Blog

Young orphaned kittens may need to be hand raised for a number of reasons including abandonment, the mother has inadequate milk supply, the mother or kitten has or develops a medical condition or sometime the mother can refuse to nurse. Newborn kittens are very fragile and sadly can die easily especially if their feeding and environmental conditions are not correct.

Heating and Environment

Kittens will become cold very quickly and it is essential they are kept in a well heated, clean and draught free environment. This means maintaining a constant heat using lamps or veterinary heating pads. If you use a hot water bottle wrap it in lots of towels and make sure the kittens can move easily away from it if they get too hot. Care needs to be taken not to make the hot water bottle too hot as it can cause burns. Bedding should consist of soft clean cloth or shredded newspaper. Bear in mind kittens lack the ability to shiver when they are cold. Aim for the following temperatures:

Feeding

Young kittens are best fed with a nursing bottle and suckling teat specifically designed for kittens. We stock these at our hospital. Suitable milk substitutes include Wombaroo Milk or Divetelac both of which we have available. Use one of these milk substitutes at the correct dilution to ensure the kitten does not get diarrhoea or constipation.  Feeding must be given in small, regular amounts; initially every 1-2 hours including overnight with longer intervals between feeds as the kitten gets older. Excessive feeds with longer periods between feeding can make the kitten prone to diarrhoea. Ensure to allow the kitten to suck the milk out of the teat, do not try to force it in as this may result in the kitten aspirating it into their lungs. The formula should be fed as directed until solid foods are gradually introduced, beginning at three weeks of age.

Once your orphan kitten is ready to start on solid foods  come and visit us and we can help you choose the best diet for them.  Hand reared kittens often are not able to receive their mothers colostrum milk and consequently can have weak immune systems in the first few months of life. It is not recommended to feed raw meat to any kitten or cat if their have a lowered immune system as they have a much higher risk of developing an infection to the bacteria and parasites in the meat. Many healthy, robust kittens can tolerate raw meat in their diet however it is important to always use human grade meat as some pet mince can contain preservatives that can be harmful to your kitten.

Toileting

Rearing orphan kittens is not just a matter of providing substitute milk bar. They will need to be helped to urinate and defecate after feeding. Do this by gently stroking the genitalia and anal region with a warm, moist cloth or tissue. This imitates the mother licking in the natural state.

Worming

Worming begins at a very early age. Kittens should be wormed at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks of age. We recommend Felex Cat Allwormer paste, Drontal or Popantal tablets or Profender (for kittens over 8 weeks of age). From 12 weeks of age kittens should be wormed monthly until 6 months of age, and then every 3 months for life.

Vaccination

All kittens need their first vaccination at 6-8 weeks of age. At this time the veterinarian will discuss all the vaccination options and work out which one will be best for your kitten.

For more information on kitten health refer to our Kitten Care information page.

Follow us:.