How to Take Care of a Baby Cat
Monitor kittens’ weight
You may have seen some kittens in a litter box who seem a little underweight, but you can help them stay healthy by monitoring their weight. A good rule of thumb is to have the kitten double its birth weight in the first week of life. This is why it is important to monitor your kittens’ weight daily or weekly.
If you see your kittens being underweight, take them to the vet immediately. This can be an indication of parasites or disease. Your veterinarian can help you determine the best treatment. Underweight kittens may also be suffering from some innate disability. You should also have the kitten checked for hereditary diseases.
During the first few weeks of a kitten’s life, it’s important to stimulate elimination before and after feeding. You should use dampened gauze pads or cotton balls for this purpose. It is also important to monitor the kittens’ weight, as they are not yet fully grown and cannot eliminate on their own.
Keep them warm
When caring for a newborn kitten, it is important to keep it warm at all times. Kittens can get chills easily and it can be life threatening, so it is important to provide a warm environment for them to thrive. Look for signs of coldness, such as listlessness or being cool to the touch. If your kitten seems cold, rub him gently to increase circulation and warm his body. Keep in mind that newborn kittens cannot regulate their own body temperature until they reach three weeks old.
It is important to keep a young kitten warm during the first couple of weeks after birth. The most common risk to a kitten’s health is hypothermia, so you should monitor it carefully to keep it comfortable. If you find your kitten is chilled, slowly warm it up, avoiding feeding him until he warms up. If your kitten is already very cold, you should line a cardboard box with towels to make a nest. Keep the nest warm and cozy, and monitor the temperature of the ambient air.
Protect them from siblings
If you have a baby cat, it may seem like a challenge to protect it from its siblings. However, cats are not pack animals like dogs. Siblings will reject one another if they don’t recognize or remember each other. This is because cats use their scent to identify other cats. However, it is also possible for siblings to deny knowing one another and reject the other when separated.
Despite the fact that cats may get along with other cats when they are kittens, they are unlikely to become lifelong friends. Cats are unable to reach social maturity until they are about 18 months of age, so they may get along well when they’re young but drift apart as they grow.
If there is a significant level of hostility, you may need to isolate the two cats for a few days. This is because they may try to bite or scratch each other.
Socialize them
The best way to socialize a baby cat is to get him to know other cats in its environment. You can start socializing your kitten as early as four weeks old. Use treats to lure him towards other cats and toys. It’s also a good idea to keep a hideout nearby for him to retreat to when he feels unsafe.
Socialization is essential for your kitten’s development. It helps them become more comfortable with people, objects, environments, and activities. A well-socialized kitten will be more sociable as an adult and will be easier to handle. Socialization can take anywhere from two to six weeks. This depends on your kitten’s age and personality. However, it is usually recommended to socialize a kitten with other cats before releasing it to a new home.
The first step in socializing a kitten is to avoid frightening it. While many kittens will be comfortable around their primary caregivers, they may be scared of other people and unfamiliar situations. You should start socializing your kitten in a small, safe place before exposing it to a larger environment. A kitten that is afraid of new things may hide away or hiss as a way to express its fear.
