What Do Kittens Need After Birth

Warmth is important as newborn kittens can lose heat very quickly.

What do kittens need after birth. If you plan to find new homes for your kittens plan on adopting them out between 8 and 12 weeks. Be careful not to give her anything small enough to swallow like buttons beads or paper clips. After her kittens have fed she will lick their bellies and genital areas eating any feces and urine. Additionally create a safe environment for the kittens by putting any strings human food medications or electrical wires out of their reach.

Kittens suckling well from their queen will sleep between feeds and do not need additional nutrition until three to four weeks of age. Be wary of toys or items that a kitten may see as a toy that can break such as christmas tree ornaments for example. Chilling is one of the most critical dangers to newborn kittens. All kittens are born in a thin membrane birthing sac which your cat should remove as soon as her baby has arrived.

As the kittens are born they ll be in a thin membrane sac and your cat should remove this sac immediately. If she does not do this you will need to gently tear open the sac do not use a sharp object it s fragile so your hands should suffice as soon as possible to allow the kitten to breathe. Kittens not receiving adequate. Keep surgical scissors close and hemostatic forceps close by to cut the kittens umbilical cords from the placenta if the mother fails to do so herself.

If she is tired or disturbed she may ignore them in which case you will need to provide warmth either via a heat pad or a covered hot water bottle no hotter than body temperature and the kittens should be covered with a light towel or blanket. Items needed immediately after birth. Keep your kitten away from children s toys made of soft rubber fur wool sponge or polyurethane. After the cords are severed by you or the mother help your cat clean her kittens by keeping a baby syringe handy to suck any fluids out of the kittens mouths duganne said.

Toileting the mother stimulates her kittens to go to the toilet. Provide blankets a heat lamp or a heating pad to ensure the kittens stay warm. It is essential that kittens receive colostrum to protect them against disease. You ll want to have certain items handy once the first kitten is born and throughout the process of birthing the litter.

Clean the kittens nose and mouth and rub them with a dry towel to encourage them to breathe on their own. Kittens can only absorb colostrum during their first 16 to 24 hours of life and they should feed within two hours of birth. Once the kittens are 4 weeks old start setting out kitten food for them and put out a litter box so you can show them where to go to the bathroom. Newborn kittens need to feed every two to three hours.

The mother cat can keep the babies warm but if she leaves to eat or use a litter box the kittens can get cold. Make sure the room is warm enough as kittens are unable to regulate their body temperature when they are only a few days old. If she doesn t you ll need to tear it open with your hands so that the kittens can breathe. Weight newborn kittens weigh between 90 100 grams 3 ounces by the end of the first week they should have doubled their weight to 200 grams 6 ounces.

To care for kittens from birth keep them with their mother for the first 4 weeks if possible. If any kittens do not receive the first milk contact your vet. Things to do following the birth. This will reduce the chance of spreading disease or parasites to any resident cats.