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Little Kittens - New Born Care
Emergency Care
Dear Simba, We just got 4 little kittens a few
weeks ago, now we only have 3. One of them was
dehydrated and died. Two of kitties are going through
the same thing Pumpkin went through. They have lost
weight and will not eat. They look very sick and have
diarrhea. Do you have any suggestions?
-Becky Becky, Please take these liittle guys to a
vet or animal hospital ASAP. They are in dire need
of help. In the meantime, feed them emergency formula with a beaker or eyedropper. If these guys do not get medical treatment they will die. Use the Vet Directory or the Hospital Finder to find emergency care. - Simba
Cleaning & Handling Kittens
Simba, I am taking care of 2 orphaned kittens that my husband found in an old car at his auto repair shop. They are just opening their eyes, so we think they are probably around 2 weeks old. The feeding process is going fine. My main concern right now is grooming. I have been trying to clean them regularly with a warm, wet cloth to remove any urine or feces from their bottom and on their tummies, but it doesn't seem to be working very well. What is the best way to take care of this problem? Mousey Dear Mousey, The best way to groom little kittens is to mimic the cleaning of mom cats. Use a barely damp washcloth and clean them all over their bodies with short strokes. In addition to keeping the little ones clean, it teaches the kittens how to groom themselves. Do this after each feeding, as this also stimulates bowel movements and is very important to their good health. Your Pal, Simba
Dear Simba, My cat is due to give birth in 3-4
weeks. How long after the birth should I to wait before I can handle the kittens? I've been told that it varies between 1 to 3 weeks! Can you help?
Sam Dear Sam, The age at which you should handle kittens varies with the condition of the kittens and the mother. Ideally, kittens are cared for by their mother. When momma cat is taking care of things you should not handle the kittens until they are at least 2 weeks old and then only under the mother cat's supervision. If the kittens are orphaned, you are now the mother and you need to care for them and feed them. As to how to handle the kittens, hold them gently for only a 10-15 minutes at a time, and do so in the company of the mother since her presence reassures the kittens and the mother cat too (see Mother's Behavior for more). Remember that human children or houseold pets should not be left alone with small kittens. The first 4-8 weeks of a kitten's life are very important. Handling and petting the kittens will make them more sociable creatures. At this age, be sure to leave them plenty of toys for them to play with (rolled tin foil and wads of paper work great). Avoid using your hands, fingers, feet or clothing when you play with them as this only encourages attack games which then leads to aggressive behavior. Keep me posted. Simba
Keeping Kitten Warm Dear Simba, My 5 week old kitty does not want to
eat. He eats about 1/2 oz. every 4-6 hours. It is
active at times and other times sleeps a lot. How can
you tell if a kitten has a fever, seems like it
shivers and chills at times. I do warm the formula?
Thanks, Concerned Dear Concerned, Young kittens
rely on their mother's warmth until 5 weeks or so.
Prior to that age, they need to be kept at 80 degrees.
Be sure that you are covering the kitten with a
blanket and allowing him to get cozy. Heating
pads, if used carefuly can help out. Check out the
feeding schedule and other information in the Feeding Kittens section. Also, make sure that the formula is not not too hot when you feed him (try to serve at room temerature). If you see or have seen any
signs like lethargy or odd colored stools take your kitty to see a vet. Simba
Dear Simba, Our outside cat just had 5 kittens and
3 were born dead. The other 2 are now 1 1/2 days old.
They are inside and are in a big box with towels. The
mother sometimes leaves them and I worry that they get
too cold. Can I use a heating pad or a warm
towel/blanket? Also, one of the kittens has bloody
mucus around its mouth (he doesn't seem to be
injured). I don't understand what it might be. Please
help! Carol Dear Carol, Yes, use a heating pad
or a warm towel/blanket. Very young kittens (less than
a week old) should be kept between 88-92 degrees
Fahrenheit. Please keep the little
tykes in a room with no draft Feed them
with an eye-dropper or nursing bottle (follow the
schedule given to Jordyn below). Place them on
their tummies Open the mouths with your finger
tipsPlace the eyedropper/ nipple at a 45 degree
angle between the jaws (the angle keeps air out)Keep a light pull to promote sucking. If one of the kittens gets air in its lungs,
hold it upside down 'till any coughing or choking goes
away. The kittens are very fragile and need a lot
of care. As for the bloody mucus, these can be
anything from a viral to a bacterial infection...look
in Cat Flu. Best thing to
do to keep them alive is to take them to a vet to be
checked out. Also, do not forget to have momma cat spayed. Many local animal organizations have free spay & neuter programs for stray cats. Your Pal, Simba
Simba, I would like to share a tip for keeping kittens warm with your readers: I use a warm/hot water bottle for my new kitten of 5 weeks. I fill it up with warm, not hot, tap water and place it under a blanket in her sleeping place. She cuddles right up to it and sleeps "like a baby." Also to help her sleep, I have put in a small clock that ticks to give her comfort of possibly a mother's heart beat. Both seem to do the trick, she sleeps all night long. The water bottles are safe and inexpensive. Jennie Dear Jennie, Thanks for the tip. Readers, be sure to keep the seal tight on the bottle. Simba Follow-upAnother reader writes: I use a 1-liter soda bottle filled with hot water wrapped in a towel. Moet loves it and snuggles right in. TS
Kitten Breathing Fast, Fever?
How do I tell if my kitten has fever? His tummy feels
really warm, and do not know if this is normal. The
kitten is 4-months-old and was neutered 3 weeks ago, when he was also de-clawed. The vet checked him out and said everything was normal. How do I take his temperature? V Dear V, You can take your kitten's
temperature by using a digital infant
thermometer and lubricating the end of it. You
then gently insert the tip of it in the kitten's anus
and wait for the thermometer to beep indicating it has
taken the temperature. Your kitten's body temperature
should range between 99-102 degrees Fahrenheit. Check
out the General Health section of Simba's Letters if you find that kitty has a fever.
Keep me posted. Simba PSGiven that kitty
has been de-clawed watch out for infections in the
paws and make sure he remains an indoor kitty.
Hi,
My family and I recently purchased an 8-week
old kitten. He breathes very very very fast. His
stomach moves up and down pretty rapidly when he
sleeps. Is this normal for young kittens, and what is
the usual speed of breathing? A caring owner (Ozzie's
Mum!- I'm 14)
Dear Ozzie's Mum,
First
congratulations on getting a kitten! I hope you enjoy
him. It sounds already like you will be a caring mum
for Ozzie. As for his breathing, kittens breathe
anywhere from 20-30 times per minute. Because they are
small, you can usually see their chest rising up
and down. If you find that Ozzie is breathing at a
rate much faster than 30 times per minute, bring it up
at your next vet visit. Otherwise, he is probably ok.
Keep me posted, Simba
Umbilical Cord
Dear Simba,
We have a 2 1/2 week old kitten which still has its umbilical cord attached! I am starting to worry. Should this have fallen off already? Hanging by a String
Dear Hanging by a String,
Mother cats usually remove their kitten's umbilical cords shortly after birth, by licking off the cord along with the afterbirth. Small pieces of the cord may remain for a little while but usually fall off after a couple of hours.
In your case, you can do one of two things. Carefully detach the cord by rubbing on the kitten's tummy with a warm, wet cloth as the mother cat would have done or go to your vet and have him/her do it for you. I do not recommend that you cut the cord with a sharp object, given kitten's tendency to shift about, which could cause an accident harming you or the kitten. Keep me posted. Simba
Eyes Closed
Dear Simba, I am fairly new to the world of cats. However I am madly in love with the three adult cats we have in our home. I also have 2 one-year-old cats that live in our garage. We now have five kittens from one of the outside cats we did not have spayed. My kittens are 17-days-old and 3 out of the 5 have not yet opened their eyes. What should I do? Thank you and the kittens say thank you too! Barb Dear Barb, Congratulations on the kittens. As you know, kittens are born with their eyes closed. They usually open when the kittens are between 8-14 days old. The eyes will stay blue for 2 more weeks. If you notice any swelling/bulging under the eyelids, you should open them gently with a cotton ball dampened with warm water (DO NOT use Q-tips). If you see pus dripping from the eyes, it is probably an infection and the kittens should see a vet. If the eyes remain shut after 14 days, your vet should look at them. Other things to look for: At 2 weeks of age, the kittens should be alert and be making attempts to stand up. At 3 weeks, they try to climb outside of their box or pen. At 4 weeks, all of the kittens should be walking, running & playing. Best of luck & keep me posted. Simba
Transporting Kittens
Hi Simba, I am concerned about these kittens I am caring for & think I need to take them for help. Should I try to bundle all the newborns and mama up and take them to the vet? How do I transport 10-day-old kittens without hurting them? Confused Cat-Sitter
Hi Confused Cat-Sitter,
I believe it is best to err on the side of caution. So, yes take the tikes to the vet. You can transport the little kittens in a laundry basket or medium sized box filled with blankets & clothes (warm preferable). Be sure to keep the basket warm & soft inside for the little ones. Ensure that the kittens are not covered such that they cannot breathe. In addition, cushion the outside of the box/basket such that the kittens are not adversely affected by any sudden braking. Simba PSCheck out Travel Safety for tips on keeping kitties safe in cars and in the air.
Preparing for a New Kitten
Dear Simba, I've been
browsing through your web page for the past hour or
so...it's been a wonderful introduction to the world
of kitty cats. Thank you!!! I've never had a pet cat
before, and I know very little about the "basics" of
cat care. Nevertheless, I'd really like to rescue a
kitten from the local animal shelter. Can you take me
through a crash-course on the fundamental details??
Jenni Dear Jenni, How very wonderful of you to
rescue a little kitten from the shelter! Your new
friend will make a wonderful addition to your home for
years to come. Welcome. Ok, so what to do? First
thing is to prepare for your kitten's arrival. Below
are some items you will need to ensure your kitten's
health and safety. Make sure also, that you take your
kitten to the vet as soon as you get him so that
he/she can be checked out and be given his shots. Simba’s Rules:Kitten-proof your home in
the same you child-proof it, keep bad stuff away and
don't let the kitten get into places where there are
things it shouldn't play with.
Do not feed kitty anything other than his kitten
food. As you know from reading Tummy
Troubles, kittens tend to get loose stools if they ingest people food.
Do not give kitty full run of the house until you
are comfortable that he/she is adjusting well and is
using the litter box.
Make it a point to play with the kitten. Try a cat
teaser or just roll up pieces of paper and throw them
around the house (your kitten will love to chase those
down). Have plenty of love and patience.
Must Have’s:collar and an ID tag
food bowl, water bowl (have fresh water available
24/7).
kitten food. try dry if he/she is >6 weeks old.
toys (foamy mice, cat teasers, paper balls, etc.)
litter, litter pan, litter pan liners & a scoop.
scratching post or cat tree. Should
Have’s:cat toothbrush & tooth paste
bed or mat for cuddling up. stain and odor
neutralizer for quickly treating any accidents.
hair ball paste. ear cleaner. pet carriers.
(for traveling and vet trips)
flea prevention medication. The little one will
bring you much joy, cherish him. You may be able to find some New Cat Supplies at PETsMART.com or your local petstore. Check out the other sections of Simba’s Letters and keep
me posted. Simba
Dear Simba, I just adopted a 7-week old kitten, I got everything for her but I don't know what to give her to drink. I heard that there is formula for kittens, but is she
old enough to drink fresh water? I also have a
3-month-old son, will the kitty be ok with a baby
crying? I do not have a scratching pad or those kitty
trees. What could I use for an alternative? I've had
a cat before but it has been so long and now I have a
baby, and I want to make sure everything will be all
right. Thanks Angela =) Dear
Angela, Congratulations on your adoption! It is ok
to be nervous, it happens to all new parents.
The answer is yes, Kittens can drink water. At 7
weeks of age, your little guy is also ready for dry
food (check out Feeding Kittens). I do
recommend that you get a sisal scratching post to ensure kitty
claws the right things only. Also, check out the Kids & Kittens section of
Simba’s Letters for tips on brining in a kitten to a
home with a baby. Keep me posted. Simba
Thanks for a wonderful website. I've been all over the internet looking for info and yours is the best!!
Our cat just had kittens and we've never been through this experience. I have a few questions I couldn't seem to find in your previous letters from people.
Do we need to provide any type of litter care for the kittens. I
read that the mother takes care of this for the first few weeks. Does
this mean she disposes of their waste? My other question is about coloring. The mother is pure black and the father is a longhair grey with white stripes. The kittens (3) were
black with gray stripes and two pure white. Will the white ones stay white or will they change? --- Sandy Dear Sandy, Thank you for your kind words. Your first question about litter. You should supply litter for the mother to dispose of her own and of her kitten's waste. Remember that at their age, kittens will produce small, tootsie roll-sized poops. So do not worry too much about a mess. As for the color of the white kittens. Certain breeds of cats, such as Honey Bears are known to change fur color as they age. These cats are born covered with many perfect stripes that later lighten. These cats change color as they age, and stripes will either break into spots, get blotchy or shade out to the cats' dominant color. The stripes may remain near the legs, tail & head. A dark stripe along the cats back and tail is normal, but will fade with age. Other cats that change color as they age are the Siamese and Burmese. With these breeds, the facial mask spreads over the face and darkens with age. So will your white kitten change in color, it depends, but probably not. Simba
Kitten Cries at Night
Dear Simba,
I've just adopted a 1 1/2 month old
kitten, his name is Gingembre. First day at home
yesterday, he was meowing whole night, so much so that
my husband and I decided to let him sleep with us.
How long will this go on? He came from a home with 5
kittens and 3 cats. Regy
Dear Regy,
Poor
little guy! Remember that you have an infant on your
hands. Gingembre is probably used to sleeping in
the comfort and warmth of his littermates. I am
sure that he misses the companionship and at only 6
weeks of age, he gets cold easily. Because you are his
only source of warmth & companionship he will want to
be with or near you and your husband at night.
Best
thing to do is to set up a comfortable, warm & cozy
spot for him. Place it close to your bed and move it a
little further away every couple of days. Give him the
choice of where to sleep…he will begin to migrate to
his bed soon enough. You want to make him comfortable
in his new home. He is scared and lonely. Keep me
posted, Simba
Constipated / Not Urinating
Dear Simba,
I have a new kitten that I have been bottle-feeding since birth. She was born on September and she is my little baby. I have been trying to show her how to clean herself and she seems to be getting the general idea but I cannot seem to get her to poop. I have tried everything from rubbing her belly to putting her in warm water and I don't know what else to do. Please help! - Worried Mom
Dear Worried Mom,
Poor little guy! You are moving in the right direction. It is not an easy job. Know that mother cats usually lick the "back side" of their kittens in order to stimulate bowel and bladder movement. Because the kitten’s mom is not around it is your job to take care of this. Here are some tips:
Gently rub the kitten’s lower tummy, the genitals and rectum with a moistened cotton ball/pad, or tissue.
Rub only a little bit (be careful that you not over-stimulate the area and cause irritation)
Watch out for any chafing and lingering dirt.
Your kitten will do a litter better following this. The good thing is that you need to do this for only a few weeks. Let me know how things to. - Your Pal, Simba PSCheck out Tummy Troubles for additional information on intestinal functions.
 
Fleas on Kittens
Dear Simba, My cat Brandy has just had kittens a
week ago. Her and the dog Max both had fleas but we
didn't want to deflea Brandy while she was pregnant.
Yesterday I found fleas on one of the kittens. My mum
thinks this is really serious for new-born kittens. Is
it? How can we get rid of the fleas so that we can
give them away once they are ready? - Kelly M Dear
Kelly M, Your mother is right in her concerns.
Fleas can cause young kittens to become anemic. This
is a potentially fatal condition in kittens.
Try to get the little guys, the mother cat, the
dog and their environment flea-free as soon as
possible. Use a flea comb to gently remove the
dirt and fleas from the fur.Ask your vet for a
flea spray that is safe to use on just born kittens,
if you do not find a safe spray use the flea comb
(always read the warnings)If you used a spray, then:
Place the kitten on a towel for ~20
minutes and discard the towel with the dead and dying
fleas that have come off.After using a spray, you
can give the kitten a bath in gentle soap (make sure
water is lukewarm).Towel dry the kitten towel-dry
it. Keep an eye out for Ringworm and Mange. If you see a kitten scratching excessively or
with bald spots, isolate him from his litter mates and
consult a vet immediately for treatment. Also, do not forget to have momma cat spayed. Many local animal organizations have free spay & neuter programs for stray cats. Also, you can begin having kittyYour Pal, Simba PSCheck out Fleas / Worms and Mites / Skin Problems for more
information
Sneezing Kittens
Hi Simba, We got a kitten from a local shelter, she
had been caught in a trap, and my mother couldn't
resist. Missy was about 3-months old and she was so
scared she wouldn't leave the back of her cage. We
took her home and about two weeks later Missy had gone
from 7oz. to 2 ½ lbs. She was lively and playful,
wanting to play with anything that moved. About a
month ago she started sneezing, mucus everywhere, she
had trouble breathing and was always congested. She
has a good appetite, and is playful, but she is still congested. My other cat, Ariel, just had her litter of 5 healthy
kittens, and I am worried that the kittens could catch
this and could die. What should I do? Scully Dear
Scully, It appears that Missy is suffering from the
Cat Flu. This is a viral or
bacterial infection and is contagious, but not
deadly. It might be worthwhile to keep the kittens
in a room away from Missy until they have completed
their calici & rhinotrachetis vaccination. This will help keep them Cat
Flu-free. Keep me posted, Simba
Stool Composition
Young kittens will have stools that have a toothpaste consistency and are mustard color. These movements will occur about once a day and may be tiny depending on the size of the little guy or gal. Because kittens can dehydrate quickly, feed them carefully. Do not over-feed. Also, avoid making sudden changes to the kitten’s diet. Be sure to worm your little guy at 6 weeks of age. Check out Tummy Troubles for more information. Simba
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