I found an abandoned kitten, how do I take care of it?

Every year, many kittens are abandoned or left to fend for themselves due to abandonment or the disappearance of their mother... If you find a ball of fur, it is important to know how to take care of it and to be assisted by a veterinarian or an association to increase its chances of survival.

Whatever the outcome of the rescue, be gentle with yourself. Taking care of a young kitten is not an easy task. Some kittens are unfortunately sometimes sick, too weak, or too young to survive without their mother.

I found a kitten, what should I do?

Abandonment, disappearance of the mother...

First, you should make sure that the mother is not nearby. Keep in mind that kittens have a much better chance of surviving if they are with their mother than if they are taken away. The mother may have just gone hunting, for example. Wait and see how the situation evolves before making a decision.

The main thing to observe is the kittens' general condition: are they dirty, thin, or appear disoriented? If so, they are most likely abandoned. If you are unable to take care of them, you can ask for help from an animal protection association near you.

If you notice the presence of the whole little family, do not hesitate to contact an animal protection association or the SPA, which may be able to take them in or at least guide you on the next steps. You can also inquire with the local town hall services.

First reflex: take it to the vet!

This is where your mission as a surrogate mother begins!

The best thing to do is to take your little protege as quickly as possible to a veterinarian, who will, depending on its age and health condition, recommend how to proceed. The veterinarian will examine the kitten and check its identification.

If you cannot take it to the vet immediately, do not let it come into contact with your other pets, if you have any. The kitten may carry diseases like leukemia or FIV.

While waiting to take the kitten to the vet, keep it warm in a blanket or old sweater, and place it in a shoebox or a cardboard box where it can feel safe and observe its surroundings.

Estimating the kitten's age

Generally, a kitten weighs about 100g at birth if it has no health problems, and then it should gain about 100g per week until the age of 8 weeks. It is at this age that a kitten is considered weaned.

Weigh the kitten regularly

If you find a kitten, weigh it quickly, preferably on a kitchen scale due to its lightweight. If your little protege is very thin, it is likely that it suffered from growth retardation, making it more difficult to determine its age.

We recommend weighing it every day to ensure it is gaining weight properly and, most importantly, not losing any. Of course, if you notice any problems, do not hesitate to contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.

*This chart gives an estimate of the kitten's age but does not replace the advice of your veterinarian.

How to feed the kitten I found?

Nutrition plays a key role in the proper development and survival of your kitten!

Try to determine if it is weaned

To determine if the kitten is weaned and whether it needs milk, wash your hands thoroughly and offer your finger. If it sucks on it eagerly, it might not be weaned. You can then offer kitten milk replacer, which you can find at your veterinarian or in pharmacies.

No cow's milk, no human baby milk

Do not give it cow's milk, goat's milk, or human baby milk. They are too low in fat and the nutrients are not suited to the kitten's needs.

Your veterinarian can advise you on a milk replacer specially designed for kittens. Depending on the age and health of your little protege, they can guide you on the dosage and how many bottles to give.

Some nutritional deficiencies in kittens can unfortunately lead to growth retardation, anorexia, or even neurological issues, sometimes leading to death... So, it is essential to follow your veterinarian's recommendations regarding its diet.

How many bottles for my kitten?

*This chart is for guidance only and does not replace the advice of your veterinarian.

Introducing "solid foods"

Normally, the kitten is first nursed by its mother until about 6 weeks of age. But it starts eating solid foods around 3 weeks. It is only at about 5 weeks of age that the kitten will eat them in significant amounts.

By the 3rd week, milk is still necessary, either from a bottle or you can offer it in a shallow bowl for it to lap. This is also the time to introduce kitten food, preferably canned food, which you can mix with kitten milk replacer. Start with just one teaspoon of food per day during the 3rd week, then you can increase it to one teaspoon per meal from the 4th week.

As you increase the amount of canned food, you can gradually reduce the number of bottles to two and then three per day.

For more information, feel free to read our articles on feeding a non-weaned kitten and on the stages of kitten weaning.

How to care for an abandoned kitten?

Keep it warm

A very young kitten cannot regulate its temperature on its own, which is why it is important to keep it warm in an old sweater or blanket, and, if possible, with a hot water bottle (but be careful not to burn it!). Its body temperature should be stabilized at 38°C. Below that, it will be hypothermic, and above that, it could go into hyperthermia.

There are also heat lamps specifically designed for young animals that help maintain the temperature of kittens.

Stimulate it to help it relieve itself

Before one month of age, a young kitten cannot relieve itself on its own. Its mother must lick it to trigger urination or defecation. As a surrogate mother, you will need to stimulate its lower abdomen and anus with a cotton pad or a damp cloth. This is a crucial step for its survival!

If there are multiple kittens, can they be separated?

It is not recommended to separate kittens before 7 weeks of age. While it is more work, having several kittens is a better guarantee for their development.

And after?

Weaning

As mentioned earlier, the introduction of solid food can be done around 3 weeks. You can stop giving kitten milk at the end of the 7th week.

Since our cats tend to be neophobic (afraid of novelty), it will be interesting to introduce new flavors and textures to your kitten from the age of 5 weeks.

Socialization

The kitten socializes with its mother and siblings. It is useful to get your kitten used to human contact from a young age by handling it gently.

It will also be beneficial during its learning process to introduce it to other cats or your dog, so it gets used to the presence of other species.

Teaching it to use the litter box

As a surrogate mother, it will also be your job to teach the kitten to use its litter box! When it starts relieving itself on its own, you can place it in its litter box and gently take one of its front paws to show it how to scratch. Be patient with it; it will eventually learn to use it.

Vaccinations and identification

From the 8th week onward, you can have your little companion vaccinated against diseases such as leukemia, feline panleukopenia, and calicivirus.