Raising Orphans
A kitten may need hand-raising because the mother has died,
become ill, rejected the kittens or abandoned them. In the case of feral cats, the kittens
may have been taken from the mother for taming.
Kittens should not be taken from the
mother before 5 to 6 weeks of age if possible. (For wild kittens you may want to take them
away from the mother at 4 weeks to tame them. As they get older, taming gets progressively
harder.) The longer the mother cat is able to feed the kittens the better since young
kittens need mother's milk for best nutrition as well as important antibodies. This
passive immunity usually lasts until the kittens are 6-14 weeks of age. Since orphans have
no such protection, they are especially vulnerable to disease.
First try finding a foster feline
mother; breeders, veterinarians and animal shelters may know of nursing cats in your area.
Try calling any "cat people" that you know for leads as well. Cats will very
often feed kittens other than their own.
If you must feed them yourself
before weaning age, you must devote considerable energy and weeks of constant care if the
kitten is to have a good chance at survival. The younger the kitten, the more fragile it
is. Very young kittens may not survive without a mother no matter how good the care.
Warmth and First-Aid
As soon as you find an
orphaned kitten it must be protected from becoming chilled. Place it under your clothes
next to your skin. Most of the young kitten's energy is needed for growth and yelling for
more food, so there's not a lot left over for heat generation. Normally the mother cat and litter mates would provide a good
deal of warmth. During their first week, kittens should be kept between 88 and 92 degrees
F. For the next 2 weeks they still need temperatures of 80 degrees or so. When they reach
5 weeks or so they can tolerate a lower room temperature.
If possible, take the kitten to a
veterinarian to be checked out for dehydration and general condition. Kittens can become
dehydrated very quickly without a mom and may need fluids under the skin. Kittens that are
dehydrated from lack of fluids or diarrhea will have very little energy or appetite, so
this is important to take care of immediately. Stools should be checked for worms and
parasites. The vet can supply a lot of advice on hand raising kittens as well as needed
supplies so don't skip this step.
When you get the kitten home you
must continue to provide warmth. Find a place in your home that is warm, draft-free and
isolated.
Feeding can be done with an
eyedropper or a nursing bottle (available at the vet). If using the eyedropper be careful
not to force feed the kitten. Let the baby suck the fluid at its own pace, otherwise you
can fill the baby's lungs with milk and cause pneumonia. If the baby is old enough to
suckle, the bottle method is best. All utensils should be sterilized before each feeding.
To feed your kitten, place it
stomach down on a towel or other textured surface to which it can cling. Open its mouth
gently with the tip of your finger, then slip the nipple between its jaws. To prevent air
from entering the kitten's stomach, hold the bottle at a 45-degree angle, keeping a light
pull on the bottle to encourage vigorous sucking.
If a suckling kitten aspirates
formula into its lungs, immediately hold it upside down until the choking subsides. If the
kitten is not strong enough to suckle, seek veterinary assistance ASAP.
Formula should be warmed to body
temperature and fed to small kittens every 3-4 hours. As they get older every 6-8 hours
will be enough. Check the package for recommended feeding amounts and feedings per day. A
kitten needs approximately 8 cc’s of formula per ounce of body weight per day. The
kitten's age determines the number of daily feedings it should receive.
When a kitten has had enough
formula, bubbles will form around its mouth, and its tummy will be rounded. After each
meal, burp the kitten by holding it upright against you shoulder and patting it lightly on
the back.
Do not overfeed kittens, as this can
bring on diarrhea as well as other problems.
Feeding Guide
AGE IN
AVG. WEIGHT
AMOUNT OF FORMULA
# OF FEEDINGS
 WEEKS
OF KITTEN
PER DAY
PER DAY
1
4 ounces
32 cc
6
2
7 ounces
56 cc
4
3
10 ounces
80 cc
3
4
13 ounces
104 cc
3
5
1 pound
128 cc
3
For kittens with a lack
of appetite or anemia, "Pet-Tinic" vitamin/mineral supplement (available at the
vet and pet food stores) will stimulate appetite and rebuild systems. Follow the
directions on the bottle for dosage and give direct by dropper or add to food.
Kittens should be weighed frequently
to ensure that they are growing properly. You'll soon know if your orphans are thriving
because they will grow at an incredible rate.
Stimulation
The kitten's natural
mother takes care of both ends of her baby. By licking the kitten's abdomen, she
stimulates the bowels and bladder and tidies up the resulting mess. A surrogate cat mom
should gently rub the kitten's abdomen and bottom with a cotton ball or pad or tissues
moistened with warm water. This stimulates the discharge of waste and keeps babies clean. Be careful to rub only enough to
get them to expel waste materials. Keep the area clean and watch for chafing which might
indicate that you are rubbing too hard or not cleaning well enough.
When you feed and clean the kittens,
wash their fur all over with a barely damp towelette using short stokes as the mother
would use. This cleans their fur, teaches them to clean their fur, and gives them a
feeling of attention and well-being.
If the kittens have diarrhea and
become caked with stool, it is easier on their skin to wash them in warm water.
The kitten's instinctive need to
suckle (frustrated by the lack of the mother's breast) may cause the kitten to suckle its
litter mate's ears, tail or genitals, causing irritations to develop. Try to satisfy this
oral need by caressing each kitten's mouth with your finger or a soft cloth.
Fleas
Abandoned kittens will
need to be cleaned and rid of fleas soon after they are found. Flea anemia can hamper any
attempt to save the kitten and fleas carry tape worm eggs. The vet will carry flea sprays suitable for use
on kittens. Always check the manufacturer’s instructions for use on kittens. Adams
flea spray (according to one foster mom) has been found to be safe and effective in quick
kill of fleas while not harming even day old kittens. After using the spray (as directed
on the bottle for kittens) place the kitten on a towel that can be removed with the dead
and dying fleas 20 to 30 minutes later.
After the spray has rid the
kitten of fleas, bathe the kitten in gentle soap or surgical soap if flea sores are
present making sure to prevent chilling the kitten. DRY THE KITTEN IMMEDIATELY. 1 to
3 week old kittens can be dried carefully with a hair dryer. (Be careful to avoid blowing
in their faces.) Older kittens are frequently frightened by the blowing and noise, so
towel dry them as best you can and place them in a container that is in a warm place (like
next to a refrigerator). You may also try putting the towel-dried kitten in a pet carrier
and aiming the blow-dryer into the carrier where the warm air will gently circulate to dry
the kitten.
Weaning
If necessary, you may
begin weaning the kitten at 4 weeks of age. Start by feeding it formula in a bowl. Then
gradually introduce solid food. Strained baby food or Hill's brand "a/d" in a
can works well. Or you can moisten dry kitten food with formula or water. Don't expect the
kitten to be weaned
overnight. As it eats more often from the bowl, reduce the bottle feedings.
Canned kitten food can also be used
to introduce the kitten to solid food. Young kittens cannot chew dry kitten food without
moistening. Check instructions on the container. Try to buy high quality food for the
kittens (from the vet or pet food stores). Much of what is sold in supermarkets is pure
junk food and may not help your kitten thrive.
Changes in diet or certain
foods can cause diarrhea, so keep an eye on stools. Diarrhea can be life-threatening to a
young kitten.
Litter box Training
The 4-week mark is a good time to
introduce the kitten to the litter box, too. Place the kitten in the box after each meal.
You may have to take the kitten's paw and show it how to scratch in the litter. Usually
the kitten will catch on quickly.
Love and Attention
Besides food and
warmth the kitten needs emotional closeness. Pet it frequently and let it snuggle against
your warm skin.
Some experts believe that hand-raised kittens show
higher intelligence, greater loyalty and deeper affection for their owners. Cat trainers
also recommend lots of handling for kittens and swear that this makes them easier to
train.
Some experts argue that no adequate
parental substitute for the natural mother cat exists.
Milestones
At birth, a
kitten should weigh 2 to 4 ounces. By the end of its first week it should double in body
weight. The kitten should open its eyes at about 8 days. The eyes will stay blue for about
2 more weeks. (The true eye color will not appear until the kitten is about 3 months old.)
At 2 weeks the ears will start to
stand up. At about 3 weeks the kitten will try to walk. At 4 weeks kittens start to play
with each other and develop teeth.
Check with your veterinarian as to
the timing of the needed vaccinations.
The kitten should be ready for
adoption at 8 weeks, and can be spayed or neutered at that time if in good health.
Health Problems
Orphaned kittens are
especially vulnerable to diseases. At the first sign of any abnormal behavior or loss of
appetite, take them to the veterinarian.
Colds, like upper respiratory
infections, are caused by various viruses and claim many kittens each year. Some of these
same viruses, or an organism known as Chlamydia, can also cause permanent damage to a
kitten's eyes. If bacteria invade the infected eye the organisms can puncture the tough
covering, resulting in blindness. Even a lesser infection can leave the eyeball badly
scarred.
Diarrhea can result from disease,
food changes, worms, or overfeeding. The resulting dehydration can be deadly.
Distemper is also a chronic
danger to young cats, especially those who did not have the advantage of the mother cat's
antibodies. It is airborne, very contagious, and often a killer.
A Final Word
Caring for an orphaned
kitten can be difficult and even the most conscientious foster parent may lose a little
one. If a kitten dies, the substitute parent should not blame himself or herself. Nor should you accept all the
credit if the kitten thrives.
A kitten is most likely to die
at birth, in its first week, or while weaning. But, armed with common sense and an ability
to care (as well as accurate information), you have a good chance of raising a motherless
waif to the adoption age -- or beyond.
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