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How to Care for Orphaned Kittens Less Than Three Weeks Old

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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.

Creating a Nurturing Environment

Image titled Care for Orphaned Kittens Less Than Three Weeks of Age Step 1

Image titled Care for Orphaned Kittens Less Than Three Weeks of Age Step 1

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Learn how to hold a kitten. Always wash your hands before and after handling the kitten. They can carry diseases or are susceptible to infections and bacteria on the skin. When holding a kitten, you need to be very careful. Always make sure the kitten’s body is warm by observing if the padding under the paws is cold. Chances are they will start chirping when they feel cold. [1]

  • 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]
Image titled Care for Orphaned Kittens Less Than Three Weeks of Age Step 2

Image titled Care for Orphaned Kittens Less Than Three Weeks of Age Step 2

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Keep kittens warm. Newborn cats (under 2 weeks of age) are unable to regulate their own body temperature and often stay warm by snuggling with the mother. Since they don’t have a mother around, it’s a good idea to put on a heating pad designed for dogs or kittens. Place the cat on the mantelpiece, avoiding direct contact with the pad if there is no coat on it. If there is no hair covering, you should wrap a towel around the pad. [3]

  • 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]
Image titled Care for Orphaned Kittens Less Than Three Weeks of Age Step 3

Image titled Care for Orphaned Kittens Less Than Three Weeks of Age Step 3

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Cat nest design. Place the cat’s box or cage in a quiet, isolated part of the house. The location needs to be warm and airtight, away from other pets. Line the box with a towel to give the kitten a cozy place to rest. You should also spread a towel over the box or cage to keep warm. [5]

  • The air vents on the box or cage should not be covered to prevent the kitten from suffocating. [6]
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Image titled Care for Orphaned Kittens Less Than Three Weeks of Age Step 4

Image titled Care for Orphaned Kittens Less Than Three Weeks of Age Step 4

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Put all the newborn kittens in one place. You don’t need to separate them into different boxes. Place them next to each other to keep them warm and comfortable. The box or cage needs enough space for the kitten to move around.

  • For example, kittens may move to the edge of the heating pad if they feel too hot. [7]

Feed the Kitten

Image titled Care for Orphaned Kittens Less Than Three Weeks of Age Step 5

Image titled Care for Orphaned Kittens Less Than Three Weeks of Age Step 5

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Buy cat milk powder instead. You can choose a brand like Cimicat available at your veterinarian’s office, major pet store, or on the internet. This is a formula milk for newborn cats, with the same composition as mother’s milk. Do not give your cat cow’s milk because sugar, or lactose, can upset the kitten’s stomach. [8]

  • 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]
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Image titled Care for Orphaned Kittens Less Than Three Weeks of Age Step 6

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Prepare to feed the kittens. Sterilize bottles and teats with boiling water, then cool completely on a clean towel. Mix the milk substitute recipe with a whisk to whisk the batter. You need to warm the milk up to 35-37 degrees Celsius before feeding the kittens. As a final test, you should put a few drops under your wrist to make sure the mixture is not too hot. [10]

  • 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]
Image titled Care for Orphaned Kittens Less Than Three Weeks of Age Step 7

Image titled Care for Orphaned Kittens Less Than Three Weeks of Age Step 7

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Secure the kitten and the bottle while feeding. Do not hold the cat and breastfeed like a baby. Instead, you should put their paws on their knees and keep their heads straight, just like they would when nursing a mother cat. Hold the nape of the neck and place the nipple on the side, then push it out to the center of the cat’s mouth. The kitten will then adjust the nipple to be comfortable. You should let the cat suckle on its own in the bottle. Do not spray or put them in their mouths. [12]

  • 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]
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Image titled Care for Orphaned Kittens Less Than Three Weeks of Age Step 8

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Feed the kitten often. When hungry kittens will cry and wiggle as if looking for a nipple to suck milk. Every 2-3 hours you feed them once for the first 2 weeks. It is recommended that you use a bottle with a nipple specially designed for cats (manufactured by Catac). [14] Follow the instructions on the milk substitute packaging to determine the amount needed per meal. Full-fed kittens often doze while suckling and have round bellies [15]

  • 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.
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Caring for Kittens

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Image titled Care for Orphaned Kittens Less Than Three Weeks of Age Step 9

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Help the kitten go to the toilet. Normally, mother cats lick their kittens’ genitals after each feed to stimulate them to urinate and defecate. Before and after each feed, you need to wipe the kitten’s bottom with a cotton pad soaked in warm water. This step stimulates them to defecate, as they can’t do it on their own until a few weeks old. [16] Place the kittens on a clean blanket and turn them over to their side. Use a damp cotton pad to rub the genitals in one direction, do not rub back and forth as this may cause friction. You will notice the kitten starting to urinate or defecate. Continue rubbing until they stop going to the bathroom.

  • 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]
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Image titled Care for Orphaned Kittens Less Than Three Weeks of Age Step 10

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Wipe the kitten clean. After feeding and helping them defecate, you need to clean the kittens. Take a warm damp cloth and gently wipe the fur. Then pat them dry completely and place them in the box. [18]

  • 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]
Image titled Care for Orphaned Kittens Less Than Three Weeks of Age Step 11

Image titled Care for Orphaned Kittens Less Than Three Weeks of Age Step 11

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Check the kitten’s weight. Kittens should gain weight steadily for the first few months. You need to check their weight at the same time every day and record the numbers. Kittens usually double their weight a week after birth. They should continue to gain 15 grams per day after the first week. [20] If kittens stop gaining weight, or lose weight, they may have a problem and need to see a veterinarian.

  • 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]
  • Image titled Care for Orphaned Kittens Less Than Three Weeks of Age Step 12

    Image titled Care for Orphaned Kittens Less Than Three Weeks of Age Step 12

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    Know when to take your kitten to the vet. You should take them to the vet as soon as possible so they can check for dehydration, worms, parasites, and assess the kitten’s health. [22] Some vet offices offer a free exam in case you are caring for a rescued kitten. You should also know when to take them to the vet for treatment. You need to take your cat to the doctor if the following signs are present: [23]

    • 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)
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    • 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.

    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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