HOW TO CARE FOR A KITTEN WITHOUT A MOTHER AND 3 THINGS TO KNOW

If you are caring for a small kitten without a mother, there are many things you need to know. Today, our veterinarians at New Iberia provide tips and advice on how to care for a kitten without a mother, what to look out for, and when to take them to the vet y. Let’s find out with Petlandlove!

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How to Take Care For a Kitten Without A Mother

Kittens are cute and adorable (just ask the Internet!) However, kittens, especially young kittens, have specific needs for each stage of their lives, and if anything Something is wrong or overlooked, which can affect their overall health and longevity. Here, we’ll talk about how you can care for your new furry friend during their puppy years.

Caring for a Newborn Kitten

From 0 – 4 weeks of age, you need to know that your little kitten is considered newborn. At this stage, they are still learning the basics: how to meow, walk, and even regulate their body temperature. If their mother is still present, she will be able to clean, feed, and help keep newborn kittens warm; Your role is to make sure the cat’s mother is healthy and that she is in a warm and safe environment.

Make sure the floor of the kitten’s cage/environment is covered with a blanket, and that they have a warm bed to lie on. However, if the care for a kitten without a mother, the first important thing you need to do is keep them warm and safe when taking them to the vet. The veterinarian will be able to determine the overall condition of the kitten and inform you of the necessary requirements.

Warmth is vital

If your kittens don’t have a mother, you’ll need to help keep them warm using a heat plate or low-temperature heat pad placed under a blanket in their cage. You should also make a small nest from a soft blanket for the kitten to lie in to feel comfortable. It’s important to make sure the heat plate doesn’t get too hot by touching it with your hand, and to provide a comfortable place in your kitten’s carrier that’s free of heating objects where she can go if she gets too hot. Remember that your kitten still needs help maintaining his body temperature.

You should continue to provide heat to your kittens until they are about 6 weeks old because if they get too cold, they can develop heat disease. With this in mind, their area should be kept at 85°F or 29°C.

Feeding Your Newborn Kitten

When care for a kitten without a mother, it is very important to feed and provide them with proper nutrition. You will have to bottle-feed your kitten with kitten-specific formula every 2-4 hours. Like adult cats, every kitten is different and your vet will inform you about the best formula to use, how much food to feed your kitten and how often you should feed them. A healthy growing weight for kittens is about ½ ounce (14 grams) per day or 4 ounces (113 grams) a week. Never give kittens or cats cow’s milk, and always make sure you are feeding them the same type of formula and keeping them warm to digest their food properly.

Caring for an older Kitten

If the care for a kitten without a mother are between 6 – 10 weeks old, they should gradually stop drinking milk and start eating protein-rich meals about 3 – 4 times per day. You can start by pouring the cat formula into a bowl and perhaps add some dry cat food or wet cat food to help them gradually get used to the process.

Around this time, their motor skills will start to improve and they will become more adventurous. This means lots of fun and games – and you’ll need to watch them more carefully so they don’t get into trouble. Kittens need plenty of supervision and playtime between 2 – 4 months of age.

When your kittens are about 4 – 6 months old, they will begin puberty. This is a time when they are often very playful and may need some behavioral training, making it an ideal time to talk to your vet about having your cat spayed or neutered. Spaying or neutering surgery before the cat reaches 6 – 8 months of age can help avoid some unwanted behaviors related to reproduction from becoming habitual.

Preventive Care For Your Kitten

No matter how old your kitten is, take them to their first vet appointment during their first week in your care. Your veterinarian will evaluate your kitten’s health, inform you about his nutritional needs, and answer any questions you have regarding the care of your new family member.

Ensuring that your kitten receives routine preventative care is important, including regular health exams, routine vaccinations, and parasite prevention.

Regular wellness exams allow your veterinarian to evaluate your kitten’s overall health and condition including his or her nutritional needs. Your veterinarian will also be able to detect any illnesses early before they become serious when they are easier and more expensive to treat.

You also need to make sure your kitten receives all of his injections and parasite preventatives on schedule. Your kitten should have her first vaccination when she is 6 to 8 weeks old and you should have her spayed or neutered when she is 5 to 6 months old. This prevents any serious illness or condition from appearing initially.

What Can Go Wrong?

When caring for kittens, there are a few things to pay attention to at each stage of your kitten’s life. These signs could indicate a problem or even a veterinary medical emergency, so if you see your kitten exhibiting any of the following signs, call your veterinarian immediately. y to make an appointment:

Lateness or difficulty with motor skills or coordination
Tired
Refuses food (especially when feeding from a bottle)
Diarrhea
Vomiting

When your kitten is 4 weeks old or older, you still need to pay attention to the above signs along with the following behavioral signs:

Use sandbox/don’t use sandbox
Signs of playful biting or aggression
Behavioral concerns need to be addressed when the animal is young

With your veterinarian’s care and your patient love at home, your care for a kitten without a mother will grow to provide many years of friendship and affection.