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This article was co-written by Carrie Seay, MS-CABAC, KPA-CTP, CBCC-KA. Carrie Seay is a cat behavior consultant and owner Carrie Pawpins in Phoenix, Arizona. With over 10 years of experience, she specializes in helping cat owners prevent and eliminate cat behavior problems. Carrie holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Northern Arizona University and a master’s degree in Companion Animal Behavior Analysis & Counseling from the American College of Applied Sciences. She has many certifications from many prestigious training programs, such as that of Karen Pryor Academy.
There are 7 references cited in this article that you can see at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 177,588 times.
Caring for an orphaned newborn cat is a worthwhile thing to do but encounters many difficulties. Humans cannot completely replace the mother cat, and the process of caring for and nurturing kittens takes a long time. Unfortunately, sometimes the mother cat is not strong enough to care for, or leave behind the kittens she gives birth to. In this case, the kitten needs human care. Before caring for an orphaned kitten, you should contact your local animal shelter and veterinarian to allocate a replacement mother. Some will accept, feed, and bathe orphaned kittens, and this is the best thing you can do to keep the kitten alive. If not, you need to create a nurturing environment and learn how to properly feed and care for kittens less than three weeks old.
Steps
Creating a Nurturing Environment
![Image titled Care for Orphaned Kittens Less Than Three Weeks of Age Step 1](https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/9/95/Care-for-Orphaned-Kittens-Less-Than-Three-Weeks-of-Age-Step-1-Version-4.jpg/v4-460px-Care-for-Orphaned-Kittens-Less-Than-Three-Weeks-of-Age-Step-1-Version-4.jpg)
- If there are other pets in the house, you need to separate from the orphaned kitten for at least 2 weeks. Do not let them share a litter box, food, or water bowl, as this can spread illness to them. [2] X Research Source
![Image titled Care for Orphaned Kittens Less Than Three Weeks of Age Step 2](https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/e/ed/Care-for-Orphaned-Kittens-Less-Than-Three-Weeks-of-Age-Step-2-Version-4.jpg/v4-460px-Care-for-Orphaned-Kittens-Less-Than-Three-Weeks-of-Age-Step-2-Version-4.jpg)
- Kittens should not be directly exposed to the heating pad, as they may experience local burns or thermal shock.
- You can also use a hot water bottle wrapped with a towel, but it needs to be checked regularly to maintain the temperature (about 37 degrees Celsius). [4] X Research Sources
![Image titled Care for Orphaned Kittens Less Than Three Weeks of Age Step 3](https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/0/0d/Care-for-Orphaned-Kittens-Less-Than-Three-Weeks-of-Age-Step-3-Version-4.jpg/v4-460px-Care-for-Orphaned-Kittens-Less-Than-Three-Weeks-of-Age-Step-3-Version-4.jpg)
- The air vents on the box or cage should not be covered to prevent the kitten from suffocating. [6] X Research Sources
![Image titled Care for Orphaned Kittens Less Than Three Weeks of Age Step 4](https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/f/fd/Care-for-Orphaned-Kittens-Less-Than-Three-Weeks-of-Age-Step-4-Version-4.jpg/v4-460px-Care-for-Orphaned-Kittens-Less-Than-Three-Weeks-of-Age-Step-4-Version-4.jpg)
- For example, kittens may move to the edge of the heating pad if they feel too hot. [7] X Research Sources
Feed the Kitten
![Image titled Care for Orphaned Kittens Less Than Three Weeks of Age Step 5](https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/5/5b/Care-for-Orphaned-Kittens-Less-Than-Three-Weeks-of-Age-Step-5-Version-4.jpg/v4-460px-Care-for-Orphaned-Kittens-Less-Than-Three-Weeks-of-Age-Step-5-Version-4.jpg)
- If a milk substitute is not available and the kittens are hungry, you should temporarily give them cooled boiled water. Use a dropper or syringe, until you get a milk substitute at the vet clinic or pet store. Water helps kittens stay hydrated and doesn’t upset their stomachs. [9] X Source of Reproduction in Dogs and Cats. Christiansen. Publisher: Bailliere Tindall
![Image titled Care for Orphaned Kittens Less Than Three Weeks of Age Step 6](https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/4/47/Care-for-Orphaned-Kittens-Less-Than-Three-Weeks-of-Age-Step-6-Version-4.jpg/v4-460px-Care-for-Orphaned-Kittens-Less-Than-Three-Weeks-of-Age-Step-6-Version-4.jpg)
- Always keep kittens warm before feeding them. Do not feed kittens when their body temperature is lower than 35 degrees Celsius because it can cause pneumonia, make it difficult for the cat to breathe and even cause death. [11] X Research Source
![Image titled Care for Orphaned Kittens Less Than Three Weeks of Age Step 7](https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/4/45/Care-for-Orphaned-Kittens-Less-Than-Three-Weeks-of-Age-Step-7-Version-4.jpg/v4-460px-Care-for-Orphaned-Kittens-Less-Than-Three-Weeks-of-Age-Step-7-Version-4.jpg)
- Stimulate kittens to burp after eating. This step is the same as for the baby. Hold the kitten on his chest, thigh, or shoulder and gently rub and pat his back with 2 fingers until he stops spitting.
- If the kitten can’t hold on to you on its own, you need to keep its face still and not let it move its head. Feed the kitten again and squeeze a few drops of milk out. Then they will stick to themselves. [13] X Research Source
![Image titled Care for Orphaned Kittens Less Than Three Weeks of Age Step 8](https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/d/dc/Care-for-Orphaned-Kittens-Less-Than-Three-Weeks-of-Age-Step-8-Version-4.jpg/v4-460px-Care-for-Orphaned-Kittens-Less-Than-Three-Weeks-of-Age-Step-8-Version-4.jpg)
- In an emergency, you need to use a dropper bottle or a small syringe to drip milk into the kitten’s mouth.
- After 2 weeks, you can feed them every 3-4 hours, and at night every 6 hours.
Caring for Kittens
![Image titled Care for Orphaned Kittens Less Than Three Weeks of Age Step 9](https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/d/dc/Care-for-Orphaned-Kittens-Less-Than-Three-Weeks-of-Age-Step-9-Version-4.jpg/v4-460px-Care-for-Orphaned-Kittens-Less-Than-Three-Weeks-of-Age-Step-9-Version-4.jpg)
- Kitten urine is odorless and pale yellow. The stool is yellow-brown. If you see white or green poop, or dark urine with a strong odor, then the kitten may be dehydrated or in need of medical attention. [17] X Research Source
![Image titled Care for Orphaned Kittens Less Than Three Weeks of Age Step 10](https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/8/8c/Care-for-Orphaned-Kittens-Less-Than-Three-Weeks-of-Age-Step-10-Version-4.jpg/v4-460px-Care-for-Orphaned-Kittens-Less-Than-Three-Weeks-of-Age-Step-10-Version-4.jpg)
- If you find dry poop stuck to your kitten’s fur, gently dip its bottom in warm water. Then carefully wipe off the loose stools with a cloth. [19] X Research Source
![Image titled Care for Orphaned Kittens Less Than Three Weeks of Age Step 11](https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/3/38/Care-for-Orphaned-Kittens-Less-Than-Three-Weeks-of-Age-Step-11-Version-4.jpg/v4-460px-Care-for-Orphaned-Kittens-Less-Than-Three-Weeks-of-Age-Step-11-Version-4.jpg)
- For example, newborn cats usually weigh 90-110 grams. Around 2 weeks old, the kitten will reach a weight of about 210 grams. After 3 weeks of age, their weight will be 300 grams. [21] X Research Source
![Image titled Care for Orphaned Kittens Less Than Three Weeks of Age Step 12](https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/9/99/Care-for-Orphaned-Kittens-Less-Than-Three-Weeks-of-Age-Step-12-Version-4.jpg/v4-460px-Care-for-Orphaned-Kittens-Less-Than-Three-Weeks-of-Age-Step-12-Version-4.jpg)
- High or low body temperature (above 39 degrees Celsius or below 37 degrees Celsius)
- Anorexia (if the kittens won’t eat for a day, they need urgent medical attention)
- Vomiting (if the condition persists, they require urgent medical attention)
- Lost weight
- Cough, sneeze, eye and nose discharge
- Diarrhea (if the condition persists, they require urgent medical attention)
- Lack of energy
- Bleeding (urgent medical care)
- Shortness of breath (urgent medical care)
- Trauma, like being hit by a car, falling, limping, being stepped on, unconscious (emergency medical care)
Advice
- Many cities run neutering programs for cats.
- Animal shelters are the perfect place to get inexpensive veterinary advice and care, and can help you find a home for your kittens when they’re old enough. Some camps have volunteers who keep cats until they are old enough to be adopted.
- The best place for a newborn cat is with the mother cat. Feral cats should stay with their mother until 4 weeks of age, if possible. Look closely to see if they are orphaned or abandoned before starting to foster. Sometimes the mother cat does not go far from her nest. Abandoned kittens will get dirty and cry constantly because of hunger and cold.
- If you find a litter of newborn kittens orphaned and unable to provide needed services or do not know who to turn to for help, you should take them to your local Humane Society or animal shelter as soon as possible. A Humane Foundation or animal shelter specializes in caring for orphaned kittens if you cannot afford them.
- If you only have one cat, you can put a small stuffed animal next to it so it can cuddle and remind you of its mother and siblings.
- Use a toothbrush that simulates the roughness of a mother cat’s tongue after the kittens have finished nursing. Place a ticking clock near your cat’s nest to comfort and reassure them.
- Let the kittens hide and do not force them. They will gradually open up to you. Take a large box and place the cat’s nest inside so that the kitten feels safe.
Warning
- Even with the best care, kittens can still die because they are not cared for by the mother cat.
This article was co-written by Carrie Seay, MS-CABAC, KPA-CTP, CBCC-KA. Carrie Seay is a cat behavior consultant and owner Carrie Pawpins in Phoenix, Arizona. With over 10 years of experience, she specializes in helping cat owners prevent and eliminate cat behavior problems. Carrie holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Northern Arizona University and a master’s degree in Companion Animal Behavior Analysis & Counseling from the American College of Applied Sciences. She has many certifications from many prestigious training programs, such as that of Karen Pryor Academy.
There are 7 references cited in this article that you can see at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 177,588 times.
Caring for an orphaned newborn cat is a worthwhile thing to do but encounters many difficulties. Humans cannot completely replace the mother cat, and the process of caring for and nurturing kittens takes a long time. Unfortunately, sometimes the mother cat is not strong enough to care for, or leave behind the kittens she gives birth to. In this case, the kitten needs human care. Before caring for an orphaned kitten, you should contact your local animal shelter and veterinarian to allocate a replacement mother. Some will accept, feed, and bathe orphaned kittens, and this is the best thing you can do to keep the kitten alive. If not, you need to create a nurturing environment and learn how to properly feed and care for kittens less than three weeks old.
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