Newborn cats are deaf and blind so they depend entirely on their mother, in the event that you found a newborn kitten and its mother is nowhere to be found, the kitten will depend on you to survive.

These little ones are not able to regulate their body temperature on their own. They are also unable to urinate and defecate without proper stimulation.

How to take care for a newborn cat?

If the mother of the cats cannot take care of her offspring, you will have to work hard to provide the kittens with the necessary care for their development and survival.

We have some tips for you:

Find a safe place
At this point you must take all precautions. Cats are very curious animals by nature, so you must make sure that the place where they are is as safe as possible for them. Do not rule out using a kennel or cage that you can close and prevent cats from going out to explore.

Maintain the proper temperature
Remember that cats cannot regulate the temperature by themselves, so the room or space in which they are must be kept between 84ºF and 90ºF. This way, you will prevent them from suffering hypothermia. You can achieve this temperature with hot water bottles rolled up in blankets or with a heater.

Feed them properly
A newborn cat need to take special milk for kittens, these products are available in veterinary stores, and they also have quite strict feeding schedules.

• In the first week of life, cats eat every 2 to 4 hours, including nights. As they grow, the feedings can be spaced. It is important to check that the milk is warm (approximately 100ºF).
• Position the cat in the same way that it would be placed with its mother when suckling: on a flat surface, resting on its chest and belly, and with its head raised. Put the bottle in a horizontal position and with the nipple down.

Their hygiene
It’s necessary that after each feeding you stimulate the anogenital area of ​​the newborn cat to relieve itself. For this you can use a wipe or a damp cloth. Cats may defecate twice a day, but if it takes more than a day and a half and they have not evacuated, it is best to go immediately to the vet. After stimulating it, it is convenient to clean the area to keep them clean and dry and avoid a drop in temperature.

The weaning
By week 4, cats are usually able to regulate their body temperature. The first teeth also appear, this is an indication that they can start taking solid foods:

• You should start combining the bottle feeds with the consumption of dry food for small cats, moisten that food with water or milk for kittens to facilitate their ingestion.
• At 8 weeks weaning is final, until then, it is advisable to gradually reduce the milk and increase the solid food.
• Once the weaning is complete, take your cat to the vet to begin his program of deworming and vaccinations.

Socialization
We must not forget the psychological and social aspect at the time of rescue. The first and most important stage of socialization takes place between week 3 and 12. During this period, it is necessary for cats to be exposed to caresses, noises, people and other animals that are part of their environment.

Now, if you rescue a newborn cat without its mother, you can take care of it, acting in the same way as she would. Follow these tips and make sure that the kittens grow into healthy and balanced adult cats.