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Written by Anne Moss
The room in which the kittens are kept should be kept warm at all times. Keeping a thermometer by the incubator will help you determine the
exact room temperature. During the first two weeks, the room temperature should be approximately 85°F. It is best to keep the room slightly
warmer at 90°F during the first week of the kittens' life and gradually decrease it to 80°F within the next two weeks. From the fifth week onwards,
you should maintain the room temperature
at 75°F.
The kittens are sensitive to disease and infections. This is particularly true for kittens that did not get any milk from their mother. During the
first few days after the birth, the mother cat secrets special condense milk called colostrum. The colostrum contains vital antibodies that provide
the kitten with passive immunity to many kinds of disease. Without the colostrum, kittens are more susceptible to disease. It is important to keep
small kittens isolated from other cats and even from people. Before handling the kittens, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly.
Feeding the Kittens
Raising small kittens by hand means that you have to feed them by hand. The best way to feed the kittens is by using a feeding bottle
specially designed for kittens. You can find these bottles at most pet stores. If the kitten is too weak to suckle from the bottle, it may need to be
fed by using a tube. Tube feeding is a delicate procedure - if done in a wrong way, it can harm the kitten and even cause death. If you have no
experience feeding kittens by tube, it is best to ask your vet for a detailed explanation and a demonstration.
You must never feed kittens with cow milk. Kittens need cat milk or a special cat milk formula. You can get cat milk formula at most pet stores,
or through this site (see items alongside this article). You can get the formula in liquid form (ready-to-serve) or as a powder mix.
Come kitten season it's wise to have an emergency kit at home. Complete kit contains everything you'll need to nurse an orphaned or
abandoned kitten, including KMR Kitten Milk Replacer.
Anne Moss is the founder and owner of TheCatSite.com. She is a cat behaviorist and a member of the Cats Writers
Association.
Hand Rearing Kittens 1
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