How To Raise Orphaned Kittens

Be sure to towel dry the kittens until they re completely dry and place them back in their soft warm bedding.

How to raise orphaned kittens. If they have littermates they will stimulate each other when moving. To make the gruel using high quality dry kitten food you must let the kitten food sit in warm water for a while. They should be petted cuddled and played with by humans for 30 40 minutes a day over and above feeding and cleaning time. After three weeks old and until they are weaned kittens should be fed every 6 8 hours.

Don t ever microwave the water bottle as this poses the threat of a scald. If they have littermates they will stimulate each other when moving. After feeding you can stimulate their reflex to eliminate by gently stroking the area between the anus and vulva or penis with a warm moistened cotton ball or soft cloth. 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.

If you adopt or foster an orphan kitten in this age group special care will need to be taken including bottle feeding the kitten for every two hours up to four weeks of age and possibly helping your kitten pee and poop. Once softened mix it with milk replacement formula. Orphaned kittens on the other hand rely on their caretakers to stimulate them to eliminate. Once they come closer slowly move your finger toward the food bowl.

At two weeks old they can be fed every 4 6 hours. They should be petted cuddled and played with by humans for 30 40 minutes a day over and above feeding and cleaning time. Orphaned or hand fed kittens should be raised together to aid in social development. Eight to eleven weeks of age.

Kittens need mental and physical stimulation. Make sure you keep a fresh supply and not too much at one time. Kittens need mental and physical stimulation. Your veterinarian can teach you this technique.

To get them to try place a small amount on your fingertip and let them smell it. Divide their needed daily intake by the number of required daily feedings and you ll know how much they should eat each time. Kittens under one week old should be fed every 2 3 hours. 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.

It s best to consult with a veterinarian for specific instructions and advice. Take a warm damp cloth and stroke the kittens fur using short strokes. Putting a hot water bottle in will help keep the kittens warm and provide a sense of security like the heat they d get from their mother. Mix the wet food with water until it achieves a soupy consistency and consider warming the mixture before serving.