How to Care for an Orphaned Kitten or Newborn

Caring for Kittens Abandoned by their Mother or Orphan Kittens

Dec 6, 2009
Mia Carter

Kitten Care – Feeding and Care for Kitten Orphans - John Nyberg Photo

Learn how to care for orphaned kittens who have been abandoned by the mother cat or care for newborn cats who have lost their mother due to illness or death.

There are several scenarios that can lead to a situation where a human must care for kittens. The mother cat may die during birth or shortly thereafter, leading to an orphaned litter of kittens. A mother cat who is allowed outdoors may be hit by a car or attacked by another animal, leading to the cat's death or serious injury.

In some cases, kittens may need to be removed from their mother's care due to poor mothering or aggression. Some mother cats will not nurse, while in other (rare) cases, the mother cat may attack, injure or even kill the kittens.

Birthing a litter of kittens is also very stressful for the mother's body; this leaves the mother cat prone to illness. In some cases, a cat cannot nurse her kittens if she has a serious infection or serious illness. This can lead to a situation that's very similar to orphaning since humans will need to take over the kittens' care.

In areas where feral cat rescue groups work with feral cat colonies, young kittens may be removed from their mother's care in an attempt to domesticate the babies. Kittens who are not in contact with humans will begin to fear humans, making them poor candidates for a feral kitten adoption program. Without early intervention, the feral cat's kittens will become fearful of humans and they will be destined to live in the wild or on the outskirts of human society as feral cats.

Whatever the case, there are situations where humans will need to care for orphaned kittens or kittens without a mother who is able to nurse and care for them.

How to Care for Orphaned Kittens – Warming the Newborn Kittens

The first aspect of care involves keeping the kittens warm. When caring for newborns or young kittens who have been orphaned, it's important to remember that these babies are very prone to hypothermia, which can occur at room temperature! Young kittens are unable to maintain their body temperature, especially in cold conditions.

Warming an orphaned kitten must be done before feeding is attempted. To warm a cold kitten orphan, cuddle him, holding him against your chest with a warm blanket. A heating pad, placed on the "low" setting, can be used in addition to a blanket.

A homemade "kitten buddy" can also be helpful. Fill a sock with (uncooked) rice and tie the end. Place this in the microwave for a minute or two, or until warm. A kitten buddy warmer can be used to keep the kitten warm while sleeping and it can be soothing for the orphaned kitten, since it feels like there is another kitten sleeping beside him.

Orphaned kittens will need to be kept warm for the first 4-5 weeks of life. This can be accomplished by placing a heating pad in the kittens' box or cage. The heating pad should be covered with a blanket and the cord must be kept outside the box or cage to prevent electrocution due to chewing or clawing. Reptile heating — a heating pad that adheres to the bottom of the cage — can also be helpful. A heating lamp is another option, though there must be an area of the cage where the kitten can escape the heat if he becomes too warm.

Feeding Abandoned Kittens – How to Feed Kitten Orphans

Frequent feedings are key when caring for an abandoned kitten or orphan. Young kittens cannot eat a large amount of food at once, so frequent feedings are key. Wondering what to feed an orphaned kitten? The only suitable food for an orphaned cat is a special kitten formula. PetAg's KMR (Kitten Milk Replacer) is one of the most common kitten formula products. Feeding a kitten cow's milk, goat's milk or human baby formula will result in diarrhea. Diarrhea in kittens — especially young kittens — can be potentially deadly.

How much to feed an orphaned kitten depends on the cat's weight. If using PetAg's KMR formula, the kitten must receive 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of formula per each 4 ounces of body weight every day. The recommended feeding amount will vary depending on the exact product.

Wondering how often to feed an orphaned kitten? The younger the cat, the more frequent the feedings. A newborn kitten will need to be fed every 2-3 hours; a cat between 2-4 weeks of age can be fed every 3-4 hours. A 5 or 6-week-old can be fed every 4-6 hours.

Orphaned Kitten Care – Social Contact, Bathroom Stimulation and More

An important element of orphaned kitten care is social contact. Orphaned kittens must be held and cuddled for 3-4 hours per day; this is especially important if there is just one orphaned kitten. This eliminates stress, promotes bonding and comfort. Orphaned kittens who are not cuddled are very prone to developing social problems and behavioral problems later in life.

Kittens under the age of 4 weeks will also require "help" with bathroom activities. Normally, the mother will lick the kittens' genitals to stimulate bathroom activities. The orphaned kitten's care taker can mimic this behavior by using a wet cotton ball. This should be done after every feeding.

When caring for more than one orphaned kitten, it's important to be on the lookout for suckling behaviors. A young kitten may begin sucking on his siblings. This behavior can cause pain and open sores, so the kittens will need to be separated. A separation for 1 to 4 days is usually effective.

Caring for newborn kittens is a full-time job, but the rewards are many. When raising kittens who are abandoned or orphaned, it's important to work with an experienced veterinarian who can provide guidance and medical care for the motherless kittens.