Warm the kitten
Little kittens do not generate heat, they need a heat source even on a
summer day. Also, it is dangerous to feed a cold kitten. For example, place
the kitten on a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel, in a box. The kitten
should be out of direct light and leave space for the kitten to crawl off the
heat if she needs to.
Empty the bladder
Newborns cannot evacuate their bowel or bladder unassisted. The kitten may
be in pain or in danger from having to retain her own body waste. Gently
stroke the kitten's behind with a handful of tissue, keeping the tissue in
contact. I prefer to use warm damp cotton wool or tissues. This must be done
before and shortly after every feeding. The stool will be like yellow
toothpaste. The urine should be pale. If it is noticeably yellow the kitten
is dehydrated.
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Feeding
It is important to feed a specially produced Kitten formula. Cow's milk is
not suitable. In emergency you can feed the kitten Electrolyte drinks like
Pocari sweat or Pedialyte. These are not food and only serve to keep the
kitten hydrated until you get suitable formula.
You can buy special miniature baby bottles; I prefer the model with a pointy
nipple. Pierce the nipple with a hot needle. Do NOT cut the nipple with a
knife or scissors, a big killer of kittens is getting milk in the lungs
from too much flow or squeezing the bottle. If you cut the hole too big do
not use it. Try another nipple or buy another bottle.
If you cannot buy a kitten bottle (most vets and the SPCA sell them) try
using a small syringe. This is risky because it is easy to flood the lungs.
Feeding with a syringe must be slow and patient. Even a tiny amount of milk
in the lungs will kill.
Heat the formula (in hot water) until it is comfortably warm. Shake the
bottle to even out the temperature. Put a fluffy towel across your lap. Hold
the kitten belly-down, try to center the nipple in the kitten's mouth, over
the tongue, with the flavour of the formula on the nipple. The kitten should
begin to suck so don't squeeze
the milk in. Be patient and calm and persistent, be extremely cautious about
applying pressure
on the bottle. Keep the formula coming at a natural rate without squirting
it down the kitten's throat. Watch the ears: If they start to go back and
forth, the kitten is getting just the right amount of formula. If formula
bubbles out the nostrils, stop immediately -- you are drowning the kitten.
Do not overfeed, especially at the first meal. Many small meals are better
than one large one. Feed the kitten until she settles down and her tummy is
full. End by stroking the kitten all over to stimulate her, touch is very
important and will help her body to function and keep her contented. End by
stimulating her to empty her bladder and bowel.
Frequency of feedings
Feed a newborn at least every four hours or on demand. Do not overfeed. Be
prepared to do night feedings.
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Be observant
Monitor the kitten's daily progress closely. if there is failure to thrive,
weight loss, diarrhoea, constipation, signs of distress, lethargy, or change
in body temperature, consult your veterinarian at once.
Fleas
Do not bathe, spray or powder a kitten before six weeks of age. Fleas can be
removed by hand and comb.
Weaning
This can be done at four weeks or slightly earlier. Start to mix some baby
food (chicken and chicken broth and beef and beef broth by Heinz and Gerber
are both good for this) into the warmed milk formula, a little at a time.
Soon she will be able to take it from your finger or spoon and then directly
from a bowl. At this point you can introduce her to the litter tray. By six
weeks she can eat solid kitten food.
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Homing
By the time the kitten is eight weeks old she is ready to go to a loving,
responsible home. If you do adopt out your kittens, please spay or neuter
them first, before they start making kittens of their own (which they can
before six months of age). A healthy kitten can be safely spayed/neutered as
early as eight weeks of age but at the very latest should be sterilised by
four months.
