Recently, many friends have found kittens and asked me to help them find mother cats or artificial mothers (if you need help, you can message me privately and I will help you spread the word!). This means that the annual kitten boom is here again.
Since the beginning of spring, kittens have sprung up like mushrooms after rain! So the question is, why are there so many kittens lately?
This problem mainly stems from the fact that female cats are seasonally polyestrous animals, mostly concentrated in spring and autumn (hence the origin of the term "cat in heat"). It is generally believed that the female cat's estrus is related to the level of sunlight. After an average gestation period of about 65 days, a relatively large number of kittens are born.
While helping to find foster mothers, Xiaoda also noticed that many people have time to care for kittens but don't know how. Since it's better to teach someone how to fish than to give them a fish, Xiaoda specially prepared this guide on how to care for kittens.
Not long ago, a friend asked me to rescue some kittens. You can first watch the video to see the practical demonstration, and then we will introduce the theoretical operation.
If you find a kitten, don't panic. We have three steps: first, keep it warm; second, feed it; and third, help it expel waste!
01 Insulation is urgently needed!
The most important thing after finding a kitten is to keep it warm. Especially if the kitten feels cold to the touch, you should find a way to warm it up as soon as possible, such as hand warmers, hot water bottles, or other heat-generating items (the camera light in the video is for emergencies, but I don't recommend you try it, as it's easy to burn the kitten if you don't have experience). Even just warming your hands or covering it with a towel or clothes will do. Then, immediately move it to a safe and warm place.
Once you've found a safe and warm environment, if the kitten is wet, be sure to wipe or blow-dry it. If possible, use a hairdryer; otherwise, you can use tissues to dry it against the direction of its fur. Make sure the kitten's body is warm to the touch.
The younger the kitten, the higher its temperature requirements. Here's a table showing the temperature requirements for kittens of different ages ↓
After completing the basic insulation, you can now breathe a little easier and start building a comfortable cat bed. Prepare a cardboard box, then line it with old clothes or towels, followed by thickly wrapped insulating materials, and finally a pee pad. The box shouldn't be too large; it should be just large enough that the cat can't climb out. A dry, warm, draft-free, and comfortable cat bed is now ready!
However, it is important to note that the cat's bed should be placed in a quiet place with few people to reduce the stress on the kitten from an unfamiliar environment, which is beneficial to the kitten's growth.
02 Feeding is of utmost importance!
After preparing a warm and comfortable cat bed, don't leave yet! There's a crucial second step to take! When you found the kittens, they had already been hungry for some time and were crying for milk. This is when we need to feed them!
1. If the mother cat has milk, she should be fed first.
2. If there is no mother cat, then you can only prepare milk powder to feed them.
If this is an emergency, it's best to feed the kitten with infant goat milk powder immediately (it's readily available through food delivery platforms or your nearest supermarket). Never feed it cow's milk, as it can easily cause diarrhea. Long-term feeding of infant goat milk powder is not recommended, as it can lead to malnutrition and slow growth in kittens.
Another option is high-quality kitten formula, which is the ideal choice as its protein, fat, and nutrient content is closer to that of a mother cat's milk. Please don't skimp on formula. Imagine the kitten you painstakingly rescued from the brink of death, only to have it die because it wasn't fed good formula and didn't get enough nutrition…
The kitten milk powder currently used by the adoption center is "MAG High Protein Colostrum Kitten Milk Powder".
