How to Take Care of a Newborn Kitten Without a Mother

My cat, Dom

A kitten may require special care because their mother died, sick, rejected, or abandoned kittens. Actually, if possible, kittens should not be separated from its mother before the age of 5 to 6 weeks. The longer a mother cat nursing care for the kitten, the more healthy kittens.  Here are some steps you can follow to take care of a newborn kitten without a mother.

As soon as you find the kitten, protect him from the cold. During the first week, kittens should be kept in temperatures between 31 to 33 degrees Celsius. Over the next two weeks, they still require a temperature of about 27 degrees. When they reach the age of about 5 weeks, they were able to survive at temperatures below room temperature.

If possible, take the kitten to the vet to check the general condition and the possibility of dehydration. Kittens who are dehydrated because of lack of fluids or diarrhea, will have little energy or appetite, so it's important to take care of immediately. The bed should also be checked to see if there was a worm or parasite. The vet can give you lots of advice on how to raise a kitten and what things that may be required. 

When you have brought the kitten home, you should still keeping warm. Find a warm, wind-free and closed place in your home.`

Giving milk can be done using eyedrops or treatment bottle (available at the vet). If you use eye drop tool, be careful not to force put milk into kitten mouth. Let kitten suck the fluid at their own pace. If a kitten is old enough to feed themselves, the milk should be put on the bottle. Remember that all equipment to be used must be sterilized first.

For feeding your cat, place her stomach on a towel or textured surface. Open mouth with your fingertips gently, then slide the tip of the bottle nipple between its jaws. To prevent the entry of air into the cat's stomach, hold the bottle in a 45 degree angle and push pull bottle slowly.

Milk should be warmed to body temperature and conform to the kitten, given every 3 to 4 hours. As they get older, give milk every 6 to 8 hours. Check the milk packs to determine the amount and frequency of feeding is recommended. A kitten usually takes about 8 cc of milk for every ounce of body weight per day. When a kitten has gained sufficient milk, there will be air bubbles around the mouth and stomach will look round. Each finished eating, help the cat to be burped by carry over your shoulder and pat her back slowly. Do not give too much food for kittens because it can cause diarrhea and other problems.

Kitten's weight should be weighed regularly to ensure they grow well. You'll soon know when your kitten is healthy, they grow up very quickly.

Mother cat is also caring for their kittens both organs, the mouth and anus. With a belly lick, a cat pushing dirt in the stomach and clean it up later. Foster mother cat should also rub cat's stomach and buttocks gently using cotton balls or tissue dampened with warm water. This will encourage the disposal of kitten feces and keep the baby clean. 

When you feed and clean the kitten, wash their fur with a warm wet towel. It will help in cleaning the fur, teach them to clean their fur, and gave him a feeling of attention.

Cat's fur need to be cleaned and exterminated from fleas. Anemia caused by fleas can hinder efforts to rescue the cat. Additionally fleas often carry worm eggs. Your veterinarian will use a flea spray suitable for kittens. Always check the instructions for using the product to be used on kittens. After using the spray (as described in the bottle), put the kitten on a towel that can be moved along with the dead fleas, 20 to 30 minutes later.

After successfully kill fleas, bathe the kitten with a mild soap. Kittens aged 1 to 3 weeks may be dried carefully using a hair dryer (not pointing to the face of a cat). Kittens are more often frightened by the blast and the sound of it, so dry them with a towel as you can and put them in a warm box.

If required you can start weaning when the kitten is 4 weeks. Begin by giving him milk in a bowl. Then slowly give solid food. You can also dry cat food moistened with milk or water. Do not expect kittens can be weaned in one night. When he began to eat from a bowl, cut through bottle-feeding.

Canned cat food can also be used to introduce solid foods to cats. Young kittens can not chew dry food without any water. Check the instructions on the packaging of food delivery and buy high quality cat food. 

Changes in diet can cause diarrhea, so always pay attention. This is because diarrhea can be fatal for young kittens.

4 weeks of age is a good time to introduce the kitten litter boxes. Put the kittens in the box after each meal. You need to take a walk and teach kittens scratching to cover the dirt. Usually kittens can learn quickly.

In addition to food and warmth, kittens also need emotional closeness. Some experts believe that cats are treated with care tend to be more intelligent, loyal, and have a deeper affection to their owners. Coach cats also recommend the same thing even swear that the love and attention they facilitate the training process.

Caring for orphaned kittens can be very difficult and foster parents may even lose nursed kittens. If a kitten dies, foster parents should not blame themselves. 

A kittens often die at birth, in the first week, or when the weaning process. However, with common sense and the ability to care for (accompanied by accurate knowledge), you have a wonderful opportunity to raise orphaned kittens to allow him to be adopted.