Keeping Newborn Orphaned Kittens Warm

If you rescue newborn kittens then you must keep the kittens warm.  A kitten that is separated from their mother is known as an orphaned kitten.  If you catch or trap an orphaned kitten that is under a month old they will need special care.

As soon as you catch the kitten it is important that the kitten stays warm.  Set up a kitten bed;  a cardboard box that is lined with a fleece blanket also add a heating pad that is set on low or a hot water bottle that is wrapped in a towel. 

Keep the kitten box in a warm room that has no draft.  One way that I keep kittnes warm is with a snuggle safe pet bed microwave heatign pag.  You heat the pad in your microwe and then set it underneath your kittens bedding , the heat area should be pushed to one side in the kitten box, so kittens can get close to the heat or move away. 

The heat pad  will keep kittens warm and comfortable for up to ten hours.  I use to keep the kittens fleece blanket warm with a hot water bottle but find the snuggle safe pet bed is better.  Check the heating pad monitor the temperature to make sure that the kitten is warm but not hot.

Tips:

Orphaned newborn kittens in the wild is rare but there have been cases; mother cat has no milk and cannot nurse the kittens, or mother cat trapped by civic minded people, mother cat injured.   I always make a point to walk in the woods and listen for newborn kittens because one never knows if the mother cat is caring for them or has abandoned them.  

View this video to learn more about taking care of orphaned kittens

Cosequin Joint Health Supplement for Cats

When a cat gets older they develop the same type of age related arthritis health conditions as humans.    It is very common for an older cat to get arthritis and there is prescription medication as well as cosequin joint health supplement that will nourish your cats joints and help mobility.

A few weeks ago I trapped a stray cat that was people friendly and I suspect was once a housecat.  I brought the cat into my shelter to examine and when I petted her she purred and rubbed her head on my hand.  I noted some stiffness in her joints and made an appointment for a wellness exam at my veterinarian. 

Upon wellness exam the veterinarian found moderate arthritis.  The veterinarian recommended nutramx cosequin joint supplement for cats.  Cosequin for cats helps to keep my cats mobile.  Within five day the stray cat was jumping up to the window seat and playing with cat toys.  

What I like about the supplement that nourishes her joint s is that the powder that I mixed into her canned food has natural chicken and tuna flavor.  It is easy to administer to cats because they like the taste.

The cosequin treatment will enable me to adopt the cat into a home where adults reside.  I find a cat that needs to be cared for is a good match with a person who lives alone and is a shut-in.  Caring for the cat is therapy for an adult senior citizen. 

Learn more about cat arthritis by viewing this YouTube video:

Abandoned Newborn Kittens Rescued

Summer is kitten season and my husband and I search daily in the woods for abandoned kittens in feral cat dens. 

A few days ago we found a den of six kittens that appeared to be newborns.  We watched the den but mother cat was nowhere.  Normally the mother cat will not leave newborn kittens and we suspected that she either abandoned her kittens or that she may have been trapped and taken in for spay and vaccines. We were not sure of the mother cat’s whereabouts but knew that we needed to care for the newborn kittens.

We rushed home to get a box and lined the box with a fleece blanket and grabbed a twin cotton sheet to cover the box and a flashlight.  We went back to the den and I needed to crawl into the den to catch all of the kittens.

All of the kittens were caught and taken to the veterinarian’s office. They received an exam, a combing for fleas and then were fed KMR®Powder Milk Replacer.  The kittens are in safe care and veterinarian in seeking a foster mother cat.

 I recommend that every animal rescuer should have on hand PetAg® Emergency Feeding Kits for newborn kitten. If you happen to rescue a newborn kitten to six weeks this kit will provide you with everything that you need; Kit contains 3/4 oz. pouch of KMR Powder, 2 oz. nursing bottle.  

If you are new to nursing a newborn kitten then this helpful kit includes a pamphlet to teach you how to feed a new born kitten with replacement milk.

View this video to learn how to bottle feed a kitten:

Catching a Stray Kitten

Now that weather is warm the feral and stray cats that have not been spayed or neutered are breeding and there are sounds of kittens meowing in the woods.  

Kitten season is here and it will run from spring to fall but when the weather starts to cool down then the cats will stop breeding. During the cat breeding season the city and neighborhood shelters will become inundated with thousands of adorable stray kittens that need homes desperately.  The kittens that are not caught and taken off the streets will be left to fend for themselves and will become feral. 

Yesterday I found a stray kitten hiding under my neighbor’s deck. The first thing that I did was look for the mother cat.  The kitten may be weaned or she may have been moved to this area by the mother cat.  

I informed my neighbors that there was a kitten under their deck.  I asked them to watch for the mother cat and let them know that I would trap the cat family. 

We all watched for the mother cat and did not see her.  This was an indication that the stray kitten may be older and had been weaned.  

Since mother cat was not around I decided to approach the kitten to find out if it was people friendly.  The kitten hissed at me which was an indication that this kitten was probably feral.  She did not run from her hiding place but instead held her ground and in her "cat way" told me in so many hisses to stay away.

See bellow feral kitten cards that I designed at my zazzle shop. The images used are of cats that I care for at the colony. See mother cat watching black kitten in the background.  This little kitten was not weaned.

Feral Cat Adoption Postcard 

Feral Kittens in Garden Postcard 

Catching Stray Kittens

Get ready to catch a stray cat by showering with hunter’s soap.  Lather up with this soap and it will take away the human scent.  

Gather cat supplies; cat carrier that is lined with newspaper, feliway behavior modifier spray and a half can of kitten food that is diluted with water.  Mix the food and water well to make gravy.  

Before I go out to catch stray kittens I will spray heavy leather gloves with the feliway. The gloves will protect my hands from being bitten or scratched.  I will wear protective clothing: leather boots, socks heavy denim pants and long sleeve shirt.  All clothing will be treated with Feliway behavior modifier spray 75 ml.  I spray the formula onto my clothing, boots and socks.  

Feliway behavior modifier simulates a cat’s natural pheromones and it comforts the cat by relieving stress.  I find it is helpful when trying to catch stray kittens or cats because it creates a state of security and helps the cat to cope with a new human, crate or home.

Put away all phones as any noise will frighten the kitten.

The first step to catching a stray kitten is to communicate with food and water.  A hungry cat will get close to the human that is feeding them.  I find that a strong kitten food like salmon and ocean fish entrée for kittens will attract stray cats quickly especially if they are hungry.

Note if you are not an experienced cat trapper then do not attempt to catch a stray kitten.  Instead contact your local cat network to inquire about trappers in your area.

Approach the kitten where it is hiding by walking slowly.  Do not make eye contact with the kitten as they will feel threatened.  

Sit down on the ground and keep your eyes to the ground.  Set the food and water directly in front of the open cat carrier, close enough so you can grab the kitten by the scruff and put into the carrier. 

If the kitten will not allow you to grab them then plan to catch with a live animal trap.  Obtain a trap by borrowing one from your local animal control, humane society, and veterinarian or contact your local cat network.  Ask to borrow a trap and follow instruction on how to safely set up and trap cats.

Note: 
The scent that your body is projecting is that of a cat’s natural pheromones.

The stray kitten will approach the food slowly with cautious steps.  Be prepared to wait awhile because the stray kitten may linger in their hiding spot and approach the food very slowly. 

It is best to sit quietly and refrain from speaking to the kitten, as your voice may frighten them.  Think positive thoughts and project a calm energy.

Sgolis recommends these Cat Adoption Guide posts.

Socializing Feral Cats and Kittens

Communicating with a Feral Cat

Trapping Feral and Stray Neighborhood Cats