How To Raise Orphaned Kittens
They should be petted cuddled and played with by humans for 30 40 minutes a day over and above feeding and cleaning time.
How to raise orphaned kittens. Kittens need mental and physical stimulation. This along with bottles and droppers for feeding can usually be found in the. Your kitten may dig around the litter box for a while or shun the litter box by hopping out of it. Mix the wet food with water until it achieves a soupy consistency and consider warming the mixture before serving.
Feeding during the first week. A kitten who hasn t been properly socialized may develop fear aggression and avoid human contact. If you have found abandoned feral or orphaned kittens and wish to rescue and raise them here s everything you need to know. A mom cat can be harder to spot than the stealth bomber but just because she s not there now doesn t mean she s not around.
They should be petted cuddled and played with by humans for 30 40 minutes a day over and above feeding and cleaning time. If they have littermates they will stimulate each other when moving. If there is a foster mother available her kittens should be no more than 14 days older than the orphaned kitten. Raising orphaned kittens compared to most mammals kittens are very premature when they are born.
Orphaned neonatal kittens require around the clock care so you ll want to establish a routine of care every 2 4 hours the younger they are the more frequent the intervals between feedings it s normal for the kittens to sleep just make sure they are in a safe and confined space. Fostering kittens is fun rewarding and lightning fast if you do it right. If the kittens are clean plump. It s also important to monitor the kittens while they are eating as they are unsteady and can fall head first into the food.
If your kitten is among those that hop out simply take them and place them back in the litter box in an hour. When the orphaned kittens reach about 3 weeks of age you can start providing watered down meat based kitten food for them to nibble on. Continue to introduce them to it after meals and in the morning and every time you think they are about to urinate or defecate gently place them in their litter box to do the job. A foster mother isn t always possible so you will have to hand raise the kitten using an artificial formula designed especially for use on kittens.
Additionally clean the kittens fur in short strokes with a damp cloth when they ve finished eating. Once they start eating food as it comes. Exposing your kitten to new people animals and experiences will help build a foundation for a lifetime of positive behavior. Should i take in an abandoned kitten.
Make sure you keep a fresh supply and not too much at one time. Orphaned or hand fed kittens should be raised together to aid in social development. Be certain kittens are really abandoned before you disturb a nest. When raising a kitten socialization is crucial in providing proper kitten care.
After feeding the kittens you ll need to wipe their genitals with a damp cotton swab to encourage them to urinate. Orphaned or hand fed kittens should be raised together to aid in social development. To care for orphaned kittens less than 3 weeks of age feed them every 2 3 hours with powdered cat milk replacer heated to 95 degrees f. Feeding orphaned kittens orphans are labor intensive to raise but it can be done effectively.