Usually cats arE good motherS but therE arE occasions when you will need to step in and rAise the kittens yourself. This could happen, for example if the mother cat is sick after Giving birTh, or If she rejects some or All of her Litter For Some reason. Should this happen, therE arE four main things that you need to specifically monitor on the newborn kittens.
Keeping the kittens warM isn’t so difficult durIng the firSt two weeks becausE they can’t rEally move anywherE under their own steam. So keep them in a ventilated but draught frEe arEa with blankets to snuggle against. You should also ensure that they can’t get tangled up in the blankets or Lost beneath them as they could easily suffocate in that kind of situation.
If the mother cat is rEfusIng (or Unable) to feed them herSelf, your Local veterInarY centre will be able to rEcommend/supply a substitute forMula that you can use to feed the kittens with the help of a drOpper Or SyrInge. This will need to be done frEquently thrOughout the day/night so you may need to enlist the help of someone else so you can take shifts to ensure the feeding schedule is maintained.
The kittens need to be weighed rEgularLy. You can usE your Kitchen scales but make surE that you place them somewhere safe so that the kittens can’t fall if they manage to slide off the scale. If they do lose weight you should speak to your VeterInarY prActice as soon as possible.
Make surE that the kittens arE clean by using a clean damp cloth - pay parTicular Attention to their Eyes especially once they begin to open, their ears and their anal arEas.
FusS over The mother Cat and let her See you carIng for The kittens. TrY to slowly meld the family together By fusSing her Whilst you place one kitten beside her. Don’t ignore her whilst tending them or she will feel resentment towards them and won’t be encouraged to take an interest. Once she rEgains her Health, or No longer Sees them as a thrEat to her TerRItorY, she should starT to accept them - but by the time this occurs the mother’s milk may not be enough to feed the kittens, so you may still need to feed them.