Caring for Newborn Kittens
One of the strangest events in the entire animal kingdom is the rejection of newborn babies by their mothers. This happens in almost every species, and when it is a mother cat that rejects a litter there is more than just one little mouth to look after. Even if the care needed is only to supplement what an ill or somehow disabled mother is trying to provide, it really helps to have a basic understanding of what to do.
Naturally, the first thing to consider is where they must be housed. The standard cardboard box is always a good answer, but it must be free from harmful substances or chemicals and tall enough to prevent the kittens from escaping. It should be lined with soft and warm materials, and it should be cleaned twice daily. If the mother cat is recovering from a surgery, such as a C-section, she is not going to be able to remain in the box with the kittens, but her frequent visits should be to a very clean environment to ensure no health problems arise.
The next issue is going to be the feeding of the newborns, and the best solution is the specially designed bottles or tubes made to treat newborn cats. These are going to have to be filled with an appropriate substitute for mother’s milk, and many pet supply stores or veterinarian’s offices make cans and powders available. The thing to remember is that you will need to make certain that each kitten is receiving enough food on a daily basis. This is going to mean a daily weighing-in, and if you find that all of the kittens look identical you can use a non-toxic marker to leave a mark on a toe to identify exactly “who is who” among them.
It isn’t difficult to know when a kitten is hungry because they will make very piercing mews whenever it is their feeding time. During bottle feedings they might continue to cry, and this is nothing to be concerned about unless there is no weight gain during this period.
The final issue where supplemental care is concerned is in the cleaning and toileting of the kittens. Interestingly enough, the brand new kitten will be entirely unable to eliminate within the first two to three weeks of life without suitable stimulation. This is usually done via a mother’s cleaning of the area, but if the mother is unavailable to provide such service the human parent can do this with a soft cloth dipped in a bit of warm (not hot) water. This should be done roughly every two hours, which can take place after each feeding. If a kitten has reached three weeks old and has yet to eliminate it is necessary to schedule a veterinary exam right away.
