Kitten Health Care

Proper care for kittens is essential for maintaining good health and preventing serious, even life-threatening, problems. Care is especially critical in the first two weeks of life, when kittens are the most vulnerable. Because they are fragile, weak and lack much of an immune system, they can easily pick up infections and die. Good health care is still important later on, however, and includes trips to the veterinarian.

  1. Newborn Care

    • The best health care for healthy kittens under 8 weeks is administered through a loving and attentive mother, say experts at the website Vetinfo. Mothers provide optimal nutrition and antibodies through their milk and teach kittens play and hunting skills, along with how to be less aggressive than they might otherwise. They also bathe their babies and stimulate them to urinate and defecate through massage for the first two weeks, as kittens are unable to do so on their own. If kittens are not able to stay with their birth mothers, the second-best option is to find a feline surrogate mother. The third option is human surrogacy, in which a person must perform all the functions of a feline mother.

    Human Surrogacy

    • If humans act as surrogate mothers, special attention must be paid to their health needs, according to Vetinfo. Kittens require a formula high in protein, vitamins and nutrients; a veterinarian is the best person with whom to discuss the best possible choices, as cow and soy milk are inadequate. Between birth and 2 weeks, kittens must be fed six to seven times a day in an upright position until their bellies are full and/or bubbles appear at the mouth. From 2 weeks on, those same feeding practices can be implemented three to four times a day. Diarrhea is one sign of overfeeding. As baby felines cannot control their body temperatures, they must also be kept warm; hypothermia can lead to death.

    Monitoring

    • An essential part of providing good health care for kittens is monitoring their needs and checking for potential problems. Healthy kittens are expected to double their weight every two weeks until 10 weeks old. Their immune systems are weak, however, leaving them vulnerable to diseases, bacteria and parasites. Experts at Vetinfo advise checking frequently for respiratory infections, eye infections, diarrhea and other health problems. Seek veterinary care immediately if you suspect problems.

    Diet After 4 Weeks

    • Proper diet is essential to caring for a kitten's health needs. At 4 weeks, owners can start introducing a quality solid (moist) food with lots of protein, vitamins and minerals. These can include canned, semimoist or dry food mixed with water, according to Vetinfo. At 8 weeks, when kittens are usually weaned from their mothers, they can transition to dry food. At transitional points, ease digestion by mixing the former type of food with the new food for several days, gradually increasing the amount of new food.

    Vaccinations

    • Vaccinations are an important step in ensuring a cat's health. Until kittens are isolated, isolation is recommended to avoid dangerous infections. The most common vaccine recommended by veterinarians first, according to Vetinfo, is the FVCRP vaccine. FVCRP vaccines protects against feline panleukopenia, feline viral rhinotracheitis and disease caused by feline calicivirus. The first dose is given between 6 and 8 weeks, with boosters administered every three to four weeks until the kitten reaches 4 months old. After that, annual boosters are given.