Newborn kittens are relatively immature at birth compared to many other mammals. The time they spend being nursed by their mother helps the newborn kitten transition from in-utero nutrition to solid food.
When kittens are raised on their mother’s milk, their growth and health is influenced by the following factors:
- the nutrition of the mother during pregnancy and early lactation
- the mother’s overall physical health and behavior
- good neonatal care
The first few days of a mother's milk is called colostrum. Colostrum is high in protein and transfers important immune system elements from mother to baby. Whenever possible, newborn kittens should receive their mother's milk, as it sets the stage for healthy immune system function and protection from disease. Additionally, the mother’s milk provides all the nutrients a newborn kitten needs for continued growth and development.
If the mother is incapable of raising her kittens herself, the kittens are considered orphans, and some important needs must be met to ensure their survival. These needs include appropriate heat, humidity, nutrition, elimination, sanitation, and social stimulation. Fortunately, most orphaned kittens can be raised successfully with a bit of care and attention to detail. It can be helpful to use a logbook to track their development.
What should I track in a logbook?
Maintaining a logbook about the orphaned kittens does not need to be complicated. The purpose of the logbook is to simply keep track of how the kittens are doing, using a few parameters, so you can identify if there are any potential concerns about their development. The logbook should include:
- Weight
- Daily food intake
- Urination and defecation frequency and consistency
- Activity
- Milestones such as when eyes open and when teeth erupt
- Any other observations that seem important
The logbook should be updated daily, or any time these events occur. Additionally, it is important to be able to identify individual kittens. Identification is easy if each kitten has unique markings, but if several of them look similar, it may help to give them colored collars or nail polish on a few front toenails.
How often should kittens be weighed, and how much should they weigh?
The birth weight of each kitten should be recorded, and weight should be recorded every day for the first four weeks of life. For nursing kittens, weighing before and after feeding can be a helpful way to assess food intake. Starting in their fifth week, you can switch to weekly weigh-ins. A digital food scale with capacity up to 5 pounds works best for these measurements.
Kittens normally weigh between 80 grams and 120 grams at birth. They gain about 100 grams per week during their first six months of life and at a minimum should gain at least 7 grams per day.
What do orphaned kittens need for proper nutrition?
Water is a critical nutrient for orphaned kittens, and for all other stages of their life. Normal water intake is relatively high for kittens: they need 155-230 mL of fluid per kilogram of body weight each day. If the recommended dilution for the milk replacer does not provide enough water, you can add additional water.
On average, the total fluid volume fed per day (including milk replacers) should be approximately 180mL per kilogram of kitten body weight. Mother's milk is highly digestible and very calorie dense. Compared to cow's milk, mother's milk contains more than twice as much protein, which is one of the reasons why cow's milk is not ideal for feeding orphaned kittens. In addition, cow’s milk is lower in calories, fat, taurine and other minerals, but higher in carbohydrates, including lactose.
"Commercial kitten milk replacers are recommended as they are superior to cow's milk and homemade mixtures."
For these reasons, commercial kitten milk replacers are recommended as they are superior to cow's milk and homemade mixtures. The milk replacer you choose should meet the nutrient requirements for growing kittens. The minimum requirements for many essential nutrients have not been established for nursing kittens and so it is recommended that you follow the requirements for weaned kittens.
How do I feed orphaned kittens?
Most kittens will suckle on small pet nursing bottles, also known as pet nursers. When bottle-fed, kittens will nurse until they are full and then reject the bottle.
Be sure the opening in the nipple restricts the outflow of fluid to one drop at a time in order to avoid a flow rate that is too rapid for the kitten. When the flow rate is too rapid, it can lead to aspiration, pneumonia, and/or death.
When feeding, hold the kitten in a horizontal, head-neutral position. If the kitten is too weak to suckle, your veterinarian can show you alternative feeding methods and assist with tube feeding if needed.
How much and how often should I feed orphaned kittens?
Orphaned kittens should be fed on a strict schedule, every 2-4 hours during the first week of life. After that, the frequency can be reduced to every 4 to 6 hours until weaning.
When using a commercial kitten milk replacer, it is recommended to follow the instructions on the label. Kittens have the following general requirements:
- Days 1 through 3: 15 kcal per 100 g body weight
- Days 4 through 6: 20 kcal per 100 g body weight
- After day 6: Up to 25 kcal per 100 g body weight
It is important to not overfeed orphans initially, which is why the energy requirements for the first six days of life are lower. Energy intake should be increased gradually each day for the first week.
It is recommended that you warm the kitten's milk replacer to approximately 100°F (38°C) before feeding, but be careful not to overheat it. Cold formula, overly rapid feeding rates, and overfeeding can lead to regurgitation, aspiration, bloating, and diarrhea. Additionally, kittens will not eat well if they are hypothermic, so ensuring kittens are warmed before feeding can improve success.
If an orphaned kitten develops diarrhea, reduce the formula volume. It is better to slightly underfeed than to overfeed neonatal orphaned kittens. Kitten milk replacer should be the sole source of nutrition until 3-4 weeks of age, at which time the weaning process may begin.
What’s my role in helping a kitten to eliminate?
Kittens cannot eliminate (urinate or defecate) on their own until about three weeks of age. They rely on the mother to stimulate their reflex to initiate elimination. Orphaned kittens, on the other hand, rely on their caretakers to stimulate them to eliminate.
After feeding, you can stimulate their reflex to eliminate by gently stroking the area between the anus and vulva or penis with a warm, moistened cotton ball or soft cloth. Your veterinarian can teach you this technique.
What are some best practices for proper kitten hygiene?
Taking care of orphaned kittens requires you to pay strict attention to their hygiene for optimal health and development. Follow these best practices for proper kitten hygiene:
- Bottles and nipples should be cleaned and then boiled in water to sterilize them between uses.
- Never prepare more milk replacer than can be used within 24 hours and always keep it refrigerated.
- Discard formula after 1 hour if left at room temperature.
- Once or twice each week, gently wash the kittens with a moist cloth.
- Ensure the environment where the kittens are kept is clean, warm, and safe.
By paying attention to the details of feeding and hygiene, you can help orphaned kittens thrive.
