Caring for and Raising Orphaned Kittens and Cats

Recently, I overheard a few people talking about how they had acquired abandoned kittens from a family who lost their home and were unsure of the proper care for these little darlings. Luckily, for the last 15 years, my family has rescued and adopted out orphaned babies to many people. Below are some life saving tips for kittens, no matter how small or big they may be.

Let me just say that first, it is dire that if you've never had any experience in care of cats or other small animals, your best option is and always will be getting babies to the veterinarian as soon as humanly possible. Time is precious for orphans, especially the younger they appear in age. This applies doubly if you note the kitten or kittens being extremely sick or having a pale, white tongue.

Feeding Kittens

For little newborn kittens, the best bet is always going to be mother's milk. If you have another mother cat (known as a Queen) with a litter, placing the baby or babies with that mother will always be more beneficial than formulas made for kittens. If the Queen accepts this new kitten or new kittens, you really haven't a thing to worry about -- she will do all the momma deeds you were dreading. Just be sure to boost mama's own food so she has enough energy to produce more milk she will need for her adopted babies.

"Sure," you say, "I don't have a Queen, what do I do?" Simple! Most stores such as Wal-Mart or even some grocery stores sell various brands of kitten formula - generally made specifically for kittens that have no mother. These formulas come in both liquid and powder. Be sure to follow the directions on the containers to the letter. The liquid brand spoils fast and must be used within two days in some instances. This applies for powdered made into formula already. When purchasing the formula, generally right in the same area you'll find baby animal bottles in boxes. Pick up two or three of these, trust me, you'll need them.

When you get home, you'll have to pierce the nipple of the bottle with a sharp, hot and sterile needle. Now comes the fun part. While human babies tend to lay on their backs to nurse, kittens generally will not do this. Remember, cats feed on their bellies, so lay the little darling tummy down on something soft -- like a towel or blanket. Place the bottle in their mouth and tilt it up slightly, just as if they were nursing off of a real mother. In most instances, this works like a charm and then all you need to do is burp the kitten just like a real baby, but, with a lot less force.

Remember that little kittens need feeding sometimes every 3 to 4 hours.

Let me interject here and remind you that if a kitten will not eat, get them right to the vet.

If the kittens appear older, or, if you know they are at least 4 weeks old, you may try them on soft kitten food. Four weeks old is generally the minimum amount of time passed for a kitten to have teeth in order to chew their food. Try to stick with canned food, it seems to work better than softening hard kitten food with warm water.

Potty Time

Around 5 weeks old (sometimes sooner, sometimes later) most kittens can go to the bathroom without help. All you need to do is place the kitten in a clean litter pan after eating. Cats catch on to potty training easier than most human children. They may try to paw at it or eat the litter, but, don't worry. Most litters can't harm the kittens.

Little kittens, however, are another story. They need the tongue-like stimulation of momma in order to go to the bathroom. Yes, it seems gross, but, it has to be done. Just like with feeding, have the kitten on their belly. I would suggest an old towel that you can wash and re-use just for this purpose. Second, you need to have a cotton ball (or something like it) that has been moistened slightly with warm water. All you need to do is rub the bottom of the kitten until they do their duty. You'll know by the tint of the cotton ball if the baby has gone to the bathroom. You may notice the kitten struggling while you perform this task. Don't worry, it's completely natural.

Bath time

The best method we've ever found for bathing kittens is using a damp cloth and going over the baby like most adult cats clean themselves. It takes a little time, but, otherwise you should have no worries. Just be sure to not hold the kitten too tight even if they wriggle. Even the slightest pressure can hurt a little kitten. Older kittens generally have the ability to clean themselves, as you'll see them try and stumble around. Let them stumble -- they will get their balance soon enough!

Bed time

When kittens are born, mother cats often try to find a warm, dark spot. If you have a kennel, you're going to want to put an old towel or blanket in the bottom and fluff it up a bit so the baby may burrow. Keep the baby away from drafty areas and open windows. Also, this worked best for our babies, but put a blanket over the kennel slightly at night so that it's dark and even warmer.

Boxes work, too, but you'll have to cover most of the top with a blanket to get a dark and secure home for the babies. As kittens get bigger, though, you may want to invest in a kennel at night. Kittens sure do like to wander, explore and get into the most peculiar places. Until they're big enough to wander out at night, you'll want them to be safe. Just be sure to change the bedding daily so that any messes don't linger too long.

Orphaned kittens are delicate beings that begin to see you as a momma or father and end up giving you the love that they would give to their real mother. Kittens are just as stressful as human babies in most instances but you need to remember that you need to keep your calm. Remember though, if at any time you find the kitten not behaving properly, get the baby to a professional as soon as possible. Also, if you intend to keep the baby or babies as your own, remember to prevent unwanted litters with proper shots and spaying or neutering.