How Do You Care For Orphan Kittens?

If a kitten is orphaned from birth, it will be very difficult to rear, as they take in vital nutrients from their mothers in the first 24 hours of life. The most important thing for a tiny kitten is warmth – they need a temperature of at least 30 degrees Celsius in the first days, as they have no control over their body temperature.

Once the newborn is warm enough (you could wrap it in a blanket or flannel, and put in a basket under a heat lamp) a little water on the tongue, with a very little sugar or syrup, may help until you can get hold of a substitute for its mother's milk. This is available in various formulas from vets and pet shops –KMR is a well known brand. If the kitten is very small, two- or three- hourly feeds are recommended, using a tube or fountain pen filler.

More instructions on caring for an orphaned or feral kitten can be found here.

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