OMG! Is it kitten season again already, when people happen upon abandoned kittens. Most people don’t have a clue what to do for an orphan. Doing the right thing when you first find a kitten can make the difference between whether the kitten makes it or not. Here’s quick reference list to help out first time kitten rescuers. My book Kittens for Dummies (John Wiley & Sons, 2003) contains a complete guide to caring for abandoned kittens.
Caring for Bottle Babies
1. Keep the kitten warm. Wrap her up in a towel or tee shirt to place her under your shirt to warm her when you first find her. A week old kitten needs to be kept at 90°.
2. Feed him a replacement milk formulated especially for kittens. Don’t use human milk or puppy formula.
3. Never hold a kitten on her back to nurse her; she could choke on the formula. Rest her on her tummy and hold the bottle from above.
4. Kittens under three weeks can’t go to the bathroom on their own. Moisten a cotton ball with warm water and massage the kitten’s private parts. Soft, gentle circles mimics the mother’s tongue and stimulates the kitten to potty. Don’t use any pressure; it’s the stroking motion that gets the job done.
5. Most stray or feral kittens will come to you infected with worms or parasites. Diarrhea is one of the most common symptoms. But the kitten could also have a potbelly, little appetite bloody poop, weight loss and just look unhealthy.
6. If she has the runs or pees on herself, you’ll need to give your kitten a butt bath so she doesn’t suffer from ammonia burns. Keep the room warm, make sure the water is comfortable to your touch and use a baby shampoo. Dry the kitten with a blow dryer set on low heat. Don’t let her get chilled.
7. Check your orphan for fleas. Remove them with an extra fine flea comb with metal teeth. Never use flea treatments on a kitten under six weeks unless your vet says it’s okay.
8. Any time you notice your kitten just isn’t right, take her to the vet. She’s much more susceptible to disease than kittens with real mothers. Keep an eye out for diarrhea, congestion, not eating, constant crying.
9. When you start to find a stool or notice the linens are damp, it’s time to teach him to use the litter box. Just put him in the litter box after he eats, when he wakes up and after he’s been playing. Don’t use clumping litter until he’s four months old.
10. The best way to keep your orphan from becoming possessive and domineering is to introduce him to other healthy cats. Hopefully, you have a friendly adult cat that he can hang out with. The older kitty, while not mom, can show him what’s acceptable in the social world of cats. If that’s not possible, introduce him to interactive toys that can discharge some of that predatory energy. You can use stuffed animals to wrestle with the kitten. Never let your orphan play with your bare hand.
11. When it comes time to wean him, don’t forget to put a shallow pan of water so he can get a drink.
A more complete article about Raising Orphan Kittens to follow.
