Caring for Your Newborn Kittens


If your cat has recently had kittens, nothing is more fun then to hold and play with the kittens.  Caring for the kittens can be a very rewarding experience for any cat owner.  This experience is rare and it is important to make sure that the kittens are being properly cared for by the mother cat.  Because kittens grow so quickly, enjoy every moment and take pictures to record the experience.

During the first few weeks of life the kittens should be left alone to be cared for by the mother cat.  Make sure that the mother cat is allowing the kittens to feed regularly.  If you notice that the mother cat is not allowing the kittens to feed, you may need to step in and bottle feed the kittens milk.  Use a milk formulated especially for kittens like the KMR Kitten Milk Replacer and place it in a syringe or small bottle for the kittens to drink from.  It is only important to do this, if you notice that the kittens are not getting milk from the mother cat.

To help keep your kittens safe, place them in a box or a pen in a safe area in your home.  The mother cat will most likely move the kittens around if she feels that the kittens need to be in a safer place.  It is a good idea to use a simple cardboard box at first and then choose a small animal pen to keep them contained when they get a little older.  A small animal pen like the Clean Living Playpen is ideal for kittens and has a bottom that is sold separately and helps to keep the area cleaner.

After the kittens are three weeks old, place a small litter box in their living space and the mother cat will teach them how to use it.