How to Take Care of New-Born Kittens

Newborn kittens can be cute and fun, but if you are caring for them it isn't a game. During the first part of their lives, kittens need to learn how to eat, keep themselves warm, go to the bathroom and socialize. Normally newborn kittens would learn these behaviors from their mother, but if the mother is absent, you must show the babies how to perform these activities.

Things You'll Need

  • Foster mother cat
  • Milk replacer
  • Soft kitten food
  • Heating pad
  • Warm water bottle
  • Towel
  • Litter box
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Instructions

    • 1

      Consult a shelter or veterinarian about a foster mother cat to help feed newborn kittens. Do not feed newborn kittens cow's milk; consult a veterinarian instead on how to feed the kittens. Begin introducing milk replacer in a shallow bowl and moist chewable food at 3 to 4 weeks of age. At 5 weeks the kittens should be able to chew hard food.

    • 2

      Warm the kitten by placing it on or near a heating pad or warm water bottle wrapped in a towel. Place the warming item near the kitten in a way that the kitten can move away whenever it wants to.

    • 3

      Teach the newborn kittens to go to the bathroom by using a warm and moist towel to simulate a mother cat's tongue in stimulating the anal and urinary regions after meals. Use the cloth to stimulate the kittens to excrete every two hours after feeding. Start placing the kittens in a litter box at 4 weeks to train them to use the litter box as their bathroom.

    • 4

      Replace the blankets in the kitten's sleeping area twice a day. Every time you replace these blankets, wipe the kittens down with a moist towel to keep them clean. Do not soak the kittens.

    • 5

      Socialize the kittens by picking them up and warming them with your own body heat or playing with them. It is a good idea to get the kittens used to human contact early on so they are not scared by humans.