Cat lovers, who love raising cats with the utmost love, but suddenly your beloved cat becomes pregnant and when it's time to give birth, she refuses to care for her kittens! Out of maternal instinct, we new parents must take on the responsibility of "beloved cat." Or perhaps at another point in your life, you have the opportunity to adopt a newborn kitten who has just given birth and been abandoned by her mother. This leaves you wondering and searching for ways to raise "kittens" in various places. Today, we'll present some basic methods. Let's learn together.
Reasons why cats don't have kittens What is
1. Escape from the original address
Many times we find litters of newborn kittens hanging out in various places outside the home, leading many to assume that they have been abandoned. However, their mother may be nearby or perhaps in search of food. If the kittens are well-fed and in a safe place, then the mother is likely nearby. The best thing to do is to keep an eye on them for a couple of hours to see if they return. If they don't, it's possible that the mother cat is sick or in serious trouble – she may have been killed, preventing her from returning to her home. Kittens can also wander off and get lost, or even get stuck in places where their mother cannot reach them.
2. Illness or abnormality
A mother cat may reject kittens with unusual morphs, such as "Janus" (two-faced) cats, even if they are otherwise healthy. Experts recommend completely removing rejected kittens from the litter so that the mother cat doesn't reject the other kittens in the litter as well.
3. Mastitis
Some mother cats who are nursing may develop mastitis, an infection of the mammary glands. The nipples are swollen, hard, and hot to the touch. This may appear as if the mother is rejecting her kittens, but in reality, the pain in the nipples is actually there.
4. Litter size or large number of kittens
A litter or too many kittens can also lead to rejection, as some mother cats do not produce enough milk for all of their kittens.
5. Premature birth
Young or pregnant mother cats may not yet have maternal instincts, or may experience emotional trauma during the birth, such as not being in a safe place or experiencing physical difficulties during the birth. This anxiety may also make it difficult to feel comfortable caring for her kittens.
How to prepare for becoming a temporary cat mom?
1. Kitten nursery
The place where newborn kittens are kept should be clean. Use a sheet or absorbent pad to cover the sleeping area to make cleaning easier.
2. Keep them warm
The first thing to consider when caring for newborn kittens is to always keep them warm. You can check how cold your kittens are by touching their paws or the tips of their ears, and you can keep them warm by wrapping a hot water bottle in a towel and letting them snuggle against it, or by providing a warming lamp and doing this continuously for 2-3 weeks.
3. Feeding newborn kittens
Kittens that have been abandoned or refused by their mothers are not getting enough nutrients from their mother's milk, so we need to think about alternatives. It is recommended to consult with your veterinarian to choose the right product. If possible, you will need to have a milk replacer and the appropriate equipment, such as a syringe. Newborn kittens will nurse every 1-2 hours, and this habit will change from week to week.
4. Assistance for newborn kittens
Newborn kittens are naturally incapable of self-sufficiency and need assistance. Mother cats help keep their feeding system running smoothly. They lick their kittens' bellies and anal area to stimulate defecation. If your kitten doesn't have a mother, you'll need to take on this role of newborn kitten care. All you need is a slightly damp washcloth, which works well as the mother's tongue. Massage the anal and genital areas until the kitten urinates or defecates. Once the kittens are old enough (around 4 weeks old, for example), you can begin potty training them.
5. Can you hold a newborn kitten?
You can usually handle kittens with gloves if they are under two weeks old. Young kittens are more susceptible to infection and disease, and you can harm them by picking them up too early. Once they are two weeks old, continue to teach and introduce them to humans and touch (weeks 2-7 is a good time for socialization).
6. How to hold a newborn kitten
When handling newborn kittens, use both hands to hold them from their chest and under their hind legs to ensure they have full support. If they struggle, don't put them down. This teaches them that struggling means they'll be released. Continue to soothe them with your gentle voice until they calm down.
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