01/03/2023
How do I take care of newborn kittens, from 0 to 3-4 weeks? PART-2
Create an ideal space for your newborn kittens
They need comfortable surroundings where they feel protected. Things to watch out for:
Their own space. At this stage they sleep a lot, for 80% of the time. A peaceful room with very little noise is what they need at 0-4 weeks.
A bed. You could choose a comfortable box with high sides, or a cat-carrying basket. In this way they wonât escape, and theyâll stay warm. This is really important, as if they do escape, their body temperature will fall.
Warmth. From 0 to 3-4 weeks kittens can suffer from hypothermia, because they are not able to regulate their body temperature. They mustnât be in direct contact with a heat source. You can cover them with blankets, or wrap a bottle of warm water in a blanket (so that they wonât get burnt). Electric blankets are not suitable, as they can cause burns.
Feeding kittens from 0 to 3-4 weeks
Nutrition is health. You should choose special kitten formula milk. Remember that any other type of milk may well not cover 100% of their requirements.
For example, cowâs milk has a low energy content, and doesnât cover their need for calcium, phosphorous, fats or proteins. It contains only 27% raw protein, compared with the 40% contained in catsâ milk, and furthermore can give the kittens diarrhoea.
Hereâs some advice on correct nutrition:
Choose a teat for the feeding bottle in accordance with the size for your kitten. Syringes should only be used in emergencies, as the kittens could choke on them.
At first theyâll need to be fed every 2-4 hours (including at night). The milk should be at a temperature of 35-38 Celsius (95-100 degrees Fahrenheit). Theyâll drink small quantities as their stomachs are tiny, and they quickly become full. As they grow, the time between feeds will lengthen, as theyâll be able to consume more milk each time.
Position your kitten as if heâs breastfeeding with his mother: on a flat surface, lying against her belly with his head raised. In this way youâre simulating a normal breastfeeding position. Hold the bottle horizontally, or tilt it slightly with the teat facing downwards.
Kitten hygiene: from birth until 3-4 weeks
Newborn kittens canât urinate or defecate for themselves. They start to control these functions at 3 weeks. Up until then, itâs the mother who stimulates them by licking the a**l and ge***al areas.
To help him, you just need to follow these simple steps:
Gently rub his abdomen and ge***al and a**l areas with a soft, damp (wring it out well before using) cloth. This will push him to urinate for a few seconds. Kittens can only defecate once a day, but if more than a day and a half goes by, take him to the vet. As heâs so tiny, constipation could be fatal.
Keep him dry. Several newborn kittens living together can get dirty, urinating on each other as theyâre so close together. Clean you little kittens with a damp cloth, and then dry them with a soft one. In this way youâll make sure that their body temperature doesnât fall.
I'm Oscar, hi..! People throw me away from my mother on the street because I'm an Arabian Mau. I am sweet and loving, though. I was misunderstood by them.
