Raising Orphans

Sometimes, orphan kittens are found down the street, or rarely, a queen is lost during the birth process, or develops complications (illness / debilitation, infected mammary glands, or calcium disorders).

Raising these orphans is quite a task if a suitable foster mother cannot be found. Foster queens should be tested negative for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus and Feline Leukemia Virus. Most queens are quite gracious about adopting orphans if the introduction is done in a quiet, non-threatening manner.

If no nursing female is available though, you are it!

Your veterinarian should be consulted about feeding schedules, the proper substitute milk, and general health monitoring for the growing kitten(s) if a foster situation cannot be arranged. It is very important that dog or human milk replacements are NOT USED. They are not correctly balanced for kittens.

Kitten’s box needs to be kept warm (85° F is about right). Unless the kittens are weak, stomach tube administration of the formula is not necessary. A small feeding bottle should have a hole in it that allows slow dripping of the milk only. Formula should be heated to your body temperature (as for a baby’s bottle)—drop a few drops on your inside wrist and if you can barely feel it, the temperatures match.

Unfortunately, the rub-down of kitten’s rear ends following each feeding is quite time consuming, but is essential for normal bowel and bladder function, and for cleanliness. A moist face cloth, soft tissue, or cotton ball should be gently massaged around the anus, lower belly and rear end. The feeding routine will be spaced quite close together in the first few weeks of life (every 2 hours), and so this means you are going to lose a lot of shut-eye! Sometimes, a friend or family member can help you by taking some of the “nursing shifts”!

Kitten food should be offered quite early, though full transition off of the milk can take a few weeks. By the late third to fourth week, a separate food and water bowl should be offered. Select flat dishes to start for easy kitten access. Sometimes, placing a bit of food on the kitty’s lip will help to introduce the kitten to the new flavor, but don’t force the issue—they will figure it all out before long. Offer fresh food and water frequently. Stale dried canned food is not going to interest Kitten!

Make sure kittens are offered growth food, not adult food or dog food etc. Their growing bodies need higher levels of nutrition during the first 10 months of life! For the intial introduction of food, offer moist food, or soften kibbles in some warm water or milk replacer.

Hand-raised solo kittens need contact with more than just their human caregiver if they are to grow up to be normal cats. Isolated kittens may not learn appropriate restraining behavior for scratching and biting, or other normal kitty behaviors. Some of these kittens may develop unusual suckling habits (wool blankets, clothing). Having an orphan spend time with other kittens or a friendly spayed female cat can help them to develop normal socialization.

 

Disclaimer: This website is not intended to replace professional consultation, diagnosis, or treatment by a licensed veterinarian. If you require any veterinary related advice, contact your veterinarian promptly. Information at Cathealth.com is exclusively of a general reference nature. Do not disregard veterinary advice or delay treatment as a result of accessing information at this site.