Found a Kitten? Here's What to Do!

Firstly, when you find a stray kitten, it's crucial to assess whether it's suitable for rescue. [Note: The presence of human scent on a young kitten can lead to the mother cat abandoning it.]

1. Emergency Situation: If the kitten is in a visible and unsafe environment, surrounded by dogs, near traffic, or appears extremely weak, wrap the kitten in a cloth to keep it warm and seek medical attention immediately.

2. NonEmergency Situation: Avoid touching the kitten and keep your distance from the nest. Observe to see if the mother cat returns. Wait for at least half an hour to three hours to ensure the mother doesn't come back before attempting to rescue the kitten.

Secondly, after rescuing a stray kitten, prioritize keeping it warm and seeking medical help. If you're unable to care for it, try to reach out to online platforms for assistance. [Before attempting to rescue, consider whether you're capable of caring for the kitten and have a plan for finding a suitable adopter if needed.]

Warming: Newborn kittens under three weeks old cannot regulate their own body temperature. Therefore, upon finding a stray kitten, wrap it in a towel or use a heating pad for warmth. Be cautious of the risk of burns when using heating pads, and place them at a safe distance to avoid overheating the kitten.

Medical Examination: Have a veterinarian check the kitten's health, look for any infectious diseases, and confirm if deworming or flea treatment is necessary. Also, ask the vet to demonstrate the correct feeding technique to prevent the kitten from choking. Remember, never bathe the kitten immediately upon arrival, as it can be fatal.

Adoption: Look for potential adopters on relevant platforms. Caring for a kitten is challenging, and if you can't keep up with the feeding schedule, it might be best to find a new home for the kitten. [Note: Avoid taking the kitten to a shelter, as there are many cats and diseases there. Young kittens have little resistance and can easily contract diseases, leading to death.]

1. Kitten Formula: Purchase kitten formula or a suitable alternative to fresh milk. Never feed the kitten anything else, as it can cause diarrhea and dehydration, which can be lifethreatening.

2. Age Determination: Kittens are blind for the first ten days of life. Kittens will start to grow teeth at three weeks, and they can begin weaning at four weeks. Until then, they must be fed milk.

3. Feeding Technique: Regardless of the feeding method, ensure that milk does not enter the kitten's lungs. Support the kitten's belly with your hand, keeping it in a prone position with its head slightly elevated. Feed every 23 hours, maintaining milk temperature between 35°C and 37.8°C. Check that the nipple opening allows the kitten to suckle easily. After three weeks, feeding can be reduced to 46 hours. Avoid letting the kitten drink air, and pat its back gently after feeding to help it burp. [Feeding should be done slowly, and the position is crucial.]

4. Choking Signs: Sudden cessation of drinking, milk coming out of the nose, head twisting, pushing away the bottle, coughing, or unusual breathing sounds. [Feeding should be done slowly, and the position is crucial.]

5. Choking First Aid: Hold the kitten in your palm, using your index and middle fingers to support its front limbs, and place it on its belly with the head slightly lower, at an angle of about 3045 degrees. Gently pat the kitten's back, checking for milk coming out of its nose. Wipe it away with a tissue and continue patting until it's normal. [If the situation is beyond your control, seek veterinary help immediately.]

6. Weaning Training: At four weeks, you can start weaning the kitten. Gradually reduce milk feedings and replace them with soft kitten kibble, weaning formula, chicken puree, or canned cat food. [Only experienced pet owners should consider replacing milk with raw meat.]

Thirdly, on the subject of kitten defecation:

Defecation: Use a damp paper towel with warm water to gently wipe and massage the kitten's bottom to aid defecation. If the kitten has diarrhea, clean it with warm water and keep the kitten's body dry.

Training to Use a Litter Box: At four weeks, you can start training the kitten to use a litter box. Place some cat feces in the box and bring the kitten to it, explaining that this is where it should go to the bathroom. [This may require repetition and patience.]