Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
Adult cats interact with kittens and puppies in a very particular way. Find out about how adult cats interact with kittens or puppies with help from the executive director of the Found Animals Foundation in Los Angeles in this free video clip.
Cluster feeding -- also called bunch feeding -- is typical for newborns. You might say your baby has his days and nights mixed up, or you might worry that you don't have enough milk. Neither is really true; a newborn has no idea that there's any difference between night and day, and cluster feeding doesn't indicate a low milk supply. Fortunately, cluster feeding in newborns generally lasts just the first month, although your baby may return to it during growth spurts.
Sometimes a human needs to care for a kitten younger than eight weeks old. The first thing to do is to make certain an unaccompanied small kitten is actually abandoned. If eyes are open and they move around but are unsteady, they are two to three weeks old ; if eyes are open, ears are up and they can walk around, they are three to four weeks old.
The addition of a new kitten in your life is an exhilarating one, whether she's a tiny newborn or an energetic 6-month old. In the midst of your excitement, however, it's crucial to remember that kittens' feeding demands are not the same as those of fully mature cats.
Observing the tender interaction between a mother cat -- or queen -- and her newborn litter of kittens can be a wondrous and fascinating experience. Nursing activities, which begin essentially right off the bat, seem automatic to most kittens. For most neonate kitties, tracking down their mothers' teats is no big deal.
Unlike facial hair for teenage boys, cats don't grow whiskers as a cultural right of passage. All cats, male and female, have them; they're born that way. As kittens grow, they lose and regrow whiskers just like adult cats, albeit more sporadically and accelerated at times.
Whether nursed at the breast or the bottle, newborns are notorious for falling asleep without finishing a feeding. Although you shouldn't overfeed a baby if she's genuinely full, you may need to encourage your sleepy little one to wake up and eat, particularly if she isn't gaining weight well. There are plenty of strategies you can use to get your baby to stay awake long enough to eat her fill.
Kittens are experts at keeping themselves entertained, so it's not likely that you'll have to resort to breaking out the catnip as therapy for boredom. But maybe your reluctance to give your young kitten catnip has nothing to do with her talent for finding things to do. If you've ever seen an older cat going crazy over the nip, you could be concerned about how safe it is to give to your kitten.
Whether you're breastfeeding, bottle feeding, or some combination, in the first few weeks of your newborn's life you may have trouble getting her to feed. While every baby is different and will drink the best in different ways, there are a few different ways to try if she's having trouble. However you're nourishing your newborn, try to relax. Being stressed and overwhelmed will just make feedings more difficult for both of you. Also, don't be afraid to ask for help feeding from your nurses in the hospital or from breastfeeding professionals, if that's what you're doing.
Weaning kittens doesn't happen overnight. The slow transition from their mother's milk to solid food helps kittens ease into normal eating habits, and it helps your cat's milk decrease gradually. It generally takes a couple of weeks for the milk to completely disappear, but it can take longer if the kittens keep trying to nurse.
To raise a healthy, happy kitten, you must educate yourself on what to expect from your pet. That means knowing not only how often the kitten should eat, but how often the kitten's bowels should move. If you ignore your pet's potty schedule, you risk missing signs of bigger health issues, such as a blockage -- and that risks your kitten's life.
If you're nursing a newborn, breast milk should be the only thing on his menu. Actually, when you're breastfeeding a newborn, you really don't have time to feed him anything else. Breast milk provides all the nutrition your baby needs; anything else simply decreases his appetite for nursing, which can hinder your milk supply. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding -- and nothing else -- for around the first six months of life.
Feeding your newborn isn't rocket science, but it isn't without its pitfalls, either. Every baby is unique; what works for your first might not work with the second. Whether you're breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, it makes sense to follow the same basic guidelines: let your baby set the feeding pace and schedule, and use feeding times as opportunity for cuddling and bonding.
You can tell by looking that a kitten is a kitten. But how do you know when that adorable little ball or fur is a fully grown cat? It turns out that kittens grow up fast. So enjoy every moment of kittenhood while it lasts.
Your kitten's eyes should be clear. Matting is usually a symptom of illness, which requires diagnosis and treatment from your veterinarian. If your kitten's eyes are matted, take him to your vet immediately. Prompt care can help save his vision and his pretty eyes.
Older cats lick new kittens mostly for practical reasons, but the pleasant sensation of being groomed is a perk that most kittens enjoy. For both practicality and as a sign of love, then, a kitten may grow up into a cat that enjoys licking even her human owners. When an older cat licks a kitten, it's because of evolutionary necessity, and it's a behavior long-ingrained in their instincts.
Newborn kittens are so tiny and delicate-looking that you may find yourself worrying about them constantly, but usually there’s no need. Most of the time kittens do just fine and need very little help from humans, but it’s still a good idea to keep a close eye on your kittens, just in case. There are several ways you can tell if a newborn kitten is distressed so that you can give him the help he needs right away.
Cats are not the sulking loners that popular myth makes them out to be. Cats, in fact, are quite social in groups. But some cats are shy and hesitant to approach other cats. This might be due to fear or a cat's perception of his social rank. Socializing shy cats can help ease their stress and help them eat or play better. But be sure to plan ahead.
Kittens are considered newborns for the first two weeks of their lives -- which is usually until they open their eyes, according to the Greenway Pet Clinic website. Those first two weeks of their lives are incredibly fragile, so if you notice a problem, rush the baby to the vet -- even a few hours can make a difference between life and death for a newborn.
If there's a chance your kitty was successful in getting a date with the neighbor's tomcat during her heat cycle, then there's more than a chance that she'll become a mother. With a short gestation period of only eight to 10 weeks, Felicity will be almost halfway to the end of her term before she starts showing signs, such as swelling of her nipples.
Female cats are pregnant between 63 and 66 days, according to the School of Veterinary Medicine at Louisiana State University. If you suspect that your queen is "with litter," you have that time frame to assess any indications of possible pregnancy, whether increased affection or unusually antsy actions.
As Princess prepares for her little ones, you can help make the birthing process a little less stressful. She may have strong opinions about where she will give birth, and if it's an agreeable spot to both of you, let her decide. Sometimes, though, you may have to influence her choice.
Kittens are small and delicate, so it's no surprise that what goes inside of their growing bodies is so important. Until a kitten is old enough to begin weaning procedures, you don't have to worry about what he drinks. His mother's milk can manage all of his nutritional needs.
If your beloved feline just had a litter of kittens, you may want to keep an eye on her newborns. She should be producing all of the milk she needs to feed her infants, although some felines don’t produce enough milk or run out before all the kittens have full bellies. Monitor your little fluffballs carefully to ensure they’re eating enough, otherwise you may have to step in and bottle feed them some of their meals.
When your pregnant female cat starts dripping milk out of her nipples, her kittens should arrive within 48 hours. That's one of the initial signs that she is going into labor. Once you notice milk production, keep an eye on her for further signs of labor, but don't hover over her and make her uncomfortable. She needs peace and quiet for the birthing process.
A kitten isn't going to be able to drink water right away. Find out how many weeks have to go by before a kitten can drink water with help from an experienced pet professional in this free video clip.
Aside from puppy formula, there are a number of different things that you can feed dogs depending on your preferences. Find out what you can feed a newborn dog besides puppy formula with help from an experienced pet professional in this free video clip.
A four-week-old kitten may not have the ability to eat on its own just yet. Feed a four-week-old kitten with help from a partner in the Chuckanut Valley Veterinary Clinic in this free video clip.
If your kitten has fleas, he or she needs to be bathed in a very specific way to help take care of the problem. Learn how to bathe kittens with fleas with help from a dynamic, holistic and conventional veterinarian in this free video clip.
One item that is great for treating a cat's soft stools is pumpkin puree. Learn how to give kittens pumpkin puree to treat soft stools with help from a dynamic, holistic and conventional veterinarian in this free video clip.
Ringworm is a fungus that grows in skin cells and keratinocytes of cat hair shafts. It consumes keratin, a type of protein that makes up hair and nails. Kittens are susceptible to ringworm because they are young and have not learned how to properly groom themselves yet. Ringworm in kittens commonly appears on the face, ears, head and forelimbs. Signs of ringworm in kittens include hair loss, crusted or scaling skin, blackheads on the chin, redness of skin and mild to severe itching. Once your veterinarian has done a fungal culture and diagnosed your kitten with ringworm, she will give…
When your cat is pregnant, you want to give her the extra care that’s needed for a safe delivery and healthy kittens. Good nutrition is critical to this outcome, so you must learn the dietary needs of your cat during pregnancy and the post-birth period. The appetite of the pregnant cat will increase significantly in order to provide adequate nutrition for the developing kittens, so a high-quality food is important to provide these nutrients instead of empty calories.
If you are not an experienced cat breeder you may have questions regarding pregnancy in cats and the birthing process. Like humans, cats develop inside the mother's womb and are born live. While pregnancy is different for every cat, many cats exhibit certain symptoms prior to giving birth. Some of these symptoms include restlessness, diarrhea and the release of amniotic fluid -- this is usually referred to as a cat's water breaking.
A kitten with sore eyes is a pitiful sight and, as a caring pet owner, you'll want to do all you can to comfort and cure the little one. Sore eyes in kittens can arise from various causes, so the correct treatment is vital. Because untreated eye conditions can cause severe and permanent damage, seek a diagnosis and start appropriate therapy without delay.
In cats, as in humans, a seizure occurs as a result of too much electrical activity in the brain. The lack of common language between humans and cats makes it difficult to tell whether strange behavior in a kitten is, in fact, a mild seizure in progress. There are many kinds of seizure, but generally a mild seizure is one that lasts a few seconds or a few minutes. A seizure lasting multiple minutes, or even hours, is considered a major seizure.
When scabs appear in the ears of a kitten, it typically means she has ear mites. However, there are other factors that could cause scabby kitten ears, such as food allergies and exposure to the elements. It's always a good idea to take your kitten to the vet if she has any sort of scabs that either worsen, do not improve, or are accompanied by shedding or peeling skin or ear discharge, or if she scratches at her ears frequently.
“Petz: Catz Clan” is a game for the Nintendo DS that allows the player to raise virtual cats. You have to care for the cat’s needs as you would a real animal. You must feed, groom, vaccinate and socialize your cats. The game will allow you to have three cats at the beginner level. You can help multiply your clan by breeding your cats to have kittens. The process is relatively easy if the chemistry between the animals is right.
Newborn kittens are voracious feeders and require their mother's milk several times a day. However, at times, the mother, also known as the queen, may not let her newborn kittens suck. There could be several reasons for this, such as sickness, a huge litter or rejection. Whatever the reason, newborn kittens will be unable to survive if they are not fed, and in such cases human intervention may be necessary.
Deciding that you would like to adopt another adorable cat or kitten may become a more involved and time-consuming task than you thought. Cats, unlike many domestic animals, do not take kindly to newcomers. Felines are normally skittish or can display aggressive tendencies toward other members of their species. By improperly introducing cats to one another, you may jeopardize any future chance of harmony within your home and your feline family. If you do bring home a new feline family member, keep in mind the nature of cats and bring newcomers into the home with caution and patience.
Infant formula contains all the essential vitamins and minerals a newborn needs to grow and develop. If a mother is unable to breastfeed a newborn or the mother feels as though formula will more adequately meet her baby’s needs given a variety of situations, a multitude of newborn formulas exist. However, it can be difficult to determine what formula is best for the baby. There are many issues to consider when choosing an infant formula including the type of formula and the formula’s ingredients.
When mother cats give birth to a litter of kittens, it seems only logical that they would tend to all of them. However, some mother cats reject some or all of their newborn kittens, leaving them abandoned or apart from the rest of the litter. The reasons why mother cats reject any kittens at all depend on issues such as health and the mother's ability to be maternal.
If you find a nest of kittens that are filthy and crying -- a sign that they are hungry -- they have likely been lost or abandoned by their mother, who would otherwise nourish and groom them. Ideally, kittens should consume maternal milk, which is rich in antibodies, during their first four weeks of life. It is in the kittens' best interest to make sure the mother really is gone before stepping in.
Cats are fastidious about grooming, and kittens learn this behavior early on. Occasionally, however, if your kitten has become especially dirty, you may need to bathe it. Young kittens in the process of weaning easily become encrusted with food at one end -- and with fecal matter at the other. Kittens chill easily, so bathe a kitten only if other cleaning methods, such as damp wiping, aren't sufficient. Never bathe a kitten that is sick. If you must bathe your kitten, make it a fun, easy and enjoyable activity so your pet will learn that a bath is nothing to…
Caring for newborn kittens is a time- and labor-intensive process, usually provided by the kittens' mother. If the mother is unavailable due to illness, has passed away or has abandoned or rejected the litter, you'll have to provide for the newborn kittens on a daily basis. Raising them by hand ensures the survival and healthy growth of a litter of kittens.
Watching cats deliver their kittens is an exciting window into the cycle of life. Most birthing cats, called queens, quickly and easily adjust to their motherly duties, including nursing their kittens. Generally, kittens will effectively nurse if they have access to their mother and if the queen has a healthy milk supply. Pay careful attention to the feeding and care of your newborn kittens, and you will receive kitty companionship for many years into the future.
A mother cat sometimes refuses to care for particular kittens in her litter or rejects the entire litter. After helping your cat through the birthing process, observe her behavior closely to ensure that any kittens she rejects you can care for yourself. Under some circumstances, you may be able to get her to care for the rejected kittens.
Whether you want a playmate for your adult cat or simply wish to add another furry friend to your family, bringing home a new kitten often results in temporary tension for your other cats. When a new kitten suddenly takes over your resident cat’s territory, the cat becomes upset and will often never fully bond with the kitten. Instead of chancing permanent disharmony between your pets, ease both animals into the relationship.
The Manx is a distinctive breed with long hind legs and no tail or a very short tail. Some kittens are born with long tails that are docked. Although being tailless is desired, some Manx kittens suffer from a severe neurological condition commonly called Manx syndrome. This condition is genetic. Kittens with Manx syndrome show symptoms by the time they are four-months-old. These kittens need regular bathing since they cannot clean themselves.
While children love to get a new puppy or kitten, most are often unaware of the vast responsibilities in store when caring for the new pet. Instead of believing that a child understands exactly how to take care of a living animal, make sure that she is prepared through certain games and activities.
Cats are territorial and do not appreciate other animals intruding into their space. If you plan to add a kitten to your household but have adult cats, you will need to spend time introducing the kitten to your cats. This can be a slow process that takes days or weeks before your full-grown cats accept the kitten as a part of the family.
