Newborn Kittens How To Care For Them

At about three to four weeks old they can be offered milk replacer from a bowl and then small amounts of moistened kitten food four to six times a.

Newborn kittens how to care for them. It is essential that kittens receive colostrum to protect them against disease. The mother cat is best placed to care for her newborn kittens. The mother s milk is all a kitten needs to survive during this time. Newborn kittens need to feed every two to three hours.

Provide a safe warm environment for her. Use a large enough box to comfortably hold the mother cat and her kittens. When the kittens are 3 4 weeks old provide formula in a shallow dish as well as some kitten food that has been softened with water. Chilling is one of the most critical dangers to newborn kittens.

You can use a box or small crate with plenty of dry clean bedding. Provide blankets a heat lamp or a heating pad to ensure the kittens stay warm. Stack clean towels to line it. If you are committed to helping the newborn kittens and become their surrogate mother then you will need to provide a safe warm home for them.

If any kittens do not receive the first milk contact your vet. Make sure you change the bedding frequently so it doesn t get too soiled. Do not give cow s milk to the kittens because it is too hard for them to digest. Put food and water near the nest plus a litter box so she doesn t have to leave the kittens for long.

During this time kittens should nurse about every one to two hours from their mother according to the american society for the prevention of cruelty to animals. Like a human baby a newborn kitten will need to be fed frequently approximately every two to three hours. For instance a kitten weighing 4 ounces should not consume more than 32 milliliters of formula in a day. On the first week of the newborn kittens life they should be fed every two to three hours.

As a general rule kittens should be fed 8 milliliters of formula milk for every ounce of body weight in a day. But if your kitten is separated from her mother you ll need an alternative milk source kitten formula. So a kitten weighing 3 ounces will need about 24 ounces of milk replacement every 24 hours. 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.

Newborn kittens may nurse about every 1 2 hours.