Instructions
Seek a surrogate mother. If you have another female cat that is nursing at the same time or know someone with a cat that recently had a litter of kittens you might try to see if the other cat will accept the rejected kittens. The reason it is worth trying to get another cat to nurse the kittens is because a cat will be better at nurturing newborn kittens than a human will be. However, don't automatically assume that another female cat will accept the kittens eagerly because it isn't always that easy. Sometimes another cat will accept kittens that are not hers and others will not.
Prepare a box or container where you will keep the kittens. Place a blanket in it so that it will be soft. It is important to keep the kittens warm so you may want to place a heating pad in the container especially if the weather is cold. Keep the heating pad on a low setting and place it on one side of the box or container so the kittens do not get overheated.
Purchase a milk supplement and bottle designed to feed newborn kittens. You can also use an eyedropper in the beginning. Warm the formula slightly by placing the bottle in a bowl of warm water. Gently place the nipple in the kitten's mouth while allowing the kitten to lie in the same position it would if nursing from it's mother. For example, place the kitten on your lap on its stomach. Never hold the kitten upright or tilted backward to feed as it could aspirate the fluid into its lungs and this could be deadly. Feed the kitten approximately every 2 hours. Kittens will normally stop feeding when they are full.
Stimulate the kitten's anal and genital area to help it go to the bathroom. Newborn kittens are not able to eliminate on their own until they are about 4 weeks old. The mother normally stimulates elimination by cleaning and licking the areas. You will have to do this manually. You can use a warm, wet cotton ball to massage the areas after each feeding. Newborn kittens are fragile so massage gently. Be sure to wash your hands afterward.
Be certain to keep a watchful eye on the kittens to make sure they are thriving. Introduce solid food such as moist canned food which is still mostly water content when the kittens are about 6 weeks old..At this point you have succeeded in raising your newborn kittens and they should do very well on their own.
How to Raise Newborn Kittens When the Mother Rejects Them
We naturally assume that a mother cat will feed and nurture her newborn kittens, so we rarely concern ourselves with the possibility that we may become their primary caregivers through the stage of their infancy. Unfortunately, there are situations in which the mother may reject the newborns and refuse to care for them. There are several reasons why a mother cat may behave in such a manner. For instance, the mother cat may not be able to produce sufficient milk to nurse the litter. Whatever the reason may be, when the mother cat rejects the litter, you will need to care for them in order to ensure their survival.