Newborn Kittens Care

Like a human baby a newborn kitten will need to be fed frequently approximately every two to three hours.

Newborn kittens care. The first few days after giving birth the mother cat will produce a very special kind of milk for the kittens called colostrum. Brushing her coat and trimming her claws are two important elements of newborn kitten care and the sooner you start routine cat maintenance the easier it is for both of you. To care for newborn kittens when the mother cat is still present feed the mother to keep her strength up but leave the kittens alone for the first week to ensure the mother doesn t reject them. Provide blankets a heat lamp or a heating pad to ensure the kittens stay warm.

Newborn kittens should get all of their nutrition from their mother. To assist you in your kitten care you can picture the correct amount if you know one teaspoon is just about 5 cc. So until then they will be very reliant on their mother or you as their human caretaker for sight and sound. If the kittens are 1 2 weeks old bottle feed them with milk replacer formula every 1 2 hours.

Food and nutrition for a newborn kitten newborn kittens do not have any teeth and get all of their food and nutrition from cat milk. As a rule of thumb for every ounce of kitten body weight he or she needs 8 ccs of formula. The mother cat can keep the babies warm but if she leaves to eat or use a litter box the kittens can get cold. At 3 4 weeks old provide formula and water softened kitten kibble 4 6 times daily.

The first milk produced called colostrum is rich in antibodies and will help protect kittens against diseases. 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. So a kitten weighing 3 ounces will need about 24 ounces of milk replacement every 24 hours. If the mother cat is not around you ll need to prepare and feed them yourself.

This will continue until they gradually transition to solid foods when they are around four weeks old weaning. A two week old kitten can be fed every four to six hours. At 6 12 weeks old start giving them dry. Make sure you change the bedding frequently so it doesn t get too soiled.

Regular brushing or combing removes excess hair thus reducing hairballs and keeps her coat clean and shiny while nail clipping lessens her chances of a claw snag. Chilling is one of the most critical dangers to newborn kittens. These antibodies last for six weeks or more. If you are using a brand new bottle cut a small hole in the nipple using small and sharp scissors.

On the first week of the newborn kittens life they should be fed every two to three hours. You will also want to check the feeding guidelines on your particular brand of milk. You can use a box or small crate with plenty of dry clean bedding. Newborn kittens may nurse about every 1 2 hours.