Caring for a newborn cat requires a lot of attention, especially if the animal is found without its mother. Like all mammals, felines need a mother's lap in the first months of life, either for warmth or for food. Therefore, knowing how to care for orphaned kittens and take on the maternal role can be confusing and laborious at first, but it is not a difficult task.In fact, it is essential that the kitten receives all the basic care, even without the mother around, to be able to survive and grow healthily. To guide you in situations like this, we have gathered the main information on how to care for newborn kittens. Get all your doubts about the subject below!

Found an abandoned newborn kitten - what to do!

The number of abandoned animals is unfortunately very high and only growing more and more. But when it comes to a newborn kitten who is found in such a condition, it is heartbreaking for anyone - even more so if he is without his mother by his side. So what to do to help him? How to take care of kittens like this?

The first step is to make sure that the kitten is really an orphan, because in some cases it may happen that the animal's mother has left in search of food, so it is worth waiting a while to check if the kitten is really alone. During this time, do not forget to keep it warm at all times, as the animal's skin is still very fragile and cannot maintain a body temperatureIf the mother of the kitten does not return, rescue must be carried out.

The rescuer needs to offer a comfortable space with everything the pet needs in these first weeks: a warm bed with a blanket to warm the animal's body around 30º, specific food and a corner where the animal can do its business. It is worth remembering that the kitten is still learning to use the toilet and you must encourage him to pee and pooprubbing a damp towel under his bottom after he has eaten - usually the cat's mother is responsible for these stimuli.

How to feed a kitten that is without its mother and needs breast milk?

Kittens are fed exclusively on breast milk for the first 30 days of their life. Breastfeeding is the animal's main source of nutrients, and it contains a key substance called colostrum, which is responsible for boosting the kitten's immunity. However, in the case of an orphaned cat, there are two options: find a surrogate mother - that is, a cat whohas just given birth to other kittens and can help breastfeed the abandoned kitten - or look for an artificial milk for felines, which contains a formula very similar to breast milk. Under no circumstances should cow's milk be used, as this can harm the animal's development.

When giving the milk to the kitten, you can use a bottle or syringe suitable for pets. The milk should be at room temperature (about 37º) and it is important that the kitten is fed at least 4 times a day for the first two months. During the process, you must always hold the animal with its belly facing down and its head slightly tilted,as if he were nursing from his mother.

Other important care for a newborn kitten

When adopting a kitten, it is necessary to adapt the environment to welcome the new guest. Protective screens should be installed on the window to prevent accidents, and, in addition to a place to sleep, the kitten also needs some essential accessories, such as the cat litter box, a feeder and a drinking fountain. In the first few months the kitten still does not eat food, but when you least expect it, it will not eat it.wait for this transition to happen. Oh, and remember: you can't bathe your baby cat. If you need to sanitize your pet, you should opt for pet wipes or a damp towel.

In addition, a key point is to take the kittens for a consultation with a veterinarian soon after rescue. This way, it will be possible to know if the kitten has any health problems or not and if it requires any more specific care. Regardless of this first consultation, after the kitten turns four months old, it should be vaccinated.