Raising Orphan Kittens

So as you probably know, I have two orphan kitties and besides feeding, stimulating, cleaning and cuddling them, I don't know my other mother duties. Is there anything I should do? Maybe teaching them how to hunt? What about when they are playing with each other, should I in anyway punish them if it gets too rough?

Thank you for your answers!

Originally Posted by ilafa

So as you probably know, I have two orphan kitties and besides feeding, stimulating, cleaning and cuddling them, I don't know my other mother duties. Is there anything I should do? Maybe teaching them how to hunt? What about when they are playing with each other, should I in anyway punish them if it gets too rough?

Thank you for your answers!

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I wouldn't think that you would need to train them to hunt. They are not going to be outdoor cats are they?? I think all you have described above is fine.

Katie

You are doing great with the babies! Don't worry about "punishing" them for playing too rough...although they look viscious sometimes, that is a learning time for them. Do not let them play rough with you or bite and scratch your hands. A Momma cat would smack them for being too rough with her, but of course we can't do that. We can withdraw from playing, or hiss, or substitute a toy for them to bite and scratch.

When they get a little older, if you put them with your adult cats, they will help teach the little ones healthy cat behaviour. (In my house poor Eugene gets whacked by everyone he sees! But he is not being hurt, and they are teaching him how to be a part of a cat family.)

Cats are instinctual hunters- they are born hunters...so no worries about teaching them how to hunt.

thank you for your answers!

I took in 4 kittens at just about 5 weeks. I doubt their mother had much time to teach them much. Initially, I kept them in a kennel with a catbox and a pillow, on which they snuggled together. They were so small, I had to put plastic-covered chicken wire around the cage to keep them from walking right thru the "bars".
I set up a 4'x4' exercise area for them, also encased in chicken wire, (also over the top - they know how to climb instinctively!) There was no dearth of hunting instinct, also rough-housing - little carnivores at play.
They played hard and slept hard, always looking adorable

Enjoy your babies!

thank you! My darlings also have a small playing space and they are running around like crazy! It's so great sitting with them, whe the climb on you and purr into sleep.

I limited my momma duties to cleaning them, pettinf and hissing when they bite me. I feel like such a dork when I'm with the and start hissing haha