| Sometimes human intervention is necessary to help | | | | kittens’ bottoms with a damp cloth or ball of |
| an abandoned litter of kittens. If you find yourself | | | | cotton wool, which will enable the kitten to evacuate |
| with the responsibility of caring for orphaned kittens, | | | | its bowel. |
| it is important to recognize the hard work involved | | | | 5. When your litter reaches 2 weeks, you may |
| and the chance that, despite the best care, some of | | | | choose to mix some solid kitten food with the milk |
| the litter may not survive. | | | | replacement. Even if they don’t eat it, this allows |
| That said, by following these basic tips you could | | | | the kittens to become accustomed to the taste and |
| offer an orphaned litter of kittens the best possible | | | | smell of solid food, which will help with the weaning |
| chance of survival. Hand rearing a kitten can be | | | | process at 5-6 weeks. |
| exhausting, but it is not overly complicated. However, | | | | 6. If one or more of your kittens seems weak, try |
| if you are in any doubt about the health of the | | | | testing its temperature by placing your fingers in its |
| kittens you are caring for, it is wise to seek the | | | | mouth. If the kitten’s mouth feels cold, then its |
| assistance of a veterinarian. | | | | body temperature has become too low. |
| 1. It is essential to keep orphaned kittens warm. | | | | 7. A kitten that may be suffering from hypothermia |
| Newborn cats have no way to regulate their own | | | | can be helped by wrapping him, or her, in a blanket |
| body temperature and would naturally snuggle with | | | | and rubbing continuously to increase blood flow and |
| their mother to prevent hypothermia. Without an | | | | overall temperature. While rubbing the kitten, keep |
| adult cat, a litter of kittens requires a source of heat, | | | | testing the temperature of its mouth. |
| such as a hot water bottle. Never use a heat blanket, | | | | 8. Once the kitten’s mouth no longer feels cold, |
| because this can lead to the kittens overheating. | | | | try offering some milk on your fingers. Hopefully, the |
| 2. Hand rearing kittens is a round the clock job, as | | | | kitten will lap up the offered milk. If so, you may |
| they require feeds at 2-3 hour intervals, including | | | | choose to try a bottle. Never attempt to feed a |
| overnight. However, this is not a long-term | | | | kitten that is still cold, because this may prove fatal, |
| commitment, as the kittens will be able to go without | | | | as often the milk will enter the kitten’s lungs. |
| nighttime feeds at approximately 3-4 weeks old. | | | | 9. If the kitten will not take the bottle resume the |
| When bottle-feeding kittens, you should purchase a | | | | rubbing action for a few minutes and try again. Some |
| good kitten milk alternative, which can be food in all | | | | kittens may take longer to recover, so don’t |
| good pet stores. It is crucial that you do not feed | | | | give up after one attempt. |
| kittens with cow’s milk, as this will make them | | | | 10. Remember, nature can be cruel sometimes and a |
| very sick. | | | | weak kitten may not survive. This does not mean |
| 3. You will need to keep the kittens clean, which will | | | | that you have done anything wrong. |
| require regular bathing or wiping with a damp cloth. | | | | Looking after orphaned kittens can be an extremely |
| However, it is equally important to ensure that they | | | | rewarding experience. Obviously, it is exhausting and, |
| are thoroughly dried afterwards. | | | | for the first few weeks, relentless, but it is well |
| 4. Young kittens will not be able to excrete without | | | | worth it to see healthy kittens thrive and become |
| assistance. You will need to gently wipe the | | | | mature cats. |