How to Rear Kittens

In usual circumstances, a cat rears its own kittens until they are weaned off milk. However, if the mother rejects its kitten, dies or is in bad health, then the kitten will need to be hand-reared by a person. This enables the kitten to have its needs met to avoid premature death. For kittens aged 2 weeks or more, the main priorities are ensuring it has warmth, food and drink. Kittens are notoriously fragile, though, so rearing kittens successfully poses a challenge.

Things You'll Need

  • Cardboard box
  • Woolly blankets
  • Soft toy
  • Hot-water bottle
  • Electric blanket
  • Kitten milk (bought from a pet shop)
  • Baby bottle especially designed for kittens
  • Litter tray
  • Saucer
  • Kitten food solids (bought from a pet shop)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Prepare the nest for the kittens. Place the cardboard box in a quiet area of your house, such as an upstairs bedroom. Make sure that it is not near any drafts or in a cold, damp space.

    • 2

      Keep the kittens warm at all times. Put the electric blanket at the bottom of the box, and plug it into an available electrical socket. Lie the woolly blankets on top, and put the soft toy in one corner.

    • 3

      Put the kittens in the cardboard box. Set the electric blanket to a low setting to maintain a constant level of warmth for the kittens.

    • 4

      Mix the kitten milk formula, following the directions on the milk packet. Transfer the milk into the baby bottle.

    • 5

      Feed the kittens every 2.5 to 3.5 hours throughout the day and night, if they are between 2 and 4 weeks old. For kittens 4 to 5 weeks old, reduce feeding intervals once every 3 to 5 hours. Hold the kitten in the palm of your hand and place the nipple of the bottle into its mouth. This will cause the kitten to grip it and start sucking.

    • 6

      Transfer the kitten to the litter tray once it has been fed. Kittens aged 2 weeks and up are stimulated to eliminate when placed on the litter tray. If they are younger than this, it is necessary to stimulate their ano-genital area using a damp wipe to encourage the kitten to urinate or defecate.

    • 7

      Regularly monitor the health of the kittens by checking their warmth, defecation habits and eating habits. Touch the kittens to check that they are warm enough. Keep track of how often the kittens defecate, as they can often become constipated or get diarrhea, which can lead to death if left untreated.

    • 8

      Clean out the cardboard box at least once a day to keep the area hygienic for the kittens. Clean it immediately if any of the kittens urinates or defecates on the blankets.

    • 9

      Begin to litter-train the kittens at about three weeks. Put a tray of wood chips with the kittens in the cardboard box and place them in it after every feeding.

    • 10

      Wean the kittens off milk-based food from about three weeks old. At first, place a saucer of milk in the play pen and encourage them to lap it up by directing their noses toward it. Then, gradually mix kitten food into the milk to familiarize them with solid food.