A newborn kitten can survive without a mother. When provided with conditions, a kitten can exist without its mother’s support. A kitten is classified as a newborn within the first four weeks after its birth.
The kitten can continue to exist when it is cared for constantly. The conditions for a kitten to live away from its mother depend on many factors.
These factors include food, warmth, elimination, and regular checkups.
In the course of this article, we will be explaining the factors highlighted in detail. We would also highlight the process involved in caring for an older kitten.
What Can You Do If A Newborn Kitten Is Without A Mother?
A kitten without a mother may feel fatigued. Here is what you should do when you find a newborn kitten without a mother:
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1. Provide Warmth
Warmth is essential in the life of a kitten. Of course, it is the mother’s role to provide warmth for her offspring. Since the kitten is without a mother, you can provide warmth to the kitten by using a heating disk.
You can place the heating disk beneath the blanket of the cage of the kitten. Make sure the heating disk is not too hot by placing your hands to check to feel the temperature. You can also make a little nest for the cat to lay its fur.
Do this as a routine regularly as a newborn kitten still needs to regulate its temperature.
2. Provide food for the Kitten
When taking care of a newborn kitten, you must provide food for them. The food you give your newborn kitten should contain the necessary nutrients. It is advised that you feed your kitten with a bottle feed.
Also, you need to feed your newborn kitten every 3-4 hours. However, as the kitten grows older you feed it normally. Moreover, your veterinarian would advise you on the best feeding formula for your kitten.
Do not feed your kitten with milk produced by cows. Make sure the formula smells good. It is not advised to give your kitten a formula that smells awful.
For example, if the kitten’s food smells like chemicals it would be dangerous for your kitten. Also, do not give your newborn kitten expired food. Ensure you use the feeding formula approved by your veterinarian regularly.
3. Elimination
Just like feeding, newborn kittens cannot defecate on their own without proper assistance. So, you would need to find a way for them to urinate and excrete. One way you can do this is by stimulating them.
You can stimulate them by rubbing their genitals after every meal. If the kitten’s elimination process is not done frequently, they might become sick.
4. Regular Checkup
Regular checkups by the vet would help keep your kitten’s health in check. During the first 4 weeks of your care, visit the veterinarian frequently.
Your veterinarian is in the best place to advise you on the best formula for your kitten. Additionally, your veterinarian would advise you on the best medication for your kitten.
How To Care For An Older Kitten
When caring for an older kitten, there are many things to keep in mind. Of course, caring for an older kitten is quite different from a newborn. Follow the process below when your kitten is 4 weeks and above:
1. Use A Feeding Bowl
Unlike newborn kittens, older kittens tend to eat from a bowl. The feeding bowl should be near at all times. As for the frequency of feeding, make sure you feed them at least 3-4 times a day.
Poor their formula in the bowl for most of their feeding. Ensure you sprinkle a bit of kitten kibble to aid their digestion.
2. Supervision
Older kitten tends to be inclined to adventure. They may visit places that seem fun. However, make sure you supervise them so that they may not cause injury to themselves.
On the other hand, caregivers can also play with their kittens. This would improve the relationship between you and the kitten as the kitten grows.
3. Visit the Veterinarian Regularly
One of the issues of growing kittens is their ability to be curious. Curiosity is one of the traits of a kitten. These traits may put them in trouble with predators or more mature cats in the area.
To curtail this, visit your veterinarian to assess the health of the kitten frequently. Your vet may suggest spaying or neutering your kitten. This would prevent your kitten from generating undesirable behavior.
FAQ
How long can a kitten go without eating?
A kitten cannot go more than a few hours without feeding. They often depend on their mother for food. Kittens who are four weeks old can stay for a day without food. However, they would feel extremely tired and malnourished.
Do mother cats know when a kitten is missing?
This depends on the number of offspring she produces. If a mother cat produces more than 5 children, she may not realize when one is missing. However, if she has less than five offspring, she would notice when a kitten is missing.
What do you feed a sick kitten that won’t eat?
Instead of feeding the car using the formula, you can feed it with another meal. This meal would typically include a diet of white fish. After feeding on this, provide water.
Provide water in different places in your house. By placing it this way, your kitten would be encouraged to drink water more often. Water helps in regulating the temperature of the kitten.
How long can a newborn kitten survive without its mum?
A newborn kitten cannot survive a day without its mother’s milk. The milk produced by the mother helps the kitten grow strong.
The newborn kitten would survive for 12 hours only and start dying slowly. However, a 3-4 weeks-old kitten may survive for 2-3 days without its mother’s milk.
Conclusion
To conclude, your cat can remain alive even without its mother. It is imperative to note that your kitten’s survival depends on you.
Following the tips given above, your kitten will grow to be a mature cat in no time. Ensure you visit the veterinarian if you observe any abnormal changes in your kitten. Thanks for reading this article.
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