How to Take Care of Neonates:
If you have found a new born kitty your first instinct may be to remove him/her. Unless the kitten is in immediate danger do not move them. Usually mom is close by and will come back in a couple of hours. Although we can successfully raise a neonate it is best to do so with mom. If you find a neonate with no mom here are some tips on what to do:
Feeding:
Neonates are kittens that are less than 3 weeks old and they need to be fed every two hours. You can bottle feed them kitten formula also known as KMR (kitten milk replacement). It is important to feed them properly and correctly. Lay the kitten on its belly and feed as if she/he was eating from mom. You never want to feed a kitten on its back like a baby as they could aspirate.
Warmth:
Kittens this age can’t regulate their body temperature and need to be kept warm at all times. You can take a heating pad and place it under one side of a plastic bin to keep kitten warm. Make sure to leave the other side with no heat so if the kitten gets too hot they can move away. You can also get a snuggle safe which is a microwaveable heating disk and place that under a thin blanket to provide warmth for your neonate.
Stimulation:
Neonates can’t go to the bathroom on their own so it is our job to stimulate them to help them go to the bathroom. We recommend using toilet paper to stimulate the genital region. Using paper towels is too rough for their skin, easily leading to irritation. To stimulate, you rub the genital region in a circular motion with the toilet paper. The kitten should then urinate or defecate, or both!
How We Handle the Neonates:
If you find a neonate with no mom and can’t provide the care yourself please contact us! We have experienced fosters to make sure the little one gets all the food, warmth, and TLC a baby kitten needs!