Newborn Kittens How To Take Care Of Them
Socializing the kittens to ready them to be pets requires some assistance from you.
Newborn kittens how to take care of them. Newborn kittens may nurse about every 1 2 hours. Frequency of feeding like a human baby a newborn kitten will need to be fed frequently approximately every two to three hours. Do not give cow s milk to the kittens because it is too hard for them to digest. Newborn kittens need to feed every two to three hours.
Stack clean towels to line it. Aside from ensuring that they get enough warmth you will need to make sure that the newborn kittens are gaining weight normally. As a rule of thumb for every ounce of kitten body weight he or she needs 8 ccs of formula. Put food and water near the nest plus a litter box so she doesn t have to leave the kittens for long.
So a kitten weighing 3 ounces will need about 24 ounces of milk replacement every 24 hours. It is essential that kittens receive colostrum to protect them against disease. If any kittens do not receive the first milk contact your vet. Provide a safe warm environment for her.
When the kittens are 1 2 weeks old bottle feed the kittens every 1 2 hours with a commercial milk replacer formula. The mother cat is best placed to care for her newborn kittens. 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. 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.
Continue to handle and play with the kittens through the seventh week. 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. Position the bottle in such a way that the kittens would still be able to move away from it anytime they want. Make sure you and other family members handle the kittens gently.
One way to help them is by wrapping a hot water bottle in a towel then place it next to the kittens. Use a large enough box to comfortably hold the mother cat and her kittens. Make sure you change the bedding frequently so it doesn t get too soiled. Chilling is one of the most critical dangers to newborn kittens.
Kittens can only absorb colostrum during their first 16 to 24 hours of life and they should feed within two hours of birth. Start handling the kittens when they are 2 weeks old.