Caring For Newborn Kittens

Taking care of baby kittens can be a tough but rewarding job. There are many things that must be remembered. First of all, they must be kept warm fed and clean. Kittens will eventually need to be taught to eat solid food and go to the bathroom.

Things You'll Need

• Heat lamp or heating pad
• Blankets
• Goat's milk or formula
• Antibacterial soap
• Kitten food

Instructions

1. Keeping a kitten warm can be accomplished in different ways. Two of the easiest ways are to use a heat lamp and a heating pad. When using a heat lamp make sure it is kept far enough away so that curious kittens can’t reach it. A heating pad should be on the lowest setting and a layer of blanket placed over the top of that so that the kitten won’t overheat.

2. Drinking cow’s milk is very bad for the digestion of the small kitten. Goat’s milk is an easy substitution. There are also a variety of formulas made especially for the baby kitty that has been separated from the mother cat. Most of the formulas can be found at pet stores. All food should be served at body temperature through a nursing bottle, which can also be found at pet stores. Kittens should not get solid food for the first four weeks of life. Kittens must be fed standing on four legs. Feeding the kitten in any other position could cause fluid to drip into the lungs causing a life-threatening infection.

3. Treat a kitten like their human counterparts. They must be kept clean. Before handling the baby kitten wash your hands thoroughly with anti-bacterial soap. Wash all bedding several times a week to make sure that you aren’t harboring any fleas or diseases.

4. Going to the bathroom is not something that comes naturally to a kitten. A mother cat will bathe the kitten’s bottom and help them urinate and defecate. Without the mother cat to provide this care, it is left up to the caretaker to provide it. Hold the kitten under slowly running water and wipe the kitten’s bottom with a washcloth or cotton ball. Success will be achieved when clear urine or formed fecal matter is observed.

5. Eating solid foods should be started at four weeks old. Mixing the solid food with the formula or goat’s milk and putting it on the end of your finger to introduce the food to the kitten will be very helpful in teaching the kitten to eat. Once the kitten has developed a taste for the solid food, she can be slowly guided toward the food dish.

Tips & Warnings

• Raising a kitten is a lot of work, but if these simple steps are taken seriously it can and will be a fulfilling duty. Once the baby kitten has grown to be a little more independent the healthy playful baby will bring a lot of pride in a job well done.