Orphaned Kitten
By Dr. Rebecca Remillard, petplace
First and foremost—if you can—have him/her checked as soon as possible by a competent veterinarian.
A neonate is a newborn, and an orphan is a neonate without a dam (a female parent). This may occur due to a variety of circumstances including death or illness of the dam or an inability of the dam to produce sufficient amounts of good quality milk.
The editor’s daughter Margo. She was a kitten once.
- Newborn kittens should be sleek and round with good muscle tone and pink mucous membranes. The primary activities of kittens are suckling and sleeping. Birth weights range from 90 to 120 grams depending upon breed and body weight should double in the first 1 to 2 weeks.
- Normal heart rates are greater than 220 beats/minute for the first 4 weeks; respiratory rates are 15 to 35 breaths/minute; and rectal temperature at birth is 92 to 96 degrees Fahrenheit, which gradually increases to 98 F by 1 week of age.
- The most common causes of sickness, and sometimes death, for neonatal kittens are hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), dehydration and hypothermia (sub-normal body temperature; freezing).
- The most common signs of neonatal illness include persistent crying, failure to gain weight, decreased activity and decreased muscle tone.
- Call your veterinarian if your kitten does not double its weight in 8 to 10 days or frequently cries for more than 20 minutes. These are both abnormal and usually indicate a problem of hunger, cold, maternal neglect or illness.DiagnosisVeterinary care should include diagnostic tests to determine the underlying cause of the illness (if present) and guide subsequent recommendations. Diagnostic tests used in orphaned kittens include:
- Complete medical history and physical examination including: looking for a cleft palate, cranial deformities, and heart abnormalities. A temperature, pulse, respiratory rate and body weight should be taken.
- Blood work on neonates is often not done initially because response to immediate treatment is usually positive. A blood glucose level is performed if hypoglycemia is suspected.TreatmentTreatment is dependent upon the health and age of the orphan and presence of concurrent disease. Therapy may include the following:
- The kitten’s body temperature should slowly be raised to normal if the kitten is hypothermic.
- Administer fluids subcutaneously to correct dehydration.
- To provide nutrition, the kitten should be fed with a warmed milk replacement formula.
- Glucose should be supplemented if kitten is hypoglycemic.
- These treatments revive most neonates within a few hours. If the kitten is not revived, then additional diagnostics may have to be performed.
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What You Need to Know About a Kitten’s First MonthsBy: Karen Commings
Related ArticlesWhen kittens are born, they are 4-ounces of wet, wiggling fur balls that you would be hard put to identify as part of the feline species.
A female cat usually delivers four or five kittens at a time, sometimes as long as a half hour apart. They may have little resemblance to one another because a female cat can mate with more than one male during heat. Whatever their appearance, mom cat will wash them immediately to remove all vestiges of the birthing process and to induce breathing.
A newborn kitten is unable to hear, see or walk. His eyes are shut, and his ears are folded over his head. His tiny claws will not retract, and he lacks coordination and strength. His mother pushes him toward her belly to begin nursing. Her milk supplies needed antibodies, which help protect him from disease. He depends on his mother for food, warmth, washing, waste elimination, his safety and well-being.
A Week in the Life
During the first 6 or 7 days, the kittens huddle in a mass close to mom to stay warm, taking time out from their busy napping schedule only to nurse. Kittens nurse about every 3 to 4 hours, kneading their paws to stimulate milk flow. As adults, cats substitute their favorite humans or favorite blanket in the kneading process to remind them of one of their favorite kitten pastimes. After dinner, the mom cat licks the kitten’s anal area to stimulate waste elimination.
Week Two and Counting
During the next 7 days, a kitten will become stronger and more coordinated, although the grace and elegance for which cats are known will still elude him. He pads around the birthing area, exploring his tiny world in wonder and amazement.
At 8 to 10 days, a kitten’s eyes open, but his ability to see and focus is still poor. All kittens’ eyes are a deep blue color. As the kitten develops, his blue eyes will change to a lifelong color – any of the shades of copper, amber, hazel, green or azure – that depends on breed and genetic history.
He begins teething with a tiny first set of teeth that break through his gums. For the first week, it’s best to let the mom cat do the bulk of the work for the kitten, but feel free to talk to her and the kittens. During the second week, you can handle the kittens gently and gingerly for a few minutes at a time.
At about 2 weeks, a kitten begins fearlessly exploring, giving rise to the feline equivalent of the “terrible two’s.” You may observe the mom cat pulling back her kittens if she sees them straying too far or potentially getting into trouble.
At 5 or 6 weeks, kittens will begin wanting what mom is eating. Naturally curious, even at this young age, a kitten will check out mom’s food dish or one filled with room-temperature kitten food that you provide. Weaning should occur without much difficulty, as the mom cat, having grown tired of a multitude of kittens suckling from her, will help the process along by pushing kittens away when they try to nurse.
The kittens will begin to imitate their mother by using the litter box. At this tender age, clay litter is preferable to clumping. Because young kittens are often messy and wet, clumping litter granules stick to them and can get lodged in their digestive tracks when they wash.
The Age of Reason
Kittens should be at least 10 weeks old before going to a new home. “This critical time allows a mother cat to finish the job of raising her kittens,” says Susan Easterly, author of “The Guide to Handraising Kittens,” (TFH, 2000). “It allows kittens to gain confidence and learn key social skills from siblings, such as how to control their claws and jaws.”
Often, breeders require that kittens be 14 to 16 weeks old before placing them. At the more advanced age, it’s easier for breeders to determine which kittens conform more closely to breed standards and will head for the show ring.
Kittens may develop health and behavior problems if adopted at a very young age. “They may not get the interaction, exercise or socialization they need for healthy feline development,” says Easterly, “and they may have trouble bonding with other animals and people, or become fearful or unfriendly.”
