How to care for a stray kitten

Somebody (don’t know who) put two kittens through our garden wall. We have 7 dogs. They attacked and injured one (which died soon after) but I managed to rescue the other. It’s very young, I’d guess about 4 weeks, and very small. The main problem is that it will hardly eat anything. It laps a little water from time to time and did manage half a teaspoon of sardines but apart from that it has taken nothing.

It’s been with us a week. Please don’t suggest an animal centre; they’re non-existent here in rural Philippines. Neither can I get any cat milk or a feeding bottle/teat for a kitten. There are no vets around here either. It’s very unlikely that I could find anyone to take it on but our dogs think they’re a wolf pack and are distinctly unfriendly towards cats. They’ve already killed a few that have ventured into the garden. Any sensible suggestions please? Thanks

3 Answers

At 4 weeks of age kitty really is too young to be eating solid food.

I am not familiar with the Philippines, but are you able to buy goat milk? (specifically goat milk, not cow or other milk). It is possible to raise a kitten on goat’s milk.

You do not need to have the proper bottles/teat/nipple. You can use a syringe without a needle on it. Any pharmacy will be able to supply you with a few 10mL or bigger syringes for very little money.

If goat milk is unavailable, I would try getting hold of some quality dry kitten food. Soak the kitten food in water, and mash it up to make a paste that is smooth enough for you to draw up into the syringe & feed that way.

Even more important than food, is water – kittens can die of dehydration VERY quickly.

You may initially have to force-feed the water and food paste, which takes patience & can be messy (more food/water getting on you or the cat, than in the cat).

If you can manage to get kitty through the next few weeks, she will soon be old enough to start on soft canned food.

Hope this helps, good on you for trying to save this little baby!

I forgot something – if you manage to get the kitten to eat and drink, at this age you will also have to stimulate to make kitty pee/poop.

To do this, get a small face towel soaked in warm water, or a cotton bud in warm water, and gently wipe the area around the anus. Mother cats do this after feeding to stimulate elimination.

Given kitten is 4 weeks old, it shouldn’t be necessary to stimulate this way for more than a couple of weeks.

Once kitty is eliminating without stimulation, you need to put kitty in a litterbox just after eating, to teach them to use the litterbox.

Also, keep an eye on the kitten, if it seems like they are about to pee/poop, place them in the litterbox immediately.

If kitty poops outside the litterbox, clean the area thoroughly & put the poop in the litterbox, the will be inclined to poop where it can already smell its own poop.

Give rewards and praise for using the litterbox.

Kittens also need warmth & when they are very young they cannot digest food properly without it.

I presume it doesn’t really get cold in the Philippines, being a tropical area, but if it is cold, put a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel near the kitten, but also make sure the kitten has room to get away from the heat if it is too warm.

How do i clean its fur and eyes ( there is goopy stuff around them)? The kitten is very dirty and has a long coat of fur. Also I think the kitten is deaf, I m not certain though. The poor baby tried to get out of the box 2 times ,after failing he just plopped down and went to sleep. I just want to make him feel better and comfortable. Any other tips you think would be helpful are greatly appreciated. Thanks for your help(:

4 Answers

First of all, you need to determine how old this kitten is. If it is over five weeks, then you will be able to get it to eat soft food and drink water. NO COWS MILK. Cats and kittens are actually lactose intolerant and you will give it gas, a stomach ache and diarrhea if you give the kitten milk. If you think the kitten should have milk because it is very young, you can get kitten formula from a pet store. (replacement milk made for kittens without a mother.) Use an eye dropper to feed the kitten the formula. This would be good if the kitten is under five weeks or if the kitten is having trouble eating enough soft food.

You may use a warm damp cloth to clean the kittens fur. The eyes should be checked by a vet. You can clean them with a cotton ball or a warm cloth. Be gentle and do not use the same cloth or cotten ball on both eyes.

As the kitten starts eating better, you can also offer dry formula kitten food. Too much soft food will also give a kitten (or cat) diarrhea and so feeding both hard and soft food will help keep their digestive system happy.

As for being deaf, look inside the ears. If you see a lot of dark, flaky stuff in the ears, you should take the kitten to the vet. The kitten could have ear mitts also. Ear mitts can mess with a cat’s balance and could by part of the reason the kitten couldn’t jump out of the box. (or it could just be because the kitten was to small and the box was too high.) Cats are also good at ignoring people. It might not be deaf, it might just not be reacting to you yet because it doesn’t know you yet.

Good luck. I hope you can take the kitten to a vet to get a better idea of the age of the kitten and make sure that the eyes and ears get checked out.

Feral cat populations are a big problem today. By some estimates, there are as many as 58 million stray cats and kittens in the US as of early 2014. Going by these estimates, it’s quite likely that you’ve come across a stray cat or kitten around your home. If you decide to take in that stray kitten and care for it, you’ll need to follow a few tips to ensure you are protecting yourself or family and properly caring for the kitten.

1. Observe
Before you take a stray kitten into your home, or even approach it, take a moment to sit back and observe the situation. That stray kitten may belong to a mother cat that is hiding out of view or moving her litter to a new location one-by-one. If no adult cat appears, approach the stray kitten to determine its friendliness. Whether or not the kitten has a collar, if no mother cat appears you can take it into your home to provide shelter and care.

2. Prepare a home
Kittens don’t need much in order to feel comfortable. If you have a spare cardboard box around and some extra blankets or towels, you’ve got a nice little home for the stray kitten. The kitten should spend the majority of its time in the box with some blankets and a toy or two. Keep the kitten in a quiet area of the house, separated from any other pets you may have, and do not give it free reign of the house.

3. Call a vet
Once you’ve got the stray kitten situated in your home, you should call your local vet to get an idea of what type of feeding schedule it requires. The vet may ask you to bring the kitten in immediately to get a rough estimate of its age. A kitten’s age determines its entire feeding schedule. According to the ASPCA, kittens under one month require milk replacers four to six times each day. Older kittens need to be transitioned away from milk replacers and introduced, slowly, to solid kitten food. Feedings should still take place four times each day, gradually decreasing to three meals a day.

4. Socialize with the stray
Kittens need to be socialized as soon as possible, for the benefit of your family and other pets you may have. Properly socialized animals pose less of a threat to humans and are easier to relocate to new homes. While the kitten should spend its time in the home you created for it, it is also important to take it out and play with it from time to time. This socialization helps the kitten develop a bond with you and will improve its ability to bond with others in the future. Socializing the kitten is particularly important if you only plan to care for it on a temporary basis. If you help the kitten form positive bonds, it will be easier for a rescue organization to find a permanent home for it later.

5. Make the tough decisions
Welcoming a stray kitten into your home requires making a few tough decisions. The steps above will help you integrate that kitten into your home quickly, but if you plan on keeping the kitten on a permanent basis you’ll need to make some decisions. Kittens are expensive when they are young, and stray kittens come with some added expenses. For starters, if the stray kitten came from a feral litter it will need to have its initial immunizations to ensure it is healthy as it grows. It is also a good idea to have the stray spayed/neutered to ensure it does not add to the cat population in the future. Last but not least, adult cats are independent, but kittens need your attention. If you or your family do not have the time to devote to the kitten, it might be best to make this situation temporary.

One sad fact of pet life is that there are some pets who become strays, either because their owners abandoned them, or because they got lost. Many stray pets suffer from malnutrition, either eating the wrong food, or not enough food. How can you, a concerned pet lover, help stray cats?

The first thing you must do is try to find the cat’s owner. This is because in most areas you cannot legally take someone’s pet into your care as this could be mistaken for theft. If the kitty is friendly you can check it for a collar or identification, such as a tattoo. Some cats have microchip ID, which you will not be able to see, but a veterinarian or shelter can check for no charge. Ask in your neighborhood if anyone knows who owns the cat. Be sure to call your local animal shelter and report finding the cat. They may have a “Lost Cat” report on the kitty, and hopefully its owner will be eager to get it back. Sometimes people dump their neighbor’s cat in another part of town simply to get it out of their neighborhood.

If there is no known owner, file a “Found Cat” report with the shelter and decide what you want to do. You may elect to take the cat to the shelter itself and leave it with them, or you may decide to “keep” it and care for it. If the cat is seriously malnourished, it should be taken to the shelter who will place it under veterinary care while they try to find its original owner.

Some people commit to undertake the responsibility of feeding the cat, others will welcome it into their home. Generally you have to allow two weeks after reporting finding the cat before you can really consider it “yours”.

Feeding a Stray Cat

Malnourished could mean either the cat is either underfed, fed the wrong thing, or fed too much of a bad thing. If it is a kitten it should be feed kitten food, usually dry food is left available throughout the day, and a small amount of canned food offered 1-3 times a day depending on the kittens age. Adult cats who are young and thin can be given kitten food to help them gain weight, but on the whole an adult should have only adult food, or senior cat food if they are older. Generally speaking the foods sold in grocery stores are adequate, but contain a lot of filler so truly are not best for cats. If you see the word “by-products” on an ingredient list, you can be sure the food is lower quality. Similarly if you see corn in any of the top ingredient positions the food is low quality; cats are carnivores, corn is very hard for them to digest.

If the cat was starving you should introduce food slowly, limiting the food intake because if a starving cat eats too much food at once it could die due to stress on the stomach. In some cases you may even want to start out with very bland food such as baby pablum, mixed with a bit of the canned cat food. The canned food should be a chicken pate formula, not anything that is chunks in gravy.

Note that if you try to feed a starving cat and it vomits perhaps there is something wrong with the cat, such as a bone stuck in its throat.

Veterinary Care for a Malnourished Cat

If you have committed to the ongoing care of this cat, it will need veterinarian attention. Most of this should be done after the two week waiting period for an owner to come claim the kitty. Have the veterinarian examine the cat, worm it, vaccinate it, and desex it. Deworming, treating for fleas, or ear mites, could be done earlier if needed, and are certainly concerns of stray cats. Spaying or neutering prevents many negative behaviors and reduces (or eliminates) the cats risk of many health problems and cancers.

Care for the Cat

Some people consider themselves the care givers of a stray cat, but if you “really” want to care for the cat, you should consider yourself the “owner”. It is not enough to put food and water down, and otherwise let the cat fend for itself. Cats need real homes, with real owners. They need warm places to sleep and cozy laps to cuddle on. If you really want to help a stray cat, befriend it and welcome it into your life.

Caring for a stray kitten requires time and dedication. If at all possible, reunite kittens with their mom and provide them all safe, warm housing until the kittens are old enough to be adopted.

If the mother cat is nowhere to be found, you will need to provide the stray kitten with round-the-clock care. The older the kitten, the less work you’ll have to do, but raising a kitten is always a time consuming commitment.

Shelters Rarely Accept Stray Kittens

Many shelters have strict policies against accepting stray kittens that are not at least a month old. With that, if you find a stray kitten, most shelters will tell you it’s better for you to care for the kittens by yourself rather than risk exposing the kitten to diseases cats in the shelter may have.

Ask the shelter if they can provide you with donations to help you. Many are willing to help with the expense of kitten formula.

Creating a Warm Environment

Kittens cannot regulate their own body temperature. It’s important to keep them in a warm, draft free area. Place a blanket over a hot water bottle for warmth. Close the door to prevent drafts and consider a plug-in heater to keep the room warm.

If you have other cats, keep them away from the stray kitten until a veterinarian clears the kitten of any contagious diseases.

Setting a Feeding Schedule for a Stray Kitten

Purchase kitten formula at many chain pet stores and some specialty pet supply stores. Use boiled water that has been cooled. Never use tap water because it may have bacteria harmful to the kitten’s health.

If you cannot find kitten formula powder, goat milk is a suitable alternative. Cow’s milk is unsafe for kittens because it causes diarrhea. If you cannot find goat milk, you can temporarily use a mixture of evaporated milk, mayonnaise, water, corn syrup and fish oil.

Use a bottle specially designed for kittens or a syringe to feed the stray kitten. You cannot burp a kitten, so it’s important that the nipple of the bottle or syringe not be clogged. Most young kittens will eat two or three milliliters per feeding.

The best way to gauge how often to feed a stray kitten is by multiplying the kitten’s age in weeks by one hour. A two-week old kitten may want to eat every two hours, some can go longer, but don’t push it more than three to ensure the kitten is properly hydrated. By the time a kitten is six weeks old, you should be feeding him every six hours.

Stimulating Urination and Defecation

After nursing, a mother cat licks the kitten’s bottom to stimulate bathroom urges. Do this by wiping a warm wet washcloth around the kitten’s bottom. Once the kitten goes to the bathroom, clean him up and return him to the warm bed for a nap. Kittens do sleep most of the day, so don’t expect much activity until the second month.

Weaning a kitten usually takes place during the fifth week. To get a kitten started, use canned food that is diluted with a little formula. Stick to the same feeding schedule used for the bottle feeding.

Feral cat populations are a big problem today. By some estimates, there are as many as 58 million stray cats and kittens in the US as of early 2014. Going by these estimates, it’s quite likely that you’ve come across a stray cat or kitten around your home. If you decide to take in that stray kitten and care for it, you’ll need to follow a few tips to ensure you are protecting yourself or family and properly caring for the kitten.

1. Observe
Before you take a stray kitten into your home, or even approach it, take a moment to sit back and observe the situation. That stray kitten may belong to a mother cat that is hiding out of view or moving her litter to a new location one-by-one. If no adult cat appears, approach the stray kitten to determine its friendliness. Whether or not the kitten has a collar, if no mother cat appears you can take it into your home to provide shelter and care.

2. Prepare a home
Kittens don’t need much in order to feel comfortable. If you have a spare cardboard box around and some extra blankets or towels, you’ve got a nice little home for the stray kitten. The kitten should spend the majority of its time in the box with some blankets and a toy or two. Keep the kitten in a quiet area of the house, separated from any other pets you may have, and do not give it free reign of the house.

3. Call a vet
Once you’ve got the stray kitten situated in your home, you should call your local vet to get an idea of what type of feeding schedule it requires. The vet may ask you to bring the kitten in immediately to get a rough estimate of its age. A kitten’s age determines its entire feeding schedule. According to the ASPCA, kittens under one month require milk replacers four to six times each day. Older kittens need to be transitioned away from milk replacers and introduced, slowly, to solid kitten food. Feedings should still take place four times each day, gradually decreasing to three meals a day.

4. Socialize with the stray
Kittens need to be socialized as soon as possible, for the benefit of your family and other pets you may have. Properly socialized animals pose less of a threat to humans and are easier to relocate to new homes. While the kitten should spend its time in the home you created for it, it is also important to take it out and play with it from time to time. This socialization helps the kitten develop a bond with you and will improve its ability to bond with others in the future. Socializing the kitten is particularly important if you only plan to care for it on a temporary basis. If you help the kitten form positive bonds, it will be easier for a rescue organization to find a permanent home for it later.

5. Make the tough decisions
Welcoming a stray kitten into your home requires making a few tough decisions. The steps above will help you integrate that kitten into your home quickly, but if you plan on keeping the kitten on a permanent basis you’ll need to make some decisions. Kittens are expensive when they are young, and stray kittens come with some added expenses. For starters, if the stray kitten came from a feral litter it will need to have its initial immunizations to ensure it is healthy as it grows. It is also a good idea to have the stray spayed/neutered to ensure it does not add to the cat population in the future. Last but not least, adult cats are independent, but kittens need your attention. If you or your family do not have the time to devote to the kitten, it might be best to make this situation temporary.

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21 Comments

I was walking down the street in the rain when I saw 2 kittens (Maybe 1 week old) shivering in a box lined with only a very thin blanket, I did wait for a mother but soon found a cat carcass that looked like the mother. I picked them up and wrapped them in my coat and rushed home. I told my mother to get “cat med bay ready” because we have been in this situation before. I immediately put them in a fuzzy cat bed lined with a heat pad and prepared formula. I was awake for 3days taking care.of.them till I was forced to sleep. We took them to the vet once they were a little stronger. One was a boy, who I named Oscar, and the other is a girl, who I named Belle. Later we discovered Belle was dead but she is a healthy and happy kitty along with her brother!!

They sleep with me every night

we have lot of kittens but sadly they are just gonna throw away

Thank you thank youuuu ❤️❤️❤️

i was playing with a neighbour’a dog when i heard meowing i looked around and found a kitten drenched , crying , trembling in a flower pot full of trash , i waited for the kitten’s mother for about 25 minutes but it wasn’t seen around. i couldn’t wait anymore longer , i took her in my arms and she was just bones , i tried and tried and begged (for 20 mins while waiting for the mom) for my parents to let me take it home i said i would take care of it , that i would focus so much on my school work but they got angry they yelled at me saying i was disgusting and things like that i sobbed and begged , witht the wet skinny trembling kittens in my arms , my mom locked the door and wouldn’t let me in , my friend’s dad then passed by and said i was disgusting and told me to just give it to a restaurant down the street , so i gave it to the restaurant’s owner , at first she refused but then she finally accepted with a little persuasion from my dad (my dad also thought i was disgusting) i’m worried that the owner might not be able to take care of it because she has a lot of cats and wouldn’t have enough time to pay attention to the kitten , i’m sobbing in my room right now , but i’m happy that the kitten’s got a home

I found a stray siamese cat a week ago but it ran away

dem….there’s no Animal shelter in my place 🙁 I wanna help but I don’t have the time and not capable yet my heart is tearing apart. this world is so tough, someone just throw this kitten.

Your voice sounds stupid

I don’t know if anyone will see this but its worth a try. so me and my mom were driving to church and I saw this big truck drive and I saw what I think is the mom of the kitten I have, I saw it under the truck and run into the woods after that I don’t know where it went. we went a little bit more down the road and saw a kitten we thought it was dead so we swerved around it but it started moving. we turned around and made it go on the side of the road. any waysss, I think it maybe have a hairline break. ant tips? (ps I have two little siblings 2 and 5)

I found a black kitty and the mom would not come back so we Or keeping it as a pet it is bigger now but still a kitten

Yesterday I found a kitten on the road and I took it and got it home gave it a cozy bed cause it was freezing outside I fed it food and water and now we are trying to nurse it back to health:>

Well, every night a stray cat lays on our couch on our porch outside, tonight I put some cold milk out for it next to the couch, hopefully I can eventually get it to warm up to me… I’m only a kid, but animals really love and trust me, I think even though my family hates cats, I’m able to help this one out, keep it, and if I cant keep it i wanna find a good home for the poor thing!

At 4 weeks old, kittens’ eyes are open, their ears are unfolded and they can walk. If they are removed from their mothers at this stage, however, they’ll require special attention. A kitten generally shouldn’t leave his mother’s care before he’s 8 weeks old. Pet lovers who must care for a 4-week-old kitten without the aid of a momma cat should pay special attention to keeping the kitten warm, fed properly and healthy through quality vet care.

Keep Warm

At 4 weeks, kittens’ bodies are just becoming able to regulate temperature on their own. To keep them warm enough, you’ll have to provide a source of heat, being sure that the kittens can move away from it if they become too warm. A heating pad or hot water bottle placed in a kitten’s bedding area is perfect for this; wrap the heat source in a towel to prevent the animal from burning himself. If you need to warm the kitten quickly, you can place him against your skin and let him absorb your body heat.

Feed Properly

Four-week-old kittens are not ready for solid food. Instead, they should have kitten milk replacer, which comes in both liquid and powdered forms; each day, feed 8 cc of formula per ounce of body weight, spreading this out over four feedings. Never give kittens cow’s milk, since it doesn’t have the nutrients they need and can cause diarrhea. You can offer soft starter food to kittens at 4 weeks, which is when weaning normally begins. Mix some of the formula in with this food so that the familiar smell will entice them to eat. By 6 or 8 weeks, the kitten should be off milk replacer and eating only this kitten food.

Handle Business

Neonatal kittens can’t eliminate on their own, so they need assistance in getting their bladder or bowels to move. By 4 weeks old, most kittens’ bodies will be up to this task, but it’s wise to keep an eye out for any difficulties. If the kitten isn’t eliminating after meals, take a warm, wet towel or cotton ball and rub the animal’s lower abdomen and genitals. This could take up to a minute, but the kitten should eliminate. If the kitten is already doing his business on his own, you can introduce him to a litter box. Place him in the box after each feeding; if the kitten is unsure of what to do, gently help him scratch his paws in the litter.

Socialize Thoroughly

Cats undergo a strong period of socialization until they reach 9 weeks old, during which time they learn how to interact with people, other animals and their environment. When kittens aren’t properly socialized before this age, they grow to be suspicious of new people and things, making them difficult to handle as adults. At 4 weeks, you should be holding the kitten and letting him play with other people and cats. Expose him to a range of toys and areas of the home. Just be sure to keep the little one away from unhealthy animals, and wash your hands before handling him.

Seek Vet Care

Kittens need proper medical care, which includes flea treatment, vaccinations and deworming. Veterinarians usually administer vaccinations to kittens who are 6 weeks old, but flea treatment and deworming may be needed at 4 weeks, especially in the case of orphaned kittens. It’s also wise to take orphaned 4-week-old kittens to the vet for a thorough examination. Kittens who display any of the following symptoms should be taken to the vet immediately: shallow breathing, lethargy, loss of appetite, diarrhea or constipation that doesn’t go away after a day or two and discharge from the eyes or nose.

[Editor’s Note: There is always a possibility of injury when you approach an animal that you don’t know. It’s recommended that you contact animal control or your local shelter if you are concerned about personal injury. Many shelters will come out and get the kitten for you, and you can still be involved in the kitten’s care as described below.]

You find a stray kitten or, as if often the case, a stray kitten finds you. What should you do?

The first interaction
As the saying goes, ‘above all do no harm.’ That would be to you or to the kitten, if possible. He may be small but he is still armed with teeth and claws and, depending on his personality, he may be terrified and apt to lash out at you, wriggle free of you (and fall) or run off headlong into some other peril. So if you have the option, take a minute to prepare before you approach. Have a box or a carrier ready. Have a fluffy towel or some gloves. Since we are talking about a small kitten and not a feral adult cat, scooping him up with the towel is probably the preferred approach. If you have to try to catch him with a leash, be careful. Snared cats have a tendency to spin and a leash can quickly become too tight around their necks; then you will have to get your hands into the fray.

What comes after the introduction?
Once you have the kitten secured, your next step depends a lot on what condition he is in, where you are, what day it is, what time it is and what your future plans for the kitten are.

First of all, even if he looks thin or unkempt, is he, at least, apparently uninjured? If he is injured, physically distressed or in obvious pain or discomfort, you will want to take him directly to a veterinarian for assessment and care.

If he seems to be physically okay, but you are not planning on keeping the kitten, I’m sure you still want him to have safe shelter and the hope of a better life. The best thing to do next is to take the little tyke to an appropriate shelter/rescue association as soon as possible. If there will be a short delay in doing this, then put food and water in his box for the interim. You will have to judge what is appropriate based on his presumed age. If he’s tiny and still nursing, his needs will be different than an adult. This is another good time to contact a veterinarian if you’re unsure.

If you cannot get him to a facility in a reasonable period of time, you will have to take steps to keep him comfortable until you can. That may mean a bigger box/carrier that will accommodate not only food and water but litter too, or setting him up in a small room/bathroom in your home for the time being. If he is going to have to spend some time at your home, and if you can safely handle him, you might want to check for fleas and ticks and bathe/treat him accordingly. If you have to use an insecticide, you must use one that is safe and specifically label-approved for cats/kittens. No dog products allowed. Also, be sure to wash your hands well after handling the kitten.

What if you want to keep him?
What if this adorable, little ball of fur captures your heart and you don’t want to give him up? Then you need to schedule an appointment for him with your veterinarian. You want to know that he is healthy and, if he is not, you want to be able to promptly address any medical issues he might have—ESPECIALLY if you have small children or other pets in the house. Kittens can carry diseases that are contagious to other pets and infections like ringworm and intestinal worms that have zoonotic potential (meaning they can affect people). So until you get the green light from your veterinarian, wait on introducing him to the whole family; keep him safe and comfortable for the time being. You’ll have plenty of time for everyone to get to know each other. Just take it slowly.

If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian — they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.

Is your cat pregnant? In a perfect world, your cat would have been spayed before this could happen. Perhaps you accidentally waited too long to spay your cat (life happens). Or maybe you found or adopted a pregnant cat. Either way, she’s now pregnant and you want to provide her with the best care possible.

Should You Breed Your Cat?

Cat overpopulation is a real problem.   Please don’t purposely breed your cat unless you are a responsible breeder who has a purebred cat of excellent quality and health. Your veterinarian should be involved in selecting if a cat is of excellent breeding health as a lof of problems are passed on through genetics. If you are new to cat breeding, seek out an experienced cat breeder to help you do things the right way for the sake of your cat and her kittens.

Veterinary Care for Pregnant Cats

If your cat is showing signs of pregnancy or you suspect your cat may have mated while she was in heat, the first step is to take her to see the veterinarian. The best time to do this is about three to four weeks into her pregnancy. Any earlier and your vet won’t be able to confirm the pregnancy. However, if your cat seems ill, you should still bring her to the vet for assessment and let the vet know she might be pregnant.

At around three weeks into the pregnancy, your vet may be able to determine pregnancy by gently palpating your cat’s abdomen. If available, an ultrasound may be able to confirm pregnancy.  

During this early stage of pregnancy, your vet can talk to you about the option of spaying your cat and terminating the pregnancy. You may decide you wish to do so for your cat’s health or to minimize cat overpopulation. If you decide to allow your cat to have the kittens, your vet can give you advice about caring for your pregnant cat as well as the care the kittens will need after birth. This is a good time to start thinking about how you will find good homes for the kittens.

About 55 days into the pregnancy, your vet may recommend taking a radiograph (X-ray) to look at the number of kittens expected.   If you know how many fetuses your cat is carrying, you will be able to know when your cat is finished giving birth or if she is in some kind of distress in between kitten births.

Vaccinations are not recommended during pregnancy because they might have an adverse effect on the kittens’ development though certain types of rabies vaccine may be ok.  

Feeding Pregnant Cats

Your pregnant cat should be fed a high-quality food formulated for growth. Look for the AAFCO Nutritional Adequacy statement saying that the food is complete and balanced for growth and reproduction. This is often some type of kitten food. In general, wet food is a healthier choice than dry. If you choose dry food, search for one with the highest quality ingredients possible.

Be careful not to overfeed your pregnant cat during her early weeks of pregnancy. Yes, she needs plenty of good nutrition for herself and her kittens. However, the kitten food contains the extra calories and nutrients she needs. If she becomes overweight, it can cause problems for her and the kittens. Gradually transition to the kitten food after you have confirmation of her pregnancy, but do not increase the amount she is fed unless she is underweight or acting hungry. Monitor her body condition during her pregnancy with help from your veterinarian.

Once your cat is about six weeks into her pregnancy, she should be fed more frequent small meals. The pressure on her stomach from the kittens makes it harder for her to eat much at a time, but she does need the extra food. Offer her small meals four to six times a day.

Your Pregnant Cat’s Environment

Beyond some minor vet care and the nutritional changes, your pregnant cat should not have any special needs during most of her pregnancy. However, as she gets closer to queening (giving birth) she will start looking for a safe, quiet place to begin nesting.   This usually begins a day or two before birth.

You can prepare a cardboard box or laundry basket by filling it with blankets and tucking it away to a safe, quiet area of your home. However, your cat may not decide to use it. As is the case with most cats, they’ll do as they please. Your cat may choose to give birth in the most inconvenient place. If there are areas of the house you want to keep off-limits for queening, make sure those areas stay closed off during the last week of her pregnancy. Also, make sure she does not have access to the outdoors as she may sneak away to nest somewhere you can’t find her.

Your cat may also act restless and even anxious as the birth approaches. This is perfectly normal. Just do your best to keep her comfortable and give her space. This will all be over soon.

When Your Cat Is Ready to Give Birth

Once your cat has chosen the area where she will give birth, it’s best to leave her alone and observe from a safe distance. Fortunately, most cats need little if any human intervention when it comes to queening. However, you may need to assist if she is in distress.

Keep track of the time in between each birth and make sure you know how many kittens to expect. Contact your vet if your cat is having obvious contractions for more than 30 minutes without kitten birth. Also, get in touch with the vet if more than two hours go by without the next kitten birth.   If a kitten remains in the birth canal without being pushed out for more than a minute or two, it’s best to bring your cat right to the vet. Call your vet’s office for advice if anything else seems wrong.

Avoid separating mom and kittens for the first few days. Instead, bring them all into the vet’s office for a check-up at about 6 weeks of age. If you are not a purebred cat breeder, talk to your vet about having your cat spayed as soon as possible. This is often done after the kittens are weaned. ​

Our adopted stray kitten-Peaches

How To Bathe A Stray Kitten: A Step-By-Step Guide

First and foremost, it is always safe to assume that all stray kittens hates water, because more often than not they are. So it will be safe to observe precautionary measures in giving kitten care or handling stray kittens while preparing them to be hygienically safe or thoroughly clean before introducing them to the other members of your family especially to your kids. I hope you’ll find this hub – How To Bath A Stray Kitten: A Step-By-Step Guide helpful.

How To Bath A Stray Kitten: A Step-By-Step Guide

• Prepare and place the necessary things you’ll need within reach before giving the kitten a bath (towel, shampoo or bath gel, face towel, a small basin, a footstool for you to sit on).
• Stray kittens are not used to water, so never pour water directly into their body because they are bound to resist and scream and run away.
• Prepare the shampoo by mixing or diluting a small amount with water in the small basin.
• Be sure to lock the door of the bathroom and put away breakable things inside the bathroom (just in case the kitten slips from your grasp and run away jumping, bumping and crashing into breakable items.
• Tuck the shower curtains away so that the kitten cannot climb onto it when it slips away from your hand.
• Let the kitten stand on four feet, hold it on the nape and firmly push it down but not too hard to keep it’s four feet firmly on the floor to prevent it from accidentally scratching you with its claws.
• Wet the coat of the kitten with a wet face towel. This will allow the kitten to slowly adjust to the cold temperature.
• Scoop a small amount of diluted shampoo and rub it on its coat, gently rubbing your hands on the coat to make a lather. Repeat the process until the entire body of the kitten is wet from the nape down to the tail. Do not include the face.
• While still holding the kitten on its nape with one hand, scoop small amount of water with your other hand and carefully rinse the kitten. Don’t use too much water they will get frightened and will try to break away from your grasp which is not ideal because you can be hurt by its sharp claws.
• You have to work fast while doing the above steps. When the coat is thoroughly rinsed, lift the kitten while still holding it on the nape keeping its feet away from you and wrap the towel around the kitten leaving the head popping up. Be sure the towel is thick enough to avoid the claws from passing through.
• Hold the wrapped kitten and pull it towards you with one hand, the way a mother holds her baby when breastfeeding, so that the face of the kitten is positioned upward. You’ll now clean the entire head and face with the face towel dampened in soapy water. Rinse the face towel and repeat the process until the water that drips from the face towel becomes clear.
• Wipe the inside of the ear with the face towel and use cotton buds moistened with alcohol to clean the hard to reach areas at the same time disinfecting it. Some kitten has ticks in them and these are hidden inside the ears.
• Place the wrapped kitten in your lap in a sitting position and slowly, partially unwrap the towel. Gently rub the towel all over the body giving it a gentle rub to warm the kitten and dry its coat. You may use a blow dryer to speed the process. Be sure not to startle the kitten so that it will not run away 🙂
• Make sure the kitten is thoroughly dry and warm before setting it free. Pat and pet the kitten and reward it by giving it some food or milk.
• Give only the kitten a full bath when you have established a routine and it is used to getting a bath. Some stray kitten will develop a love for water that they will not resist when given a bath.

I hope the above How To Bathe A Stray Kitten: A Step-By-Step Guide will help to train you in bathing and keeping your adopted stray kitten clean. These guide are based from our own personal experience which we were able to learn through trial and error. It has since worked for us and I hope it will work for you. ^_^.

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Comments

Glo L Bernadas

9 years ago from Philippines

the pleasure is mine ^_^

Teylina

Glo L Bernadas

9 years ago from Philippines

I strongly agree with you Teylina. It will help calm the kitten to gently stoke it with your bare hands. The gloves will only help the kitten slip from your grip easily.

Teylina

That’s one thing that caught my attention; have seen a few pieces done on this, and I think you are the only one I’ve seen who did not say, “get some gloves,” and believe me, I may be an amateur–but ain’t no way they’re gonna help! Don’t you agree that the touch of our hands and toweling is much more calming, anyway?–or is that just my imagination? I’ve never used gloves, but did lv door unlocked! Oops!

Glo L Bernadas

9 years ago from Philippines

Hi Teylina. Thank you for dropping by my hub and or sharing your thoughts. I appreciate it a lot. Yes, you’re right. It’s not ideal to use gloves, besides the sharp claws can still penetrate on the rubber material and it will be much difficult to handle and hold the kitten.

Teylina

Having been there, done that, gotta admit you covered it all. Somebody wrote somewhere to use gloves, to which a reader responded, “Why? Gloves scare them and get torn up.” So true. And, yes, you’re the only one I’ve heard say “lock the door,” but if you don’t somebody can open it and it’s not a pretty picture! Great info.

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Author: Canadian Living

They’re the cutest unwanted neighbours ever: homeless kittens.

Battling disease, starvation, animal attacks or human cruelty, stray and feral cats can die young. If you’ve found stray kittens on your property, act fast to help them live healthy lives.

Karen Reicheld, an animal care manager at the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA offers great advice for helping stray kittens. Check out the following 10 dos and don’ts for guidance.

1. DO monitor the situation.
Watch the kittens, but don’t move them. The mother cat is probably nearby but if she hasn’t returned by end of day, there may be a problem.

If the kittens appear distressed or are very vocal, “this may indicate something’s happened and the mother cat can’t attend to her litter,” says Reicheld.

2. DON’T bring the kittens indoors unless you have to.
Unless they’re in danger, it’s best to leave stray kittens outside so the mother cat can comfort them upon her return. Crate them in a carrier to keep the kittens safe and secure, and, if needed, to provide an easy way to move them to the nearest municipal animal control/animal services centre.

3. DO ensure that the kittens are in a safe, warm place. If the weather’s not cooperating, bring the kittens indoors and confine them to a clean and quiet room.

“A smaller room like a spare bedroom, bathroom, or the laundry room, is ideal,” says Reicheld.

Provide a box or let them use the carrier (with the door open) to hide in. They’ll also need food, fresh water, and cat litter.

4. DO feed yummy foods in moderation. Canned food is irresistible. But high-quality dry kibble is best for a staple diet – too much canned food may give kittens diarrhea.

Page 1 of 2 – Learn more dos and don’ts for what to do with stray kittens on page 2.
More dos and don’ts for finding stray kittens:
5. DON’T take too long to make your next move. Within a few days’ time, decide whether you want to keep the kittens (temporarily or permanently) or give them over to animal control/animal services for assessment.

If you hold on to them for more than a couple of days, you may be deemed their owner and be levied with a “surrender fee.”

If you plan on temporarily fostering the kittens, keep in mind that socializing them would improve their chances of making it into the adoption pool later.

“If they’re unhandled by 12 weeks, socializing them is next to impossible,” says Reicheld.

6. DO be careful when handling strays. “Cats may seem friendly at first, but then scratch or otherwise injure you if you try to pick them up,” Reicheld warns.

If you’ve opted to foster-parent, wear gloves until the kittens are comfortable being handled – they may be small, but their little claws and teeth are sharp!

7. DO keep strays separated from your pets to prevent fights and minimize the transmission of infections and parasites.

8. DON’T foster-parent all on your own. Ask for advice on the matter from a rescue organization or shelter. Individuals at the shelter will be able to provide you with information on how to care for your new feline friends.

9. DO your due diligence. A litter of kittens found outdoors is likely stray, but if you find an adult cat, you should first ensure that it’s not a housecat that’s gone missing. Check online at Petfinder.com and local Craigslist or Kijiji sites to make sure no one is looking for the found feline.

10. DO help to break the cat-overpopulation cycle. Spay or neuter your cat. Many municipal animal services departments and animal welfare organizations run low-cost spay-neuter clinics. An unspayed female cat can produce two or three litters of five or six kittens per year!

If you turn the kittens over to animal control services
Animal control holds the cats for a few days in case someone claims them as lost. If not, the kittens will be put up for adoption through a local shelter or animal rescue organization.

There’s also a chance they may be euthanized. There’s a Cat Overpopulation Crisis in Canada and about half of all cats brought to shelters are put to sleep. And although adult feral cats may be spayed/neutered, vaccinated and released where they were found through Trap/Neuter/Release (TNR) programs, kittens may be put down.

Page 2 of 2

Due to lack of food available outdoors, many cats end up being malnourished or under nourished. Malnourishment is a serious issue and can kill the cat. If the cat is strong enough to move about and has is not very thin then you can treat him at home. But if the cat just sleeps and doesn’t move much, or you can see the ribs of the cat then you will need to take the cat to the veterinary doctor. It is always better to take a stray malnourished cat to the veterinary doctor to ensure that the cat does not have a disease or worms that is causing the cat to lose weight.

If you decide to care for a stray malnourished cat yourself, you may want to do the following things.

Check if the cat is dehydrated. To do this you need to pinch the skin and pull it up gently. If the skin falls back slowly that means the cat is dehydrated. You will need to take the cat to the veterinarian as soon as possible as the cat will require fluids that can be administrated by a veterinarian. if taking the cat to the vet is not possible then try giving it small amounts of fluid if it will not drink from a bowl use an eye dropper, you may need someone to hold the cat while you do this.

Cats get their daily water intake from their food/prey. Most stray cats do not drink water like other animals; hence it is better to feed the cat moist food.

Avoid feeding dry food as they do not have enough moisture and most dry food items are made out of low quality ingredients. Canned food may be a better option. Raw pieces of meat can also be fed. A better option would be kitten formula. Microwave the formula for a maximum of five seconds. Hot formula can burn the cat’s mouth and insides. Lay the cat on its back while feeding and make sure that the formula doesn’t bubble from the cat’s nose.

Put the baby kitten formula in a baby bottle and snip a small hole in the nipple or use an eye dropper you can pick up at the drugstore just make sure it’s plastic not glass in case the cats bites down on it and it breaks.

Feed the cat small amounts of food, every hour. Do not feed large amounts of food at one time, as a malnourished cat’s digestive system will not be able to digest large amounts of food. Do not feed meat that has been left out for a long time. Chances are that such meat will contain harmful organisms that can deteriorate the cat’s health further.

After the cat is back to being healthy, you can hand the cat over to an animal shelter, the best option would be to keep the cat if you can. Since you have already created a special bond with him or her.

I take care of a kitten that is a stray. He is about 8 months old and he has been vomiting clear liquid with white foam, what should I do?

Veterinarian’s Assistant: I’ll do all I can to help. How long has it been since the kitten threw up?

Since last night

Veterinarian’s Assistant: Could he have eaten anything unusual?

Not that I can think of, he was inside since it was raining and ate regular cat food, but a few daus ago I did give him a bit of a vitamin supplement maybe that was it?

Veterinarian’s Assistant: What’s the kitten’s name?

Veterinarian’s Assistant: Is there anything else the Vet should know?

Well that I gave him that high calorie food supplement it’s called Under the Weather because he is a picky eater and very thin

I’m Dr Roe and I’m happy to help you. While this forum is strictly for advice as we cannot make diagnoses, dispense medications, nor establish a doctor-patient relationship, I can offer advice and support. Any signs of diarrhea or just the vomiting? Are you able to handle him to give medications?

I would advise rubbing some honey or karo syrup onto his gums every few hours until he is reliably eating and the vomiting has stopped. This will help to keep his blood sugar up. You can offer water, dilute broth, or pedialyte in small quantities (1/8 cup every 2-3 hours) to prevent him from guzzling a large volume which could restart the vomiting cycle. Also start over-the-counter pepcid 1/4 of a 10mg tablet by mouth and repeat that dosing every 24 hours x 4 days. This is an antacid that can be found at any human pharmacy and will help to settle the stomach. Once he has not had any more vomiting, then you can start offering a bland diet of boiled chicken and white rice 1/8 cup every 4-6 hours increasing the portions and decreasing the meal frequency over the next few days. Should these issues persist, then he should be seen by your veterinarian to include a fecal exam and getting a deworming agent.

by Michelle A. Rivera

Give a stray kitten a home, and you just may be saving a life.

If you’ve found a little kitten and he’s managed to work his way into your heart, you’re not alone. Millions of cats find homes by finding a soft-hearted animal lover and pouring on the charm. To be a hero to a stray kitten, follow a few simple steps.

Isolate the kitten if you have any other cats at home. You can do this by restricting the kitten to a bathroom or guest room set up with a small litter box, blanket and some food and water. This is important because if the kitten has any communicable diseases you need to be sure your own cats are not at risk. Keep the kitten isolated until you can get him to the veterinarian so she can perform a clinical exam to be sure there are no symptoms of upper respiratory infection, a blood test to rule out feline leukemia and a fecal test to be sure there are no internal and external parasites.

Notify your local animal control agency you have found a stray kitten. Some municipalities or counties have ordinances about giving the true owner of an animal time to reclaim him. In some cases, you must actually surrender the kitten, and come back several days later to adopt him if the owner does not show up. In other places, you only have to notify the authorities that you have the kitten but you can keep the kitten with the understanding that if the kitten’s owner shows up you must bring the kitten into the facility. They may ask you to bring the kitten in to be scanned for a microchip. It’s tempting to simply keep the kitten, but the right thing to do is give the actual owner, if any, an opportunity to find her kitten and some ordinances and codes reflect that.

Call your vet and make an appointment for the kitten. It’s important to let your vet know the kitten was found as a stray for several reasons. First, there are diseases and health issues a kitten who has been living on the street may have that kittens bred in a home will not. Second, the vet will want to scan the kitten for a microchip and third, many vets will extend a discount for “rescue” pets. Ask the vet to assess the kitten’s probable age and instruct you on his vaccination, nutrition, and practical needs. If you do not have a vet, contact your local humane society to see if they offer a low-cost clinic or can offer a recommendation.

Purchase the items you need for a kitten if you do not already have cats at home. Select a high-quality, name-brand kitten food, a small litter box, low-dust litter and a litter scooper. You will also need food and water dishes. Keep the kitten indoors so he does not stray from your home. Allow any resident pets to become acquainted with the kitten by placing the kitten in a room for a few days while allowing your cat to play “footsie” under the door with the kitten. Introduce your kitten to resident dogs gradually and never leave him alone with pre-existing animals unless you are sure they will get along.

I picked a stray kitten this morning and she keeps meowing whenever she’s not on my lap. She’s also sleeping a lot, which makes me move her whenever I need to get up or fidget. She more or less is all right with my dog but would prefer to stay on my lap. Is she sick or does she does need time to get used to my house?

P.S. I can’t keep her since my mom and sister don’t like cats.

7 Answers

i don’t think she is sick really..it’s probably that the cat just got a new home and has now, someone to be loved and cared by so it likes to be with you:)

and yeah, the cat is new so it just needs some time to get used to her new home and a different environment and surrounding

it’s normal for cats to sleep a lot al though if you feel something’s wrong, a vet visit would be great

What I would do would be to put up flyers saying that you have found this kitten and if no one claims her keep her. But in the meantime make sure you are giving your dog attention too so they don’t fight or get jealous of each other. Because she’s a kitten she will sleep alot and would be used to the warmth of her brothers and sisters so when she is not on your lap she is probably cold. She will need a vet check soon so they can make sure that shes functioning right but in the meantime she is probably just getting used to your house.

U need 2 get her shots at the vet.

She’s not sick, she just doesn’t no where she’s at. Give her some time 2 get used 2 her new home.

Strays r not used 2 being inside and she’s probobly shy.

She wants 2 sit in ur lap cuz it reminds her of her mother.

Next time she jumps on ur lap have a soft blanket or a something soft and fluffy.

And she’ll get more and more used 2 her new home.

Let her outside once and awile. To brig her back in, take a bag of dry cat food and shake it. She’ll come running!

GOOD LUCK WITH UR NEW KITTY.

First buy some food, and a cat cage. Either bring her to the vet to get checked out, since she is a stray. You can either have the vet neuter her, or go through a non-profit organization, like (I think) ASPCA. You can’t tell by looking at her if she’s sick or not. You need to bring her to a vet. She might have all kinds of diseases from being a stray. Better be safe than sorry.

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Best of Cat Tips Posted by Jennifer on December 5th, 2012

Meow! Meow! Meow! Cat rescuers seem to have built in super-hearing when its a cat or kitten’s cries for help! I’ve been asleep and woken up by hearing a meowing kitten under a car in front of my house in the middle of the night. What do you do if you find a stray kitten or cat? How do you know if he was abandoned, is lost, or is just out for a stroll? What about a cat that seems sick, should you rush him to the emergency vet, wait till the morning, or care for him yourself? These are complicated questions and every situation is different, but given my stray-cat-magnet abilities (stray cats and kittens regularly materialize no matter where we are), I’ve written some tips and steps you can follow to help make sure the kitten or cat you find is well-cared for while you try to locate his owner, or a rescue or a new home to adopt him.

If the cat is a healthy-looking well-cared for adult, he or she may be a neighborhood cat paying you a visit – how do you know? This really depends on your neighborhood and the cat. There are some neighborhoods where many cats are free roaming, loosely owned by people that feed them. In my neighborhood, even with coyotes having killed most of the outdoor cats, we still have a few. If I am approached by cat that appears to be asking for help, is wearing a tag, or is one I haven’t seen around before, if he agrees I will take him inside and try to locate his owner.

“Help I found a friendly dirty skinny meowing kitten! What should I do first?”

FIRST HALF-HOUR

1. Isolate if you have other pets.
Stray kittens often have fleas, mites, or other sicknesses that can be highly contagious to other cats or dogs. Shut the kitten in your bathroom and stuff towels along any gaps under doors. Do not allow them to interact with your other pets.

2. Immediate care.
Make sure they are warm, dry, have water and food. If you don’t have canned cat food or dog food, 1/4 cup of cooked boneless chicken is safe. Some bathroom floors are cold, so make a thick nest of towels to keep kitten as warm as possible. If kitten is wet or really cold, you can dry & warm him with a hair dryer set on “low” heat and gently warm the air around him from a foot or so away while you hold him in your arms. Don’t blow directly on him.

3. Ask your neighbors.
Sometimes kittens get out and can look pretty bad after just a few days. Kittens usually don’t go far. Canvas your neighbors to see if anyone lost their kitten.

FIRST DAY

If you’ve decided you are going to keep the kitten, either for yourself or to find him a rescue or adopter, here are some good steps to follow for the first few days of care.

1. Vet checkup
First ask them to scan the kitten for a microchip. You usually don’t even need an appointment for a chip scan, but it is certainly advisable to get them a checkup in the first day so they can be treated for fleas and parasites (super common in kittens found outside), and tested for Feline Leukemia and FIV before being vaccinated.

2. Intro to pets
After the vet checkup says kitten is healthy, you can decide if you want to try an intro to your other pets. Be aware that some sicknesses (colds and viruses) can incubate for up to two weeks, so follow the advice of your vet when it is safe to intro to your pets. Check out our Cat to Cat and Cat to Dog intro articles.

3. Take photos, ask for help
Cat rescuers are a dedicated and knowledgeable bunch! Many will be very happy to help a sympathetic cat-caring newbie rescuer with much more advice tailored specifically for your found kitten or cat, your area, and your home. Especially if you email them a cute photo of your furry find and let them know you are willing to foster (or are adopting) and are just looking for their expertise. Facebook is also a great way to reach out to friends and friends of friends — you might be surprised to discover how many cat enthusiasts you almost know!

Any cat that has spent time abandoned may have some issues that even loving care will take some time to heal. One visitor has some questions about caring for an abandoned kitten.

About Caring for an Abandoned Kitten

I’ve been taking care of a stray kitten that was abandoned at my house. I feed it regularly, but it keeps meowing non-stop and rubbing my feet. I thought it might still be hungry, but it’s not. What is it trying to do? How can I stop the meowing?

Expert Reply

First, let me commend you for your kindness in rescuing this poor little creature. You have probably made the difference between life and death for it.

I need a little more information. Do you have any idea how old the kitten is, and how long have you been feeding it? Is it a male or a female? If it’s at least 16 weeks old and female, then there’s a chance it’s in heat. This would explain the meowing and extra affection. Having her spayed once it’s over would solve that problem.

If we’re talking about a much younger kitten, then the above info wouldn’t apply. This kitten was abandoned, and this can cause psychological trauma. The meowing could be an attempt to locate the mother cat and any siblings it might have had. Rubbing against your feet would be natural, but if it’s constant, then that’s another sign this kitten is desperately seeking the kind of close socialization it would have had with it’s feline family.

You’re going to have to decide just how dedicated you are to nursing this kitten along. It will need plenty of affection and cuddle time from you. If it is extremely young and you are bottle feeding it, you will also need to wipe it’s rectum and genitals with a warm wet cloth to help it eliminate.

I also think you should take the kitten to a vet to make sure there’s nothing physically wrong, perhaps something the mother sensed that caused her to leave it behind. Bring along a stool sample so the vet can check for worms.

Cats are my favorite pets. I’m almost charmed by the grace and beauty of these wonderful creatures. I am an owner of a former stray cat and I want to share my experience of bringing a stray cat into your life. You should be aware of various difficulties if you have an intention to take in a stray kitten. Before you decide to raise a stray animal, you need to consider the safety of yourself and your family. Moreover, you are to be patient enough to help the pet acclimatize to your home and life. Here are a few important tips for adopting a stray cat.

1. Take the pet to the vet

If you decide to bring a stray cat into your life, it’s strongly recommended to take your new feline friend to the vet and ask them to check the cat for communicable disease. Moreover, you can receive an appointment to get the cat all necessary vaccinations. It will protect both you and any pets you may already have living with you.

2. Create conditions

You need also to create conditions needed to take care of your new family member. You should offer the cat some food, fresh water and some type of a litter box. If you don’t exactly know what cats usually eat, you should buy different kinds of wet cat food, because it is very useful for cats. A blanket is a good thing for your pet to rest on.

3. A quite room

If you adopt a stray cat, you should place him in a room all his own for a few days. This will give him a chance to understand that he is in safe from all risks in your home. If you have other pets, try to avoid meetings face to face. Many veterinarians recommend petting each cat with a sock or towel to pick their scent, and then petting another cat with the same sock or towel so they will begin to identify the scent as part of their family or home.

4. Toys

The game is the best way to get free and make friends. There are many games and toys, which can help your cat enjoy the process and feel comfortable around you. Frankly speaking, I don’t know cats that are indifferent to little mouse toys or a stick with a string. Plus, playing with cats usually solves behavior problems and prevents obesity. Playtime is an important part of your cat’s physical and mental well-being.

5. Quality time

It is important to realize that you need to build trust and good relationship with your new pet, if you want the cat to become one of your favorite family members. Spend more time communicating with the cat and let him get used to you. Furthermore, you should stroke your feline as much as possible. Try to show your love and it will let your pet feel safe around you.

6. Let the cat come to you

I know that it is so tempting to touch and pick up your new cat. You should stop chasing and bothering your pet, but let him come to you. Cats are very sensible creatures, so it usually takes them some time to get used to the atmosphere and people around. I think it is useless to force your cat sleep on the top of you, because he will run away all the time. Treat your cat with love and he will come to you on his own.

7. Introduce the cat to the household

Find time to introduce your feline friend to the household. Let the cat explore the area independently, because cats are very curious about everything. If you already have some pets, you should be very careful while introducing a new cat to them. Don’t forget that you are a mediator between your pets relationship, so you need to dedicate enough time to help your new friend acclimatize. It should be a slow process in order to prevent fights and conflicts. If everything is ok, then you can let them play a game to help them get used to each other in a short period of time.

It is very noble to help stray animals. Only good-natured people can bring a stray cat into their home and give it a shelter. But you are to be patient and careful enough to avoid various problems. If you follow these tips, your new stray kitten will become an important and loved member of your family in a quite short period of time. Have you ever brought a stray cat into your home? Do you like stray animals?

I found this kitten outside my apartment complex yesterday, it was meowing and it was shaking. It came over to me when I called it. I feed it some tuna and milk. It has fleas(a friend of mine told me to wash it with dish detergent). It has few fleas still but what should I do to get rid of them? I don’t want to keep the kitten, but I do want it to be ok. It likes me so I’m a little lost at what I want to do. I brought it kitten chow, kitten liter and a liter box this morning.

Thanks for the answers. I’ll take it to the Vet tomorrow. If I do decide to give it away, I know a friend who will take care of it. I don’t like animal shelters too much.

13 Answers

ok heres what you do, Ive had cats my whole life and resuced many kittens.

To kill the fleas buy some pet soap in a store like wal mart or pet smart. DO NOT USE DISH SOAP. it will give the kitten a rash. When you wash the kitten, use luke warm water, and be sure you have a towel ready. You will need a pet comb (can get that in the same store) not a brush but a comb. IF you want it to be used to people hold it alot and pet it often. It was shaking because it was cold and scared. dont feed it anymore tuna. That is a myth that kittens can eat tuna or milk. They can not digest it. If you want to give it mile it must be cat milk, again can get it at pet stores or walmart or even sometimes in the supermarket. To litter box train the kitten you should place it in the litter box several times thru out the day. Whereever the litter box is leave the kitten in there at night, Give it a soft blanket or towel to sleep on and lots of toys to play with. (you dont have to buy toys kittens will play with just about anything) Kittens need lots of company so if it crys when you leave it alone it is normal. If you dont plan to keep the kitten, you should find it a home as soon as the fleas are gone and it responds to petting. email me if you have any more questions. Good luck!

p.s. when you start combing the fleas out of the kitten, have a bowl of water handy to dip the comb in, some of the fleas will try to get away and the water drowns them, also be prepared to throw the towel away as you can almost never get the fleas all out and you could get them too..

You can get flea insecticide at the pet store. Just place a few drops at the back of the neck. Be sure to not place it on top of the hair. Place it down by the hair roots, on the skin. Kitten chow should be better than tuna and milk. You can also get kitten formula that you can serve in a shallow bowl. If you don’t plan on keeping the kitten you could consider an adoption center.

usually when a animal comes to you like that they are the best pets you can find. I know you don’t want to keep it but maybe you should think about it a little more! I can tell you like it because if you didnt you wouldnt of bought it all these things. Oh yea, if the kitten is younger than 6 weeks you really shouldnt be giving it a bath that’ll make it sick. You should buy a flea comb and try to get thm off that way.

well hope this helps!

p.s I have a male and female cat that came to me when they were kittens and THEY ARE TRUELY THE BEST! i love them to death they are my babys!

How sweet of you to want this kitten to be okay. There should be more people like you. I feed lots of stray cats, I love them.

Milk is not good for kittens. Just give him fresh water and kitten food.

If you can afford it, you should take the kitten to the vet. They will clean him up and give him the necessary shots.

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Our feline friends get stressed just like anyone–who among us hasn’t wanted to hide under our desks when things are tough? But when trying to find a home for a community cat, the way they handle stressful situations such as being in a trap or shelter can be misleading. Know that when a cat shows signs of anxiety, which can come off as aggression, she’s just trying to protect herself. Don’t worry! With help from cat expert Joan Miller, we have tips on how to calm the kitty’s little heart and help her personality come through.

Relaxation is Key

The kitty may just need to take a quick breather to calm down. Here’s how you can create a calming situation for her to relax:

• Give the cat as much time as possible to calm down.
• Take her to quiet place where she can be alone–if you’re in your home, a bathroom works well. At a shelter, we’d recommend using a ‘cat den’ for her to settle down, which gives her somewhere to hide inside the cage. Cages or crates should also be kept off of the floor–she’ll feel better when she can see all of her surroundings.
• Follow a routine for all daily activities like feeding and cage cleaning. Predictability will help her adapt.
• Cats mark their territory by smell. Miller recommends spot-cleaning cages to leave the cats’ scent inside. Additionally, spot cleaning will be helpful since she won’t have the added stress of being removed from her cage during cleaning time, then placed back in to her cage (which now smells different) or a new cage (which may smell like another cat). Also wash the smell of other cats off your hands before trying to handle her.
• The cat may hold a grudge against the trapper or veterinarian. Let someone else handle the cat for feeding or play time.

Empower the Cat

Feeling in control of her environment can make a cat feel much more confident. Here’s how to hand over some of the power:

• If possible, let the cat approach you first. If she’s reluctant to approach but seems interested, try offering a small spoonful of canned cat food or tuna as you talk to her, and this could help entice her to come to you.
• Cats like choices. Give her climbing options in her cage or a play area for her to use as she pleases.

• Don’t keep the cat hidden in a quiet room after she’s had time to calm down. Instead, give her a chance to get used to where she’s going to be handled.
• Handle her on a table or high surface so she won’t feel threatened from above.
• Don’t take cats out of the carrier headfirst. The cat doesn’t know what is happening and could become defensive. Try using a top-loading carrier or bring the cat out bottom first so she can keep her eyes on what’s familiar.

• Try not to handle her by her scruff.
• Let her play outside of her cage with toys that let her exhibit her inner mountain lion (like toy mice).

Challenge the Cat

Although cats need plenty of R&R, they also can benefit from what Miller calls “non-threatening adversity.” Initiate some interaction to help you determine if the cat has been socialized in the past, and help her realize that you’re not so bad after all.

• Don’t let her play a one-sided game of hide and seek all the time. Interact with the cat at least one to two times per day.
• Carefully groom the cat with your hand. She may be too shy or frightened to clean herself.
• Speak in a low, calming voice.
• Don’t mistake fear for aggression. “Hissing is the language that cats use just as a warning. It really doesn’t mean they’re aggressive. And I feel the same with growling. The low growl…is just sort of an anxiety expression,” Miller says.
• Use these signs to tell if a cat is frightened or aggressive:

If a cat eventually relaxes and warms up to you, you will know that you can find her an adoptive home . If the cat does not improve after a few days, then it’s time to return her to her colony.

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Seniors, Special Needs, and Ferals

If it’s in your budget, most cats will take to outdoorsy, “natural” litters.

Our favorite is Okocat (blue box), it is made of wood.

The other type of litter outdoor cats take to really well is grass based litter. As far as brands for grass litter, off the top of my head I can think of So Phresh, Smart Cat, and Frisco.

Dr. Elsey’s also has a litter called “Touch of Outdoors” for these situations, although I’ve never used it personally.

All of these litters can be found on Amazon and/or Chewy, and I think So Phresh, at least, is available at Petco.

All of these litters are somewhat to very expensive too, but you mostly only need them as an initial “transition” phase, and you can start switching to a cheaper litter once they get the hang of it.

When we bring an outdoor kitty inside and they still won’t use one of these litters, we mix in potting soil, grass, leaves, etc from outside.

In worst case scenarios, we just use 100% potting soil or dirt + grass, leaves, sticks, etc. You have to change out the litter very frequently when you do this of course, but they usually figure it out quick, then we start slowly adding in more and more actual cat litter until kitty is fully transitioned.

I’ve personally never had much luck with the paper towel trick, but it’s recommended a lot and definitely worth a shot!

Thank you for taking in this homeless kitty!

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If it’s in your budget, most cats will take to outdoorsy, “natural” litters.

Our favorite is Okocat (blue box), it is made of wood.

The other type of litter outdoor cats take to really well is grass based litter. As far as brands for grass litter, off the top of my head I can think of So Phresh, Smart Cat, and Frisco.

Dr. Elsey’s also has a litter called “Touch of Outdoors” for these situations, although I’ve never used it personally.

All of these litters can be found on Amazon and/or Chewy, and I think So Phresh, at least, is available at Petco.

All of these litters are somewhat to very expensive too, but you mostly only need them as an initial “transition” phase, and you can start switching to a cheaper litter once they get the hang of it.

When we bring an outdoor kitty inside and they still won’t use one of these litters, we mix in potting soil, grass, leaves, etc from outside.

In worst case scenarios, we just use 100% potting soil or dirt + grass, leaves, sticks, etc. You have to change out the litter very frequently when you do this of course, but they usually figure it out quick, then we start slowly adding in more and more actual cat litter until kitty is fully transitioned.

I’ve personally never had much luck with the paper towel trick, but it’s recommended a lot and definitely worth a shot!

Thank you for taking in this homeless kitty!

by Elle Di Jensen

Orphaned kittens are typically accepted into foster litters.

If a kitten is separated from his mamma before he is weaned, he needs someone to step up and take care of him. Kittens can be bottle-fed, but if a nursing cat is available, she and her little ones are the best candidates to be his foster family.

Fostering Happens Frequently

Cats have a generous maternal streak. Female cats frequently help their friends out during the birth process and afterward, watching the little ones for the mamma cat, and even feeding them if the auntie cat is lactating. Many cases have been reported of cats nursing orphans, even of different species such as squirrels, as well as orphaned kittens.

Cat Fostering Is Best

When a kitten is orphaned, his best survival chance is to find a nursing mother cat willing and able to foster him. You can attempt to bottle-feed and hand-raise the little guy as a last resort, but the failure rate is high when humans try to care for orphaned kittens. The foster mother will usually accept an unfamiliar kitten readily, and his new littermates will make room for him at the milk bar. If you can place the orphan with a foster litter, he will not only get the nutrition and care he needs, but he’ll get the tutoring he needs in proper social behavior and how to be a cat. In any litter, siblings teach each other social boundaries and how to play nice. Mamma cat has her own role, setting limits and giving hunting lessons.

Locating a Foster Mother

Start trying to find a foster mother cat as soon as you realize you’ve got an orphan. It’s best to find a cat with kittens who are about the size of the orphan kitten, or else a cat whose kittens are weaned but who is still producing milk. Either case will ensure the newcomer won’t have overwhelming competition for food. Your own vet is a valuable resource, as he may know of clients who have lactating mamma cats. Ask among your friends and family who have cats. The animal shelter and local Humane Society also may have female cats who could foster an orphan, or they may know where one can be found.

Take Precautions

If you find an orphaned kitten, don’t rush to thrust him in with another litter. Have your vet examine the baby to make sure there aren’t any health concerns that could affect the foster mother and her litter. If the doctor approves, you can put the little guy in with your cat and her kittens, but clean him off first. Wipe him down with a warm, damp wash cloth, then gently towel-dry him so that he doesn’t catch a chill.

A Proper Introduction

Introduce the tiny orphan carefully to the prospective foster mother and her litter. The room should be quiet, with no activity or commotion. Keep other animals out of the room, so there will be no distractions or stress for the mamma cat. Show the little guy to the mother cat first. She will most likely have a positive reaction to him, and then you can place him among the other kittens, directing him to a waiting nipple so that he can begin to nurse. You may need to give him a little prompt by gently rubbing a nipple near his mouth or at the side of his face. This should stimulate him to open his mouth, allowing you to gently put the nipple inside. Once he feels it on his little tongue, his natural sucking reaction will be triggered.

Well basically me and my friends found a litter of kittens and i took one home. Currently i have her in my room. What should i do and how can i get my other cat to not hurt her (she’s real aggressive when other cats are around).

Ten points for best answer and my thanks 🙂

Btw shes about 2-3 weeks

By the way it was either take her away from mother or go to a kill pound so yeah dont complain about her being away from her mum

8 risposte

buy many food and water very much for baby kiten and it need many belove to be hapy. to keep other cat from hurt baby is to keep them away for time and intrduce them slow to other cat. hope they be hapy cat and baby kiten and watch them very much.

If she’s only 2-3 weeks, she’ll need to be bottle fed every 2 hours. Buy some KMR and a bottle, and be sure to keep the kitten warm. You will need to stimulate her to go potty by gently wiping her bottom with a wet cotton ball. Hold her over the litter box.

When she gets to be four weeks, you can gradually switch her from the bottle to a saucer. Then start mixing in some canned food, little by little, until by 8 weeks she’s just eating canned food.

Keep her away from your cat for the time being; she’s really young and defenseless at this point.

When she’s about 8 weeks, you can start to gradually introduce her.

Good luck to you.

1. Bath her. She’s a stray cat so basically she have some sort of bacteria on her body or fur. Dry her body after that.

2. Yes, cats will hurt each other if they never seen other before like, “You look not you fimiliar here”

Just make them friends like we do. Buy cat treat or make some toy stuff to let them play around. Maybe just crumple the tissue into a ball and let them play together. If they still refuse to play together, make another toy or treat. Well, I usually gave them treat when they are in good behaviour. But try to make them hungry and let them eat the treat so they will know.

3.Pet her gently. When she is noisy, give her a kiss or pet her fur gently. She will become more relax.

Sorry for my english thank you

way to young to have left its mother first off!

second make sure its fed. and has the proper amount of kitten formula. this should be used up until the kitten is about 5 weeks old. start on good dry food as well. and a LITTLE wet food.

make she she is able to pee and poop on her own and you dont have to stimulate those actions. litter training will begin later. week 5 or 6 you can try.

make sure kitty has a warm place to sleep.

dont worry about the fighting other kitties will get use to it.

make sure everything is kitten proofed!

• ) Take the kitten to a veterinarian to make sure no medical intervention is needed. Whether the baby kitten was abandoned, or the mother died, it is imperative that you get the kitten to a doctor so that it can be examined for problems such as dehydration. If the veterinarian approves, take the kitten home.

Set up a bed for the kitten using a cardboard box, old towels and a heating pad. Wrap the heating pad in a towel or two and place it in the bottom of a cardboard box. Bunch up another towel or rag, and place it in a corner for a bed. You may also want to consider putting a stuffed animal in the box for the kitten to cuddle with, as they are used to being close to other kittens or their mother. Place the heating pad on low, as newborn kittens are not able to regulate their temperature until around 8 weeks of age.

Feed the baby kitten using a small bottle designed to feed orphaned kittens, and some kitten formula or replacement milk. These can be found at any pet store and also at stores like Wal-Mart. Sterilize the bottle, and then fill it with the replacement milk. The instructions on the back of the can will tell you how much to feed a kitten of a certain age, and no mixing or adding of water is needed. If the kitten refuses to drink out of the bottle, you can use an eye dropper to slowly drip the milk into the kitten’s mouth.

Stimulate the kitten so that it urinates and defecates. To do this, you will need to wet a washcloth or soft towels with warm water, and slowly stroke it over the genital and anal areas of the kitten. After a few strokes the kitten should have defecated. It may take a few feedings to notice any urination. You are stimulating the kitten to substitute the mother kitten’s act of licking these areas with her rough tongue. If you do not perform this act after each meal, the kitten will not be able to excrete. You can stop this process once you notice the kitten using the restroom by itself.

Show the kitten plenty of love and affection. Kittens normally interact several times a say with their mother and siblings, and you will have to take the place of them. Let the kitten sleep on your lap, or gently pet it. Be careful not to over stimulate the kitten though, and let him sleep in the heated cardboard box as often as he needs.

Wash the kitten with a damp warm washcloth. Gently stroke the kitten over its back and neck with the washcloth. This will teach the kitten the art of licking and cleaning itself. This is another job that is normally done by the mother cat, which now must be done by you to teach the kitten the essential skills.

Give the kitten a bath in dawn dish soap or other mild soap if needed. Sometimes the kitten will become dirty, and a bath will be necessary. Do not over wash however, and do not use harsh flea soaps at this early stage in life.

Start introducing solid foods to the kitten at 6 weeks of age. Begin by soaking some dry kitten food in the replacement milk or formula until it softens. Place the softened food into a shallow bowl, and offer it to the kitten. You may need to do this several times before the kitten gets the hang of eating on its own. You can then gradually feed just dry food once the kitten is old enough to chew the food. You can also start introducing plain water in a shallow dish at this time.

Start to litter train the kitten at 8 weeks of age. Place the kitten into the litter box filled with litter after every meal, and whenever you notice it trying to eliminate in its box or around the home. Litter training should be a fairly quick process, as it is a natural instinct for most cats.

Take your kitten into the veterinarian at the age of 8 weeks so that it can receive another check up and its first shots. Follow any additional instructions given by the doctor. At this point your kitten should be thriving on its own, and your work as a mother cat should be just about over

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A family dog took a tiny kitten under her wing and decided to care for her as her own.

@minnieprincesspaws

Emma from Yorkshire, United Kingdom began to search for a new pet for her family a couple of months ago. Her 13-year-old dog Maggie was yearning for a friend.

“I had another dog but sadly she passed away 18 months ago. it was very difficult for me and Maggie grieving for her,” Emma told Love Meow. “I decided recently, after actually having a dream about it, that a cat friend would be a great addition to our family.”

She later came across a little calico named Minnie and fell head over heels for the kitten. The little one had the same colors and markings as Maggie the family dog.

@minnieprincesspaws

Minnie the kitten came home with Emma two months ago. She was introduced to her new canine friend who was instantly smitten with her. Maggie took to the little newcomer right away and was eager to look after her.

The calico, on the other hand, was a bit shy and unsure as she had never met a dog before, but Maggie’s sweet temperament quickly calmed her. Before they knew it, the little feline was nuzzling her way into Maggie’s coat as if they had always been friends.

@minnieprincesspaws

Since the kitten arrived, Maggie has been more lively and maternal. She hovers over the kitten everywhere she goes and won’t let her out of eyeshot.

“I think Maggie almost thinks she is Minnie’s mum, and they look so alike with their colors and markings,” Emma shared with Love Meow.

@minnieprincesspaws

Minnie is a little mischief-maker. She likes to play with Maggie’s tail, pounce on her whenever she is not looking, or sneak-attack her from behind. Sweet Maggie doesn’t mind all her antics and is always there when the kitten needs a cuddle.

Now that they have spent weeks together, Minnie has started to pick up some canine skills from her most trusted mentor, Maggie.

@minnieprincesspaws

“Minnie looks up to Maggie and has started copying her. Perhaps, she thinks she is a puppy,” Emma said.

When the smart little calico figured out that Maggie gets to take a walk outside every day, she insisted on tagging along.

@minnieprincesspaws

Watch Maggie and Minnie in this cute video:

Maggie and Minnie – two best friends @minnieprincesspaws

They go on walks together and Maggie always keeps an eye on the kitten, making sure she is safe and not getting into trouble. If the little feline rascal calls for attention, Maggie will come running to check on her.

“Maggie is super protective of Minnie, and Minnie finds comfort and safety with Maggie, especially on walks,” Emma told Love Meow.

@minnieprincesspaws

Maggie has taught her little protege that if a bath is in order, supervision is needed to keep their human safe.

Now, they both come into the bathroom to show their concerns every time Emma takes a bath.

@minnieprincesspaws

Minnie adores her canine buddy and trails her like a shadow. She feels loved being in Maggie’s presence and makes sure her friend is always near.

@minnieprincesspaws

Maggie and Minnie have become each other’s ride or die. The sweet senior has found her spark and feels like a puppy again being with Minnie.

“I think Minnie brings out a younger side in Maggie,” Emma told Love Meow.

@minnieprincesspaws

This perfect duo continues to fill their home with endless cuteness. They are so happy that they’ve got a friend in each other.

@minnieprincesspaws

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A 2-week-old kitten was found wandering the streets all alone.

Alley Cat Rescue

Alley Cat Rescue in Los Angeles was contacted about a tiny tabby kitten in need of rescue.

The 2-week-old stray was spotted in the cold, without a cat mom in sight. She was taken to a shelter but they didn’t have the resources needed to care for a bottle kitten.

Alley Cat Rescue immediately offered to help and took the kitten (named Noelle) into their care. “She cried constantly and took a while to settle,” Alley Cat Rescue told Love Meow.

Alley Cat Rescue

The kitten would meow incessantly until she was cuddled.

She needed a friend to keep her company at all times, and the rescue knew just the cat who could help her.

Alley Cat Rescue

Their long-term foster Harrow, a senior cat, who came from life on the streets, decided to offer a helpful paw.

He came running as soon as he heard the kitten’s cries. Noelle was so happy to have a buddy that she nuzzled up to him and purred up storm.

Alley Cat Rescue

“Harrow took the little tabby under his paw. His big purr really calms her down and comforts her,” the rescue said.

“Noelle was gaining weight steadily and loving her bottles and hanging with Grandpa.”

Alley Cat Rescue

With help from her feline friend, she was nursed back to health and began to thrive.

“She fits in anywhere, and is super confident, loving and playful. She politely asks for dinner and rewards you with happy purrs.”

Alley Cat Rescue

Watch Noelle’s journey in this cute video:

“Good looks, adorableness and Ms Personality – Noelle was certainly born with it all,” Alley Cat Rescue said.

“When she joined us, she was so sick, and she stopped eating for a week. Lots of love, good food and her determination helped her through.”

Alley Cat Rescue

Noelle is now ready for her next chapter of life – a forever loving home.

Alley Cat Rescue

She has blossomed into a playful, gorgeous kitty and can’t wait to share cuddles with a family of her very own.

Alley Cat Rescue

That cute, cuddly ball of fluff is irresistible. Kitten issues are complex and emotional at best. Some people feel that all kittens should be socialized and placed into homes. Others realize that if we removed all the kittens from the streets, there aren’t enough homes. Resources are limited, they think, so why not save a litter at the pound that would certainly be killed. Other people feel it’s wrong to fix and return kittens.

At Stray Cat Alliance, we know it’s worse to simply do nothing. Kittens in a safe, well-fed colony can have quality of life. Their mothers will teach them to stay safe. You see, cats have complex family systems and we respect that. If kittens are sick, then of course we must help. We believe it is also moral and ethical to fix kittens and put them back. Don’t let the worry of “What in the world am I going to do with the kittens?” stop you from trapping.

Some volunteers secretly hope that if they trap, they won’t catch kittens because there’s no place for them. Others don’t trap at all because of this. Please get out there and “fix away!” If you trap kittens weighing approximately two pounds or less, make sure your veterinarian is knowledgeable about early-age spay and neuter. Do get them fixed—for the greater good of cats.

Kittens are usually fully weaned at around four to five weeks, a good time to start socializing them, which takes a few days. Kittens not exposed to humans early on learn from their mothers and quickly become feral. If their mothers are tame, the kittens are usually easier to socialize but still require human touch to be completely comfortable. Socializing is harder if they still live in their colonies.

Read on:

How Old Are They?

• Under one week: Eyes are shut, ears flat to head and skin appears “pinkish.” Part of umbilical cord may still be attached.
• One week to ten days: Eyes begin to open but ears are still flat. A kitten this age is smaller than an adult hand.
• Three weeks: Eyes are fully open, ears are erect and teeth are visible. Kittens are just learning to walk and very wobbly.
• Four to five weeks: Eyes have changed from blue to another color. Kittens have begun to pounce and leap and to eat solid food.
• Eight weeks: Kittens this age weigh approximately two pounds. If they have not been exposed to humans, they will likely be feral.

Kitten Kaboodle: Early Stages

Now that you know the age and stage of your kitten clan, here’s what you need to know to encourage them to grow into outgoing, affectionate felines that will steal a cat lover’s heart:

• Confine kittens initially in a dog crate or cage for more space or try a bathroom with toilet seat down and cabinets closed.
• Don’t let feral kittens run loose in your house! Tiny babies can hide in tiny spaces and it goes without saying (but we will): They’re hard to locate and coax out.
• It’s tough, but if you have more than one kitten from a litter, separate them. Left together, the kittens will bond with each other instead of with people.
• Don’t try to handle a truly feral kitten that hisses and spits at you for the first few days. Visit the kitten frequently, always moving slowly, and talk softly to it. Reassure it that all is well.
• After the kitten calms down, begin handling—you know you want to! Wrap the kitten in a towel and find a comfortable place to sit with kitten on your lap. Enjoy. If you can pet now, terrific, but otherwise, give it time.
• Food is your incentive for taming. Start by feeding the kitten baby food or “wet” cat food on a spoon, delivered through the cage.
• Next, offer baby food or wet food on your finger. If the kitten doesn’t accept it, then dab a tiny bit on the end of its nose. The kitten will lick it off and want more. This is your chance: gradually pet the kitten’s face, chin, and behind the ears while you talk softly.
• Leave a television or radio on a few hours a day, but not too loud, so kittens get used to human voices.
• Aim for several feeding/petting sessions of 15 to 20 minutes as often as possible.
• Play and resulting interaction with you can hasten the taming process. Use a string or cat toy for the kitten to chase. It’s tempting, but don’t let the kitten bite, scratch or play with your hand.
• Once the kitten no longer runs away from you and instead seeks your attention, confine it to a kitten-proofed room rather than a cage. Always watch for dangerous electrical or blind cords and other household hazards. Think: Could my kitten “get into this?”
• Encourage friends to handle feral kittens frequently. They typically bond with one person so exposure to others is a critical part of their socialization process.