If you have other pets, make sure to keep them separate from the orphaned kittens for at least 2 weeks. Don’t let them share litter boxes, food, or water bowls, since these could spread disease.
Kittens should never be directly exposed to the heating pad, since they may get localized burns or overheat. You can also use a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel, but check it frequently to make sure it’s still warm (around 100 degrees).
Make sure not to cover air holes in the box or cat carrier to prevent suffocation. [4] X Research source
For instance, the kittens should be able to move to the edges of a heating pad if they’re starting to overheat.
If you don’t have milk replacement and the kittens are hungry, offer some boiled water that has been cooled. Use a dropper or syringe, until you can get to the vet clinic or pet store. The water keeps the kittens hydrated and won’t cause upset stomachs. [7] X Research source Reproduction in the Dog and Cat. Christianseen. Publisher: Bailliere Tindall
Always make sure the kittens themselves are warm before feeding them. Never feed a kitten whose temperature is less than 95 degrees. This could cause aspiration pneumonia which makes it difficult to breathe and may even be fatal. [10] X Research source
Don’t forget to burp the kittens after feeding. Burp the kittens like you would a human baby. Place a kitten on your chest, lap, or shoulder and gently rub and pat her back with 2 fingers until she burps. If a kitten is having trouble latching on, hold the kitten’s face and don’t let her move her head. Try to feed her again and squirt just a few drops of milk out. She’ll probably latch on. [12] X Research source
In an emergency, use an eyedropper or a small syringe to drip milk into the kitten’s mouth. After 2 weeks, the feeds can be stretched out to to every 3 to 4 hours, with a gap of 6 hours overnight.
The kittens’ urine shouldn’t smell and should be pale yellow in color. Feces should be yellowish brown. If you notice white or green feces, or dark urine that smells strongly, the kittens may be dehydrated or need medical attention. [15] X Research source
If you notice dried feces are stuck on a kitten’s fur, gently dip the kitten’s bottom into a bowl of warm water. Then you can carefully wipe the loosened feces off with a cloth.
For example, kittens are usually born weighing around 3. 0 - 3. 7 ounces (90 - 110 grams). Around 2 weeks old, a kitten should weigh around 7 ounces. By 3 weeks old, the kitten should weigh about 10 ounces.
A high or low temperature (over 103 or under 99 degrees) Lack of appetite (if a kitten hasn’t eaten at all in a day, get emergency medical attention) Vomiting (if it’s constant, get emergency medical attention) Weight loss Coughing, sneezing, discharge from the eyes or nose Diarrhea (if it’s constant, get emergency medical attention) Lack of energy Bleeding of any kind (get emergency medical attention) Difficulty breathing (get emergency medical attention) Any trauma, like being hit by a car, dropped, limping, stepped on, unconscious (get emergency medical attention)
