You can be the difference in A Kitten's life!
Welcome
Helping orphaned, newborn, kittens thrive
Welcome to being a foster parent. Whether a new foster or you have experience with newborns, we are all continuing to learn.
If you are interested in bottle feeding kittens
Contact your local cat rescues, local public animal welfare services and/or local Veterinary clinics.
Rescues
Should provide the needed equipment and supplies. Syringes, bottles, miracle nipples, formula, and a heat sources as needed. As well as a place to keep the kitten(s) safe and secure.
Bottle feeding kittens
Kittens have to eat every 2-5 hours depending on their age. This includes night time and early morning hours.
Preferences
Some people enjoy 0-4 week kittens that need a lot of attention, dedication, energy, time, and effort.
Others may enjoy (or be better at) weaning and weaned kittens. These kitten are learning or have learned to eat wet food. And are typically between 5-8 weeks old.
Others may enjoy working with older kittens. Teaching them to play, socialize, and starting them on hard food.
Choose what you enjoy and are best at
Personally, I prefer newborn to 5 weeks of age. Early on in recuse I was given 6 kittens that were around 6-8 weeks old. I struggled with that. It was not what I wanted to do and it made me unhappy.
Advocate for what you enjoy and are best at. You and the kittens will be happy and better off. This is a labor of love, and you need to love what you are doing.
Anything is possible
With a healthy kitten anything is possible. While it would be wonderful to have incubators and other specialty equipment, it is not completely necessary. I have raised many one day old kittens in a play pen with a heating pad, and continue to do so.
First assessment of a kitten
- Always wash your hands before and after touching the kitten
- Check the roof of the mouth for a cleft palate
- Check gum color
- Look over the entire kitten, checking for injuries or other health issues
- Potty the kitten
- Take the kitten's temperature
- Weigh the kitten
- Only after the kitten is warm enough, offer the kitten formula or food
Seek medical attention
- If the kitten has a cleft palate (hole in roof of mouth)
- If milk comes out of the kittens nose while feeding or they choke turn them face down and pat on their back and side. If sneezing, coughing or trouble breathing follows this (even days later) seek medical attention IMMEDIATELY!!!
- If the kittens temperature is below 98 or above 102 degrees
- If the kitten has vomiting, diarrhea or bloody stool
- If the kitten has an injury or is dragging any part of its body
- If the kitten has crusty eyes, runny nose, congestion, sneezing or coughing
- If the kitten has a flea problem
- If the kitten is lethargic and wont eat
- If anything concerns you get medical advice or treatment
What you need
- Breeders Edge or KMR formula
- 5 ml syringes
- Miracle Nipples Mini
- PetAg bottle
- A carrier that opens from the top, a medium kennel, clear plastic tub (without lid) or playpen
- A safe space for the kittens away from other animals, small objects, cords, etc
- Blankets and/or towels
- A 24/7 heating pad, heating discs (2) or hot water bottles
- Karo syrup or honey
- Thermometer
Helpful things to have
- Blender Bottle
- Unscented baby wipes
- Wipe warmer
- Bottle warmer
- Puppy pads
- Pedialyte
- Digital scale
- imuquin
- Bottle sanitizer
- Dish soap or mild pet shampoo (for baths)
- Snuggle cat with heart beat
