Kitten Fostering Handbook
Contents
1. ale ustin HUMANE SOCIETY Kitten Fostering Handbook The Austin Humane Society relies on a pool of dedicated and compassionate foster volunteers to care for kittens who are too young to be adopted Neonatal kittens kittens under 3 weeks old are some of the most vulnerable animals we serve at AHS Because of foster volunteers like you we are able to provide the intensive and specialized care these babies need to survive and thrive Below you will find information on how to care for kittens and how to be a successful foster for AHS Thank you for your support and for helping us save lives ale Austin HUMANE SOCIETY Table of Contents Contents AEROCUGTION COAG IENE seq ccacenecaoaecee chotouseaecaniouscceoesescnna S S 4 PENANCE dnc gece E E isn dsiaue sae aeaniesecaienc gavdan o asm caeeessuctoossceesenvuertesesaeerseen secs 4 Tempera Ure secorrir nar dnoinmad adionusuaa A N 4 FEY SING E A E E E E E E EE E 5 PEIDO c E aloguenauhenabenmneret 5 DeO ON A E E E ee eee errr 5 KE E O E E E S 5 FecoANnE FOMU ae E T a 6 Stimulation for Urination Defication essessessessenssesressrresrrressstresrsreesrtresttrrssrtrestttresttrsrrrresereesrrreesseeo 8 Weaning Kittens Onto SONGS scccicccisecssssvsnedsunhsesenavesosddoatsecsenensenieuwdecsntdesssdieabdecontewsnndaeeetecssedeact ANa Eneas 8 Common Medical Problems sresseriarneiarene herne A E E EE 9 External Ie ell 1S EE a E E EA AEA E E TA A EA A 9 DIIRE EE EE A EE AEA A ove ca2. This can be a bathroom kitchen spare room or even a large crate if you have one available Young kittens have accidents so consider choosing an easily cleanable and disinfectable room as your Starter Room Kittens should always have easy access to food fresh water and a litter box Set up a warm soft place for them to sleep that is free of drafts Make sure they have somewhere to hide that is easily accessible to you like a small crate or a cardboard box on its side An inexpensive cardboard scratcher is a terrific way to get kittens used to scratching in appropriate places The kittens should remain in their starter room while you are not available to supervise and overnight While you are available to watch and play with the kittens let them explore more and more parts of your home as the kittens become braver and braver Separating the kittens from your own personal pets is a good idea While the kittens are screened and evaluated before leaving the shelter they could be incubating illnesses that are contagious to you or your pets For the safety of your own pets we recommend that foster animals not be allowed to mingle with your own pets Feeding Young kittens need to eat at least 3 to 4 times a day Hard food can be left out all the time if it is in an area where other pets in the house do not have access to it it is important to 14 ale Austin HUMANE SOCIETY make sure all kittens are eating regularly Never give fost
3. Foster Care Coordinator to schedule a time to bring the kitten in to be seen by a clinic staff member Please keep track of what and when the kitten ate last Kitten Care The following list of supplies will be helpful in caring for kittens Some supplies are age specific Our Foster Care Coordinator will be happy to advise you on what supplies are necessary for each foster situation SUPPLIES Nesting box Crate Newspaper Paper towels Unscented baby wipes Plenty of old towels and or blankets Heating Pad without automatic shut off Gauze or cotton balls Scale with ounces de rah ustin HUMANE SOCIETY Syringes no needles Small kitten bottle and nipple Small bowls plates dishes Formula 21 Century and KMR are brands easily purchased at pet food stores Soft canned kitten food Pedia lyte Meat flavored baby food no onion Baby rectal thermometer NESTBOX The nestbox or area where you will keep the kittens should be large enough for the kittens to move around but not too much larger All kittens should be kept together in the same crate Small plastic airline crates or hamster cages work wonderfully for housing tiny kittens Line the crate with newspapers or towels Place a heating pad wrapped in towels and waterproof pads on one side of the crate so that the kittens can choose whether to be on or away from the heat source The heating pad should always be on the lowest setting and should not automatically shu
4. Sam 7pm Sun Sam 5pm Bring kitten directly to AHS for clinic staff to evaluate There is no need to call first if it is an emergency During non AHS business hours M F 7pm Sam Sun after Spm Take kitten to the following emergency clinic Austin Vet Care Central Park 4106 N Lamar Blvd Austin TX 78756 512 459 4336 Let them know that you are fostering an Austin Humane Society animal They will then call our on call staff to approve care This is for emergencies only Non emergent care will not be provided If you choose to take a foster animal to your own veterinarian or another emergency clinic AHS will have to evaluate reimbursement on a case by case basis All non emergent medical care should ONLY be provided by AHS Clinic staff and AHS Veterinarians Medical issues requiring non emergent veterinary attention Discharge from eyes nose Coughing Sneezing 11 ale Austin HUMANE SOCIETY Lack of appetite Lack of energy Diarrhea lasting more than 3 or 4 feedings Vomiting First sign of weight loss Limping Skin disease wounds Not defecating for more than 2 days Any other sign of illness Contact our foster care department to set up an appointment for the kitten to be evaluated or drop of the kitten in the morning for evaluation and pick up later You may reach our foster care department at 512 646 7387 ext 102 or at fostercare austinhumanesociety org Kitten Mortality Many factors play a
5. 1 2 oz a day for young kittens Below you will find average kitten weights based on age Age in days Avg Weight l 2 5 4 75 oz 5 3 7 OZ 10 4 5 9 75 oz 15 6 11 75 oz 20 7 5 14 5 oz 25 8 16 75 oz Temperature The average temperature of newborn kittens will be 96 100 degrees F Normal temperatures are 96 99F for 0 2 weeks 98 100F for 2 4 weeks and 100 101F for 4 6 weeks Neonatal kittens do not have the ability to regulate their own temperature and are dependent upon their mother or an artificial heat source for warmth The largest threat to the well being of a young kitten 1s chilling Hypothermia sets in quickly if not kept warm However warming too quickly is also dangerous Keeping a consistent warm temperature is key to caring for these babies Ways to warm a chilled kitten 1 Wrap a hot water bottle or sock filled with dry rice in a towel and place it next to the kitten Make sure the bottle or rice filled sock is warm but not too hot to hold against your own skin for 20 seconds comfortably 2 Place a heating pad on lowest setting down one side of a cardboard box and half way underneath the box Place a towel at the bottom of the box Make sure the kitten has room ale Austin HUMANE SOCIETY to move away from the heating pad if necessary but not enough room to lose its way back to the warmth Never feed a kitten that is cold as they cannot digest food when they are chilled Wait until the kitten is s
6. e E E A E E E E A 9 Mee in Pa aE aE E E E E E A T E 10 REDIO UNC SS a EE anaes acasasneeeesaeecesentsees 10 Emergent vs Non emergent Medical ISSUGS ccesecccceseccecesececeusececeeececseuseceesusecessusecessensceessusesetseneses 11 Kitten Mortal esser doeencweaisndwscedeecadusadecinai EE 12 Devcon ma ES E ae ee ere ee eres ee 12 Caring for Already Weaned KILOS siiicecschndsscsvcndecncncndceeuceessaeccaedansassedseadeenecectesuenocseentaseasasdsenuneneesaedemcesscanes 14 SUPPE a ee ee a ee ee ee ee 14 CS Ca OG ees viens ates nnaence E EEE EE ste ernecateeosatuessanessvanncuumesssenecee 14 FS SN EA co as E A eco co sine case opis iret rent neste re EE tsetse sence potas enue cee EE A T 14 Ee MY Melt E A E acts oa E E anise saonenc ost outs ue aca diese von sa saeatesaueeuce veweetee 15 JOCZ ON carctsaucsecersscaecenecasmansavueticenescineroevicecrnnmntscocesumtoonte races E E rept hiosneneuesconsewauersnnnec 15 Kitten Growth and Developme AU vscdecisucnescarineesacicccavennuonoscsiesassnoserdndsiotsanecgsaasesneiansvanwadudaieeosesunseveunrdes 15 ate Austin HUMANE SOCIETY Trouble Shooting for Fostering Cats and Kittens ccccccccsssecccceseceecenecceeeesececeeseceeeeneceeseneeeeseuecesaeneses 16 HAT aah aa hve T OUDIO acer eee A ee eee eee 16 ROCE TUNE oaa a E haveieheasteinnalereietonmuene E E E S 16 DDE 2 e E E 16 Feline Upper Respiratory Infection URI esssssssssersessrrereesrrrreessrrersessrrrressrrrressser
7. er kittens cow s milk as they cannot digest it If the kittens do not seem to be eating try warming up and watering down soft food You can use commercially produced kitten formula to add calories to wet food For picky eaters you can also try canned tuna chicken or salmon or meat flavored baby food to encourage them to eat Remember that none of these are balanced diets for kittens and should not be fed long term as the primary diet If the kittens are not eating please bring them to AHS so that our clinic team can evaluate them Eliminating Most kittens are very eager to go to the bathroom in a litter box Make sure the litter box has low sides to make it easy for them to get in and out Non clumping pelleted litter is recommended since kittens sometimes eat their litter Using a litter box is instinctual but you may need to encourage young kittens to use the box or offer several boxes if a kitten is not catching on as quickly as expected The size of the box the type of litter and any musculoskeletal or gastrointestinal illness may affect the kitten s ability to use the box If you catch your kitten having an accident outside of the box never startle or punish the kitten Doing so will likely teach your kitten to eliminate when you are not around but punishment will not convince him to use the litter box Continue to encourage and reward using the litter box When accidents occur avoid scolding and clean the mess quickly Socializa
8. gain If the kittens do not seem interested in regular cat food try canned chicken or tuna or meat flavored baby food to entice them Pouring the liquid from canned chicken or tuna onto other types of food will often work Add more water to the can refrigerate it and you ll have more juice ready for next time Remember that supplements like tuna or baby food are not balanced diets and should not be used long term as replacements for kitten food Diarrhea Loose watery stools are very common in young kittens The most common causes are diet intestinal parasites or bacterial overgrowth Very watery diarrhea for more than 24 hours can be an emergency situation for a very small kitten Make sure the kitten is drinking and bring the kitten to AHS for evaluation if the diarrhea persists or if the kitten is lethargic vomiting or not eating Feline Upper Respiratory Infection URI URI is similar to the common cold in humans Most respiratory infections are caused by viruses so treatment generally consists of supportive care Antibiotics are sometimes given to treat secondary bacterial infections What are the signs of URI Clear or colored nasal discharge snot Sneezing 16 ale Austin HUMANE SOCIETY Red inflamed conjunctiva lining of the eyes Fever lethargy loss of appetite What can I do to make my foster cat feel better Make sure the cat is eating When cats get stuffy noses they can t smell their fo
9. ir new foster home After a few days of caution and a few hisses and swats the majority of kittens become outgoing playful and affectionate If after a few days the kitten does not seem to be coming out of her shell more proactive care must be taken Socializing Shy Kittens Food is the key to taming Make dry kitten food available at all times and give the kitten a small amount of wet food at least twice a day The kitten may hesitate to eat in your presence at first but be patient Eventually the kitten will associate your presence with food Chicken flavored baby food is a special treat that almost no kitten can resist make sure it doesn t contain onion Baby food should not replace kitten food as the primary diet since it is not well balanced for kittens Wrap the kitten in a towel allowing her head to stick out Offer baby food or wet food on a spoon If she does not respond dab a tiny bit on the end of her nose Once she tastes it she will soon want more 17 NA Austin HUMANE SOCIETY Gently begin to pet the kitten s face chin and behind the ears while talking gently Try to have several feeding petting sessions 5 10 minutes with each kitten as many times a day as you can Progress will depend on the kitten s age and temperament Each day you will notice improvement falling asleep in your lap coming towards you for food meowing at you purring and playing are all great signs Once the kitten no longer r
10. n determine their preferences In general cats seem to enjoy batting at small toys like balls and fake mice They also like to stalk chase and pounce on things that move like prey such as toys with feathers attached to flexible rods that you can dangle and move about Frequently give your kittens new objects to investigate such as paper bags or cardboard boxes If your kittens tend to grab your feet as you go up and down the stairs or hide under things and ambush your ankles or legs as you walk by carry toys with you and toss them ahead of you to redirect his attention Try to get him to focus on chasing the toys instead of attacking you Consistently give a too rough kitten time outs when he plays too roughly The instant he starts to bite or scratch you end the game by leaving the room Don t attempt to pick up your cat and put him in another room for the time out as this could provoke more bites 18 my Niky austin What NOT to Do Never encourage your kitten to play with your hands feet or any other body part While it may be fun when you have a tiny kitten it becomes painful and dangerous as the kitten grows up Do not use toys that teach your cat to play with your hands such as gloves with balls hanging from the fingers If you do your cat will be encouraged to direct his play at your hands and won t understand that it s only okay to attack your hands when you re wearing the toy gloves Do not ph
11. non clumping litter should be used if possible Weaning Kittens onto Solids At about 3 4 weeks of age you may start mixing in soft canned food with the formula and offering it in a shallow bowl to begin the weaning process Continue to bottle feed until you are certain they are eating well on their own Begin offering hard kitten kibble at this age as well they may surprise you Young animals that have been separated from their mothers too soon often lack the instinct to eat from a bowl and need some encouragement Here are some tips Watering food down heating it up and offering it directly to their lips with your finger or a spoon may sometimes give them the idea Kittens at or under one pound need to be encouraged to eat at least every four hours and weighed daily to ensure weight gain ale Austin HUMANE SOCIETY If the kittens do not seem interested in canned kitten food try canned chicken or tuna Pouring the liquid from canned chicken or tuna onto other types of food will often work Add more water to the can refrigerate it and you ll have more juice ready for next time Chicken turkey or beef flavored baby food will often be an appealing consistency and flavor to kittens no onion flavored food Baby food is not a balanced diet for long term use in kittens so use this only to encourage eating of kitten cat food Nutri Cal is an over the counter calorie supplement that can be added to any of the above recipes
12. ns Preparing formula If using a bottle you may need to make the hole in the nipple a little larger to allow the milk to flow through Do this by snipping the top of the nipple with scissors very slightly to make an X You want to make the hole large enough to allow milk to drop slowly from the nipple when the bottle is inverted If milk runs out of the hole in a stream the hole is too big and can cause the kitten to aspirate milk into its lungs Warm the formula to approximately 100 degrees F The formula should feel warm on your wrist at this temperature Feeding the kitten Start by covering your lap with a towel or blanket Take the kitten in your lap and scruff her like mama cat would do to move her from place to place You want to feed her while she is on her stomach not on her back like we feed human babies or upright Placing the kitten on her stomach helps prevent the milk from entering the windpipe this is very important Try to angle the bottle so that air does not go into the stomach Encourage suckling by keeping a slight pull on the bottle Be careful not to overfeed Overfeeding can lead to diarrhea and other problems You will usually see bubbles forming around the kitten s mouth when it s full Burping the kitten ALWAYS burp the kitten after each feeding Do this by rubbing and patting the kitten s back As the kittens grow the number of feedings and their frequency can be decreased typically 7 8 feedings da
13. od very well and may not want to eat Offer canned food canned chicken tuna or salmon or meat flavored baby food Remember that canned meats and baby foods are not balanced diets for cats and should not replace cat food for more than a few meals If the cat is producing discharge from eyes or nose gently clean the cat s nose and eyes with a soft cloth wet with warm water If the cat is very congested use a humidifier or put the cat in a small bathroom and run hot water in the shower for 15 20 minutes a couple of times a day For a more concentrated steam treatment put the cat in a carrier next to the sink cover the carrier and the faucet with a thick towel and run the water on hot for 15 20 minutes The steam should remain trapped under the towel Hair Loss Any spots of hair loss on your foster should be reported to the Foster Coordinator immediately The most common cause of hair loss in cats is a skin fungus called ringworm Testing is required to diagnose ringworm since many causes of hair loss lead to similar symptoms Ringworm is treatable and our Foster Care Coordinator can speak with you about treatment options Ringworm is contagious to other pets and is zoonotic meaning that it is contagious to people Cats or kittens with hair loss should be handled with gloves or other protective clothing and kept strictly isolated from other fosters or pets Behavior Problems Most kittens adjust very quickly and easily to live in the
14. ow Of course there will always be slight variations but generally kittens should weigh 1 pound at 1 month of age 2 pounds by 2 months of age and so on until about 5 months of age The kitten needs to be at least two pounds for spay neuter surgery Occasionally we encounter kittens of smaller stature that despite our best efforts do not reach 2 pounds as soon as we were 15 he rah ustin HUMANE SOCIETY hoping These kittens may need to remain in foster until they reach the minimum adoptable weight Trouble Shooting for Fostering Cats and Kittens When fostering young kittens daily monitoring of their overall health and well being is very important Some of the most common issues you may have are outlined below If the suggested remedies below do not help please bring the kitten to AHS for evaluation Tummy Troubles Tummy Troubles include not eating diarrhea vomiting blood in stool and not using the litter boxes The most common causes of Tummy Troubles are diet intestinal parasites or bacterial overgrowth in the intestine Not Eating Young animals that have been separated from their mothers too soon often lack the instinct to eat from a bowl and need some encouragement Watering food down heating it up and offering it directly to their lips with your finger or a spoon can sometimes give them the idea Kittens at or under one pound need to be encouraged to eat at least every four hours and weighed daily to ensure weight
15. part in kitten mortality and death is an unfortunate reality when we deal with the most vulnerable populations Kittens born on the streets are subjected to influences that can significantly reduce their chances of survival and may have congenital or inherited defects that we are unaware of Despite our best efforts young kittens do die The death of a kitten can be an emotionally disturbing experience It is important to understand and accept that some kittens will not survive What we can do for these kittens is surround them with warmth care and love while they are with us Developmental Stages At birth 3 4 5 ounces Kitten is born both blind and deaf Eyes are closed and the ears are folded Kitten uses its sense of smell to find its mother s teat The mother has to lick the kitten s bottom to stimulate it to eliminate A newborn kitten cannot regulate its own body temperature and it 1s extremely sensitive to cold A newborn kitten that gets separated from the mother and its siblings can die quickly of hypothermia 12 ale Austin HUMANE SOCIETY Day 4 Hearing develops but the ear canals are not open completely until the end of the 2nd week Day 5 Remains of the umbilical cord dry up and fall off Day 11 Eyes begin to open and continue to open until the 13th day All kittens are born with blue eyes but the eye color can change later 2 5 weeks Kitten begins to crawl and starts to stand 3 weeks Ki
16. recipe for the formula used is consistent or further digestive problems will likely occur Just like human babies any changes to the diet must be made very gradually over several days to avoid causing gastrointestinal upset Another possible cause for diarrhea in kittens is intestinal parasites ale Austin HUMANE SOCIETY Intestinal Parasites The most common intestinal parasites in kittens are roundworms hookworms and tapeworms as well as giardia and coccidia and may often cause diarrhea vomiting or lethargy in kittens Roundworms Kittens infected with roundworms typically lose their appetite appear depressed have diarrhea become anemic and pass mucus or blood in their stool Roundworms may be visible in the feces Hookworms Very black and possibly bloody stool can be an indication of hookworms and should not be ignored Tapeworms Tapeworms are not life threatening and are not contagious You may notice white rice looking segments around the anus Tapeworms are contracted by eating fleas that have ingested tapeworm eggs Giardia Giardia is a parasite in the small intestine that interferes with the absorption of nutrients and fluids This may lead to severe diarrhea Coccidia Coccidia is also a parasite of the small intestine and indications of this parasite are mucus and blood in the stool Kittens with coccidia often have yellow runny stool If you notice diarrhea in your foster kitten s please contact our fos
17. rressereressretrresserereseeeeree 16 P LO a E E E nasceeimecsene 17 BEMAVIOl PrOD EIS ara E E E E cannes 17 i i s y Austin HUMANE SOCIETY Introduction to Kittens Kittens under the age of 8 weeks are too young for our adoption program and require specialized care in a foster home Caring for tiny kittens is much like caring for human babies Depending on their age they may require bottle feedings every few hours assistance with elimination temperature regulation and socialization However proper care for these babies can easily be learned and the rewards are endless During the spring in Texas we see thousands of kittens born to stray and feral moms Many of these kittens end up in shelters because the mom was unable to care for them This is where foster parents step in Fostering kittens is basically recreating the job of the mom feeding pottying grooming and providing LOTS of love Unfortunately the more kittens you foster the more likely it is that you may have one that does not survive Itis estimated that approximately 20 of kittens die in the wild even with their mothers Motherless kittens are at high risk for mortality and we do lose tiny kittens However we save MANY more kittens than we lose and these babies grow up to quickly find their forever homes Birth Weight Healthy kittens weigh about 3 4 ounces at birth and quickly gain weight doubling their birth weight by one week old We like to see a weight gain of about
18. sh or green in color please contact our Foster Care Coordinator or bring the kitten in to the shelter for our clinic to evaluate 8am 7pm Mon Sat 8am 5pm Sun Underfeeding Underfed kittens are equally at risk for complications Kittens that are underfed are restless and cry excessively It will eventually appear listless and apathetic Eventually these kittens will become dehydrated and chilled If you think your foster kitten is suffering from underfeeding make sure to check the amounts you are feeding and consult our Foster Care Coordinator for more guidance Weight Checks Keeping a tab on weight increase is key to making sure kittens are thriving Kittens should be weighed daily for the first two weeks and then weighed every three days until they are one month old Stimulation for Urination Defication After each meal the kitten must be stimulated to urinate and defecate When kittens are with their mom she takes care of this by licking the kittens in order to stimulate their bowels For motherless kittens use a cotton ball dampened with warm water to massage the kitten s anal and urinary areas This process is necessary after each meal until the kitten can eliminate on her own usually around 3 weeks of age At this time you can start putting the kitten in a litter box to encourage it to go on its own Drawer organizers purchased at office supply stores make great litterboxes for tiny kittens Some kittens eat litter so pelleted
19. t off Test the temperature of the heated area often to make sure it s not too hot for you to touch it for 20 seconds comfortably During the first week of life the kitten housing area should be kept at a temperature between 85 and 90 degrees F The temperature may then be lowered 5 degrees each week of life until 70 degrees F is reached Make sure the crate 1s not near an open window or drafty area If you choose to use a box without a top make sure the sides are tall enough so that the kittens cannot crawl or fall out Change the bedding in the box daily until the kittens start litter training Feeding Formula Neonate kittens have only a minimal amount of fat on their bodies Thus frequent feedings are required to maintain adequate blood sugar levels and provide energy for metabolism NEVER FEED A KITTEN COW S MILK OR HUMAN BABY FORMULA Pet food stores and veterinarians carry feline formulas that contain closely matching nutrients to those in their mother s milk At the Austin Humane Society we use 21 Century kitten formula but there are other brands that are suitable as well Reference guide for feeding quantities based on weight note these are averages NA Austin HUMANE SOCIETY Age in Weeks Avg Weight cc of formula day Feedings per day Use a small bottle designed for animals which can be purchased at a pet supply store A 5 8 nipple usually works best Human baby bottles are not appropriate for feeding kitte
20. t they can stretch fully This may be why cats seem to like drapes so much Encourage your cat to investigate her posts by scenting them with catnip hanging toys on them and placing them in areas where she ll be inclined to climb on them Discourage inappropriate scratching by removing or covering other desirable objects Turn speakers toward the wall Put plastic double sided sticky tape sandpaper or upside down vinyl carpet runner knobby parts up on furniture or on the floor where your cat would stand to scratch your furniture Place scratching posts next to these objects as legal alternatives If you catch your cat in the act of scratching an inappropriate object you can try startling him by clapping your hands or squirting him with water Use this procedure only as a last resort because your cat may associate you with the startling event clapping or squirting and learn to scratch only when you are not around 19
21. ter care department or bring your kitten s in during regular business hours to be seen by our clinic staff 8am 7pm M F 8am 5pm Sunday Please be sure to provide a fresh stool sample at the time of the appointment when possible Respiratory Illness Kittens commonly experience respiratory illness which can include nasal discharge sneezing coughing eye discharge or swollen eyes Many of the causes of respiratory disease are viral so supportive care 1s most beneficial Supportive care may include fluid therapy eye lubricants to prevent ulcerations these viruses cause dry eye drugs to support the immune system nebulization or antiviral medications At times antibiotics may be needed If you notice respiratory symptoms in your kitten s please bring them to the shelter for evaluation by our clinic staff 10 NA Austin HUMANE SOCIETY Emergent vs Non emergent Medical Issues The following is a list of symptoms that may indicate an emergency situation If you feel that your foster kitten is in need of IMMEDIATE medical attention and will not survive without it please follow the procedure below A temperature over 103F or less than 98F Trouble Breathing Seizures Severe lethargy non responsive Evidence of severe pain restlessness vocalizing panting Major wounds requiring suture Vomiting excessively 3 4 times Not urinating x 24 hours or more What to do In Case of Emergency During regular AHS business hours M F
22. tion Kittens are in your home for a reason SOCIALIZATION Handle them several times a day and especially while they are eating As they become more acclimated to your home you can carefully let them explore more areas while you are available to supervise Help them learn appropriate ways to play and appropriate things to play with not your fingers Rough play scratching and biting should NOT be encouraged If a kitten does become over stimulated give the kitten an old stuffed toy he can sink his teeth into and kick as much as he likes but teach them that it is not appropriate to do this to any part of a human s body There are so many fabulous toys designed for cats wand toys laser pointers balls and stuffed mice are all appreciated Be careful with any sort of string kittens can ingest it potentially causing serious bowel obstructions Get them used to all over handling check their paws ears and teeth regularly Introduce them to brushing ear cleaning and nail clipping This is also a great time to introduce the concept of the scratching post if they go for the furniture feel free to squirt them with a water bottle and then move them to the scratching post the kitten s new owner will appreciate it Try Squirt Therapy when a kitten does anything bad tries to get outside plays too rough scratches on the furniture etc Kitten Growth and Development Kittens should follow the growth chart bel
23. to add calories Karo Syrup can be purchased at any grocery store and can be applied directly to the kitten s gums or food to add immediate calories and to raise the kitten s blood sugar Common Medical Problems External Parasites Most kittens born outside have fleas lice and or ear mites Fleas are most common and need to be removed as soon as possible Our staff will administer flea treatment that is appropriate for the age of the kitten Give the infant a flea comb bath In a bowl mix warm water and Dawn dish soap Take care not to submerge the infant in water Dip the flea comb in the warm soapy water and brush the infant down to remove all of the fleas and DRY COMPLETELY Keeping the kitten as warm as possible is extremely important At 4 weeks of age our staff can administer Capstar to kill the adult fleas on its body within one hour lasting 6 8 hours At 8 weeks of age our staff will administer monthly flea prevention Typical signs of ear mites include headshaking pawing and scratching at the ear or brown flaky debris in the ear canals If we have not already administered medication for this condition or if the kitten continues to have problems with its ears please call our foster care department to bring the kitten in for evaluation Diarrhea The most common cause of diarrhea in bottle baby kittens is diet These kittens must abruptly adjust to formula after many have nursed on their mothers It is vital that the type and
24. tten is steadier on its feet Sense of smell is mature Sight is still poor but he can interpret some visual information First teeth begin to break through gums May eliminate without aid 4 weeks I pound Kitten s sight has improved enough so that it can negotiate obstacles Starting to develop motor skills running climbing Beginning to eat solid canned food Engaging in active play with littermates Kitten will not be fully sighted until 2 months of age 4 5 weeks Kitten weighs about one pound and will be moving quite well Learning to play with one another and groom themselves 13 rity Austin HUMANE SOCIETY 5 to 7 weeks Very important social development occurs in relation to humans and other animals Fosters should provide a variety of socialization opportunities 8 weeks 2 pounds Kitten will have a full set of teeth and should be fully weaned Kitten should be eating hard cat food as well as canned food Play should be highly active chasing climbing and tumbling with littermates Caring for Already Weaned Kittens Supplies Towels wash cloths blankets unscented baby wipes e Litter boxes and litter e Canned and dry kitten food e Bowls for food and water e Scale Toys cat food and waterd ts unscented b e Scratching Post s e Heating pad optional Getting Started We recommend using a Starter Room for the first several days to a week depending on the sociability of the kittens
25. ufficiently warmed up before feeding Eyes and Ears Kittens are born with closed eyes and closed ear canals and cannot see or hear during the early days of life Typically kittens begin to gain hearing capability between 5 8 days of life and their eyes begin to open in the second week By three weeks of age they should be able to fully see and hear the world around them Hygiene It is very important to keep the kitten s environment as clean as possible Wash your hands before touching the kitten and before preparing food or feeding the kitten If handling other pets or fosters please change your shirt before working with the kitten Dehydration Kittens can become dehydrated very quickly from not eating drinking When a kitten has diarrhea it is a good idea to mix the kitten s bottle with Pedia lyte in place of water This will help prevent dehydration If the diarrhea is severe lasting over 24 hours or contains blood please contact the Foster Care Coordinator to schedule a time to bring the kitten in to be seen by a clinic staff member Severe dehydration in kittens requires immediate intervention The most effective way to test for dehydration is to tent the skin on the kitten s back This is done by pick up a fold of skin and watching what happens when you release the skin it should spring back into shape If the skin remains in a ridge the kitten is dehydrated If you believe your foster kitten is dehydrated contact the
26. uns away from you but instead comes toward you seeking to be fed held and petted you can confine her to a small kitten proofed room rather than a cage Expose the kittens to a variety of people Everyone should use soft voices at first and approach the kittens in a non threatening manner If you do not notice signs of taming after a couple of days kittens should be separated from each other to facilitate taming Left together one kitten can become outgoing and playful while another remains shy and withdrawn If you cannot separate them the kittens can be housed together but be sure to spend time alone with each one Siblings can be reunited when they have begun to show regular signs of socialization Once the kitten is willing to play offer toys and use a string not yarn or a cat dancer for him to chase Do not let the kitten bite scratch or play with your hand If the kittens are staying awake at night try to play and socialize with them more during the day and cover their cage s at night with a towel or blanket Leave a television or radio on not too loud during the day so the kittens get used to human voices If you are confining the kittens in a kennel try to keep it in the most active part of your house family room kitchen etc This way the kittens can get used to the regular noises and activities of a household which will help with socialization Rough Play Provide a variety of toys for your kittens so you ca
27. y up to 2wks 6 7 feedings day 2 3 wks 5 6 feedings day 3 4wks and 4 5 feedings day while beginning to wean at 4 6 wks Also as they grow they can let you know better when they are actually hungry Kittens that are not getting enough nourishment may cry continuously suck on each other or on themselves and they may have prominent hips or backbones Daily weight measurements are helpful to ensure kittens are eating enough and growing properly Overfeeding Kittens have tiny stomachs and can only handle small amounts of food at each feeding Overfeeding a kitten can cause diarrhea which can lead to dehydration and ultimately if left untreated death to the kitten ale Austin HUMANE SOCIETY Normal kitten stool should be firm and yellowish in color Loose yellow stool is a sign of mild overfeeding Greenish stool indicates food is passing too rapidly through her digestive system Grayish stool with a foul odor indicates inadequate digestion of formula and is the most serious form of diarrhea If you notice indications of overfeeding correct the feeding conditions immediately Make sure you are administering the correct amount of formula at each feeding If you are administering the correct amount and the stool is loose and yellow you can dilute the formula with 1 3 water When the stool appears yellow and firm you can return to feeding the full strength formula If reducing the formula does not help the diarrhea or if the stools are grayi
28. ysically punish your cat for rough play If you hit or slap your cat he may perceive your actions as play and become even rougher Alternatively he might become fearful of your hands and respond by avoiding you or changing from play to real aggression Never run from your cat or try to block his movements with your feet These actions can cause your cat to intensify his play or become aggressive Destructive Scratching Scratching is a normal cat behavior intended to sharpen the toenails for climbing and defense The best tactic when dealing with inappropriate scratching is not to try to stop your cat from scratching but instead to teach her where and what to scratch An excellent approach is to provide her with appropriate cat attractive surfaces and objects to scratch such as scratching posts The following steps will help you encourage your cat to scratch where you want her to Provide a variety of scratching posts with different qualities and surfaces Try posts made of cardboard carpeting wood sisal and upholstery Some cats prefer horizontal posts Others like vertical posts or slanted posts Some prefer a vertical grain for raking while others favor a horizontal grain for picking Once you figure out your cat s preference for scratching provide additional posts of that kind in various locations Keep in mind that all cats want a sturdy post that won t shift or collapse when used Most cats also like a post that s tall enough tha
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