Newborn Kitten Care
Having the addition of newly-born kittens can be stressful for you and your family, but it can also become a very stressful time for the mother cat. To ensure the survival of the new additions to your family, here are some points for newborn kitten care.
It’s always emphasized, but not emphasized enough, that kittens need warmth, and it’s especially true if they were recently born. While the mother cat usually takes care of this, you can ensure the health of the baby cats by providing some extra blankets so your cats will be more comfortable. Placing them inside a box or carrier with towels and blankets can provide more warmth, but make sure it’s just right for the 
newborn kitty. Keep the temperature at around 90° Fahrenheit, or provide some heating materials such as electric bulbs or hot water compress near the box. Make sure that you’re not overheating the new family, and that both the kittens and the mother cat are all comfortable.
The mother usually provides for the kittens’ nourishment. Sometimes, though, newborn kitten care calls for you to feed the kittens yourself. This usually occurs if: one, there are too many kittens in the litter and the mother cannot feed them all. If this happens, you’ll also have to provide for the nourishment of your mother cat. Always remember that cats should drink non-fat milk or milk specially made for them.
For newborn kitten care, you might need K.M.R., which you can usually avail at the nearest pet stores. A syringe, an eye-dropper, or a specialized bottle will help feed your kitten. Another possible reason for the mother not feeding the kitten is if she rejects it. Look for telltale signs of this, such as if the mother is ignoring one or more kittens in favor of another. The mother may also refuse to feed an entire litter; if this happens, you’ll have to be ready. A guide for kitten care can be found at your local pet store or the vets.
Kittens are always cute, and we know that you’ll want to keep them safe and constantly check up on them. However, some mothers may perceive this as a threat. Part of newborn kitten health care is for you to resist picking up the kitties unless it’s an emergency; there have been documented cases where mothers will reject their babies unless they have implicit trust on you. Still, this may not be the case, so you can keep your distance but still oversee the kittens’ improvement over time.
You’ll have to use your wise judgment, though. You don’t need to have extensive knowledge on newborn kitten care to find out if the baby cat needs your intervention. Knowing when to interfere with a mother cat’s care may help save a kitten’s life. If your mother cat rejected one of the kittens, try checking the kitten’s health. Is there shortness of breath? Panting? Is the kitten constantly crying? You might need the help of a veterinarian, put wrap the kitten in a blanket but keep their face free or else they might choke. You can use your forefinger to gently massage their chest; this may help if they have trouble breathing. Still, be prepared. Many mother cats instinctively recognize if a member of the litter is too weak and will abandon the effort to care for it, knowing it will not survive. Despite your best intentions, sometimes you’ll have to let go. However, by knowing the best way for newborn kitten care, you’ll likely find yourself with frisky additions to your family in no time at all!