When Should Kittens Be Vaccinated
Kittens gain some protection from disease in the form of maternal antibodies passed in the queens colostrum . To ensure that the queen has sufficient antibodies to pass onto her kittens, it is important that she is well vaccinated prior to mating. The protective effect of maternal antibodies lasts for only a few weeks. The kittens vaccination programme should therefore start from about 8 weeks of age, although the exact timing and content of the vaccinations can be tailored to the needs of the particular cat, as determined by the veterinarian. If the kittens were orphaned, and hence never received colostrum, they will have gained no protective immunity from their mother, and so may need to be vaccinated early, perhaps from 23 weeks of age. Most cats are vaccinated against feline enteritis and the viruses that cause cat flu. Others are also vaccinated against feline leukaemia virus infection and/or chlamydophila disease.
Adopting Out The Kittens
The final step. Successful socialization is the most important part of the process, so make sure you teach them to trust and like humans as early as you are able! Please spay and neuter them before you adopt them out , they will not only be more attractive to adopters, but it will also help prevent this cycle from happening all over again. Once they are fixed, advertise liberally! Use social networking sites, tells friends, relatives, colleagues and acquaintances, and get them adopted out as early as you can! The older the kittens get, the harder it will be to find them homes.
Should Kittens Be Given Antibiotics To Keep Them Well
Unless a bacterial infection is known to be present, and antibiotics have been prescribed by the veterinarian, they should not be given. Antibiotics severely disrupt the process of normal colonisation of the gut by harmless bacteria, and can, because of this, produce diarrhoea. Antibiotics cannot be used as a substitute for colostrum. If hygiene standards are good, antibiotics are simply not needed.
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Weaning Kittens And Beyond
At four weeks old, kittens begin the weaning process . While the labor-intensive production of bottle feeding is behind you, weaning involves specific ingredients on a fixed timetable. Catsters article on weaning kittens is a good guide to doing it right.
As the tykes are growing, feeding kittens properly is key to creating healthy adults. Their diet is the cornerstone of their well-being, so what you feed kittens is crucial.
Whether youre a seasoned kitten foster or a first-time kitten caregiver, bottle feeding kittens doesnt have to be a daunting task. Just take the time to do it right, pay attention to any warning signs, and take pride in being an integral part of saving lives.
Tell us: What are your tips for bottle feeding kittens?
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Being a surrogate cat mother or father can be loads of joy. Proper nutrition for a newborn kitten is extremely crucial for their survival. Bottle-feeding is not too difficult if you follow the right steps. The whole procedure usually takes about 10 – 20 minutes several times a day.
Prepare your supplies:
A kitten-sized baby bottle and a nipple are needed and should be sterilized thoroughly before use. Boil a pot of water and wash them in the boiling water for about 5 minutes. Place them on a sterilized plate to cool down. You will need to prepare a few clean towels, washcloths and some warm water as well.
Mix the formula:
Choose the kitten milk replacement you have such as KMR, fill the bottle with the formula and warm it in a pot of hot water. Control the temperature to between 95° and 100° Fahrenheit and make sure the milk can get through the nipple.
Feed your kitten:
Find yourself a comfortable chair to sit down. Lay a folded towel over your lap, place the kitten on your lap with his face down. Keep the kitten warm before feeding in order to prevent digestive problems. Check the nipple and make sure it’s not dripping milk by holding it upside down without applying any pressure. The milk should come out if you gently squeeze the bottle. Insert the nipple in his mouth and nursing should start very quickly. Your kitten may need about 32 cc of formula per day, but it should be divided into 9 – 12 around the clock feeding sessions. That’s approximately an every two hours job.
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What To Feed A Neonatal Kitten
Stick to kitten formula, such as kitten milk replacer , which can be purchased at most pet supply stores.If you find yourself with a kitten and pet stores are closed, this emergency kitten formula can be made at home. Only use it in emergencies.
- 8 oz. can evaporated milk
- 1 beaten egg yolk
- Mix all ingredients well and strain. Warm before serving. Keep refrigerated.From Feline Neonatal Care DVD from the Loudoun SPCA.
Should you feed newborn kittens goat milk?
Never feed kittens cows or goats milkthis causes diarrhea.
Feeding Frequency
10 days or younger every two hours around the clock
11 days to 2½ weeks every three to four hours
2½ to 4 weeks every five to six hours
4 weeks and older two to three times a day. Weaning occurs around this age.
Mix formula with wet food so kittens can begin to lap it up, or put the mixture in a bottle. Then mix with dry food and begin providing water. If you are having trouble getting a kitten to latch onto the bottle, try pulling on the nipple when they start to suck, this will encourage her to suck harder and latch on.
You can also try moving the nipple back and forth in the kittens mouth. If your kitten is too ill to suck on a bottle, you may have to resort to other methods like tube feeding. In this case, consult a veterinarian.
Helping The Kitten Eliminate
Normal kitten stools are yellowish brown with a jam-like consistency. After every feeding, gently massage the anus and urinary orifice with a cotton ball or Kleenex moistened with warm water until they urinate and defecate.
Be very gentle when you do this and dont worry if no urine or stool is produced after every feeding. By the time the kitten is three weeks old it should be able to get by without your help.
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What Should I Track In A Logbook
Maintaining a logbook about the orphaned kittens does not need to be complicated. The reason for the logbook is to simply keep track of how the kittens are doing so you can identify if there are any potential concerns with their development.
Tracking their weights, milestones, and routines are key, so be sure to record details of when their eyes open, when their teeth begin to erupt, their food intake, and stool consistency.
TIP: Individual kittens must be identified in some way, so consider colored collars or nail polish on a few front toenails.
What Do I Do If A Kitten Gets Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea is a serious condition. It may be caused by overfeeding, giving too concentrated a solution of milk replacer, or result from infection . Treatment must be swift as dehydration can then develop very rapidly, followed by collapse and death soon afterwards.
Mild cases respond well to dilution of the milk 1:1 with boiled water, which should be given until the diarrhoea stops. Severe cases should be given no milk at all. Instead, they should be given 510% glucose, glucosesaline, or isotonic electrolyte solution , all of which can be obtained from a veterinarian. These solutions should be given until the diarrhoea stops milk diluted 1:1 with water, and finally, full strength milk can be resumed 1224 hours later.
If kittens become collapsed and dehydrated they need immediate veterinary attention if they are to survive. Kittens in a collapsed state become chilled very rapidly. They will usually be given subcutaneous fluids by the veterinarian.
Once they have been warmed up and given fluid therapy they must be allowed to recover quietly. Feeding can only be begun once the kitten is warm and able to suck. Stomach tubing is not helpful here, since when a kitten is cold and collapsed its intestines stop functioning, so stomach contents can be easily regurgitated, and then aspirated into the lungs.
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How Often Should Kittens Be Weighed And How Much Should They Weigh
The birth weight of each kitten should be recorded, and weight should be taken every day or two for the first four weeks of life. Starting in their fifth week, you can switch to weekly weigh-ins. A digital food scale with capacity up to 5 pounds works best for these measurements.
Kittens normally weigh between 80 to 120 grams at birth. They gain about 100g/week during their first six months of life and should average at least 7g per day.
Goat Kid Feeding Chart
This priming set of shots is usually given when the doe is a young kid but can be done at any age. Kids should be vaccinated at 5 to 6 weeks of age and then given a booster three to four weeks later. Vaccination of kids from properly vaccinated does prior to 5 weeks of age may result in kids that are not protected and annual boosters may be .
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What Are The Signs Of Hypoglycaemia
Hypoglycaemia results from inadequate or infrequent feeding. It can cause severe depression, muscle twitching and occasionally lead to convulsions. If a kitten ever refuses to feed, do not delay prompt action and veterinary care is required. Kittens have no reserves and will go downhill rapidly. Quick response can save a kittens life. Use your intuition: an hour could mean life or death!
If a kitten is showing signs of hypoglycaemia, a few drops of glucose syrup placed on the tongue can be lifesaving. This should then be followed by feeding a small amount of glucose solution, and increasing either the amount and/or frequency of routine feeding.
How Much And How Often To Feed
The exact amount can vary between different brands of cat milk replacement formula, so check the directions on the packaging. You’ll usually need to feed your kitten around 8 milliliters of formula per ounce of body weight each day. Weigh your kitten three times a week to ensure you’re feeding them the correct amount, especially because kittens gain weight quite quickly.
Newborn kittens need feeding once every 3 to 4 hours, so split the total amount of milk into 6 to 8 equal portions to give throughout the day. This means you’re in for some nighttime feedings until your kitten reaches around 4 weeks old, when you can feed them every 6 to 8 hours.
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What Are Some Best Practices For Proper Kitten Hygiene
Orphaned kittens require you to pay strict attention to their hygiene for optimal health and development. Follow these best practices for proper kitten hygiene:
- bottles and nipples should be cleaned and then boiled in water to sterilize them between uses.
- never prepare more milk replacer than can be used within 24 hours and always keep it refrigerated.
- discard formula after 1 hour if left at room temperature.
- once or twice each week, gently wash the kittens with a moist cloth.
Your Guide To Bottle Feeding Kittens
While there has been a dramatic reduction in the number of cats dying in the shelter system, statistics indicate that about 1.4 million cats are still killed each year. The most challenging residents for many municipal shelters are neonatal kittens . Bottle baby foster folks are the front lines of increasing this age groups save rate. Bottle feeding kittens is a science and an art: you need the right tools, proper nutrition, a stringent schedule and plenty of patience. It cant be stressed enough knowing how to bottle feed kittens will help save precious feline lives. Lets dive into what to feed, when to feed and how to bottle feed kittens!
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What Hygiene Precautions Do I Need To Take With The Utensils
Hygiene is of the utmost importance, both in terms of all the kittens feeding and measuring equipment and the carers personal hygiene in preparing feeds and toileting kittens. Orphaned kittens are very prone to infections so they must always be kept clean, and utensils used for preparing or administering the milk must be sterile.
What Are The Basic Considerations When Hand
There are several basic functions to be addressed when hand-rearing kittens. These include the provision of a suitable clean, warm environment, a suitable feeding regimen, attention to urination and defecation , and attention to general health. The major problems encountered when trying to hand-rear kittens are chilling, dehydration and starvation . These three conditions are interrelated and close observation is necessary if they are to be noticed, and if occurring, for prompt action to be taken in time. Kittens are very fragile, hence they can become ill and die very quickly.
Total dedication and commitment is required by the carer at all times.
- Newborn kittens need up to 10 feeds in each 24 hour period
- The carers lifestyle will need to be flexible. Kittens, like babies, need to be with you at all times, wherever you may be
- Carers should not exceed the allotted interval between feeding times
- Kittens when hungry, will move about in search of milk. If left, they will soon get tired and fall asleep again. This is undesirable and certainly not to be recommended. It is important they are fed on time
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I Have Heard That Kittens Cannot Urinate Or Pass Motions Without Assistance Is This True
It is necessary to stimulate kittens of less than two weeks old to urinate and defecate as they cannot do this without stimulation from the mother cat. The voiding reflex by which urine and faeces are released, is normally initiated by the mother licking the kittens anogenital region . Where the mother is not available, urination and defecation must be maintained by the human carer for approximately four weeks or until the kitten is independent. It is quite normal for a distressed cry to be heard when the kitten needs to pass faeces, which should cease afterwards It may be useful to use fragrance-free wet wipes for newborn babies and soft tissue. Stimulate the ano-genital area gently both before and after feeding, as they feed better with empty bladder/bowels.
From three weeks of age, the reflex should begin to be triggered while the kitten is placed on the litter tray. Leaving a small amount of soiled litter within the tray will serve as a reminder to the kittens of where to perform.
When Should The Kittens Be Weaned Onto Solid Food
Weaning should begin at three to four weeks of age. Initially, the kittens should be offered milk replacer diluted 1:1 with water, in a flat shallow dish. At three weeks introduce either moistened dry growth diet or tinned growth diet mixed with a small amount of milk solution. Again holding the kitten, use a very small spoon and introduce the semisolid food to the kitten, using the spoon tip only. Gradually lower the spoon to encourage and tempt the kitten to eat from a shallow dish. Only try a few very small mouthfuls at first until the kitten gets established on its own. This is continued until the kittens are taking just solid food. They can be fed either wet or dry diets, but it is best to feed only diets designed especially for kittens. Dog food and human baby foods should not be fed since they are deficient in nutrients essential for cats.
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Elimination And Litter Box Training
Young kittens cannot eliminate on their own. A momma cat will clean her kittens, stimulating them to urinate and have a bowel movement. As their human caregiver, you now have the honor of performing this duty. After each feeding, use a warm, moist cotton ball, tissue or soft cloth to gently rub and clean the kittens lower belly, genital and anal area. The kitten should begin eliminating within a minute. Kittens should urinate after each feeding and have a bowel movement one to four times a day. Do not continue to rub the kitten for more than a minute or so, since this could irritate their delicate skin. Gently wash the kitten after she is done eliminating using a clean, damp, soft cloth. Record the kittens elimination type and frequency in the logbook.
When they are between 3 and 4 weeks of age, kittens can be introduced to the litter box. Use a small cardboard box or plastic litter box with just enough clay litter to cover the bottom. Dont use clumping litter. Adding a used cotton ball to the box will help them get the idea of what to do next. Put the kittens in the box, allowing them to get the feel for the litter. Natural instinct will generally prevail and the kittens will begin investigating, scratching, and, within a few days, using the box.
How Do I Feed Orphaned Kittens
Most kittens will suckle on small pet nursing bottles, also known as pet nursers. When bottle fed, kittens will nurse until they are full and then reject the bottle.
Be sure the opening in the nipple restricts the outflow of fluid to one drop at a time in order to avoid a flow rate that is too rapid for the kitten. When the flow rate is too rapid, it can lead to aspiration, pneumonia, and/or death.
When feeding, hold the kitten in a horizontal, head-neutral position. If the kitten is too weak to suckle, your veterinarian can show you alternative feeding methods and assist in tube feeding if needed.
TIP: Handling kittens during feeding contributes to critical socialization.
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