Raising an orphaned kitten can be a rewarding experience. However, kittens are very fragile, and raising them can be difficult, time consuming, and it is not always successful.
What kittens need to be hand reared?
Normal kittens have their environmental and nutritional requirements met by their mother. However, a number of different situations may lead to kittens requiring extra care, e.g. death of the queen (female cat), rejection of the kittens by the queen, ill health in the queen, or the production of too large a litter for the queen to care for.
When the queen is only temporarily ill, the kittens may only need to be hand fed for a few days, while in other situations the kittens may need to be fed by hand until they are weaned. In the case of a very large litter where the kittens are gaining some milk from their mother, they will only need supplemental feeding.
What are the basic considerations when hand rearing kittens?
There are several basic functions to be addressed when hand rearing kittens. These include the provision of a suitable clean, warm environment, a suitable feeding regimen, attention to urination and defecation (emptying of the bowels), and attention to general health. The major problems encountered when trying to hand rear kittens are chilling, dehydration and starvation (resulting in hypoglycaemia due to low blood sugar levels). These three conditions are interrelated and close observation is necessary if they are to be noticed, and if occurring, for prompt action to be taken in time. Kittens are very fragile, hence they can become ill and die very quickly.
How should I keep the kittens warm?
Warmth is a primary essential for the new-born. A kitten cannot react to cold by shivering and cannot control its own body temperature. In nature, warmth is obtained by direct body contact with the mother and conserved by the enclosed kittening bed. A new-born wet kitten loses heat very rapidly, hence it is important that they are dried quickly. Kittens can be kept warm by lying them in contact with a warm, well-covered hot water bottle, and heat can be conserved by covering them with a blanket. Great care must be taken not to inflict contact burns by having the bottle too hot. Acceptable alternatives are veterinary heating pads, and infra-red lamps. The disadvantages of the lamps are that many cats dislike the open bed required for their use, and they may over heat both mother and kittens, so lessen close nursing contact.
The temperature in the kitten box should initially be maintained at around 30°C but the box should be large enough for the kittens to move away from the heat if they become too hot. If the litter is large, the temperature can be reduced since by huddling together the kittens generate extra heat. The temperature can be gradually reduced by the end of the first month.
What makes a good nest for the kittens?
The easiest way to provide a clean, safe and warm nest is to take a cardboard box, line it with a synthetic fur “Vet Bed”, use either hot water bottles or a heating pad for warmth, and placing it away from drafts. “Vet Bed” can be easily cleaned, is warm and comfortable. If this is not available terry nappies or old towels can be used. Some people use plastic plant propagators as incubators, however, care should be taken to ensure the temperature within them is adequate.
I have heard that kittens cannot urinate or pass motions without assistance, is this true?
It is necessary to stimulate kittens’ of less than two weeks old to urinate and defecate. The voiding reflex is normally initiated by the queen licking the kitten’s ano-genital region. The “foster mother” must therefore imitate this by gently massaging the kitten’s ano-genital area with moist cotton wool ball. This should be done after each feed, and each kitten must pass urine and faeces at least once every day.
From two to three weeks of age the reflex should be triggered while the kitten is placed on the litter try. Leaving a small amount of soiled litter within the tray will serve as a reminder to the kittens of where to perform.
What signs might indicate that the kittens are unwell?
Normal kittens should eat or sleep for 90% of the time for the first 2 weeks of their lives. If they cry excessively, or fail to suckle, they are usually ill or receiving insufficient milk. Since kittens can die very quickly, they (and their mother, if still present) should be examined by a veterinary surgeon as soon as possible to ensure nothing serious is going wrong.
How much milk replacer should I be feeding the kittens?
When the milk supply is inadequate, supplemental feeding is recommended. Where the kittens have been orphaned or the queen is unable to feed them, they will need total replacement feeding. There are several commercial formulae available which are designed specifically for kittens. They should be made up and used as per instructions, but at a reduced volume if the kittens are still gaining some milk from their mother (give perhaps 1/2 to 1/3 of the volume). The amount on the label are usually given “as per 24 hours”. The quantities should therefore be divided into a number of feeds. Kittens less than 2 weeks of age should be fed every 3-4 hours, while kittens of 2-4 weeks of age can usually be fed every 6-8 hours. The milk should be warmed to 35-37.8°C (95-100°F) before feeding (~ the same temperature as the skin of the human forearm).
How do I get the milk into the kittens?
Spoon feeding is slow and requires great practice. Each spoonful must be gently poured into the kitten’s mouth. The kitten’s head must not be elevated since new-born kittens do not have a well developed gag reflex, and the lungs can easily be filled with milk.
Syringe feeding may be considered in an emergency, but can be potentially lethal. The problem arises when the plunger sticks and then gives way suddenly, squirting a large volume of milk into the kitten’s mouth, risking drowning.
Dropper feeding is similar to spoon feeding, but a little quicker and cleaner.
Baby bottles can be bought which are specially designed for kittens. The size of the hole in the nipple is critical. If when the bottle is turned upside down the milk drips from the nipple, the hole is too large, and you risk drowning the kitten. If when the bottle is turned upside down the milk only comes out after considerable squeezing of the bottle, the hole is too small, and its use may result in the kitten becoming discouraged and refusing to nurse. The correct size hole allows the milk to drip from the nipple with minimal squeezing of the bottle. As nipples are used the holes tend to enlarge, so new ones must be introduced. Kittens tend to become fixated upon one particular nipple, so when changing from an old one to a new one they may show reluctance to feed. As the kittens grow the size of the hole in the nipple can be gradually enlarged.
Do I need to sterilise all the utensils I use when preparing the milk for the kittens?
Orphaned kittens are very prone to infections so they must always be kept clean, and utensils used for preparing or administering the milk must be sterile.
Should kittens be regularly weighed?
It is advisable to monitor the kittens’ growth rates by weighing them at least twice weekly. They should double their birth weight in the first 7-10 days, then continue to gain weight steadily.
When should the kittens be weaned onto solid food?
Weaning should begin at 3-4 weeks of age. Initially the kittens should be offered milk replacer diluted 1:1 with water, in a flat saucer. They can be encouraged to lap by dabbing their noses with the warmed milk mixture. Once lapping is achieved it is possible to mix a little kitten food into the milk. This is continued until the kittens are taking just solid food. They can be fed either wet or dry diets, but it is best to feed only diets designed especially for kittens. Dog food and human baby foods should not be fed.
When do a kitten’s eyes usually open?
At birth the kittens’ eyes are closed; they usually open within 1-2 weeks. If the closed eyelids become swollen or matted with pus the kitten should be taken to a veterinary surgeon for immediate treatment.