5 Important Tips for Caring for Motherless Kittens
When adopting a kittens that doesn’t have a mother, be sure not to carelessly care for the cat. Kittens that are still very small need to be treated with special treatment and different from adult cats. Therefore, know how to care for newly adopted kittens so they can grow up healthy without any problems. Here are important tips for caring for motherless kittens:
Make sure they stay warm
Kittens’ bodies are very vulnerable to cold. So, if their body temperature is too cold, they can immediately get sick. Therefore, make sure they are in a warm enough place. At least prepare a special place such as a box equipped with thick soft cloth specifically for the kitten you adopt.
Give special milk for kittens
Kittens still really need their mother’s milk. However, because the mother is not around, you can give her a special kitten milk substitute. Avoid giving kittens plain milk formulated for humans. This is because milk for humans generally contains a lot of lactose, which cats cannot digest lactose. Give the kitten milk at least once every two to three hours every day.
How to give milk to kittens
If the kitten is under one month old, use a tool such as a pacifier or pipette to make it easier. Leave them in their usual standing or sitting position, then lift their head slightly and hold the back of their neck. After that, slowly insert the pacifier or pipette into his mouth. Let the kittens adjust their mouth position until they are comfortable.
The age at which kittens start eating
You can introduce kittens to cat food, especially wet food, at around four to five weeks of age. You can also mix wet food with milk. When it is six to ten weeks old or its milk teeth have started to grow completely, you may introduce dry food to your kitten.