How to Care for Abandoned or Orphaned Kittens

Sometimes unfortunate circumstances arise and a mother cat is forced to abandon her litter of kittens. It could be caused by illness or an accident, such as being run over by a passing motorist. If you have come across a litter of abandoned kittens, or even just one single kitten, and you would like to care for them, here are some tips on how to care for abandoned or orphaned kittens.

What to Feed Abandoned Kittens- When you are dealing with abandoned or orphaned kittens it is important to determine how old the kittens are before deciding on what types of foods to give them. If the kittens are tiny and don't have their eyes open yet, you will need to feed them kitten formula. It's like baby formula, only specially formulated for kittens. You can buy kitten formula at any vet's office, pet store, farm & feed stores and even at your local Wal-Mart. If your abandoned kittens have their eyes open, are walking correctly and seem to be frisky and playful then you are probably dealing with kittens who are old enough to eat some solid catfoods. Start out with the canned catfood and see how well they can eat that before moving on to the dry kinds. Kittens will still need to have their kitten formula until around 6-8 weeks of age, even if they are eating some solids.

How to Feed Abandoned Kittens- If you are dealing with kittens who are not eating solids yet, you will need to feed them kitten formula. You can feed your abandoned kittens their formula with a medicine dropper or even a kitten baby bottle. I've always found the bottle to be the easiest way to do this. Make sure that you warm the kitten formula just like you would if you were feeding a human infant. Kittens love to caress, or knead, their mother when they are nursing from her so be prepared for this action to be performed while you are feeding the kittens. You may want to use a warm towel for your abandoned kittens to use when that are kneading during feedings. Doing this will allow the kittens to relax while eating and will help keep you from being scratched.

Cleaning Abandoned Kittens- All kittens require their mothers to groom them and abandoned kittens are no different. When a mother cat cleans her kittens, by licking their fur, it stimulates their digestive system so that they can go to the bathroom. Abandoned kittens will need this action to be performed also. Simply use a warm, wet washcloth and stroke the kittens from head to tail, gently please. Your kittens may actually go to the bathroom right then, so be on the lookout. You will also need to clean your kittens eyes. Do this by using a clean, wet cotton ball and, using a light touch, wipe your kittens eye lids from the inner corner to the outside.

Sleeping Arrangements for Abandoned Kittens- Kittens need a warm, soft place to sleep; preferably where they can curl up together. You can use a cardboard box, a basket or a pet crate. Anything will work just as long as you include something soft and warm like some old towels or blankets. Be warned that the kittens will make a mess of these items so don't give them something that you wouldn't be alright with throwing away. Keep your abandoned kittens in a warm, dry location and they will be alright.

Finding a Home for Abandoned Kittens- Once your orphaned kittens are old enough to be weaned off of the bottle and kitten formula it is time to think about your kittens' permanent home. If you plan to keep them all then congratulations and enjoy! But if you can't or just don't want to keep a litter of kittens, you will need to find them new homes. You can check with your local vet's office to see if they know of any nice people looking for a kitten. You can put fliers up at your local shops. You can even put an ad in your local newspapers or trader magazines.

If you find yourself faced with the dilemma of caring for abandoned or orphaned kittens make sure that you have the time and energy to give them what they require. You will be their surrogate mother and will need to help them adjust and grow. If you don't have the time or energy to raise a litter of kittens then please find someone who will. Call the local veterinary offices and/or your local animal shelter. These organizations may be able to help you find someone capable in caring for these little kittens. They may even be able to find another cat mommy who will take the kittens as her own.