how to raise orphan kittens

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 1/18/2015 How to Rai se Orphan Kittens http://www.peteducation.com/articl e.cfm?c=1+2137&aid=912 1/4 DOG ARTICLES  CAT ARTICLES FISH ARTICLES BIRD ARTICLES FERRET ARTICLES SMALL PET ARTICLES REPTILE ARTICLES Home / Cat / Acquiring a New Cat or Kitten / Orphan Kittens: How to Care for Them: How to Raise Orphan Kittens Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc. Race Foster, DVM Emergency Kitten Milk Replacer 3 oz condensed milk 3 oz water 4 oz plain yogurt (not low fat ) 3 large or 4 small egg yolks - no whites Print Article | Email Article  Orphan Kittens: How to R aise Them by Jennifer Prince, DVM and Race Foster, DVM Drs. Foster & Smith Veterinary Services Department Kittens are usually orphaned when the mother (queen) is not able to adequately care for her kittens. This may be because she cannot produce milk (a condition called 'agalactia') or because she has be havioral or psychological abnormalities which prevent her from adequately caring for her kittens. In rare instances, the mother may actually not be present due to death, injury, or complications arising from a difficult birthing. Some kittens may be several w eeks old before their mother becomes unable to care for them. Successful rearing of motherless kittens requires a regular schedule of appropriate feedings, elimination, playing, and sleeping all in a safe and healthy environment. T he principles of raising one orphaned kitten are not significantly different than those of raising an entire orphaned litter. In most cases, an entire litter is or phaned rather  than a single kitten. Raising an orphaned litter in the complete absence of a mother is time consuming, but rewarding. It is very possible to hand raise an entire litter from birth with the same success rate as could be accomplished by the natural caring mother. To successfully raise an orphaned litter one must consider: Nutrit ion and weaning Sanitation Temperature and humidity Disease prevention Nurture and socialization Healthy kittens are plump and firm, warm, quiet, and sleep most of the time. Unhealthy kittens have poor muscle tone, initial high activity levels and cry a lot. If not assisted, they become weak, quiet, and comatose. Nutrition and weaning If at all possible, get the kittens to nurse from the mother in the first 12 hours to allow for ingestion of colostrum. Kittens are only able to absorb the antibodies  from the colostrum for the first 24 hours of life. If the mother will continue to allow the kittens to nurse while she is made to lay still, that will decrease some of the work load on the breeder. She may decide in a few days that she is willing to care for them and remove the burden from the breeder. If the queen is not able to nurse and care for the kittens, they will need to be bottle or tube fed or a fost er queen may be found. Queens will usually accept and nurse kitt ens that are similar in size (not necessarily age) to her own. Do not expect her to be able to handle two full li tter s on her own. Supplementation with a bottle or tube will still be needed. Bottles for kittens are readily available and are the preferred method of feeding. Tube feeding is best left to trained individuals, as the tube may be inadvertently passed to the lungs and cause choking when the formula is administered. Tube feeding, although risky, is warranted in kittens failing to nurse properly. For most instances, however, bottle feeding is recommended. If the kittens are too weak to nurse from a bottle, a veterinarian should be consulted to receive information and a demonstr ation on tube feeding. Feed a kitten while he is on his belly, not on his back, like human babies are fed. Commercially prepared kitten milk formulas are readily available and are nutritionally balanced to meet the needs of orphan kittens. Homemade milk formula recipes are also available. These are not perfectly balanced nutritionally, but will suffice for several days until commercial formulas can be obtained. KMR is a well-known kitt en milk replacer. Do not substitute cow's milk or goat's milk for a high quality kitten milk replacer. They are not equivalent. Do not feed raw egg whites, as a biotin deficiency may occur due to an enzyme in the white part of the egg. The enzyme is destroyed with cooking. Honey may contain bacteria, which may be fatal to the kittens. Whether using a commercial or homemade formula, only HOME |  PET SUPPLIES |  LIV EAQUAR IA | HELP |  SITE MAP 1. Select a pet type 2. 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  • 1/18/2015 HowtoRaiseOrphanKittens

    http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1+2137&aid=912 1/4

    DOGARTICLES CAT

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    Home/Cat/AcquiringaNewCatorKitten/OrphanKittens:HowtoCareforThem:

    HowtoRaiseOrphanKittensDrs.Foster&Smith,Inc.

    RaceFoster,DVM

    EmergencyKittenMilkReplacer

    3ozcondensedmilk3ozwater4ozplainyogurt(notlowfat)3largeor4smalleggyolksnowhites

    PrintArticle | EmailArticle

    OrphanKittens:HowtoRaiseThembyJenniferPrince,DVMandRaceFoster,DVM

    Drs.Foster&SmithVeterinaryServicesDepartment

    Kittensareusuallyorphanedwhenthemother(queen)isnotabletoadequatelycareforherkittens.Thismaybebecauseshecannotproducemilk(aconditioncalled'agalactia')orbecauseshehasbehavioralorpsychologicalabnormalitieswhichpreventherfromadequatelycaringforherkittens.Inrareinstances,themothermayactuallynotbepresentduetodeath,injury,orcomplicationsarisingfromadifficultbirthing.Somekittensmaybeseveralweeksoldbeforetheirmotherbecomesunabletocareforthem.

    Successfulrearingofmotherlesskittensrequiresaregularscheduleofappropriatefeedings,elimination,playing,andsleepingallinasafeandhealthyenvironment.Theprinciplesofraisingoneorphanedkittenarenotsignificantlydifferentthanthoseofraisinganentireorphanedlitter.Inmostcases,anentirelitterisorphanedratherthanasinglekitten.Raisinganorphanedlitterinthecompleteabsenceofamotheristimeconsuming,butrewarding.Itisverypossibletohandraiseanentirelitterfrombirthwiththesamesuccessrateascouldbeaccomplishedbythenaturalcaringmother.Tosuccessfullyraiseanorphanedlitteronemustconsider:

    NutritionandweaningSanitationTemperatureandhumidityDiseasepreventionNurtureandsocialization

    Healthykittensareplumpandfirm,warm,quiet,andsleepmostofthetime.Unhealthykittenshavepoormuscletone,initialhighactivitylevelsandcryalot.Ifnotassisted,theybecomeweak,quiet,andcomatose.

    NutritionandweaningIfatallpossible,getthekittenstonursefromthemotherinthefirst12hourstoallowforingestionofcolostrum.Kittensareonlyabletoabsorbtheantibodiesfromthecolostrumforthefirst24hoursoflife.Ifthemotherwillcontinuetoallowthekittenstonursewhilesheismadetolaystill,thatwilldecreasesomeoftheworkloadonthebreeder.Shemaydecideinafewdaysthatsheiswillingtocareforthemandremovetheburdenfromthebreeder.

    Ifthequeenisnotabletonurseandcareforthekittens,theywillneedtobebottleortubefedorafosterqueenmaybefound.Queenswillusuallyacceptandnursekittensthataresimilarinsize(notnecessarilyage)toherown.Donotexpecthertobeabletohandletwofulllittersonherown.Supplementationwithabottleortubewillstillbeneeded.

    Bottlesforkittensarereadilyavailableandarethepreferredmethodoffeeding.Tubefeedingisbestlefttotrainedindividuals,asthetubemaybeinadvertentlypassedtothelungsandcausechokingwhentheformulaisadministered.Tubefeeding,althoughrisky,iswarrantedinkittensfailingtonurseproperly.Formostinstances,however,bottlefeedingisrecommended.Ifthekittensaretooweaktonursefromabottle,aveterinarianshouldbeconsultedtoreceiveinformationandademonstrationontubefeeding.Feedakittenwhileheisonhisbelly,notonhisback,likehumanbabiesarefed.

    Commerciallypreparedkittenmilkformulasarereadilyavailableandarenutritionallybalancedtomeettheneedsoforphankittens.Homemademilkformularecipesarealsoavailable.Thesearenotperfectlybalancednutritionally,butwillsufficeforseveraldaysuntilcommercialformulascanbeobtained.KMRisawellknownkittenmilkreplacer.

    Donotsubstitutecow'smilkorgoat'smilkforahighqualitykittenmilkreplacer.Theyarenotequivalent.Donotfeedraweggwhites,asabiotindeficiencymayoccurduetoanenzymeinthewhitepartoftheegg.Theenzymeisdestroyedwithcooking.Honeymaycontainbacteria,whichmaybefataltothekittens.

    Whetherusingacommercialorhomemadeformula,only

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  • 1/18/2015 HowtoRaiseOrphanKittens

    http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1+2137&aid=912 2/4

    makeenoughformulaforonedayoffeedingandkeepitintherefrigerator.Washanddrythebottlesandnipplesorfeedingtubethoroughlybetweenfeedings.Warmthekittenmilkreplacerinapanofwateruntil98100Fbeforefeeding.Mixwellbeforeusingtodecreasetheriskofanyhotareasofformula.

    Thekittenswillneedtobeburpedduringandaftereachfeeding.Holdthemuprightoroveryourshoulderandpattheirback.Bottleortubefeedingneedstobedoneverycarefullytopreventaspirationofthesupplementwithsubsequentaspirationpneumoniaordrowning.Substitute23tubefeedingsadaywithbottlefeedingtohelpsatisfythesucklingreflex.Thisshouldhelpdecreasethekittens'tendencytosuckoneachotherpossiblycausingsores.

    Thefirst2448hourseachkittenneeds1mlofmilkperhour.Eachday,increasetheamountfedpermealby0.5mluntilamaximumof10ml/mealisreached.Kittenswillneed912mealsperday.Duringthesecondweek,theyshouldbeon57mlperfeeding.Bythethirdweek,theyshouldbestartedonkittengruel3timesadayandbottlefeedingcontinued.Bythefourthweek,theyshouldreceive46bottlefeedingadayplusthegruelshouldbefed45timesaday.Themiddleofthenightfeedingcanbereducedandtheneliminatedoncetheyareeatinggruelwell.Theycanbecompletelyonsolidfoodby7weeksofage.(CaringforNewbornKittensfortherecipeforkittengruel.)Malnutritionisnotuncommoninorphans.Speakwithyourveterinarianregardingthekittens'diet.

    Forthefirst10days,weighthekittensdailyatthesametimetomonitortheirweightgain.Then34timesaweekforanother10days.Thecommonfirstsignofillnessislackofweightgainorweightloss.Eachkittenshouldgain50100gramsperweek.By14daysofage,thebirthweightsshouldbedoubled.Ingeneral,ifthekittensarenotgainingweight,theyneedmorefood.Ifthekittensdevelopdiarrhea,theymaybeoverfed.

    OrphanKittenFeedingSchedule

    WeeksPostpartum TypeofFood

    FeedingsPerDay

    VolumeofFormulaPerMeal

    BodyWeight

    1 KMR 912 17ml 100200grams

    2 KMR 9 79ml 200300grams

    3 KMRintroducesolids 9 10ml 300360grams

    4 KMRsolids 7 10ml 350420grams

    5 KMRdecreaseKMRinsolids 7 8ml400500grams

    6 KMRinbowlsolids 6 * 450600grams

    7 WeanfromKMR 3 * 500700grams

    SanitationAnewbornkittenisunabletourinateorhaveabowelmovementonhisown.Helacksthenecessarymusclecontroloverthesefunctions.Akittenmustbestimulatedtourinateanddefecate.Thisdutyisnormallyperformedbythemother.Hergroomingorlickingofthekitten'sanalareawillstimulateurinationanddefecation.Orphanedkittensmustbemanuallystimulatedbytheownertoenableurinationanddefecation.Thekittenmustbestimulatedaftereachandeveryfeeding.Fortunately,thisiseasy.Acottonballorpieceofverysofttowelingworkswell.Moistenitwithwarmwaterandgentlyrubtheanalandgenitalarea.Withinonetotwominutesthekittenwillurinateand/ordefecate.Somekittenswillrespondbetterbeforeeatingwhileothersrespondbetteraftereating.Trybothtimestokeepthekittenshealthiest.Keeparecordofeachkitten'surinationanddefecation.Kittenswillneedtobestimulatedinthisfashionuntiltheirbladderandbowelmusclesstrengthen,usuallyby21daysofage.Mostkittenswilleliminateontheirownbythreeweeksofage.

    Cleanthekittenandyouaredoneuntilthenextfeeding.Observetheurineandfecesforsignsofillhealth.Theurineshouldbeapaleyelloworclear.Ifitisdarkyellowororange,thekittenisnotbeingfedenough.Donotfeedmoreformulaatonetime,butfeedmoreoften.Thestoolshouldbeapaletodarkbrownandpartiallyformed.Greenstoolindicatesaninfection,andtoofirmofastoolindicatesnotenoughformula.Again,ifthestoolishard,feedmoreoftenratherthanincreasingtheamountofformulagivenperfeeding.Itispossibletofeedakittentoomuch,butnottoooften.Toomuchfoodcausesbloating,gas,regurgitation,andsometimesaspirationintothelungs.

    TemperatureandhumidityToremainhealthy,kittensmustbekeptattheproperroomtemperature.Youngkittenscannotconservebodyheatorshivertocreateheat.Supplyingartificialheatsourcessuchasanincubator,heatlamp,warmwaterpad,electricalheatingpad,orspecialelectricalheatedmatsdesignedfornewbornpetswillhelpkittensremainatthecorrectbodytemperature.Regardlessoftheheatsource,itisveryimportantnottooverheatorburnthekittens.Keepathermometerinthekittenareatomonitorthetemperature.

    Asimple25wattlightbulbsuspendedoveroneendofasmallboxusuallywillsupplysufficientheat.Keeparoomthermometerunder

    thelightsourcetomonitorthetemperature.Heatingpadsneedtobemonitoredcloselyifused,as

  • 1/18/2015 HowtoRaiseOrphanKittens

    http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1+2137&aid=912 3/4

    thekittensmaybetooweakenedtomoveawayfromthemandbecomeburned.Ifaheatingpadmustbeused,wrapitinathicktowelorsheepskintoprotectthekittensfromburns.

    Forthefirstweek,airtemperatureshouldbemaintainedat8590andarelativehumidityof5565%.Overthenext3weeks,decreasethetemperatureto75F.Usecommonsense.Ifthekittensarepiledontopofeachotherallthetime,theyarecold.Ifthekittensarespreadfarapart,theyaretoowarm.Iftheylaynexttoeachother,thetemperatureisfine.

    Kittensthatarehypothermic(lowbodytemperature)shouldbewarmedslowlyover23hourstoanormalnewborntemperatureof97F.Anormalbodytemperatureshouldbeobtainedbeforefeedingthesekittens.Smallshampoobottlesfilledwithhotwater,wrappedinatowel,andplacednexttothekittenworkwellandshouldbechangedasneeded.Thekittens'bodytemperaturesareinthe100102degreerangebyabout4weeksofage.

    Keepthemoistureinarangecomfortableforhumans.Inahomemadeboxarea,atowelmoistenedwithwaterandplacedovertheboxwillhelpaddmoisture.Neverraiseinfantsinadampormoldybasementarea.Thistypeofstagnantdampnessisusuallycoldandinvitesmildewandrespiratoryinfections.Temperaturecontrolismorecriticalthanhumidity.

    Kittensshouldbekeptonasurfacewithgoodtractionsuchasablanketorsheepskin.Thiswillhelpwithdevelopmentoftheirmotorskills.

    DiseasepreventionManyorphanedkittensareatahigherriskofdevelopinginfectiousdiseasessuchasupperrespiratorydiseases.Thisisespeciallytrueofkittensthatwereorphanedwithouthavingreceivedanyoftheirnaturalmother'scolostrum.Thecolostrum,whichisproducedduringthefirst24hoursaftergivingbirth,isespeciallyrichindiseaseprotectingantibodies.Colostrumcontainstheantibodies,whichwhenconsumedbythekittens,providesimmunityagainstmanydiseases.Kittensthatdidnotnursefromthequeeninthefirst24hourshavenotreceivedcolostrumanddonothavegoodimmunity.Becauseofthepossiblelackofimmunity,properlyvaccinatingthekittensisveryimportant.Someveterinariansmayrecommendstartingorphanedkittenswiththeirfirstvaccinationsatanearlierage.

    TheAmericanAssociationofParasitologistsandtheCentersforDiseaseControlandPreventionhavemadethefollowingrecommendationsfordewormingkittens:

    Inkittens,becauseprenatalinfectiondoesnotoccur,eggexcretionbeginslaterthaninpuppies,andinmostareas,theriskofroundwormsandhookwormsincatsiscomparativelylowerdewormingforkittenscanbestartedeffectivelyat3weeksofageandberepeatedat5,7,and9weeks.

    NurtureandsocializationOrphanedorhandfedkittensshouldberaisedtogethertoaidinsocialdevelopment.Theyshouldbepetted,cuddled,andplayedwithbyhumansfor3040minutesadayoverandabovefeedingandcleaningtime.

    Kittensneedmentalandphysicalstimulation.Iftheyhavelittermates,theywillstimulateeachotherwhenmoving.Snugglewitheachkittenasyouwakehertoeatandforatimeaftereating.Theyneedthenurturingtothrive.Softstuffedanimalsputintheboxcanoffersomethingtosnugglewithwhilesleeping.

    Itisimportantfortheorphankittentohaveinteractionwithmembersofthehouseholdat36weeksofage.Remember,sheisstillababyandmustbehandledwithcare,butyoushouldstarttointroducethekittentonoises,groomingprocedures,newpeople,andpets.Earlysocializationandenablingthekittentofeelsecureinherownenvironmentwillhelppreventmanybehaviorproblemsfromarisinginthefuture.

    ConclusionDoesraisingtheorphankittenorlitterseemlikeanenormoustask?Donotworry,thereareexcellentbooksavailableformorespecificinformationonorphancareandveterinarycareingeneral.Withacommitmentoftimeandcare,alittlecommonsense,andsomebasicinformation,itcanbeaverypositiveexperience.Thehappy,healthyyoungcatyouhelpedraisewillbeawonderfulreward.

    ReferencesCain,JLawler,D.SmallAnimalReproductionandPediatrics.ProVisionsPetSpecialtyEnterprises.St.Louis,MO1991.

    Ettinger,S.F.TextbookofVeterinaryInternalMedicine,3rded.W.B.SaundersCompany.Philadelphia,PA1989.

    Feldman,ENelson,R.CanineandFelineEndocrinologyandReproduction.W.B.SaundersCompany.Philadelphia,PA1987.

    Fogle,B.TheCat'sMindUnderstandingYourCat'sBehavior.HowellBookHouse.NewYork,NY1992.

    ReferencesandFurtherReadingCain,JLawler,D.SmallAnimalReproductionandPediatrics.ProVisionsPetSpecialtyEnterprises.St.Louis,MO1991.

    Ettinger,SF.TextbookofVeterinaryInternalMedicine,3rded.W.B.SaundersCompany.Philadelphia,PA1989.

    Feldman,ENelson,R.CanineandFelineEndocrinologyandReproduction.W.B.SaundersCompany.Philadelphia,PA1987.

  • 1/18/2015 HowtoRaiseOrphanKittens

    http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1+2137&aid=912 4/4

    PrintArticle | EmailArticle

    Fogle,B.TheCat'sMindUnderstandingYourCat'sBehavior.HowellBookHouse.NewYork,NY1992.

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