Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Food and Shelter
• Method 2 of 3: Deciding whether to keep a kitten
• Method 3 of 3: How to socialize your kitten
• Tips

Unfortunately, there are many wild cats and kittens on the streets.Many, though not all, keep people away from them, which means they are unlikely to be able to live with a person at home. However, kittens have a better chance of socializing. If you find a kitten on the street, you will need to go out and help him socialize.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Food and Shelter

1. 1 Make sure the kitten doesn't have a mom. Cats cannot always stay with their kittens. Sometimes they need to leave them to get food. If you find one or more kittens, make sure their mom actually dumped them.
   • The only way to do this is to wait and see if the cat comes back. It is best to do this from a distance so that the cat cannot see you or smell you.
   • If the cat doesn’t come back within a few hours, it’s most likely that the mother abandoned the kittens.
   • If mom returns, it is better to leave the kitten with her until he grows up and stops feeding on her milk. Until then, feed the cat, give it water and provide shelter.
   • When the kitten is separated from its mother, you can either take it home or leave it outside.
   • Many feral cats and kittens live in groups. If the kitten is more than 4 months old, he will be able to survive in such a group.
2. 2 Find out the kitten's age. The needs of a kitten are determined by its age, so first you need to understand how old the kitten is. This can be done outside without touching the kitten, if you can clearly see it.
   • A kitten that is less than a week old is considered a newborn. He weighs 80-220 grams, his eyes are closed and his ears are flattened, and he still cannot walk. The tip of the umbilical cord may remain on the kitten's belly.
   • A kitten between 1 and 2 weeks of age weighs 220–320 grams and has blue, slightly open eyes and parted ears. The kitten is trying to move.
   • A 3-week-old kitten weighs 220–370 grams, its ears and eyes are open, it can take timid steps and react to noise and other movements.
   • A kitten between the ages of 4 and 5 weeks weighs 220–480 grams, can run and play with other kittens, and can eat wet food. The eyes change color.
3. 3 Try to find a nursing cat. Lactating cats have strong natural instincts, and they may not feed their kittens. Since the ideal kitten food is mom's milk, and the cat knows how to feed the baby, it is best to find a kitten nursing cat.
   • Ask at animal shelters if they have a lactating cat that could feed one or two more kittens.
   • Even if you manage to find a lactating cat, you can pick up the kitten when it is weaned from the cat.
4. 4 Keep the kitten warm and dry. Kittens are unable to regulate body temperature on their own until 3 weeks, so they need help to keep warm. Usually kittens warm themselves near their mother or huddle together, often in a bunch.
   • If the kitten is cold, warm it up with your body heat. Rub your body with your hands to improve circulation.
   • Arrange a nest for a kitten from a box, basket, plastic container. Place rags or towels inside to keep the kitten warm and not to get out of there.
   • You can put a heating pad in the nest, covering it with a towel, but it is better not to cover the entire bottom with a heating pad so that the kitten can move to the side if it gets too hot.
   • Since the kitten does not have a mother to lick it, the litter will be dirty all the time. Change the cloth often so that the kitten does not lie wet. If the kitten gets wet on the litter, clean up after it and dry the kitten with a towel.
5. 5 Buy an artificial kitten feed. The kitten can only drink a special mixture. Don't give your kitten any other milk you have on hand. Go to the veterinary store and get the right food as soon as possible.
   • You will also need a special feeding bottle. The bottles are sold in the same place as the mixture.
   • Buy a long bottle dropper if available. It is easier for her to feed the kittens.
6. 6 Prepare food if the veterinary store is closed. If you need to feed your baby, but you do not have the opportunity to quickly buy a formula, prepare food from what you have at home. Even if you don't have all the ingredients, you can probably buy them at a regular store. Use this food only in an emergency, as the food in this food can harm the animal. Milk can cause diarrhea, and eggs can contain salmonella. Both can lead to death.
   • Option 1: Mix 230 ml unsweetened concentrated milk with raw yolk and two tablespoons of corn syrup. Stir the mixture thoroughly. Store in the refrigerator. When it's time to feed the kitten, mix one part of this mixture and one part of boiling water. Refrigerate and feed the kitten with the mixture.
   • Option 2. Mix 500 ml of regular milk, 2 raw yolks (organic if possible), 2 tablespoons of protein powder. Stir with a fork or whisk. To warm up food, place the bottle in a bowl of warm water.
7. 7 Feed your kitten on a schedule. Kittens need to be fed every two hours when they are very young, and less often as they grow older. During feeding, the kitten should lie on its stomach, and the bottle should be slightly raised. The milk should be warm, but not hot.
   • Kittens 10 days old and younger should be fed every 2 hours, including at night.
   • Kittens between 11 days and 2.5 weeks of age should be fed every 3-4 hours, 24 hours a day.
   • Kittens between 2.5 and 4 weeks of age need food every 5-6 hours, including at night.
   • When the kitten is 4-5 weeks old, you can start weaning it from the bottle. You can start giving the wet food mixture from a bowl rather than a bottle. You can also try offering dry food to the kitten.
8. 8 Burp after bottle feeding. Kittens, like small children, benefit from belching after eating. The kitten will stop eating when it feels full, unless it has trouble grabbing the bottle.
   • If the kitten is unable to grip the bottle, you can pull on the tip of the nipple to help the kitten drink. You can also wiggle the pacifier to get the kitten hooked.
   • If the kitten is sick, you may need to feed it with a tube in the stomach. This can only be done after consulting a veterinarian.
   • When the kitten has finished eating, place it on your shoulder or turn it onto its stomach and pat it lightly on its back to induce a burp.
   • After burping, dry the kitten with a warm, damp cloth to remove any traces of milk.
9. 9 Help the kitten go to the toilet. Kittens under 4 weeks old need help with bowel and bladder emptying. Usually, a mother cat licks the kittens, which stimulates the necessary processes. Try mimicking this process with a damp cloth or warm damp cotton pad.
   • Gently rub the back of the kitten's body with a cloth or cotton wool until he goes to the toilet.
   • As long as the kitten is feeding on milk or formula, the feces will not be hard.

Method 2 of 3: Deciding whether to keep a kitten

1. 1 Consider your decision carefully. The kittens are very cute and you may be tempted to keep the kitten for yourself. However, caring for a kitten, especially a newborn, and socializing it is a long and difficult process. You must be absolutely confident in your ability to provide the kitten with proper care.
   • Remember that sooner or later you will need to see your veterinarian. Regular vaccinations, sterilization, treatment for fleas and worms can cost a lot. In addition, the kitten may be sick, which will also require a visit to a doctor. All of these can be expensive, and illness can come as a surprise to you.
   • If you are not ready for this, you should find new owners for the kitten. Check with local shelters and other organizations that can help accommodate animals. Your veterinarian may be able to give you the contact details you need.
2. 2 Weigh your kittens regularly. Track kittens' growth and weigh them every day.This should be done at the same time before feeding. Record your weight on the plate to see your progress.
   • In the first week of life, the kitten's weight should double.
3. 3 Start toilet training. When the kitten is 4 weeks old, you should start litter training. If the kitten starts looking for a place to litter before 4 weeks, you can show him the litter box earlier.
   • Use a shallow tray with low edges. You can make it from household items.
   • Purchase a non-sticking filler. Do not line the tray with paper or cloth, as this may train the kitten to walk on material that will not be suitable for the future owner.
   • When the kitten has finished eating, place it in the tray. You can put a used cotton pad or tissue in the tray so the kitten can see what to do.
4. 4 Monitor your kitten's health. Unfortunately, kittens, especially those born on the street, can have health problems already at a young age. Monitor the kitten's health and if you notice any problems, take the animal to your veterinarian right away.
   • Respiratory infections are common in kittens. If a kitten is oozing yellow fluid from its nose or has difficulty breathing while it eats, it may have a respiratory infection. Antibiotics are sometimes used to treat these infections.
   • Kittens from the street also often have fleas. Fleas are fatal to kittens. If the kitten has fleas, first brush the fur with a special brush, and then bathe the kitten in warm water. Do not use flea shampoo or give pills to your kitten.
   • Kittens born outdoors may also have worms. Parasites often cause stool problems. If you find signs of worms, take the kitten to the vet for treatment. Kittens at least 10 days old can be treated for worms.
5. 5 Take the kitten for a general check-up. When the kitten gets older, it will need to be shown to the veterinarian, if you have not done so already. You will also need to get vaccinated. Vaccinations are done several times in the first few weeks or months of life.

Method 3 of 3: How to socialize your kitten

1. 1 Place the kitten in a separate room. While the kitten is very small (less than 2 months old), it should be kept in a warm, safe place. When he gets older, he can be released into the rest of the premises, since he will need to move and play a lot.
   • There should be no secluded corners in the room where the kitten could hide.
   • Buy a cage if you don't have a small space.
   • Place a bed, a tray (when the kitten is older), and food and water in the room.
   • Place a couple of blankets or blankets so the kitten can hide in the folds if it gets scared.
2. 2 Maintain peace and quiet. When you are near the kitten, try to move quietly and slowly. Talk to the kitten more often so that he gets used to the person's voice, but speak calmly. The room where the kitten lives should be quiet, if possible. Do not play music there until the kitten is accustomed to the sounds.
   • After a while, you can start leaving the radio on at a low volume.
   • If the kitten is not shy, place his cage in a more lively place in the house where you can observe him so that he gets used to the sounds and movements.
3. 3 Don't punish the kitten. It won't teach him anything. If the kitten does something wrong, do not scream or punish him. Reward him better for the desired behavior, and he will remember what actions you enjoy. When the kitten understands this, he will try to repeat them more often.
4. 4 Be patient. It can take a long time to socialize and teach a kitten to a person, especially if the kitten has already grown up. Don't rush the kitten. If you have multiple kittens, separate them and try to spend time separately with each one.
5. 5 Encourage communication with people through food. All kittens love to eat, so food can help you get them interested in interacting with humans.You can leave dry food in the bowl for the kitten, and give wet food only when you are in the room. The kitten will begin to associate wet food with you (the person) and will wait for you to come.
   • Place bowls of wet food as close to you as possible when the kitten is eating.
   • Gently pet the kitten while eating to get it accustomed to the touch.
   • You can also spoon feed the kitten to get used to you.
   • Try feeding your kitten only meat-based baby food. Only canned meat made from pure meat, no additives, is suitable.
6. 6 Play with your kitten for at least two hours a day. You can arrange games for two hours in a row, or split this time throughout the day. During the game, lower yourself to the floor to be on the same level with the kitten. If you have multiple kittens, give them all the same amount of time. Hold the kittens in your arms and hug them often. When the kitten gets used to you, show him the toys.
7. 7 Introduce the kitten to other pets. If the kitten is used to you and is not nervous in your presence, you can show him other pets. Keep an eye on the interactions between animals, as it will be difficult to predict the behavior of each of the pets. Introduce the kitten to other people in the house so that it gets used to everyone.
8. 8 Give your kitten more space to play. When the kitten is older and starts playing with toys, give him more space and more fun. You can buy scratching posts, cat wood (start small), tunnels, cardboard boxes, and more.

Tips

• All feral cats and kittens should be neutered to prevent unwanted offspring. An unspayed cat may have several litters each year. If you can catch the wild cat and take it to the surgery when it comes to, it can be released back outside. This is sometimes done by special organizations that help wild animals.
• If the kitten is near the road, do not approach him too quickly, otherwise he may rush into the road.