Embedded Files
If you have any questions
Fostering a mom with her kittens can be one of the most enjoyable experiences you will have. In the beginning mama does most of the work for you and the first 4 weeks are fairly low key. Many moms will do best in a small bedroom, office, or bathroom. Any room they are in should have windows that are securely closed (a cat that gets spooked may claw through a screen) and minimal large pieces of furniture you can't easily move (you don't want mom to put her babies where you cannot get to them). Any plants in the room should be removed if you can't confirm they are non-toxic to cats. If using a bathroom as your foster space, make sure the toilet lid is kept closed and the bathtub and sink have covered drains and no standing water in them.
This short video from the Kitten Lady is a must-watch on how to prepare for your foster family.
It's a good idea to set up a nesting area before you get mom home. You can read about nesting boxes here.
Needed Supplies
Needed Supplies
A box or tub large enough for mama to lie down and stretch out, such as an under-the-bed plastic storage tote. Mama should be able to get in and out easily, but kittens should not be able to get out
Electric heating pad that does not shut off automatically
High quality canned kitten food for mom (and to wean babies)
Hard kitten food (kibble) for mom (and to wean babies)
We recommend and provide Science Diet Kitten Food
Bottle kit with nipples in case kittens need supplementary feeding
Powdered KMR formula in case kittens need supplementary feeding
Empty room/bathroom to isolate mom and kittens
Digital scale (food or postal) that weighs in grams
Litter box and non-clumping litter
Secure pet carrier for transportation (we will provide this)
Preparing for Birth
Preparing for Birth
The gestation period for cats is between 9 and 10 weeks. A couple of weeks before your cat is due to deliver, you need to prepare a "nesting box" - a safe and secure place for mama to deliver and care for her kittens. Mama cat should be isolated in a quiet area to get used to her surroundings for a while before giving birth so she feels safe and secure when the time comes. During the weeks leading up to her kittens' birth, mama cat might exhibit some strange and/or uncharacteristic behavior - some cats may become extremely affectionate, while others might become aggressive or fearful. Just remember that mama's hormones are raging during this time, so any out of the ordinary behavior is generally no cause for concern.
Pregnant cats should eat up to 4 times their normal amount of food and should be eating kitten food for the duration of their pregnancy and while nursing kittens.
Setting Up a Nesting Box
Setting Up a Nesting Box
There are many options for nesting boxes. You'll need a box that's wide enough to accommodate a heating pad on one side, while leaving room for mama to nurse on the other side without lying on the heating pad. Line a box with blankets or towels. The box sides should be high enough that mama can get in and out easily, but her kittens cannot - 8-12 inches tall or somewhere around this height is ideal.
You can offer more than one option with blankets in one corner and a box in another area. You can also place mama cat with her nesting box in a bathroom or small room with some light. You can even put the box in a bathtub, if using a bathroom, but be sure to cover the drain. Have a heating pad only under blankets on one side of the box - your mama cat may be too warm if she has no other place to cool off. Note: Your mama cat may ignore the box until it's time for labor. If this is the case, just put her in it when the kittens are coming. She'll usually take to it just fine!
Emergencies
Emergencies
Please note that if either of the first two things occurs around the time of mama's due date, it is likely just an indication that labor is imminent - usually within 24 hours!
Any vaginal bleeding during pregnancy is not normal and suggests that she is having a miscarriage. If this is occurring late in pregnancy (the 8th week) she may be delivering the litter prematurely and a cesarean section is likely necessary. Please contact the medical team right away.
Greenish, foul-smelling discharge can be a sign of a uterine infection. Please contact the medical team right away.
If at any point you see a red protruding membrane (like an earthworm) from the kitten's belly, this is actually its intestine & is a medical emergency. Please contact us right away.
Dystocia - Intense contractions for 60 minutes without a birth. Please contact us right away.
Retained Placenta - if the placenta is not passed, it can cause infection. Please contact us right away.
Labor
Labor
Several hours (and perhaps a whole day) of restlessness, grooming, nesting, pacing, panting, and crying indicates that labor has begun. Mama cat may purr during labor and when feeding her new kittens.
When labor begins, there will be some brownish fluids, and a small amount of blood. Babies can be born head first or feet first (breach), and will be delivered in a thin amniotic sack, which usually breaks during birth.
As soon as the kitten emerges from mama's birth canal, she should immediately bite/pierce the sack, and begin to encourage him/her to breathe. If she does not do this, you will need to step in and break the sack, as the kitten is at risk of suffocating within seconds. Wipe away the mucus and amniotic casing from the kitten's mouth and nose. Once you do this, the kitten should cry out!
The kitten will still be attached to the placenta, which will be passed within a few minutes. Once the placenta is passed, the mother will bite the umbilical cord to cut it. Sometimes mama can take awhile to bite the cord, especially if other kittens are already out and nursing, so feel free to help her by tying the cord with string/floss and cutting it with a pair of sterile scissors. Usually, the mother will then eat the placenta,
Kittens are usually born every 10 minutes to 1 hour. If mama is having contractions for longer than 2 hours in between kittens, this could mean that a baby is stuck in the birth canal, which can be deadly for mama and all remaining kittens in utero. If this happens, you need to call the appropriate emergency number immediately, as mama will likely need an emergency C-section!
Some mama cats prefer to give birth in a dark, quiet place, far away from human contact, while others prefer to have their human right beside them, giving them pets and soothing them through this difficult process! She will generally let you know what she'd like - just pay attention to her body language and such.
Mom and Newborns
Mom and Newborns
*** The two most important rules of newborns: Kittens must be WARM and have FULL BELLIES at all times! ***
The Basics
The Basics
Kittens must be kept in a safe and secure spot, and isolated from other pets. (Please note, mama’s and newborns (kittens under 3 weeks of age) should be kept completely separate from all other animals).
Kittens must have access to a heating pad (on low setting) at all times.
Do not give kittens baths unless absolutely necessary. If kittens get wet, they must be blow-dried (carefully) until they are completely dry. Young kittens can very easily become hypothermic. As an alternative, use a hypoallergenic baby wipe to clean dirty kittens.
You MUST track kittens' weights twice daily for newborns and at least once daily for kittens over 3 weeks of age.
Kittens generally weigh between 80-120 grams when they're born.
Any kitten born smaller than 70 grams is at serious risk of fading away and will likely need to be supplemented with KMR and kept on a heating pad, separate from its littermates, until they weigh about the same as their littermates.
It is not uncommon for the smallest kitten (runt) to pass away shortly after birth - this is just nature running its course. There's often not much we can do. Oftentimes mama will set this runt aside from her healthy kittens to allow it to pass peacefully, so she can care for her kittens who are thriving.
If a kitten is born weighing under 65 grams, there is often not much we can do - remember that this is the reason cats have so many kittens - some are just not fit to make it in this world.
It is possible that the new mother will want to move her kittens frequently. This is okay, as long as there is always a heating pad for the kittens to get to and the area is somewhat sequestered and free of hazards. More than likely, she is doing this in an effort to keep her babies safe. You can set up a few clean places with bedding ahead of time so the mom has safe options if she does move them.
Weigh newborn kittens twice a day - this is mandatory! If the mom seems protective or is moving her babies, wait until the day after they are born to weigh them. If she is comfortable with you there, place the scale right next to her while you weigh the babies.
You should be seeing an average weight gain of 10 grams per day. If the weights stay steady for more than a day or you see a drop in weight, please contact the foster team at foster@kyhumane.org.
Even a small amount of weight loss in a kitten under one week old can be deadly, so please don't hesitate to reach out!
Developmental Milestones
Developmental Milestones
Eyes open at 7-10 days (eyes will be blue until kittens are 6-7 weeks old).
At about 2 weeks, they will start crawling around (can inch around as early as 4 days).
At 3-4 weeks, they'll start to play with each other. The ears will start to stand up, and teeth will begin to come in.
At 3-5 weeks, weaning process will start – kittens should be well on their way to eating independently and using the litter box by 5 weeks of age.
At 4 weeks we will start giving their vaccinations.
At 8-12 weeks, and/or whenever kittens have reached 2lbs, they can be spayed or neutered, and go to their forever homes!
Growing Your Space with Your Kittens
Growing Your Space with Your Kittens
As the kittens get older, they're going to want to explore outside their nesting box - this generally happens around 4 weeks old. This is perfectly fine, but we want to make sure kittens are not allowed to stray too far from their mama and their heating pad!
Bathtubs are often great for this stage. Keep the heating pad available at all times, but still make sure that the kittens can move off of it. Place a small bowl of kibble, a saucer of gruel, and a stable, flat-bottomed cup of water in an accessible spot, away from their bedding.
At this point, the kittens will also want to play with toys! Feel free to give them plenty of plush dolls, balls, bells, etc. Just make sure there's nothing they could accidentally swallow or get tangled up in. See "Playing With Your Cat" for info on proper play with cats and kittens.
Kittens should be introduced to the litter box around 4 weeks old. They will generally learn from mama, so this process shouldn't be too messy! Fill a very shallow litter box (a box top or baking tin is fine) with non-clumping litter, and place it in an accessible spot away from the food dishes.
Around 6 weeks old, kittens will likely begin door-dashing and trying to escape whatever enclosure they're confined to. If you would like to give them free run of your home, please do so with extreme caution. Kittens can and will get into everything. Never leave them unsupervised, particularly when there are other pets and/or roommates where you live! Also, remember that the more space they have, the less likely they are to find their litter box!
Most importantly, especially once they are over -4 weeks old, make sure you socialize your kittens as often as possible! This is crucial to their development – they need to learn to love humans! Introduce them to friends, children, other cats, friendly dogs, etc., but always make sure they're in a controlled environment and are being closely supervised.
Common Household Hazards
Common Household Hazards
Even the most experienced fosters sometimes overlook household hazards. The following is a list of things that we have seen cause injury to kittens.
Rocking chairs - keep out of the kittens' area
Reclining chairs - kittens can easily crawl inside
Toilets - keep lids closed at all times
Bathtubs- keep water drained at all times and cover the drain securely
Doors - make sure that kittens are not behind doors that are being opened, or in doorways when closing doors
Exits - keep unscreened doors and windows closed at all times when not in use
Outdoors - do NOT allow kittens to go outside. NO EXCEPTIONS!
Other cats - can sometimes be asymptomatic carriers of viruses that are more harmful to kittens, or can be too aggressive with kittens
Dogs - all dogs (but especially large dogs) can easily injure a kitten, often accidentally
Washers and dryers - kittens can crawl inside of the machines unnoticed or get stuck behind them
Other appliances - make sure that kittens cannot crawl behind or under refrigerators, ovens, etc.
Holes - make sure any holes in drywall or cabinetry are plugged or blocked
Small objects - rubber bands, strings, paperclips, and other small objects can be accidentally ingested
Chemicals - make sure they are put away
House plants - many are poisonous to cats, make sure they are out of reach (click here for info on poisonous plants)
Electrical cords - can be covered with tape or "cord covers" to prevent chewing
In the unfortunate event that one of your kittens has died, for any reason, please contact us right away. Please do not be embarrassed or afraid to reach out - these things happen. Kittens are fragile creatures, and unfortunately sometimes they do not survive. If you have lost a foster kitten and are grieving, we have found The Kitten Lady's video on losing fosters very helpful.
Fading Kitten Syndrome
Fading Kitten Syndrome
Fading Kitten Syndrome is a life-threatening emergency in which a kitten "crashes" and begins to fade away. Kittens under 3 weeks old and/or kittens who are, or were recently sick, are most susceptible to FKS. Oftentimes, it occurs in kittens who have been eating poorly, and losing, or not gaining, weight. This is why it is VITAL that you weigh your kittens daily. Although it is rare, FKS can also occur in healthy kittens at any age.
Please visit this page for full info on Fading Kitten Syndrome and how to treat it.
Weaning Kittens from Mom
Weaning Kittens from Mom
Weaning kittens from mom to solid food is typically fairly easy. Starting around 3-4 weeks of age, you can begin feeding mom in the same area with her kittens. Many kittens will begin to explore and investigate the food. They will still be nursing for most of their nutrition, but may begin to taste other food as mom eats. As the kittens get bigger and stronger, mom will begin reducing how much she lets them nurse and they will eat more food. Monitor how much the kittens are ingesting and put more food down as they eat more. You will also want to use more than one plate to ensure all kittens have easy access to food.
If your kittens are hesitant to try wet or dry food, don't worry! As long as mom is feeding them, there is no rush. You can try mixing warm water in with the canned food to see if that helps get them eating more, but if they are still gaining weight well, don't stress out too much.
If you have babies who are refusing to try food by the time they hit 6 weeks, or mom is not feeding them enough for them to continue to gain weight, let us know so we can help troubleshoot.
Litter Training Kittens
Litter Training Kittens
Kittens often pick up good litter box habits from mom. When they begin going to the bathroom on their own, you can introduce them to a litter box with low sides (a cardboard tray or baking sheet works great) and NON-CLUMPING litter. Many kittens will taste litter when it is first put down, so it is EXTREMELY important to only use non-clumping litter.
You can find wonderful information on litter training kittens at this link. If you find your kittens are having lots of accidents, the first thing you should try is to contain them in a smaller space. Kittens do not plan well, so if they are running around playing and having fun, they won't pay attention to the signs they need to potty until they absolutely need to go right then. They just stop, go potty, and then go about their day. Keeping them in a smaller space will reduce how far away the box is, as well as remove many distractions that a larger area has. Once they are using the box consistently in a smaller space, you can try giving them a little more room.
Kittens will often taste their litter. This is normal and a small piece or 2 is not going to hurt them. If you catch them doing it, redirect them to their food. If they are consuming more than a few pieces, remove the litter when you cannot supervise. You can either remove the box completely, or replace the clay litter with a pelleted litter, towels, or newspaper. Once the kittens get a little older, the behavior should disappear on its own.
If you have a kitten who is having frequent accidents, straining to pee, or peeing blood, please let us know so we can help.
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting
Below are some common concerns with moms and babies. Please contact us if you need further help.
Mom keeps moving her babies right after they are born
It is possible that the new mother will want to move her kittens frequently. This is okay, as long as there is always a heating pad for the kittens to get to and the area is somewhat sequestered and free of hazards. More than likely, she is doing this in an effort to keep her babies safe. You can set up a few clean places with bedding ahead of time so the mom has safe options if she does move them. Try leaving mom alone with her babies as much as possible for the first day or 2 to let her get comfortable with them, and try to keep her area as quiet as possible.
Kittens are weaning, but are not gaining weight
Some weight fluctuations are normal as kittens wean to solid food. If you are weighing kittens once per day, we will be able to catch nay problems quickly. As long as the kittens are active with no signs of illness (sneezing, loose stool), it is fine to monitor for 24 hours. If they lose weight 2 days in a row, or are showing any other signs of illness, please let us know.
Report abuse