How to Take Care of a Four-Week-Old Kitten

Young kittens require special care to ensure their health and safety, especially if separated from their mothers before six weeks of age. At four-weeks-old, a kitten will first start weaning from its mother, and requires a special diet and frequent feedings to obtain the nutrition it needs. If you do not have access to the kitten's mother or other siblings, you must keep the kitten safe, warm and socialized to ensure its health and proper development into a fully grown cat.

Things You'll Need

  • Cardboard box
  • Towels, sheepskins or blankets
  • Heating pad
  • Thermometer
  • Blender
  • Kitten replacement formula
  • Canned kitten food
  • Shallow dishes
  • Litter box
  • Non-clumping, non-toxic litter
  • Cat toys
  • Dish washing liquid
  • Flea comb
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set up a box for your kitten to sleep and snuggle in. Wrap a blanket, sheepskin or towel around a heating pad set to the lowest setting and place it on one side of an empty cardboard box. Place a soft towel, sheepskin or blanket on the other side. Place a thermometer in the box to monitor the temperature. A four-week-old kitten cannot regulate its own body temperature and needs the warmth of a heating pad to prevent it from becoming cold. Maintain the temperature at 75 degrees F for kittens this age.

    • 2

      Feed the kitten a mixture of kitten milk replacement formula and a high-quality canned kitten food to form a thick, cereal-like consistency. Place the replacement formula in a blender with hot water and the canned kitten food. Blend the mixture until smooth. Offer the food to the kitten in a shallow bowl with low sides. A four-week-old kitten will just start to wean from its mother's milk onto solid food, so this transition mixture will help wean your kitten onto solid foods.

    • 3

      Feed your kitten seven times per day, using 10 ml of formula per feeding. Divide the feedings into four with the replacement formula, and three with the replacement formula and canned food mixture. Place the liquids in a shallow bowl for the kitten to eat from. Continue this procedure until the kitten reaches six weeks of age and you can decrease the kitten replacement formula to eliminate it by the kitten's seventh week.

    • 4

      Provide the kitten with a litter box that has low sides in a quiet place that it can easily access. Fill the litter box with non-clumping, natural or non-toxic litter, because some young kittens will eat it. Place the kitten in the litter box to show it the location of the box. Take its paw and lightly show it how to scratch the litter. Continue to place the kitten in the box at times of the day it will usually need to eliminate, such as when it wakes up or after meals.

    • 5

      Play with your kitten to properly socialize and get it used to people. Give your kitten toys to stimulate it and engage its attention. Use interactive toys such as those on a string to start playing sessions with the kitten. A four-week-old kitten will have the ability to walk and explore; playing with the kitten encourages mental and physical stimulation.

    • 6

      Check the kitten for fleas. If your kitten has fleas, wash it to remove the fleas, as kittens can become anemic from flea bites. Kittens at this age are too young for many flea-control products, and instead you can bathe them to remove the fleas. Place the kitten in your kitchen sink and wet its fur with lukewarm water. Lather a gentle dish washing soap or kitten shampoo into the fur, avoiding the face, and allow it to sit for five to ten minutes. Rinse the kitten completely with the warm water and towel dry it. Comb the kitten with a flea comb to remove any remaining fleas on its coat, and dip the comb in soapy water to kill the fleas.