I need advice about kittens!?

Question

My cat is soon going to have her kittens. This is the first time we will have new-born kittens and we are not sure how to take care of them. When do we start feeding them? When she would train them to use a kitty litter box? Are we allowed to touch them when they are born? This is just the main stuff I need. If you could give me extra advice that would be great but you don't have to. Thanks! :-)

Answer 1

Just provide her with a soft, padded bed that is somewhat secluded and safe, and nearby food and water.....she will take care of the rest. If she has difficulty giving birth, she may need veterinary help...it does happen sometime. You may touch them, but handle them gently.....and she may be distressed when you do.

After about 3 weeks, if you provide a low-sided litterbox for them, they will prolly start using it. You can feed them soft foods whenever they will start eating it.....prolly around 4 or 5 weeks.

Have fun with them....I LOVE kittens.

Answer 2

Has your momma cat been checked by a vet? The main reason you should do this is to get an x-ray of her womb to get an estimate of how many kittens she's going to have. That way, when she's giving birth, you can keep track of the number that have come out. If she goes for more than twelve hours without producing the last one, she needs to see a vet quickly. Cats can rest for several hours inbetween each birth but if you know how many she's supposed to have and they haven't all come out within a day, take her to the vet. She and the kittens can die if she doesn't get help!

When she starts nesting, suggest a quiet, dim, comfortable place for her. A large box padded with towels or a blanket in an out of the way room (or even large uncluttered closet) is ideal. Make sure she has food, water, and a liter box. Leave her alone. Cats feel very vulnerable when they give birth and don't like to have people hanging around.

As the kittens are born, she should clean them herself and she will also probably eat the afterbirth. This is an instinct that goes back to her wild ancestors - if there is no trace of a newborn around, predators will be less likely to harm her youngsters. You will probably hear her purr. The vibrations of her purr and her scent are the only sense the kittens can pick up on. Her purrs will guide them to her nipples and, since each one has a different scent, each kitten will return to the same one as long as its nursing.

Unless your momma cat rejects the kittens, she will do everything for them and teach them to be model citizens. Kittens are a lot like children, they mimick their mother. They'll learn liter box manners from her.

If you have a well socialized cat, she may even start bringing the kittens to you for visits when they're eyes and ears open! To have friendly kittens, it is good to handle them from day one. But do so carefully and gently. You don't want to upset momma and you don't want to hurt them either. Just pick them up and stroke each one a few times and return it to momma. If momma growls, leave the kittens and her alone for a few days, until she's comfortable with her new family.

They'll start trying out her food when they're about a month and half old. When they start doing this, offer the kittens softened versions of the same food momma is eating. BTW, if you haven't already, start stwitching her over to a kitten formula food. Kitten formulas have more calories and more protien than regular adult mixes and she needs all the calories she can get while she's nursing. Also, the kittens will be able to eat the same kibble with no problem.

Answer 3

The mother needs and should have been on a high quality kitten food all through the pregnancy and until the kittens are weaned. This will help insure she stays healthy and the kittens as well, plus no to mention to have enough breast milk. Just like people they need the extra vit, mineral, protein, and calcium. The kittens will be drinking milk from the mother for weeks, and about 5 wks they start to try to nibble at it, some start eating on there own at 6 wks others take a full 8 wks. Keep the food out 24/7 and lot of fresh water, DON"T give cows milk it cause diarrhea and dehydration. Best of luck

Answer 4

When my cat had kittens for the first time she didn’t know what to do. So it is smart to keep an eye on her while she is in labor. Don’t get too close. You don’t want her to feel threatened. But if she doesn’t start cleaning the kittens after they are born you will need to show her. Get a clean rag and carefully clean the eyes, ears and most importantly the nose. My cat didn’t know what to do the first time so by the time we started helping her three of them suffocated in the sack like substance they are born in.

I would say also watch your cat if she is feeding them. New mother cats are sometimes reluctant to feed their young. And whether or not you can touch them when they are just born depends on the relationship you have with your cat and your cat’s personality. Some new mothers are really protective of their young so you have to watch how she reacts to you being close. But still I wouldn’t touch the kittens unless you absolutely have to. When you do have to keep taking to your cat in a soothing voice let her know you won’t hurt the kittens.
I usually start feeding the kittens with soft foods when they start standing up and their eyes have opened. I usually start with sour cream and then slowly work up to giving they cat food or kitten food.
Training should start as soon as they can walk around. I don't mean crawling I mean walking. When they can freely walk around and soil your house. Before that their mother will help them go and clean them.

Answer 5

is your cat indoors or outdoors? If she is indoors, just make sure to have like a box with old clothes in the closet, so she could have them there. She would do all the work! chewing the plasenta, cutting the cord, and cleaning them, let her do all the work, surpriseling she would know what to do! even if its her first time having a litter (nature). After she has all her kittens make sure to keep her food and water closed by, so she wont have to leave the kittens for too long. If she is an outdoors cat, you just have to keep an eye to where she would go and have the litter, if she feels that the kittens are not safe! she would move them! So, its best if you could keep her indoors. She is going to teach them everything! all you have to do is provide them food and water. Good luck! kittens are so cute! but remember eventually they become full grown cats!!!

Answer 6

You dont have to feed the kittens until after they can at least get up and walk around. For the time being the mother cat will take care of feeding the babies, just make sure you provide the mother with plenty of food so she can produce milk for the kittens. And I would advise that you do not touch them until after they get a little older, the mother cat will most likely be very protective of her babies and wont let you mess with them.

Answer 7

Congratulations! My baby kittens started using a tiny little litter box(that I made from a small cardboard box for their size) when they were 3 wks. old. The sooner the better, as long as they don't eat the litter. I put a little of urined litter from the mom's box into theirs so they know what it is for. Kittens don't start making poopies until they start on food, usually around 4-5 wks old. Don't handle the kittens for at least a week--the mom needs to tend to them & she may move them & hide them if you are too close to them too much. She needs to be calm & feel secure in order to nurse them well. Mom will spend most all of her time nursing in the beginning (as soon as the kitten is born), but will take breaks for food or even a short nap.

Answer 8

You usually start trying to teach the kittens to eat a soft food at about 4-5 weeks. The mother will train them to use the litter box as soon as they start climbing out of the box on their own. it also depends on the mother if she will let you touch and handle them. some mothers are very finicky and wont let you near their kittens, but if she is very loveable and sweet you shouldnt have a problem, i suggest you wait until they are at least four or five days old first though, that way the mother can bond with them properly.

Answer 9

The mother will wean the kittens when she is ready, just have food available if they want it. They should follow the mothers example on using the litter box. You can touch them but it is not recommended. If you have a picky cat it is possible she could abandon them if you bother them (although I have never had this happen) The mother will basically do everything for you. Cats are pretty independent.

Answer 10

OK!

1.) MAKE SURE THE MOM CAT IS COMFY
2.) The mom will feed the kittens for a while, when she runs out of milk, then u start spoon-feeding it milk
3.) When it is about 10 minutes old, u can touch it.
4.) Do the litterbox thing when u think u should train them!