Raising Orphaned Kittens

FLEAS
Abandoned kittens will need to be cleaned and rid of fleas soon after they are found.
Flea anemia can hamper any attempt to save the kitten and fleas carry tape worm
eggs. The vet will carry flea sprays suitable for use on kittens. Always check the
manufacturer’s instructions for use on kittens. Adams flea spray has been found to be
safe and effective in quick kill of fleas while not harming even day old kittens. After
using the spray (as directed on the bottle for kittens) place the kitten on a towel that
can be removed with the dead and dying fleas 20 to 30 minutes later.
After the spray has rid the kitten of fleas, bathe the kitten in gentle soap or surgical
soap if flea sores are present making sure to prevent chilling the kitten. DRY THE
KITTEN IMMEDIATELY. 1 to 3 week old kittens can be dried carefully with a hair dryer.
(Be careful to avoid blowing in their faces.) Older kittens are frequently frightened by
the blowing and noise, so towel dry them as best you can and place them in a container
that is in a warm place (like next to a refrigerator). You may also try putting the towel-
dried kitten in a pet carrier and aiming the blow-dryer into the carrier where the warm
air will gently circulate to dry the kitten.

LITTER BOX TRAINING
The 4 week mark is a good time to introduce the kitten to the litter box too. Place the
kitten in the box after each meal. You may have to take the kitten's paw and show it how
to scratch in the litter. Usually the kitten will catch on quickly.


WEANING
If necessary, you may begin weaning the kitten at 4 weeks of age. Start by feeding it
formula in a bowl. Then gradually introduce solid food. Strained baby food or Hill's
brand "a/d" in a can works well. Or you can moisten dry kitten food with formula or
water. Don't expect the kitten to be weaned overnight. As it eats more often from the
bowl, reduce the bottle feedings.
Canned kitten food can also be used to introduce the kitten to solid food. Young kittens
cannot chew dry kitten food without moistening. Check instructions on the container.
Try to buy high quality food for the kittens (from the vet or pet food stores).

Changes in diet or certain foods can cause diarrhea, so keep an eye on stools.
Diarrhea can be life-threatening to a young kitten.

LOVE AND ATTENTION
Besides food and warmth, the kitten needs emotional closeness. Pet it frequently and
let it snuggle against your warm skin.
Some experts believe that hand-raised kittens show higher intelligence, greater loyalty
and deeper affection for their owners. Cat trainers also recommend lots of handling for
kittens and swear that this makes them easier to train.
Some experts argue that no adequate parental substitute for the natural mother cat
exists.


MILESTONES
At birth, a kitten should weigh 2 to 4 ounces. By the end of its first week it should
double in body weight. The kitten should open its eyes at about 8 days. The eyes will
stay blue for about 2 more weeks. (The true eye color will not appear until the kitten is
about 3 months old.)
At 2 weeks the ears will start to stand up. At about 3 weeks the kitten will try to walk. At
4 weeks kittens start to play with each other and develop teeth.

Check with your veterinarian as to the timing of the needed vaccinations.
The kitten should be ready for adoption at 8 weeks.

HEALTH PROBLEMS
Orphaned kittens are especially vulnerable to diseases. At the first sign of any abnormal
behavior or loss of appetite, take them to the veterinarian.
Colds, like upper respiratory infections, are caused by various viruses and claim many
kittens each year. Some of these same viruses, or an organism known as Chlamydia, can
also cause permanent damage to a kitten's eyes. If bacteria invade the infected eye the
organisms can puncture the tough covering, resulting in blindness. Even a lesser infection
can leave the eyeball badly scarred.

Diarrhea can result from disease, food changes, worms, or overfeeding. The resulting
dehydration can be deadly.

Distemper is also a chronic danger to young cats, especially those who did not have the
advantage of the mother cat's antibodies. It is airborne, very contagious, and often a killer.


A FINAL WORD
Caring for an orphaned kitten can be difficult and even the most conscientious foster
parent may lose a little one. If a kitten dies, the substitute parent should not blame himself
or herself.
A kitten is most likely to die at birth, in its first week, or while weaning. But, armed with
common sense and an ability to care (as well as accurate information), you have a good
chance of raising a motherless waif to the adoption age - or beyond...


Information gathered with permission from various sources including; Alley Cat Allies, and The Feral Cat Coalition for
The Sterile Feral Inc website.
Printed from; The Sterile Feral Website with permission.
All information has been Veterinarian reviewed, revised, and approved