Neonatal Kitten Care Facts vs Fiction

 

Neonatal Kitten: 0 days old 

The basics of taking care of a kitten

• Can a new momma cat take a care of a kitten in their first litter?
• Not really, it all depends on the age of the mom and her maturity.

• What do you mean by that?

• Think about it. I mean really think about it. If you know absolutely about the basics of feline biology, but know that they are around depending in your outside living environment. We all know cats are mammals meaning they give live birth. 
• By creation it involves a male and a female to reproduce. With cats it's different when they are born they are given 'x' amount of nipples on their body. Avg 6-8 to keep it simple. Ideally we would like the mom to be over a year old to carry her first litter. Again depends on where you live but sadly in Texas its a hot state and gives them a higher chance to reproduce at a mass rate. 
• Kittens when they are born unfortunately they can start as early as 4 months old to have their "maturity" peak. But why, they're just babies. In nature they are not. A feline can have her babies at approx 8 weeks later. Eight weeks? That is such a short and fast amount of time. While humans it takes average 9 months. 
• Now that four month old kitten is now a 6 month old mom. Remember when I mentioned it all depends on maturity?
• So, what happens when that new young mom (that should've been spayed at the age of 3 months) gives birth? Will she have that 'natural instinct' to do what needs to get done?

• The probability of if she will or can't. 
• Do you think she will have it in her 'instincts' to take care of her first set of kittens? 
• Probability: 50/50
• What's the other 50? Other than being exhausted, imagine being a very young tween mom that just gave birth and have screaming minions crawling around looking for their first nursing feed. 
• What should happen when her instincts kick in?
• The mom should by then have broken open the placenta (and yes they have to eat it to regain all their nutrients they lost).
• Momma should be able to clean them (even though she's gonna be tired) she knows she has to clean them. 
• Momma allows them to nurse.
• If outdoors, she has to do her job to keep them well hidden and will scavenge for food and water when rested well enough so she can continue taking care of them.
• If indoors, please keep the food, water and litter nearby. She will rely on them a lot.
• She will have the instinct to tell if her babies are healthy or not by scent. Moms will abandon kittens if they are not fit to survive. This goes for both indoors and outdoors.
• What happens when she doesn't take care of her new babies?
• The average birth is 4 kittens there are rare cases where a cat can give birth up to 10 (and if the cat has 8 nipples you have to step in nursing or find a surrogate). 
• To keep it very simple for this case she has four babies. 
• If indoors, and if you are planning on taking care of them. They need to be in their own separate room or in a very large kennel (preferably size 48), you have to fit the food, water, litter box and her own nursing station box (cats like cardboard boxes). Some use the closet because its hidden and it makes mom feel a little safer. 
• If outdoors, she will stick around due to loss of energy from giving birth. The kittens will attempt to nurse on her. She may look very confused, in shock of why they are latching on to her, she may complain, and when she does regain her energy this is with an if go hunting and hopefully come back with her natural instincts that she has to take care of them. 
•  Now, this is where every single phone via call, text, voice mail, e-mail, facebook page notification for any person that takes care of cats will have their notifications blown up. 
• For both situations:
• Indoors; If you have allowed her to free roam you will be instructed to keep her in the kennel with her babies. 
• 1. Why? she will have absolutely no choice but to attend to her babies. 
• 2. If you're instructed to keep them with you. This is where you find a priest to pray over you for your new stressful situation, and someone to perform a ritual to ward off evil spirits for the safety of those kittens to allow them to thrive. And it's not just stressful to you. The mom as well. She's in an environment that she doesn't want to be in and hopefully she's not a feral (not socialized) but if you have a semi-feral (extending an olive branch) she allows you to feed her along with shelter and she will have to learn how to use the litter box. If you have a very friendly and fully socialized cat. You have won the lottery in the cat world. She will tolerate you, but will be annoyed that she's crated for her own safety  and yours. Some moms will not allow you to mess with their babies. 
• Outdoors; this is completely different. Every single situation is different. 
• Weather: 
• If it's too hot outside and they are under some kind of shade leave them be. Just about every single shelter or rescue will instruct you to leave them there and hope mom comes back. Time it a couple of hours. Some might say leave them be for six hours or so. I am not the person who's going to tell you to leave them there for six hours. It all depends on the situation.
• If it's raining, hopefully mom will move them like she should for a place that's dry and looks safe. 
• IF it's cold outside. Make a shelter house immediately keep it warm for mom to return and trap her with her babies. Safely bring them indoors like a garage or your spare bathroom/bedroom. 
• Dumpsters
•  I have absolutely no idea why people do this. They're living things. If you find those babies inside the dumpster take them out immediately. Bring them to a shelter or a rescue to give them a wellness check. 
• Inside the house: Such as a wall or a roof. This can happen. Other than asking for help like on Nextdoor or on Facebook. You're gonna need help repairing your home as well. In the eyes of that mom she probably felt it was a safe place. 
• Inside a bridge: The fire department will not come to take out those kittens. Post on social media for help. I should know. I had to get help for one. Kitten rescued from the bridge. I'm the one with the grey cat ears.
• The parking lot: This can happen. Mom can get scarred off. And businesses doesn't want kittens in their property. They will want them removed or put down. 
• Right outside your door: Congratulations you have been adopted.  You are now a cat person. Wait for mom to come back if she accepts you as her food bringer. Make shelter for her outside. Allow her to do her job and she will return the favor as a thank you. 
• New moms can take awhile please give her time. 

What if the mom absolutely did not come back? 

Well... you're gonna need to take your vacation days if you haven't already. Have the coffee pot going or tea, big red or whatever you need to keep you fueled. 

You are going to have sleepless days and nights. SO the best part is to find a willing surrogate mom. Depending on how many kittens are left you may have a whole little or a couple. 

Fiction: All kittens have the ability to thrive. Uh no.

Here are the facts:

• They can not regulate their own body temperature. They are babies, they can't regulate it until they are about six weeks old. 
• They are born with their claws not retracted.
• They are born with their eyes closed.
• They can not go to the bathroom on their own.
• They can not eat hard or wet food. No teeth.
• Their ears are fully closed.
• Do not bother identifying if its a male or a female yet, the goal is to keep them alive.
• They do not carry the antibodies to fight infections or diseases. 
• That's what mom is for to help boost their immune system.
• The are more likely to hiss because you are not the mom. 
• They can't go without feeding for too long. 
• They can't clean themselves.
• They don't have enough blood in their system to fight off the fleas and parasites.

So what can you do in the meantime?

• Regulating the body temperature is number 1!
• If you have access to this.  To regulate body temperature : Hot Hands
• I love these they are portable and very reliable. 
• You need to make sure that there is a towel to keep the kittens from overheating from it. 
• I prefer this for a heating soother: Petstages Warming Soother It does not have to be that exact type. There are different ones at pet stores like Petco, PetSmart maybe Pet Supplies. I just prefer that one other than its cute, soft and it makes their mental stimulation help imitate with mom. They do come with that heating pack. I don't use it since I know my cats and they will destroy it and my dog would eat what's left over. 
• Their physical appearance: 
• If they have fleas: 
• Dawn Original Its a good thing to have for flea removal.
• BATHE in warm not too hot. Wash the head last and dry it first
• Blow dryer setting warm. Keep it away at least half a foot. These are sensitive babies.  
• Flea Comb you need to make sure the teeth of the comb is really close
• The body color: Pink is good, blue and/or purple is bad.
• All medical advice will tell you to never bathe that kitten. But in extreme conditions such as fleas they can cause anemia. That would be an acceptable case. 
• Keep their body temperature regulated. Do not feed. When feeding sometimes it will cause the temp to drop. When you're in a restaurant and it's cold inside what does your brain tell you to do? Order food, but when you order the food your body temp will drop because that food has not been fully processed to turn into a burning fuel. 
• The color of their gums:
• Nice shade of pink: Good
• Pale pink: Bad
• Not everyone uses this. Karo Syrup Light  That keeps their blood sugar pumping. Use only a small drop on their gums so it can be quickly absorbed. And it will get sticky.  Keep doing this every fifteen, half hour or so. Google will tell you different answers it all depends on the severity.
• The inside of the mouth: 
• I never had experienced a Cleft Palate Kitten but there is one rescue here in Texas that can give you all the correct information since google can not give you a straight answer.  Fuzzy Texan Animal Rescue
• They will tell you not to feed it because their structure is different its basically getting milk stuck in the wrong places and not able to processes. Keep it warm until someone can either transport or you can drop it off with them. 
• Bathroom Toilet Paper or Tissues
• Wipe down gently, as long as they poop (speaking of poop its liquidish) so don't freak out at least twice a day. More pee is a good sign.
• Grooming: Some like to use really soft toothbrushes. 
• Type of towel: I like to use really good kitchen towels. The one that has those grips designed to really catch the water. 
• Heating Pad:  K&H Pet Product Bed Warmer Pad
• What to feed:
• For the love of god do not give them cows milk, human baby formula or cat's milk. It can make them sick.
• KITTEN MILK REPLACER There are many different kinds powder or liquid. Sharing only powder so you know what it looks like.
• PetAg Milk Replacer Plus *my fav* with Taurine for eye and heart health ONLY AT WALMART Powder and Liquid
• PetAg KMR Kitten Milk Replacer *expensive* Powder and Liquid
• Hartz Kitten Milk Replacer *never used it* 
• Well & Good Kitten Milk Replacer  Only in powder and Petco/Amazon.com *this has colostrum which is what is need to help them thrive*
• Revival Animal Health: Breeder's Edge Foster Care Kitten Milk Replacer Online Only such as Amazon and Sold only by Revival Animal Health. This is supposed to be the best of the best but can be costly.
• I am only showing the top give that is normally sold. PetSmart has something called GNC KMR. 
• What to use: 
• Nursing bottles. I love the Petco brand Well & Good because it feels a lot softer and more natural. PetAg it's rubber rubber. If you have like a dropper or non-needle oral syringe that can work.
• How to store:
• Store unused milk in the refrigerator. 
• Powder: 3 months in the refrigerator, 6 months in the freezer.
• Serve: Warm, discard any made milk not the liquid container.  

👀 If you are caring for them long term.

After a handful of years I have learned to make KMR based on the case.

My formula Mix

This formula is made specifically by experience and not everyone will have the same recipe.

👉 PetAg Kitten Milk Replacer PLUS

👉 Bene-bac Plus Powder  

👉 Tomlyn NutriCal Kittens 

👉 Revival Animal Health: Breeder's Edge Kitten Lyte 

👉 Tomlyn Lysine For Cats

👉 Karo Syrup Light

👉 If you have a pour mix container that has measurements for liquids approx 14oz 

👉 For refrigeration: A glass container

DEPENDS ON HOW MANY YOU ARE FEEDING

• max 4 kittens
• Water: 12oz 
• 2 full scoops of formula
• 1 full scoop of lysine
• 1 full scoop of kitten lyte
• 1 full scoop of bene-bac
• 4 small drops of karo syrup light
• 2 drops of nutrical
• Blend with a mixer or automatic whisk mixer
• Max 2 kittens: do half of each

Notice of change in stools. This will make their stools fully solid. If they are straining. You can purchase 100% Pure Pumpkin by Libby's, you'll see it in the baking isle. Unfortunately it's not in a very small can. 1/8 of a teaspoon in the bottle before pouring in in the formula.  Store this carefully it can spoil quickly in the refrigerator. 

Why am I adding Karo Syrup to the formula very everytime its made? Think about it. Kittens are too young to have a topical medication to prevent fleas from spreading. They can cause anemia. With small hints of that syrup in it. This helps makes them thrive a little better and you will never have to worry about doing the fatal kitten syndrome protocol. The point is to prevent it from happening, not wait for it to happen. This feeding can stop at age 6 weeks depending on the condition of the kitten. 

Good Luck, and if you enjoy doing this in the long term. Think of volunteering for your local no kill animal rescue or shelter. 

2 day old Cinderella