How do you feed baby kittens without the mother?
These kittens should be bottle-fed using kitten milk replacer (or KMR), which comes in either liquid or powder form. It’s the equivalent to formula that you would use for a bottle-fed baby, except it’s formulated for cats. The formula, bottles and nipples are all available over the counter at most pet supply stores.
Can a mother cat take care of an abandoned kitten?
Not all nursing cats will accept new kittens, but if you are able to locate someone that has a mother cat that will care for abandoned kittens (without overwhelming her) then your kittens stand a much better chance of survival and normal, healthy development.
When do kittens stop getting their mother’s milk?
The complete weaning process generally takes about a month, meaning that the wee kittens are usually fully weaned when they are between 8 and 10 weeks in age. Towards the end of the run, however, kittens should be receiving the vast majority of their dietary intake via food that is made specifically for kittens.
Where can I find a surrogate mother cat?
In some cases, a surrogate mother cat can be found (a cat that already has a litter of kittens or a cat that is producing milk that may have lost her kittens).
Is it OK to give a kitten cow milk?
In the absence of mother’s milk, use a formula specifically developed for kittens. NEVER FEED A CAT OR KITTEN COW MILK. Cats are actually lactose intolerant and cow milk can upset their system causing discomfort, gas and/or diarrhea, all of which can be very bad for kittens.
Can a mother cat not produce milk for her kittens?
Although very rare, it is possible a mother cat does not have milk for her kittens. If you want to know how we can tell a cat is not producing milk, we can look at the health of the kittens. A clear alarm signal would be that the idyllic scene of well fed young is not present. On the contrary, the kittens will be moaning and looking for food.
Not all nursing cats will accept new kittens, but if you are able to locate someone that has a mother cat that will care for abandoned kittens (without overwhelming her) then your kittens stand a much better chance of survival and normal, healthy development.
In some cases, a surrogate mother cat can be found (a cat that already has a litter of kittens or a cat that is producing milk that may have lost her kittens).
Are there kittens in shelters without a mother?
There is an actual time of year when an overwhelming number of sweet, baby cats are born into this world. While the cute factor is high during this time, so is the stress of caring for these kittens, many of whom find themselves at DoveLewis or at a shelter without a mother.