You are most likely looking forward to the day your cat gives birth to a litter. However, this excitement may quickly fade once you realize that you will be responsible for both mom and very vulnerable kittens. If you don't know where to start, start with feeding the new born and learn how to care for them as they grow up.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Feeding Newborn Kittens
Step 1. Check that there are no problems during the birth
Watch the mother, but give her her space. Her instincts will come out and she won't want to be helped. Instead, you will need to make sure that nothing medically goes wrong. Here's what to check:
- The kitten is not released from the amniotic sac at birth: normally it should come to light inside a single pouch, which the mother then licks. If it is not cleaned or rejected, you will need to take a soft cloth and gently wipe the membrane to break it. If in doubt, leave the mother with the kitten for a few minutes before you do it, otherwise she may not accept it anymore.
- The mother has been pushing for more than 20 minutes: it is a sign that there are difficulties in childbirth. Quickly check if the kitten is half out. In this case, support it with a soft, clean towel and perform a gentle downward pull. If it doesn't come out easily, call your vet. Also call him in case there is no puppy in sight.
- The kitten does not suck after an hour: Most babies start doing this after an hour or two of birth. If that doesn't happen, place it gently near the mother's nipples to help him smell the milk. If after another half hour he is still not feeding, open his mouth and manually attach him to the nipple. If you still don't suckle, you may need to manually breastfeed.
Step 2. Make the cat comfortable after giving birth
Since she will mainly look after newborns during their first four weeks of life, you need to be the one to make sure she has everything she needs. The mother will most likely choose the place she prefers. Place a box with clean, dry cloths in the room and make sure that the temperature remains stable; the latter is correct when in the same room you are comfortable wearing jeans and a T-shirt. Also make sure that the litter is not disturbed by constant visitors, as the mother may feel threatened.
The room temperature is important. If it is too hot it could annoy the mother, but if it is too cold, babies risk hypothermia. At birth, kittens are unable to regulate their body temperature and depend on their mother to keep warm
Step 3. Feed the mother properly
The amount of food needed after giving birth doubles, so leave plenty of food for her to ensure a continuous supplement of vitamins and minerals. The ideal is to use a puppy food because it is higher in calories than adult food and contains a added vitamins and minerals. Avoid giving her milk to drink, as it could cause her dysentery. Place food and water near the place she has chosen to raise the babies so she doesn't have to stray. For the same reason, put the litter box next to her.
Kittens are born deaf and blind. The most developed sense is the sense of smell, which they use to find the point to suck the milk from the mother
Step 4. Prepare the food for the kittens
There are many ways to wean puppies (i.e. switch from breast milk to solid food), the simplest is to let them follow the mother's guidance. It usually happens from four weeks of life onwards. You can help by offering them their mother's kitten food. They will be just curious at first, but the more they start moving and burning energy, the more they will start eating it. It will be easier for them to start eating a wet food, such as kitten pate.
Mom will encourage weaning by decreasing breastfeeding. This way the kittens will be motivated to start eating solid food on their own
Step 5. Place a litter box
As they grow, the kittens will begin to walk, explore, play and move away from the burrow. This is a good time to place a large, low-sided litter box. Show the puppies where to do their business. Getting the mother to use it too (or put some of her feces in it) may help. This will let the kittens know that this is their toilet.
Never use cat litter. If puppies dig and swallow it, it could build up in the intestines and cause a blockage
Part 2 of 2: Keeping Kittens Healthy and Making Them Sociable
Step 1. Create a safe environment
Remove any kind of hazards such as deep water bowls, ropes, ribbons or small toys. This will prevent the kittens from drowning or suffocating. Also make sure not to leave hot drinks lying around, as curious puppies may hit them and burn themselves. Also keep away dishes containing food for humans because if they eat them they will cause stomach irritation.
- If there are other animals living with them (especially dogs), keep them in check and close any places that the puppies might enter and get stuck.
- Also be careful when entering the room where the kittens live. They love to run unpredictably and it's easy to step on one or trip over them.
Step 2. Think about when to have kittens adopted
If you have decided not to keep them, you can start looking for a new home for them as soon as they are eight weeks old. Some suggest waiting until 12 weeks, but puppies no longer socialize at this age and it will be difficult for them to adapt to new environments. That's why it's best to start first.
This time frame allows the kittens to be with their mother longer and also to accept their new homes
Step 3. Check if the mom or the kittens have fleas
Look carefully for small black spots between the hair and skin. You can also brush them and shake the brush on a wet white paper towel. You may notice red spots (dried blood) and dirt (flea droppings). At this point, ask your vet to prescribe a flea product for puppies. You will need to treat the mother as well, but make sure the product is completely absorbed before bringing her back to the babies.
If the vet discovers that the kittens have roundworms (worms), which are transmitted by their mother's milk, they will need to be treated with a liquid drug (fenbendazole) which is administered via a syringe. You can give it to puppies that are at least three weeks old. Repeat the treatment after two to three weeks
Step 4. Vaccinate the kittens
You can do this when they are at least nine weeks old. Check with your vet to find out what vaccinations are recommended for puppies. He will probably advise you to vaccinate them against distemper, which is the disease they are most exposed to. On the other hand, it could rule out feline leukemia vaccination if the kittens will only live indoors. This is because it is a disease that is contracted only by contact with other infected cats.
Even if the puppies will live indoors, vaccinating them is still recommended; your vet will tell you which ones to do and which ones are unnecessary
Step 5. Socialize the kittens
When they are about three to four weeks old and don't need continuous care, invite friends over, have them pick them up and play with them. Make sure you introduce new people in a controlled way so that the puppies don't feel overwhelmed or scared (they could be traumatized). It is important that they come into contact with more people, sounds, smells and environments before they turn 12 weeks. Around this age it is more difficult for them to accept new situations and experiences.
