Raise orphaned kittens

Website design By BotEap.comWhen a kitten’s mother has died or abandoned her, the kitten may need to be hand-reared. In feral cats, the reason they are removed is perhaps to tame them. Kittens should only be separated from their mother after 6 weeks of age if possible. To tame feral kittens, around 4 weeks because taming becomes more difficult as they get older. Young kittens need their mother’s milk for antibodies and nutrition, so it’s best for the mother to feed her kittens for as long as possible. Passive immunity normally lasts until kittens are 6 to 14 weeks old. Orphans are the most vulnerable to disease since they do not have this protection.

Website design By BotEap.comFind a foster mother cat

Website design By BotEap.comOrphans need a foster feline mother to have a good chance of survival. Cats often feed kittens that aren’t their own, so try to find one by calling veterinarians, animal shelters, breeders, or the cat people you know.

Website design By BotEap.comYou should spend a considerable amount of energy and time caring for a kitten if you decide to feed it yourself before weaning age. But still, that does not guarantee survival since the younger the kitten, the more fragile it is. It may not survive no matter how well cared for without a feline mother to feed it.

Website design By BotEap.comWarmth and First Aid

Website design By BotEap.comWhen you find an abandoned kitten, the first thing you should do is protect it from the cold. Put it under blankets or next to your skin to warm it up. Young kittens’ energy is needed to grow and scream for more food, so there isn’t much left to generate heat. At first, the mother and siblings would give the kitten a fair amount of warmth. In their first week, they should be kept at 88-92 degrees F. The following week, around 80 degrees would be fine. Once they reach 5 weeks or more, a lower room temperature is tolerable.

Website design By BotEap.comTake the kitten to a vet if possible, its general condition should be checked. Without a mother, a kitten can become dehydrated very quickly and may need fluids under the skin. One sign of dehydration in a kitten is when she has very little energy and appetite. This is probably due to lack of fluids or diarrhea. The stool should also be tested for parasites or worms. Your vet may have plenty of advice on raising kittens on hand and the necessary supplies, so it’s best not to skip this step.

Website design By BotEap.comWhen you get home, provide warmth for the kitten by placing it in a warm, secluded, draft-free place. You can feed it using an eye dropper or bottle that is available from the vet. Be very careful not to force feed the kitten when using a dropper. Let him suck the liquid at his own pace so as not to fill his lungs with milk and cause pneumonia. The bottle method is best once you are old enough to breastfeed. A company called Catac even designed a kitty nurse that prevents air bubbles from entering the baby’s tummy.

Website design By BotEap.comDon’t forget to sterilize all utensils before feeding the kitten. To feed the little one, place his belly on a towel or textured surface that he can hold on to. With the tip of your finger, carefully open her mouth, then slide your nipple between her jaws. Keep a light tug from time to time to encourage him to suck vigorously. If the kitten suddenly aspirates milk into her lungs, immediately hold her face down until the choking stops. Seek veterinary assistance if the kitten is not strong enough to nurse.

Website design By BotEap.comBaby kittens should be fed every 3 to 4 hours and the milk should be warmed to body temperature. For recommended feeding amounts and feedings per day, see package. The number of daily feedings she should receive is determined by the age of the kitten.

Website design By BotEap.comSigns to look for when the baby kitten has had enough formula are, her tummy will be rounded and bubbles will form around her mouth. Burp him by holding him upright against his shoulder, patting him gently on the back. Just like humans, baby kittens should burp after every meal. Never overfeed kittens as it can lead to diarrhea or other problems.

Website design By BotEap.comKittens with anemia or those with a poor appetite may need vitamin and mineral supplements such as Pet-Tinic, which is available at veterinary and pet food stores. This will rebuild your systems and stimulate your appetite. Simply follow the instructions on the bottle and give it to him through a dropper or by adding it to his food.

Website design By BotEap.comTo make sure your kitten is growing properly, weigh her frequently. If he’s growing at an incredible rate, that’s a sign he’s driving!

Website design By BotEap.comStimulus

Website design By BotEap.comThe kitten’s birth mother cares for her kitten in many ways that we know of. She stimulates her baby kitten’s bladder and intestines by licking her abdomen. The surrogate mother cat should carefully rub the baby kitten’s tummy with a cotton ball moistened with warm water. Don’t overdo it, she rubs just enough to stimulate the kitten to discharge the waste. Watch out for chafing, which is an indicator that you’re rubbing too hard.

Website design By BotEap.comKeep the baby kitten and the area clean. Wash all the fur as the mother would, with short strokes and a slightly damp cloth. This gives them a sense of care and well-being as well. If the kitten has feces caked on its fur due to diarrhea, it is best to wash it with lukewarm water. Do this quickly so as not to make the baby kitten cold. Pat it dry.

Website design By BotEap.comThe kitten may become frustrated at the lack of its mother’s breast and cause it to suck on its littermate’s body parts, which can lead to irritation. Satisfy his oral urge by caressing his mouth with a soft cloth or your finger.

Website design By BotEap.comfleas

Website design By BotEap.comAs soon as stray kittens are found, they should be cleaned and fleas removed to prevent flea anemia. Flea anemia can interfere with your attempt to save any abandoned kitten, and fleas carry tapeworm eggs. There are flea sprays at the vet that can be used on kittens. Adams Flea Spray has been found to be safe to use on kittens and effective at killing fleas. Once the kitten is rid of the fleas, bathe her in warm water with mild soap or surgical soap if sores are present. Dry it immediately to prevent it from getting cold. You can also use a hair dryer if the kitten is between 1 and 3 weeks old. Be careful not to blow in their faces and keep the heat level tolerable. Older kittens are often afraid of the noise of the hair dryer, so you can choose to dry them with a towel and then place them in a container in a warm place, such as next to a refrigerator. You can also put the towel-dried kitty inside a pet carrier and then use the blow dryer to blow some warm air into the bag.

Website design By BotEap.comWeaning

Website design By BotEap.comYou can start weaning the kitten at the age of 4 weeks if necessary. You can start by giving him formula in a bowl. Then gradually introduce solid foods. Some baby foods that work well are Hill’s brand or strained baby foods. You can also moisten dry kitten food with water or formula because young kittens cannot chew dry kitten food. This takes time, so don’t expect to be weaned right away.

Website design By BotEap.comCut back on bottle feeding as he eats more often from the bowl. You can also offer canned kitten food to introduce solid foods to the kitten. Check the instructions on the package. Much of what is sold in supermarkets is junk food, so try to buy high-quality food from veterinary or pet food stores. Changes in food or diet can cause diarrhea, which can be life-threatening to a baby kitten, so it’s important to keep an eye on the stool.

Website design By BotEap.comSandbox training

Website design By BotEap.comThe perfect time to introduce the baby kitten to the litter box is at four weeks of age. Put him in the litter box after every meal. Show him how to scratch in the trash by taking his paw and start digging in the sand or trash. You will surely find out quickly.

Website design By BotEap.comlove and care

Website design By BotEap.comThe baby kitten needs emotional closeness in addition to the food and warmth you provide. Let him cuddle up with you and pet him more often. Experts say that hand-raised kittens show greater loyalty, deeper affection towards their owners, and display higher intelligence. Lots of handling for kittens also makes them easier to train.

Website design By BotEap.comMilestones

Website design By BotEap.comA kitten typically weighs 2 to 4 ounces at birth. He should double his body weight by the end of his first week. On his eighth day, he should open his eyes for the first time. For two more weeks his eyes will remain blue. The actual eye color will only appear until he is about 3 months old. The ears will begin to stand up in their second week. He will attempt to walk in his third week. In the fourth week, the kitten will begin to play with her littermates and develop her teeth. As for the time of the necessary vaccinations, check with your veterinarian. By week eight, the kitten should be ready for adoption and, if in good health, can be spayed and neutered.

Website design By BotEap.comHealth problems

Website design By BotEap.comAdopted orphaned kittens are very vulnerable to disease. Take him to the vet immediately at the first sign of abnormal behavior or loss of appetite. Upper respiratory infections and colds are caused by viruses that claim many kittens each year. Chlamydia is one of these organisms that causes permanent eye damage in kittens. It could result in blindness if the bacteria invade the infected eye. The eyeball can be severely scarred from even a minor infection.

Website design By BotEap.comWorms, food changes, and even overfeeding can cause diarrhea. The result of this is dehydration if not handled properly and could be fatal. Feline distemper is also a chronic hazard to baby kittens, especially those babies who did not have their mother’s antibodies. It is a fatal airborne disease, highly contagious.

Website design By BotEap.comone final word

Website design By BotEap.comRaising and caring for an orphaned kitten is hard work, even the most conscientious foster mother can lose the kitten. The foster mother should not blame herself if the kitten dies, nor should she take credit if the kitten thrives. A baby kitten is more likely to die at birth, in its first week, or during weaning. But you have a good chance of raising poor orphaned kittens with accurate information and the ability to care.