Gypsy Animal Rescue

Bottle Baby Kittens

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-Bottle baby kittens need to be fed, cleaned, and stimulated to go potty regularly

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-Until about 3 weeks these things will need to be done every 2 hours

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-From 3-4 weeks they can be spaced at longer increments and by 4 weeks kittens can sleep through the night easily without a feeding.

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-At 4 weeks kittens will have their teeth and can begin being weaned.

*If a kitten has been weaned but is quickly losing weight and becoming weak do not

hesitate to put Kitten Milk Replacer (KMR) back into its diet along with solid food and a

supplement of Nutri-Cal.

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-Bottle baby kittens are to be fed KMR and NOTHING ELSE (aka NO cow milk!)

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-To stimulate a kitten, take a warm wet wash cloth/cotton ball/gloved finger and gently rub the rear area until urine/feces come out. It may take some time, be patient and gentle. (And yes, they do tend to scream :/ )

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-Kittens should pee after every feeding and poop at least once per day. If it has been three days without poop you should seek out a vet for a tiny enema.

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-Bottle baby kittens need to be kept warm, so they will need a hot water bottle or a heater nearby. (Be careful not to burn them either.)

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-They also need to be kept clean, which can be done with a warm wet wash cloth (mind the nose, moth, eye and rear areas). Make sure they are dried immediately after cleaning.

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-Often overlooked is their need for physical contact. Hold, pet, or touch your kitten as often as you can. (One thing I like to do is put on a sweater and tuck the kitten gently inside between the sweater and my shirt, taking care not to crush or suffocate it. It is a warm place where the kitten can feel your breathing and it calms them down noticeably. You can relax and watch a movie or get work done.)

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Disclaimer:

* These are the methods I used at the shelter where I worked. I used them on dozens of kittens myself and trained foster parents using them. They were approved by a veterinarian, but that being said, I am not a vet myself and it never hurts to give a professional a call when doing something for the first time. Good luck! :)