Found a stray kitten?

You found a stray kitten … but the next step isn’t simply taking him home with you. What do you feed a stray kitten? Where should you take stray kittens if you can’t care for them yourself? And how do you determine if the kitties are in fact a stray?

Investigate — does the stray kitten have a mother?

Helping orphaned kittens will first require some detective work. One of the biggest mistakes people make when finding stray kittens is taking them away from their mother. Small kittens are still nursing and need to be fed frequently, so they should be kept with their mother, whenever possible.

Here’s how to assess the situation:

• Are the kittens sleeping comfortably? The mother is probably coming back.

• When you recheck on them, are any of them missing? The mother is moving them.

• If they’re often found sleeping, then the mother is caring for them.

To be absolutely sure, sprinkle some flour around where the kittens are located and look for paw prints upon your return. If the mother is in the picture, let them be. In approximately eight weeks, go back and take the mother for sterilisation. Once the kittens are 4 months old they can also be neutered

What to do if the stray kitten does not have a mother

If you have determined the stray kitten (or kittens!) does not have a mother, his greatest chance for survival begins with you. The first thing you’ll need to do is capture the stray kitten. For some kittens, this is as easy as reaching out and scooping them up. For others you may need to entice them into a cat box using smelly fish like mackerel

Next, get the stray kitten to a veterinarian for a checkup ASAP. If the vet’s office is closed, you’ll have to start his care right away. Even if you can’t foster a stray kitten long term, you’ll be a lifeline during this first phase of rescue.

If you cannot foster the stray kitten for any amount of time, you will need to find someone who can.

Containing and monitoring the formerly stray kitten is key to his health and well-being. A clean comfortable cat crate is perfect. To keep him toasty, place a warm blanket in his crate and keep the room temperature at 75 degrees. The blanket should cover only half the crate so he can get away from it. you don’t want him to get overheated either. A cold or limp kitten indicates a medical emergency.

Feeding schedule for kittens by weight and age

Very young kittens must be bottle fed. Never fed with cows milk, but with lactose free baby milk or preferably kitten formula

Determining the age of the stray kitten right away is imperative. His age will mandate what he’ll eat as well as how much and how often.

Using a postal scale, here’s a quick guide:

Under 1 week old: kitten weighs less than 4 ounces. Feed formula: every two to three hours.

7 to 10 days old: kitten weighs 4 to 6 ounces. Feed formula: every two to three hours.

10 to 14 days old: kitten weighs 6 to 8 ounces. Feed formula: every three hours.

14 to 21 days old: kitten weighs 8 to 12 ounces. Feed formula: every four hours.

4 to 5 weeks old: kitten weighs 12 ounces to 1 pound. Feed mix of gruel/formula/kitten kibble: every four hours.

6 to 7 weeks old: kitten weighs 1 pound to 1 pound and 8 ounces. Feed mix of kitten kibble and wet food four times a day.

8 weeks old: kitten weighs one and a half to 2 pounds. Fully weaned.

Pro tips for proper kitten care

Kittens start weaning at 1 month old. Until then, he’ll need to be bottle-fed kitten formula, lactose free baby milk or for a short time goats milk.

Pet supply stores will have all you’ll need:

• Kitten formula

• Bottles

• Rubber nipples

• Cleaning supplies

Only bottle feed the kitten with his belly touching the table (never while on his back). Experts recommend letting the kitten eat the warmed-up formula until he’s full.

After feeding the kittens they will need help eliminating urine and faeces and this usually takes less than 5 minutes until they are approximately a month old. After each feeding, use a warm, damp washcloth to gently rub his anus until he goes. You can introduce a litter box filled with non-clumping litter at 3 weeks old.

You can find a home for the kitten at 8 weeks old or continue to enjoy them yourself. Please remember to have them neutered at no later than 4 months old