Make sure a litter of kittens is actually orphaned before disturbing it. If kittens are plump, clean, and sleeping in a heap, they probably have an attentive mother. If you see a kitten that is dirty, with a soiled nest and always crying loudly due to hunger, it is very likely it is abandoned or lost. The following tips will help you take care of them and more importantly, save their lives.
Warming the kitten up before feeding
Before doing anything when you rescue a kitten is to keep them warm. Touch the kittens’ ears, inside their mouths, and the pads of their feet. If any of these feel cool to the touch, that kitten’s body temperature is too low.
The quickest and best way to keep them warm is to tuck them under your clothing and against your skin. Next best thing is to use a jacket, clean cloth or blanket to wrap the kitten and keep it safe and warm.
This is because feeding a cold kitten will cause it to die as it needs to be warmed up first. You will need a kitten milk replacer to feed the kitten and then head to the vet for a full medical checkup. The vet clinic should also have a milk kitten replacer and a bottle or syringe to help with the feeding. Any pet supply store carry these items too.
What to feed the abandoned kitten
Cow’s milk should not be a substitute for their mother’s milk as it does not contain enough nutrition, proteins and fats to sustain a kitten’s survival. It can also cause diarrhea as well.
Several kitten milk replacements brands such as KMR, Petlac & PetAG are very good brands as adequate substitute for mother’s milk.
Emergency home made kitten milk formula
In the case you have run out of kitten milk replacement, you can make your own emergency kitten replacement milk. However, you should get one as soon as possible as this emergency formula does not contain enough nutrition for the kittens.
The following emergency kitten milk formula, which should be fed for no more than 24 hours:
- 2/3 cup homogenized whole milk
- 3 raw egg yolks (no whites)
- 1 tablespoon corn oil
- 1 drop pediatric liquid vitamins (if available)
Place the bottle or syringe of formula in hot water to warm it before feeding (the formula should be warm but not hot — test it on the inside of your wrist before giving it to the kitten).
Keep kitten formulas refrigerated and discard leftover portions from the bottle or syringe after feeding.
For more details, visit this website on how to care for abandoned kittens