Spring is here and once again it’s kitten season. Ideally every kitten would stay with its mother and siblings until 10-12 weeks of age, but occasionally something happens to the mother and the orphaned kitten(s) must be hand-raised. Below are some tips and guidelines if you find yourself the proud parent of a tiny litter!

Aging the Kittens

If the umbilical cord is still attached the kitten is three days or younger. Eyes will begin to open at 7-8 days and should be fully open by 10 days. Ears will stand up at 3 ½ weeks of age, and kittens will be unsteady on their feet until approximately 4 weeks of age. If you see kittens running around the yard they are usually a minimum of 5-6 weeks old. They are generally eating on their own by 5-6 weeks, but some may eat alone at 4 weeks and some may take as long as 8 weeks.

Basic Care

If you find a chilled kitten try to warm it up BEFORE you feed it. Hold it close to your body and wrap it in soft fleece if available. Give it warmed sugar water or rub a little Karo syrup on its gums. This is a quick way to get calories to the kitten. If the kitten is overheated try to cool it down BEFORE feeding by giving it room temperature sugar water. Do NOT wrap the kitten in a wet towel or washcloth – little kittens should not be wet down unless absolutely necessary and then under a vet’s advice.

If the kittens are very young (eyes not open, umbilical cord attached) they need to be held AT LEAST three hours a day or they may develop behavioral problems and never be able to form close bonds. Without this affection young kittens will often die.

Urine should be clear, not cloudy or yellow. If it is yellow or cloudy the kitten is probably dehydrated and should see a vet ASAP. Very young kittens (4 weeks and under) must be stimulated to go to the bathroom (both urine and poop). Use rough material, like a warmed wet washcloth, to simulate the mother’s tongue and gently massage the genitals until the kitten has peed and pooped. This should happen after each feeding. Be gentle – don’t rub them raw if they don’t go right away but give them a few minutes and try again. At about 4 weeks introduce a litter box (NO clumping litter until 4 months, please!) and put the kittens in one at a time. Most kittens will train themselves very quickly with a little help from humans.

Keep the kittens warm and away from drafts. Tiny kittens cannot warm themselves and need to be kept around 85 degrees. If necessary put a heating pad on low under a towel in their box but leave space for them to move if they get too warm.

Kittens will get food all over themselves when eating. Keep them as clean as possible with a warm washcloth so the formula does not irritate their delicate skin.

Remove all fleas as soon as possible. Very tiny kittens can be washed with a citrus-based shampoo that will at the very least slow the fleas down and get the dirt off. Kittens older than 4 weeks can have 2 drops of Advantage. A metal flea comb works well, too. It is very important to get rid of fleas ASAP as they can cause anemia and death in kittens, as can other intestinal parasites. The kittens should be de-wormed by a vet as soon as possible. 95% of all kittens have worms from their mom – this is normal and easily treated.

FEEDING

KMR or goats milk should be used with kittens, NOT cow’s milk. KMR is available both mixed and dry – dry is more economical.  Food should be warmed to room temperature before feeding. Kittens should get 8cc per oz of weight per day and should be fed every 3-4 hours when very young (under 4 weeks). This is around the clock, so be prepared for late-night feedings for the first few weeks. When bottle-feeding the kitten should be on its stomach, not its back, or it may aspirate fluid into its lungs and become ill.

GENERAL TIPS

Single kittens tend to be biters. It is best if at all possible to have a companion kitten to put with the orphan – they will teach other about biting. If there is no other kitten a small stuffed animal will at least give it something to play with and bite, but it is best to merge the singleton with another litter or at least one other kitten so it will be properly socialized.  Some kittens will die for no apparent reason despite your best efforts. This is a sad fact of rescue, unfortunately.