten nursing bottle
  • Bowl
  • Washcloths
  • Paper towels
  • Flea comb
  • Rubbing alcohol
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Instructions

    • 1

      Line a cat carrier or box with blankets to make a nest for the kittens. Wrap a blanket around a hot water bottle or heating pad, set to the lowest temperature, and place in the carrier or box on one side. Place a stuffed animal in the box for the kittens to snuggle like a surrogate mother. Put all of the kittens in the nest together.

    • 2

      Prepare the kitten milk replacement formula to feed the kittens. Mix the formula according to the package directions. Boil the kitten nursing bottle and nipple for 10 minutes to sterilize them before use. Pour the formula into the bottle and place it in a bowl of hot water to heat the formula to room or body temperature. Test the formula on the inside of your wrist to see if it feels comfortable to the touch.

    • 3

      Place one of the kittens on your lap, over a towel, facing stomach down. Slip the nipple of the feeding bottle into the side of its mouth and bring it around to the front, holding the bottle at a 45-degree angle. Squeeze one to two drops of formula in the kitten's mouth so that it starts to suckle. Repeat this procedure for each kitten, feeding them nine times each day, with two and a half hours between feedings, according to the Pet Education website. A kitten between 2 and 3 weeks old needs between 7 and 10 ml of formula per feeding, depending on the size of the kitten.

    • 4

      Stimulate each kitten to eliminate after a meal by rubbing its anal and genital area with a damp paper towel or washcloth. Hold it over a sink or towel to prevent accidental spills while it urinates or defecates. Kittens under 3 to 4 weeks old cannot eliminate on their own or use a litter box.

    • 5

      Check the kittens for fleas by inspecting their coats for small, moving bugs. Brush the kittens' fur with a flea comb to remove any of the fleas you find. Dip the comb into a bowl of rubbing alcohol after each brushing to kill the fleas.

    • 6

      Bring all of the kittens to a veterinarian for a health check. Use a large cat carrier lined with a blanket to transport them together. Keep them warm during the trip with an additional blanket or towel wrapped over a hot water bottle placed in the carrier. The veterinarian will examine the kittens for external parasites and other health issues. He may give the kitten its first dose of roundworm medication, which he can administer to the kitten as young as 2 weeks old, according to the Kitten Rescue website. A veterinarian will only give vaccinations and flea medications to kittens over 8 weeks old.

    • 7

      Handle the kittens daily for short periods of time, about 15 to 20 minutes, in addition to feeding time, to socialize them to people. A kitten that has human contact and the company of its siblings at this young age grows up healthier and less skittish around people, making them more adoptable.