My Kid Brought Home a.... Kitten! Part 1.

                          




                           Isn't he precious!? This is my baby, Salem, the night we found him. He was only 2-3 weeks old! Raising him was hard work and taught me a lot. So, for this post, I will try my best to help any of you who end up finding kittens. My two cats were both kittens I took in last spring/summer. When you find a kitten, there are certain things you need to consider. This part will be focused on if you find a kitten younger than six weeks. You can generally tell if the kitten is younger than 6 weeks because that is the age they usually have  their teeth.


Timeline:

• 1 Week: Need temps of 88-92 F
• 2 Weeks: Kittens open their eyes between week 1 and 2. (they will be blue until about 6 weeks) Need temps of approx. 80
• 3 Weeks: Kittens are crawling, you can start introducing the litter box
• 4 Weeks: Kittens begin to play and develop teeth, weaning can begin
• 5 Weeks: Can tolerate slightly lower temps.

Health:

• Make a vet appointment ASAP to get the kitten checked out for dehydration and other issues
• If your kitten has goopy eyes or nose, gently clean them often until you get to the vet
• If your kitten obviously has fleas and ticks, you can try giving them a bath with dawn dish soap
• Be sure if you bathe them to warm and dry them right after
• This can be done by indirect warm hairdryer air or you can use your body heat and cuddle under a blanket
• Kittens need certain temperatures as they develop (see timeline)

Housing:

• Kittens this young can be kept in large rubbermaid bins or boxes with blankets and towels (make sure there are no loose threads)
• A stuffed animal can help them feel less lonely :)
• Make sure they are warm! 
• Keep it simple so it will be easy to clean and safe 

Feeding:

• Kittens younger than 4 weeks (no teeth) will need KMR or kitten milk replacer. This comes in liquid or powder form. I prefer powder because it will last longer and be cheaper if it needs to be used for awhile. Store KMR in fridge after opening. Most pet stores and walmart, will have bottle feeding kits. If not, you can carefully use a dropper. The KMR will tell you how much to feed, how often, and what the ratio of water to powder should be. At time of feeding, make sure the formula is warmed to body temp. * When feeding do not hold kitten if possible. Make them lay or stand and do not force it. It can take a little for them to find and get hold of the nipple. Do not tip the bottle too much. If kitten accidentally inhales milk, it can give them pneumonia and could be fatal. If they have milk bubbles at their nose, it is in their lungs and you need to take action. Be very careful not to overfeed. * After each bottle feeding, be sure to burp kitten and help them go to the bathroom.  Sanitize bottle after each feeding in boiling water. Around four weeks, you can start weaning process. There is a special formula you gradually transition to and then, gradually add kitten food and mix. Eventually, they will eat softened food, and then regular kitten food. This process can take weeks. Do not rush it or you run the risk of diarrhea, which can be serious. 
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Bathroom Needs:

•  Kittens need help eliminating from birth to about 4 weeks old.
• Gently rub circles on kitten's bottom with a warm wet cloth
• Should urinate after every meal and defecate at least approx. once a day
• After they can go on their own, you can introduce a litter box.
• After feeding, put kitten in box and help them dig in the litter with their paw.
• Make sure the litter is kitten safe: NO CLAY OR CLUMPING. Paper or wood pellets work well.
• Kittens catch on pretty fast!

Behavior:

• Bond with your kitty :) they will be lonely without their family and need connection. Warm them with your body heat. Spend time talking, petting, cuddling them. When they start to understand play, playing with them is a very strong bonding experience.
• Socialize your kitty! 2-7 weeks is the best time, but it can be done up to 14 weeks. Expose them to new noises, textures, situations, people, etc.
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• Practice grooming routines starting young to make both of  your lives easier in the future

 Here are some helpful websites! I'll give more details about older kittens and cat introductions in part 2! Let me know if you ever have questions. :)

http://www.feralcat.com/raising.html
http://kittenrescue.org/index.php/cat-care/kitten-care-handbook/
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1+2137&aid=912
http://www.2ndchance.info/orphankitten.htm