New Kittens Require Special Care
If you’re a first-time kitten owner, you need to know how to take care of them. Whether you’ve adopted a kitten or have a mom with a litter, young kittens are most vulnerable until at least eight weeks old. If your cat is a new mom, she’ll usually care for her litter, but you should check on the kittens frequently. You should schedule a veterinary visit to ensure the mom and kittens are healthy. If you’ve found a stray and don’t know how to take care of a newborn kitten, it’s best to schedule a checkup with a vet as soon as possible.
Feeding and Weaning a New Kitten
Ideally, a kitten’s diet consists of their mother’s milk until they start eating solid food at four weeks. Your veterinarian can recommend the best food for kittens. Most kittens are weaned at six or seven weeks. If your kitten requires bottle feeding, you should use a kitten milk replacement or canned milk for kittens. You shouldn’t use cow’s, goat’s milk, or other dairy products. They can cause digestive upsets, vomiting, or diarrhea.
When you start weaning a kitten, mix one part of kitten chow and three parts of milk replacement like KMR. Blend or mash the food and feed your kitten three to five times a day. The food should be in a shallow dish to make it easier for your kitten. If you have a nursing mom, take the kittens from her an hour or two before feeding time. Let them eat the kitten gruel for a few minutes before they go back to their mom. You should put a bowl of water down to encourage the kittens to learn to drink from a bowl.
Kittens Need Warm Housing
If you have a cat with a litter of kittens, a nesting box provides warmth and security for the mom and babies. The box should be tall enough to keep the kittens in but allow the mom to come and go. The nesting box should be in a warm, quiet area with no drafts. The bottom half of a large dog or cat kennel is a good suggestion and is easy to keep clean. The housing for your kittens should be large enough for the mom to move into her own space to rest, but be close enough for the kittens to reach her. A wire cat crate is another suitable option.
The kitten’s box should be lined with newspapers to absorb moisture and topped with a mattress pad. The liner should be changed frequently. You can place a heated bed or self-heating pad in the crate with fleecy blankets to keep your furbaby warm. Kittens can’t regulate the temperature of their bodies until they’re about three weeks old and must be kept warm. If you use a heating pad, check it frequently to make sure it doesn’t get too hot.
Training and Socializing Your Kitten
Kitten litter box training can be a challenge, but most kittens catch on relatively quickly. You should choose a litter box with low sides that’s easy for kittens to access. It’s a good idea to place your kitten in the litter box every hour or so. Move the front paws in a scratching motion and be patient. Kittens usually prefer a sand-type litter. Several brands are designed especially for kittens. Keep the box in one location that’s not close to food and water bowls. When the kitten uses the box, praise and a favorite treat offer encouragement.
Kittens should be socialized early to prevent behavioral issues later. Expose your kitten to different sights, sounds, and people. Age-appropriate toys are stimulating and fun for kittens. Exposing your kitten to people of different ages will help with socialization and emotional development.