Hand-Raising Kittens
The information provided below is in no way a replacement for your veterinarian. If you have any questions, concerns, or problems, contact your vet immediatley!
It is always best to let your queen raise her own kittens, but in the event you
must hand-raise your kittens this information may be helpful to you.
First of all, here is a list of some items you will need:
- Bottle
- Nipple
- Milk Replacer
- Small Kennel
- Eyedropper
- Heating Pad
- Paper Towels
- Clean Rags
- Old Towels
- A Scale That Measures Ounces
I will be specific on some of the items listed above, as I have had much success
with them.
Supplies:
I use a small animal nurser bottle marked in ml (milliliters) and Tsp (teaspoons),
and a special soft nipple (T4 puppy & kitten teat) that was designed specifically
for kittens by people in Australia. Both the bottle and nipple are available from
Peewee's
Pampered Pet Products.
These nipples are supplied with no hole in them. The best way I found to put a
hole in the nipple is with the use of a warm needle. Be careful not to make
the hole too big. The kitten can drown if the milk comes out too fast, and
this can be a fatal problem.
The most commonly used formula for raising kittens is KMR (Kitten Milk Replacer),
which is readily available at pet stores or thru your vet. Always follow the
feeding instructions on the can of milk replacer.
It is best to keep your kitten in an enclosed kennel. These can be found at any
local pet store. You don't want your kitten crawling away and getting lost and
you don't want anything to get your kitten and cause it harm or injury. Place
a heating pad, set on low, in the bottom of the kennel, with the heating pad cover
on the heating pad. Then place a clean soft towel on the heating pad. I always
use a kennel slightly larger than the size of the heating pad so the kitten has
room to crawl off the heating pad if it gets too warm. (Helpful hint: Some kittens
like a stuffed animal to curl up next to for comfort).
Feeding:
It is very important your newborn kitten stay with it's mother for the first 24
hours to receive the colustrum from the mother. (Colustrum is the first
milk produced by the mother cat). If your kitten, for whatever reason, cannot
receive the colustrum from the mother in the first 24 hours, consult your veterinarian!
At a day or two the kitten should be offered 1/4 oz (3 Teaspoons) of formula at
each feeding. It may or may not drink this much - the kitten's stomach is only
about the size of a walnut. It should be fed 6 times a day, spaced evenly out
thru-out the day and night, about every 4 hours. Yes, this means you will have
to get up during the night to feed it for awhile. The temperature of the milk
being fed should be warm, not hot. Sprinkle a drop on your wrist to test it.
Your kitten's need for more milk will increase daily. As the kitten grows you
will have to increase the amount fed at each feeding, but you will be able to
skip the night feedings by about 10 days old. At around 10 days old your kitten
should be eating 4 or 5 times a day, about 5-6 Teaspoons (almost 1/2 oz) at each
feeding and can easily go 8 hours during the night without milk. Your kitten's
eyes will start to open as early as 7 days of age to as late as 14 days of age.
(Helpful hint: It is a good idea to weigh your kitten daily to make sure it is
gaining and not losing weight).
If your kitten is too weak to nurse, this is when the eyedropper comes in handy.
You will have to drop milk into its mouth so it can drink. Before you try the
eyedropper, if your kitten is too weak to nurse you should take it to your vet
immediately!
Elimination (Poop & Pee):
The mother cat stimulates the kitten by licking it in the genitalia area to make
it poop and pee, and cleans up afterward. You MUST do this when there is
no mother to do this. You do it by gently rubbing the genitalia area with a damp
paper towel or rag. If you use paper towels, be sure to use a high quality paper
towel (I prefer Bounty). The cheaper ones are rougher and won't hold the moisture
very well and the kitten's pee will end up dripping all over your lap. Use a little
warm water to dampen the towel then rub gently. I do this after every feeding,
even when the kitten is old enough to go on it's own. This helps keep the kennel
clean and dry. Be careful not to rub too hard or for too long. Usually the kitten
will be calm while you are rubbing it, and when it has finished it's "business"
it will become antsy. Most kittens I have raised will urinate (pee) after every
feeding and have a bowel movement (poop) once or twice a day. If you force the
kitten to poop too often this can lead to diarrhea. The kitten will start to use
a little box around 4-6 weeks of age. When it begins using the litter box is when
I stop stimulating it with a towel.
Remember: These are only guidelines. They have worked for me. Always
consult your vet for assistance and advise. And enjoy you sweet little furry baby!
