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So, you found a litter of kittens laying next to the sidewalk….
Step One: WAIT! Don’t be a kitten-napper! Do these kittens have a mom? Pull out your magnifying glass, because its time to do some detective work! One of the biggest mistakes people make is thinking that a kitten is orphaned when mom is really nearby taking care of business. Follow these steps:
What should I do if the mom cat returns? Mom is going to be able to take care of her kittens better than anyone else. If the area is relatively safe, leave the family alone! You can offer the mom food and shelter. However, you are going to want to place the food away from the shelter. Mom won’t want to use the shelter if the food is too close because it will attract other cats, and she will want to protect her babies! If you want to try to socialize the kittens and get them adopted, you will want to take the kittens from their mother at about 6 weeks of age. If the kittens are older than 3 months old, you will likely want to Trap-Neuter-Return the whole family (spay/neuter, vaccinate, ear tip, and return back to the wild). Remember that mom cat can get pregnant even while she is still nursing her current litter, so it is VERY important to get her spayed quickly, or you are going to get another litter of kittens soon! Check out this awesome video from the Kitten Lady, Hannah Shaw about socializing kittens. Check out this great video also created by the Kitten Lady, Hannah Shaw about trapping a mom cat and her kittens. What if mom returns, but the area is not safe? If you absolutely have to, you can try to trap the mom cat in a humane trap, and then transfer the whole family to a safer place. What if mom does not return? If you are sure that the mom cat is not returning, or you see that she has been hit by a car, or something similar, the kittens will need you to intervene. This is where things can get tricky! Try your best to prevent the kittens from going to an animal shelter. It can be hard to find an organization that has staff or volunteers who are able to bottle-feed the kittens. If you can do it, that is great! You may have luck contacting local animal organizations who can help you by providing supplies, vet care, or training. If you live in Galveston County, you can reach out to our organization for assistance. If you absolutely cannot care for the kittens, follow these steps: If you find a litter of kittens, and you know that you will not be able to care for them in the event that the mom does not come back, start researching and reaching out to organizations right away! The more time you can give any organization to scramble to find a foster, the better. Get Social Do you know anyone who is into animal rescue? Call them and see if they can take the kittens, or if they know someone who can take the kittens. Find local Facebook pages and groups. Post on them to see if someone is willing to foster. Do Your Research Ues the wonderful world of Google to search for animal organizations in your area. Call them to see if they accept orphaned kittens. If they don’t, call ahead to your local animal shelter. Kitten Care and Bottle-Feeding If mom does not come back, and you are willing to take on the responsibilities of caring for the kittens, follow these steps. First Steps:
The following information is the guide I give my fosters when they take home kittens. It is adapted from one of the greatest life-saving shelters in the country, Austin Pets Alive! Feel free to use it to help you care for your new foster kittens! Required Supplies: Bottle Babies (0-3 weeks): Required Supplies: ❏ Bottle kit with nipples (You can purchase these from most grocery stores and pet stores, online) ❏ Powdered KMR formula (This can be purchased from many grocery stores, pet supply stores, and online) ❏ Digital scale (food or postal) that weighs in grams ❏ Electric heating pad that does not shut off automatically Optional Supplies: ❏ Pedialyte (unflavored) ❏ NutriCal — nutritional supplement for weight gain ❏ Anti-diarrheal medication made for cats ❏ Small Syringes (without the needle) for feeding Gruel/Syringe Gruel Babies (4-6 weeks): Required Supplies: ❏ Electric heating pad that does not shut off automatically ❏ Canned kitten food ❏ Hard kitten food (kibble) — Purina One Kitten or Royal Canin Mother & Baby suggested ❏ Empty room/bathroom to isolate kittens ❏ Digital scale (food or postal) that weighs in grams ❏ Shallow litter box & non-clumping litter ❏ Blender or food processor (syringe gruel only) Gruel/Syringe Gruel Babies: Optional Supplies ❏ Human baby food (chicken or turkey w/ no onions, garlic, or spices) ❏ NutriCal — nutritional supplement for weight gain Pregnant/Nursing Mom: Required Supplies Click Here to watch a video created by Kitten Lady, Hannah Shaw about setting up your space for kittens. WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU GET YOUR KITTENS HOME:
There are 3 categories for kitten fostering: Bottle Babies 0 to ~4 weeks 90 to 400 grams Every 2‐3 hours 4‐5 hours overnight Syringe Gruel 3 to ~6 weeks 300 to 700 grams Every 4‐6 hours 6‐8 hours overnight Gruel/Kibble 5+ weeks 700 grams and up Every 4‐6 hours 8‐10 hours overnight The most important thing to remember when caring for kittens is to WEIGH, WEIGH, WEIGH! Making sure your kittens are getting enough to eat is your most important duty as a foster! So, below are in-depth instructions on how to feed kittens according to their age and size, as well as info on issues to look out for during each stage of your kittens’ growth. BOTTLE BABIES (KITTENS 0-4 Weeks) Click Here to watch a video created by Kitten Lady, Hannah Shaw about “How to Bottle Feed.” How to make formula: Feed PetAg KMR® powdered formula or Breeders Edge formula from a bottle and/or oral syringe. Mix 2 parts water to 1-part powdered formula. Shake well to dissolve lumps! Store mixed formula in the fridge up to 48 hrs. All kittens must eat 5% of their body weight at each feeding. Weighing kittens before and after feeding is a great way to make sure they are eating enough! Feeding instructions:
Daily requirements:
0-2 WEEKS OLD:
SYRINGE GRUELIES (KITTENS 3-6 Weeks) Bottle babies should be switched to syringe gruel when they reach 3‐4 weeks old (when their canine teeth begin to grow in). Instead of KMR, kittens will now eat canned kitten food mixed w/ water and blended to a smooth paste. It is important to note that the syringe gruel phase is, essentially, nothing more than a layover between nursing (formula or mama’s milk) and weaning (eating independently). So, at this stage, you should make sure your kittens always have access to kibble, gruel, (canned food w/ water), and a bowl of water, as eventually, they will decide to go it on their own! Until that magical day, though, you will need to step in! Remember that just because you see your kittens eating on their own, this does not mean that they’re eating enough independently to maintain their health. Too often, fosters assume that because they’ve witnessed their kittens eating kibble or gruel from a bowl, those kittens don’t need to be syringe fed anymore. This is not always the case How to make syringe gruel: You will need a blender. Blend approximately one can of food with 1/3 to 1/2 can water (double, triple, etc as needed). Your syringe gruel should be about the consistency of a milkshake, and you should be able to easily draw it up into a syringe. Again, kittens must eat 5% of their body weight at each feeding. Kittens should be weighed before and after feeding. Feeding instructions: First, give your kitten the opportunity to eat independently! Offer kitten warmed up gruel and kibble in separate plates or shallow bowls. If kitten shows no interest after a while, proceed with syringe feeding.
Daily requirements:
4-5 WEEKS OLD:
GRUELIES (KITTENS 5+ Weeks Old) This is the last stage of kitten rearing – rejoice! When your kittens begin eating enough gruel and kibble on their own to gain weight consistently every day, you’re well on your way to throwing those syringes out! Don’t get too excited yet, though – your kittens will still need to be syringe fed if they’re not able to eat 5% of their body weight on their own. The switch from syringe gruel to gruel/kibble is not a magical “aha!” moment on your kitten’s part – it’s a process you’ll both need to work through very thoughtfully! Once you see that your kittens are gaining around 5% of their body weight daily, for at least 5 days, you can begin to weigh them twice a day, instead of every time they eat. NEVER go more than 24 hours without weighing your kittens – weight loss is the number one reason kittens pass away in foster care! 5-6 WEEKS OLD:
6-7 WEEKS OLD
KITTENS 7-8+ WEEKS OLD
Vaccination Until they have been vaccinated, you should carefully restrict their exposure to any disease. This means checking with visitors to make sure they have not been around any sick dogs or cats and ensuring they always wash or sanitize their hands before handling the kittens. Dehydration Kittens stay hydrated by drinking water and eating canned food. You can do a quick elasticity test. Pinch a little skin between your thumb and forefinger on your kitten's back. When you release it, it should pop back into place immediately. Your kittens’ gums should be pink and not white. If you are concerned your kitten is becoming or is dehydrated, contact a veterinarian right away. Dehydration can quickly lead to death in kittens. Temperature Your kitten's temperature does not need to be taken regularly. However, if you are concerned a kitten is too cold or running a fever it is best if you can take a rectal temperature. It is not difficult to take a rectal temperature but is easiest with two people. Using petroleum jelly or a similar substance insert the thermometer into the rectum. A normal temperature is between 99.5-102.5 . Hypoglycemia Kittens will quickly become hypoglycemic if they miss even one meal. Just like a baby, kittens need to eat 3-4 times a day and always have access to fresh food. If kittens become even slightly hypoglycemic they can begin to go downhill very quickly. Signs of hypoglycemia are:
Anemia Kittens are also susceptible to anemia. Anemia is a loss of red blood cells that, in kittens, is most often caused by an infestation of fleas or intestinal worms. You will need to bathe your kittens with blue dawn dish soap if they have fleas to prevent anemia. Watch a video here. The easiest way to check for anemia is to look for white or very pale gums. Normal kitten gum color is close to salmon pink. If your kitten's gums are white or grey contact a veterinarian right away. Activity It is important to recognize a lethargic kitten from a tired kitten. Kittens will normally play, play, play then get tired and sleep for a period of time. If your kitten is going through this cycle, that is normal. If your kitten seems lethargic, contact a veterinarian right away. Socialization Socialization is very important. Be sure to handle the kittens often when they are old enough to do so. Helpful Video Links, Websites, and Facebook Groups:
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