As soon as they are born, all cats are blind, deaf and unable to control their body temperature, so they depend completely on their mother. When they are born on their due date they need a lot of care, but if they are premature they need extra attention and care. If for some reason you have premature kittens that have been separated from their mother, know that with a lot of patience and effort you can save them and guarantee them a long and healthy life.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Creating a Comfortable Environment
Step 1. Dry the kittens with a warm, dry towel
A good mother cat licks her offspring to remove membranes; it does this to dry the kittens and to stimulate their breathing, which is very important for cats born premature. If they don't have a mom, gently pat each kitten dry with a soft, warm, dry towel. Make small circular motions with the towel until the kittens are completely dry.
- Keep the kittens together so they can warm each other with their body heat.
- Premature cats feel very cold and get cold easily; this is a huge problem as they could stop eating and die in no time.
Step 2. Place the kittens in a warm, dry place
Prepare a cozy nest for them. The little ones want to curl up and be together to warm each other like when they were inside their mother's womb. Get them a large enough box, placing towels and a hot water bottle (or heating pad) on the bottom.
Make sure the warm compress is not in direct contact with the kittens, their delicate skin could burn very easily. Place the hot water bottle under a layer of towels so the kittens can feel the heat without harming themselves
Step 3. Do not cut the umbilical cord
Do not touch the remnants of placenta hanging from the navels of cats. There is no need to cut or trim the placenta as it will dry out on its own and fall off within a few days, even if the cats are premature. Cutting the placenta could lead to bleeding, hernias, or navel infections that could be fatal.
Step 4. Keep the room temperature between 29 and 32 ° C
A premature kitten cannot get close to or away from heat sources, so it's vitally important to make sure the room is at the correct temperature. For the first 3 weeks of life, kittens should have a body temperature between 35 and 37 ° C. To get them to reach it, raise the room temperature between 29 and 32 ° C.
- Lower the temperature to 27 ° C between the second and third week of life. At that point the kittens should be able to control their body temperature.
- Rather than heating the whole house, designate a kitten room and keep that warm.
- Make kittens have other sources of heat available. A hot water bottle, a heating pad, or a bottle full of hot water wrapped in a towel is fine. Check that these heat sources do not come into direct contact with the kittens' skin.
- Overheating a kitten is possible. If this were to happen, his ears would turn very red and his skin would have a higher temperature than usual. Cats that feel too hot get stressed and meow. If they can move, they will continually search for a cool place.
Part 2 of 3: Power
Step 1. Consider seeing a veterinarian
Feeding the kittens from the bottle is a very demanding operation. You will need to feed them exactly every 1 to 2 hours for the first week of their life. This is necessary to give them the best chance of survival.
Don't hesitate to ask your vet or cattery for help. They may be able to offer you a surrogate mother or connect you with people with some experience in artificially feeding newborn kittens. Some organizations may also be able to offer you some material for free so that you can take proper care of it
Step 2. If mother cat is not available, buy specific milk for kittens as it is the only one they can digest
Cow's milk, for example, is not suitable because it contains lactose, a substance that most cats cannot digest and could cause them diarrhea. In emergency situations, replace it with goat milk, if you can't find artificial milk for cats: it has no side effects and will prevent kittens from dehydrating.
- Specific infant formula can be purchased online or from veterinarians. These formulas contain exactly the same fats, proteins and vitamins as mother cat's milk. They are available in powder form and are prepared with boiling water, in the same way as milk formulated for children.
- Make kittens drink milk immediately after preparing it, as the high fat content promotes the growth of bacteria and becomes easily contaminated.
Step 3. Prepare the food and setting suitable for the meal
Kittens need to stay warm; if they are cold they cannot digest milk and may feel sick. Prepare enough milk for all the kittens and place it in a clean, sterilized bottle. On the market there are special bottles for "nursing" premature kittens; they are small and simple to use.
A premature kitten has many things in common with cold-blooded animals; in fact, if the room is frozen, the animal cannot produce the enzymes necessary for digestion
Step 4. When you feed him, place the kitten on his stomach, the same way he would get milk from his mother
This way, he will be able to find the nipple of the bottle easily. If he doesn't find it, put a drop of milk on the tip and let it touch his mouth. Sometimes it is necessary to help them by opening their lips slightly with a fingertip to make them stick to the teat.
Have them suck until their bellies are round but not swollen. If the belly is wider than the rib cage it means that he has eaten enough and is full. Most kittens when they are full will fall asleep while breastfeeding. When this happens, remove the teat from their mouth and place them warm
Step 5. Make sure your kitten is digesting once you have finished bottle-feeding
They need it, so you have to provide for yourself. Lay it down so that its tummy rests on your shoulder and gently stroke it on the back. Keep stroking it until you feel it "free".
Be sure to use a damp cloth to wipe off any formula residue the kitten may regurgitate
Step 6. If for some reason you know where the kitten's mom is, get them to have her own colostrum
Immediately after giving birth, the mother produces a special milk called colostrum, rich in antibodies essential for the immune system of newborn kittens, especially if they are premature. In other words, colostrum is a kind of natural vaccine that makes kittens strong and healthy.
Colostrum is also rich in vitamins and minerals, vital elements for the growth and development of kittens
Step 7. Help the kittens drink mother's milk if necessary
Stronger ones will be able to latch onto the nipple with ease for sucking, weaker ones may need help. If you have to assist them, try taking a drop of colostrum from the mother's nipple and place it in contact with the kittens' mouth. Once they have tasted it, they are more likely to be able to suck milk directly from mom.
- Usually, the rear breasts produce more milk. If you need to give kittens colostrum, choose a rear udder and, gently, place the index finger and thumb of your dominant hand behind the nipple. Press very gently to facilitate the exit of the colostrum.
- Make sure they eat often. In terms of feeding, a premature kitten is completely dependent on the milk of the mother who feeds them little, but often (every 1 or 2 hours).
Part 3 of 3: Taking Care of Kitten Health
Step 1. Follow a schedule for feeding kittens
The stomach of premature kittens is very small and can hold small amounts of milk at a time. This means they will instinctively suck for 5 to 10 minutes regularly every 1 to 2 hours, day and night! If you really want them to grow up healthy, know that there are no alternatives and you will need to feed them frequently 24 hours a day. To get an idea, read the following table:
- From 1 to 3 days: 2.5ml of infant formula every 2 hours;
- 4 to 7 days: 2, 5-5 ml of formula milk 10-12 times a day;
- 6 to 10 days: 5-7.5 ml of infant formula 10 times a day;
- 11 to 14 days: 10-12, 5 ml of infant formula every 3 hours;
- From 15 to 21 days: 10 ml of infant formula 8 times a day;
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From 21 days to 6 weeks: 12.5-25 ml of infant formula 3-4 times a day plus the normal diet.
If the kitten is still hungry, you will notice - it will cry and go around looking for more milk
Step 2. Use a needle-free syringe for kittens who can't eat
Some premature kittens have little instinct and cannot suck directly from the teat. If this is the case, gently open the kitten's mouth by inserting a fingertip between his lips. Using a needle-free syringe filled with formula milk, drop a drop on his tongue. That way it should be able to attach itself.
Time and patience are two crucial elements and this is a process that cannot be done in a rush. Don't give kittens more than a few drops of milk at a time; risk that they go directly into their windpipe before they ingest them. They could choke or the milk could go into their lungs causing pneumonia
Step 3. Stimulate the kittens to empty their bladder and bowel
Little kittens do not urge spontaneously, but hold them until their mom licks their genitals and anal areas to stimulate them. If they don't have mom, you'll have to recreate this reflection yourself. Here's how to do it:
- Use a cotton ball moistened with warm water. Gently rub it on the back of the kitten.
- The kitten should do its business directly on the cotton ball.
- Once the kitten is free, throw the wad in the trash.
- Use another moistened swab if necessary.
- Thoroughly wipe the pet's rear with a dry cloth before returning the kitten to its kennel.
- Repeat this 3 or 4 times a day. Wash your hands thoroughly every time you finish.
Step 4. Always keep everything clean
The biggest risk for any premature kitten disease or infection is you. Before touching animals, always wash your hands with soap and water and possibly use a clean t-shirt that you will wear over your clothes. This way, you will prevent kittens from coming into contact with bacteria from the outside world.
- Remember to always sterilize the various bottles and teats after each use. By doing this, you reduce the risk of possible infections. Use disinfectants designed to clean baby items, such as Milton's solution. Or, if you have the option to use steam, that's fine anyway.
- Change the kitten bed daily. They may sometimes go to the toilet or throw up, so keeping their environment clean is absolutely important.
