A successful rescue of kittens—with or without a mother cat– entails doing the right thing during the first few weeks.
Proper care for kittens, especially for those with no mother and those below three weeks of age, is very critical at this time.
If you see a kitten on the street, assess the situation first:
1. Please check if a mother is just nearby moving her kittens to a safe location or is looking for food. If you think the kittens should be rescued, please get the mother also.
2. If the kitten is on the side of the road, near or in a canal, or can be stepped on, please get the kitten immediately.
Get a box from the nearby store, put the kitten inside, close the top, and boreholes in the box so that the kitten can still get some air and not suffocate. You have to secure the kitten in such a way that the kitten will not be able to jump out while you are transporting it.
At home, please do the following:
1. Keep the kitten away from older pets and your other pets.
The resident cats or dogs might hurt the new “resident.”
Also, a rescued kitten must be checked for illnesses and treated if needed before mixing the rescued one with the other pets.
A visit to the veterinarian first is best.
2. Keep the kitten with no mother warm.
> Dry the body with a soft cloth.
> You can put a hot compress (bottle with hot water wrapped with a towel or inside a sock) near the kitten to keep it warm. Make sure you secure the cap so that the hot water will not spill. Keep at a safe distance.
> Change the water inside the bottle when it gets cold.
> Kittens without their mother to warm them tend to die because their bodies do not retain heat that well. Thus it is best to put it in a place that is warm.
> DO NOT GIVE THE KITTEN A BATH, just wipe with a damp cloth to cleanse (if really dirty) and immediately dry.
> You can put a lamp above the cage but make sure it is not directly above the kitten.
3. Giving MILK is very important.
> When feeding a kitten, feed it face down. This is how they nurse from their mama cat, which is the opposite of how you feed human babies.
MILK WILL GO DIRECTLY TO THE LUNGS IF FED FACING UP.
Most kittens are lactose intolerant. You can get kitten milk from the pet store or a clinic and follow instructions on the label.
But if it is night time, and the pet stores are closed, give regular milk but dilute it first by adding clean water. The next day, do buy kitten milk from the pet store.
To be continued next week.
GUIDELINES on feeding a kitten.
*1-3 days old: 1.5-2.5 ml of milk every 2 hours
*4-7 days old: 5 ml of milk, 10- 12 times a day
*6-10 days: 5 – 7.5 ml of milk, 10 times a day
*11-14 days: 10 – 12.5 ml of milk every 3 hours
*15-21 days: 10 ml, 8 times daily
*21 days and beyond: 7.5 – 25 ml, 3 – 4 times daily, in addition to introducing wet (solid) food.
Note: You NEED NOT follow the exact amount above per feeding. If you feel the kitten is full and prefers to sleep after consuming half of the recommended amount, then let the kitten sleep.
4. To nurse a kitten, you can use a bottle or a syringe
>If you will use a nursing bottle which can be bought in pet stores and poultry shops, cut the nipple in “x’ form.
>Test the drip before using it. Make sure the flow is not too fast that it might down the kitten with milk.
>Sterilize the bottle before and after feeding.
>Prepare only enough formula per single feeding. Do not store and use after.
>If you are going to use a syringe, its best to get the 1cc/ml kind. Remember to remove the needle.
>When using a syringe, press the plunger slowly and gradually so as to give enough and not too much.
5. Stimulate the genitals to pee and poop.
This is very important: after every feeding or every 2 hours, stimulate, the genitals (to urinate) and anus (to poop). Kittens do not know how to eliminate waste on their own during the first 2-3 weeks. If you will observe, the mama cat licks the genital area and the anus after feeding.
How to stimulate:
1. Wet the cotton balls/ tissue or cloth with water.
2. Gently move damp cloth up and down the genital area until the kitten urinates.
3. Do the same thing with the anus. Gently rub the anus with a damp cloth or tissue until poop comes out.
6. It is also important to make the kitten burp.
After the feeding, hold the kitten over your shoulder and carefully rub his back until he burps.
About the author: Mitch Canlas-Cordova is the founder of Furbabies TLC, a Facebook-based group which aims to help owners take better care of their pets.