How to feed newborn kittens without a cat

In our country, orphaned kittens are either drowned or fed. The last option can only afford the good-natured people to whom you most likely belong. Toddlers up to a month old need care, which the newly made mother cat can not always provide. Due to certain circumstances, a person gets involved in raising a kitten, wanting to save the baby's life. About how to do this, tell today.

What do kittens need in the first days of life

Kittens have needs, the satisfaction of which you guarantee to the babies that they will grow and develop in accordance with age. The reasons for feeding can be many. Among them:

• the delivery was difficult, the cat needs treatment or surgery;
• kittens were left without a mother;
• new mommy lost milk;
• irresponsible past owners have thrown kittens out.

In order not to condemn the kids to certain death, carry out a series of manipulations:

1. If they have wet hair, wipe it with a towel or napkins. Then warm using the heat of your own palms or a heating pad.
2. Carefully inspect the kitten for damage. Pay special attention to the face, make sure that the baby breathes through the nose.
3. Check whether all reflex functions are in order. To do this, stroke the baby's tummy, he should try to lie on his back. Now bring your palm to his face, the kitten will look for a nipple.
4. Inspect the umbilical cord, it should be short. If this is not the case, a “bag” will hang at the end. Do not panic, hold the following events:

• flip your furry friend's belly up;
• place it on a soft surface or on your feet;
• lift the sac with the umbilical cord so that everything from it will flow into the belly of the kitten;
• sterilize scissors;
• measure 1-1.5 cm from the abdomen; cut the umbilical cord;
• arm yourself with a little green, lubricate the umbilical cord and the zone next to it.

Make sure the kitten is healthy.If you find that he has breathing problems, it will be intermittent, hoarse, through the mouth, go to the vet right away!

Small kittens can not control body temperature due to the lack of thermoregulation. If the babies become supercooled, pneumonia develops, often death occurs immediately. So make sure your baby is warm.

How to determine the age of the kitten

Before feeding babies, you need to know how many days or weeks they are. To do this, examine the state of the kitten more closely.

1. In the first three days, the eyes with eyes will be tightly covered, the umbilical cord looks fresh. When kids are hungry, they squeak a lot. The weight of each three-day kitten varies between 70-95 grams.
2. If the baby is already 1-2 weeks old, his eye will see a section, the umbilical cord will quietly dry, and the eyelids will be lifted.
3. In the age group of 2–3 weeks, the eyes of babies are fully opened, the ears slowly but surely ascend. However, the kitten cannot yet eat itself. He can see the first milk teeth.
4. At the age of 4 weeks, the baby almost walks, his fangs are seen, the kitten learns to eat independently and tries to play with interesting objects.

Important!
The decisive stage in the further life of kittens is a period of 1-3 days. If the kids survived this time, you need to make every effort to feed them.

How to make a "nest" and pick up food for a kitten

1. In this case, the best solution would be to search for a cat that has recently turned and is in the feeding position. She must take the kittens and feed them. But if there is no such option, you will have to take care of the offspring yourself.
2. As the nest fit dense cardboard box. You should also take care in advance of the presence of a heating pad, a thin fabric for covering the house, thick cloth such as a mahra or a tale for filling the nest itself.
3. As for food, babies are fed dry mix for children without any impurities or additives. A cat milk substitute will do; you can find it at the veterinary store. Also goat whole milk will fit.
4. Do not use store milk or even whole cow milk, such options are absolutely not suitable for newly born babies. Only one feeding is allowed until you quickly get the right product.
5. Buy a syringe that has a latex pad. This tool has a soft piston stroke, in the process of feeding the baby will not choke. Also requires a pipette or nipple for feeding puppies or kittens.
6. Make a nest out of the box, it should be dark and dry. The temperature in the "house" for kids - at least 26 degrees, stick to this mark. Put a stuffed toy in the nest to the kittens so that they feel supported.

Technology feeding kittens

1. Heat the milk you can find. For a single feeding fit cow. Warm it up to 37 degrees, pouring boiling water over the bottle.
2. Put the kitten tummy down in a box with low sides and a soft cloth inside. Place the palm of your child on the back, and with your fingers barely noticeably squeeze the cheekbones so that the mouth opens.
3. Insert the nipple into the mouth, wait until the baby starts to suck it. The kitten will eat and immediately fall away from the bottle. Usually babies sleep after feeding.
4. Do not put a hard syringe in the mouth of the kitten, otherwise you will damage the gums. Feed the baby a little with a soft nipple (pipette),so that the child licked milk.
5. After the middle of feeding, put the kitten on his shoulder in an upright position so that he belches air. Then continue to treat him by the drop, letting him lick the milk.
6. Usually, the cat massages the kittens tummy, but after feeding it you need to do. Arm yourself with medical gloves, soak a tampon in water, and move the kitten clockwise around the belly of the kitten until it evacuates.

How often to feed the kitten

1. If the kittens are older a couple of days, they must be fed every 1.5-2 hours. Consider, the procedure does not depend on the time of day. The animal's body is small enough, but the developmental energy is enormous. In addition, the digestive system triggers and stimulates the immune system.
2. After 1 week, the babies need to be fed every 3-4 hours. Do not forget to watch the weight of animals. If the kittens are not gaining weight well, this is a bad sign. Pet develops poorly and with a delay. So kittens need to pay more attention. Provide frequent meals if necessary.
3. On average, kittens are born with a weight of about 70 grams. After 1 week the weight should be up to 125 gr.On the 14th day the weight will be 200 gr. Feeding should be about 7 times a day, even at night. After 4 weeks, pets should weigh an average of 275 grams. It is not necessary to feed at night.
4. After 1 month the weight of the kitten should vary within 365 grams. Feed the animals need 5-6 times a day. After that, you can gradually accustom the kittens to the usual food. Enter the lure. Consult with a veterinarian in advance, the doctor will tell you which vitamins you need to add.
5. At home, you can easily provide the kids the flow of the required amount of glucose. The substance will significantly accelerate the growth and development of the kitten. Stir up to 2 grams. glucose per serving of food. Do not forget about immunostimulants and vitamins (gamavit and tetravit). Add 1 drop to a serving.
6. It is highly recommended to give the bone meal to the babies along with the meal. It has a positive effect on the development of the musculoskeletal system and joints. Stir 1.5 gr. flour per serving. Fish oil is necessary for the general strengthening of the body of kittens. The substance can be given 2 times a week, 1 drop per serving of food.
7. You can use grated curd as a first meal.Add vitamins in ampoules D, A. 1 drop per serving of food. Dilute cottage cheese with milk, spread it on your finger and let the kitten lick. Then gradually accustom the animal to eat from a shallow saucer.

How to choose a milk replacer

1. After birth, the cat in the early days of colostrum. After that, the milk begins to form. In the first case, the composition helps the kittens to protect their body from all sorts of infections. Colostrum is an immunostimulant.
2. From this it should be concluded that in the first days of life, kittens need colostrum. If you are in doubt that you can cope with this task, consult a veterinarian without fail. The specialist will advise you to purchase a special serum. The composition is made from the blood of a strong cat. Next, the veterinarian will enter the composition of the kids subcutaneously.
3. As a result, small animals receive a portion of the necessary antibodies that resist the pathogenic viruses and protect the body from diseases. Also, if possible, put the kittens to the newly born cat. This option would be the best.
4. Cat milk is unique, it contains almost 2 times more protein than cow milk. Also in the raw materials high content of fats and nutrients. Cat milk has a high concentration of taurine. This amino acid provides kittens with a stable fat breakdown. Therefore it is necessary to give preference to special cat milk replacers.
5. Serums are produced by eminent manufacturers who specialize in the manufacture of premium animal feed. Such mixtures are as close as possible to the composition with cat milk. The product contains the necessary amount of amino acids. If you follow the simple instructions, the kids will not have an allergic reaction and problems with digestion.
6. In most cases, manufacturers immediately pack the product in portion bags. The set should be small bottles and nipples. Apply the mixture is not difficult. Such sera can be purchased at any pet store or veterinary pharmacy.
7. Sometimes it happens that the cat simply does not have milk, and she did not throw her kittens. In this case, you should act by the same analogy as with orphaned animals.At first, you can resort to the usual mixture for infants. In this case, baby food must be diluted with boiled water. Take proportions 1 to 2 (mixture and liquid).

If a similar situation happened to you, take it seriously. If you are unsure of anything, consult a veterinarian. Remember, whole cow's milk is forbidden to give kittens. Animals from the lack of enzymes will die. Be careful and attentive when nursing babies.

Video: how to feed a baby kitten