To the doctors and staff at the Animal Clinic at Thorndale, there is nothing more precious than our newborn patients. In most cases, the mother will be able to take of the kittens with just a little extra help from you. However sometimes, if the mother is ill or not available, or if the litter is too large for the mother to nurse properly, you will need to step in to help. We are here to help you along the way.
The newborn kittens should be ready to nurse as soon as you arrive at home after Caesarean section or shortly after normal delivery.
When to Step in to Help the Newborn Kittens
Kittens should sleep or be nursing 90% of the time. If they are crying or whining, something is likely to be wrong. Uterine infections, inadequate milk, and poor-quality or infected milk are the most likely causes. The entire litter can die within 24 hours if one of these occurs. If you are not comfortable with the way the litter is doing, the kittens and the mother should be examined by a veterinarian.
If the mother does not have any milk at first, you may supplement the kittens for the first day or two. There are several good commercial feline milk replacers available. Nursing bottles are available, made in the appropriate size for tiny mouths. The following formula may be used for a day or two if the other products are not available. Keep in mind that cats are NOT cows. A commercial milk replacer is the best option for supplemental feeding.
- 1 cup milk + 1 tablespoon corn oil + 1 pinch of salt + 3 egg yolks (no whites). Blend until uniform. It should be fed at the rate of l oz (30 cc or 30 ml) per 1/4 # of kitten weight PER 24 HOURS. That amount should be divided into 3-5 feedings. The average newborn kitten weighs 1/4 # at birth.
- Another alternative is canned goat’s milk that is available in most grocery stores. It should be fed at the above amounts.
Although we prefer that kittens begin nursing immediately, a healthy newborn can survive nicely for up to 12 hours without nursing. However, if the newborn is weak, dehydrated, or chilled, nourishment must be given very soon. In this case the kitten needs to be warmed prior to feeding.
Orphan Kittens
When the mother is not available, orphan kittens can be successfully raised. Bottle feeding with a commercial cat milk replacer is the best. If the kittens must be initially tube fed, schedule an appointment with the veterinarian so that you can be taught the proper technique. Orphans will need to be fed every two hours initially. If they are gaining weight, you can reduce the feeding frequency to every 4 hours in about a week.
Because the mother is not present to stimulate urination and defecation by licking the kittens, you must take over this job as well. Using a warm moist cotton ball or soft cloth, gently stroke the anus and the urethra until elimination occurs. It is best to do this with each feeding
Environmental temperature control
A newborn kitten is not able to regulate its body temperature very well. As long as the kittens stay near their mother, the room temperature is not too critical. However, if they are not with their mother, the room temperature should be between 85 and 90 F (29.4 and 32.2 C). If the litter is kept outside, chilling or overheating is much more likely to occur. The newborns should be kept inside the house or the garage if possible.
The Older Kitten
Weaning Kittens
Weaning should begin when the kittens are about 3 weeks old. The first step is to place a commercial cat milk replacer in a flat saucer. The kittens’ noses should be dipped in this mixture 2-3 times per day until they begin to lap. Once lapping begins, a kitten-type canned food should be crumbled in the milk replacer. As they begin to eat the solid food, the milk should be reduced until they are eating only the solid food. Once they are eating solid food (about 5-6 weeks of age), they are fully weaned. We recommend waiting until they are 8 weeks of age before they are placed in their new home.
Early Health Care for the Kittens
Kittens should be treated for worms when they are 3 and 6 weeks of age. It is important that accurate weights are obtained for the kittens so that the proper dose of medication can be used.
The first vaccinations typically begin at 6-8 weeks of age. If your kittens were not able to nurse during the first 3 days of life, they will not have received proper immunity from their mother. In this situation, vaccinations should begin earlier.