Newborn Kittens What To Do

Feeding newborn kittens newborn kittens should get all of their nutrition from their mother.

Newborn kittens what to do. Weaning means to get the kitten off milk and introduce solids slowly. 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. Chilling is one of the most critical dangers to newborn kittens. You can tell when your kitten is no longer a newborn and is ready to be weaned and be fed solids when she starts biting at the nipple of the bottle.

Do not give cow s milk to the kittens because it is too hard for them to digest. When the kittens are 1 2 weeks old bottle feed the kittens every 1 2 hours with a commercial milk replacer formula. They really need as much time as possible to learn from mama cat and develop good social skills with other pets and humans. The mother cat can keep the babies warm but if she leaves to eat or use a litter box the kittens can get cold.

Feed mother cat high quality food during the time a mother cat is pregnant until a month after she s done nursing feed her a high quality kitten food. Cat breeders don t usually give their kittens to new homes until they are 12 weeks old. This will continue until they gradually transition to solid foods when they are around four weeks old weaning. If you do give them away before 7 weeks are up they will be more likely to develop behavioral problems.

Use a large enough box to comfortably hold the mother cat and her kittens. Provide blankets a heat lamp or a heating pad to ensure the kittens stay warm. This gives the mother cat and her kittens extra calories and nutrients. Will probably be observed.

By the end of the first month your kitten should be eating drinking and using the litter box normally. 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. Stimulate the kittens to go to the bathroom. Learn more about kittens and their needs as they grow in our kitten guide.

You should place the food and water near the mother and kittens. Newborn kittens may nurse about every 1 2 hours. The first milk produced called colostrum is rich in antibodies and will help protect kittens against diseases. Leave them be learn what to do when you find kittens outdoors.

Before you do anything remember never separate kittens from their mother cat.