How to Take Care of a Newborn Kitten Without a Mother

April 19, 2024

Kittens are very adorable creatures and it is only natural for a cat mother to take care of them but due to certain circumstances, some kittens lose their mother in the early stage of life. Caring for newborn kittens without a mother is a task that should not be handled casually. Due to exposure to traffic or attack by other animals, cats who are supposed to take care of their kittens meet their sudden demise. Even though it's heartbreaking, the responsibility of such kittens then falls on the shoulders of some kind, compassionate humans.

How to Care For a Kitten?

Even though it’s sad, the newborn kitten survival rate without mother is very low. Their life expectancy can be increased by paying some attention to the points mentioned below:

You need to especially pay attention to newborn kittens 1 day old because they still have not learned anything like meowing or walking. The floor of their area should be blanketed. Make sure they have a warm bed to sleep in.

For newborn kittens, one day old, regular checkups are very important. You should regularly take advice from your vet for the do’s and don’ts in the case of an infant.

Cat mothers keep their children warm but in case they don’t have a mother, it is your duty to keep the kittens warm by putting a heating pad on low heat underneath their blanket or cage.

Some people wonder how to take care for 2 week old kittens without a mother. It is important to note that in the case of both newborn kittens 1 day old and little grown-ups a few weeks old, you need to provide a heating source to make them warm. It should be provided until they are 6 weeks old if you don’t want to subject them to hypothermia.

If you are wondering how long can a newborn kitten survive without its mother, the answer depends on how much care they are being provided. Feeding them is important for nourishment. You need to bottle-feed your kitten with a special formula and consult with your vet about the best formula for your kitten. It must be kept warm for your cat to digest it properly.

Veterinarians can supervise your newborn kitten care week by week by checking its weight. 14 grams per day or 113 grams per week should be gained by your kitten if the formula is digested by her properly.

This procedure of newborn kitten care week by week should be changed after they grow 6 weeks old. First of all, bottle feeding of the formula should be stopped and they should begin consuming 3 to 4 high protein meals per day. Start with softened hard food or canned soft food and later on, change the meal according to your vet.

Kittens become more active after growing up and this is the time to pay close attention to their activities so that they do not get themselves into any trouble. Newborn kitten survival rate without a mother can be increased if you follow all these pointers.

Preventive Care For Your Kitten

Wondering how long can a newborn kitten survive without its mother? Well, kittens can survive for very long if preventive measures are taken on time. Here are some tips for preventive care for your kitten:

You should go to the vet for regular checkups for the first week. Your vet can advise you on the dietary requirements after examining your kitten properly.

Wellness exams, routine vaccinations, and parasite prevention are important for your kitten. These examinations can help detect any diseases early before they reach a life-threatening stage. Such diseases will also be affordable to treat in an early stage, it is one of the most important aspects of caring for newborn kittens without a mother.

Kittens should be 6 to 8 weeks old for their first round of shots. You should have them spayed or neutered when they are 5 to 6 months old. Such preventive measures can stop any disease from arising in the first place.

What are Some Special Handling Techniques to Keep Them Healthy and Safe?

Keeping the kittens warm is very vital in the early stage of their life. Caring for newborn kittens without a mother also includes minimizing the number of people who handle kittens. People should also remember to wash their hands before handling the kitten. Don’t expose your kittens to extremely hot or cold weather. Limit all unnecessary handling. Gentle handling and maximum interaction can result in highly socialized behaviour in the later stages of a cat's life. You should also ask yourself, What Can I Give My Cat for Allergies while taking care of the kitten.

What Can Go Wrong?

Caring for newborn kittens without a mother is a very complex task and not everyone can handle such a situation perfectly. Here are some things that you should not do when taking care of a kitten:

Do not feed your kitten cow milk. Feed it only with the formula that your vet suggests.

Don’t miss regular checkups and wellness examinations. They are important to know early signs of any disease.

Don’t be careless about regular vaccinations. They are important to stop any critical disease from arising.

Being careless in taking care of newborn kittens can result in severe consequences for them. They can feel difficulties in motor skills or coordination, they can be lethargic all the time, or refuse food. You should also keep their behavior in check while they are growing up. Caring for newborn kittens without a mother also includes keeping their environment clean. There are many Pet Supplies on PetYupp's website that can help you take care of a newborn kitten.