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New Born Kittens

New Born Kittens - Information on Feeding New Born Kitten, Food, Development and Caring


In most cases a littler of a new born kittens is well cared for by the mother.



However there are times when some kittens may be ignored for no apparent reason. In such cases, a new born kitten may need your care especially if there has been a cesarean. In case the mother has passed away, the entire litter may become your responsibility.

Feeding New Born Kittens and Development


Feeding new born kittens is an important aspect in cat care.



It is beneficial to be aware of a kitten’s requirements so that you can provide for its needs during this crucial stage. A newborn kitten usually weighs about 3 ounces. You may weigh them daily so that you aware of their weight gain. This will enable you to know if they are adequately fed.



Since all the kittens may appear similar, you can put certain markings on them in order to identify them easily. This will help you keep track of the stages of new born kitten development in each one. Kittens tend to mew while they eat. They are usually not fussy. In case you find that your kitten is crying a lot, it is advisable to consult your vet.

New Born Kitten Food and Caring


New born kitten food primarily consists of milk. In case of kittens that are orphaned or those whose mother’s do not produce adequate milk, you may have to feed them through a bottle or tube. Tube feeding may be slightly challenging since kittens need a certain amount of food according to their weight. It helps to discuss with a vet regarding the amount and method of feeding a kitten. Caring for new born kittens also means that you have to keep them clean. Kittens below 2 ½ weeks of age cannot defecate and urinate by themselves. The mother cat usually keeps then clean by licking them. In the absence of a mother, you may have to wipe the kitten’s genital region with a moist cloth. This stimulates them to urinate or defecate. This must be done after every 2 hours. When cleaning kittens, one must ensure that they do not become too wet as they can catch a chill. The blankets used by the kittens must be changed twice daily.

At about 3 or 4 weeks, the kittens start roaming about on their own. At this time, you can start giving them real food such as a mixture of dry kitten food and milk replacement. Kittens usually start using a litter box at 5 weeks of age.

 

 
  Submitted on November 16, 2011