FINDING A KITTEN UNDER 3 WEEKS

If you decide to take in a kitten that is under 3 weeks, they will need constant care and feeding. Here is some useful info and tips.

Feeding

Kittens under 3 weeks will need to be bottle or syringe fed very regularly kitten milk or a substitute kitten milk.

1 – 2 weeks old – The kitten will need to be fed at least 6-8 feedings per day (every 3-4 hours)
3 weeks old – The kitten will need to be fed at least 4-6  feedings per day (every 4-6 hours)

Kitten powdered milk formula can be found at pet shops in Da Nang or contact VCW to see if we have any spare to sell. If you cannot buy or find the kitten formula here is a substitute kitten formula recipe.  Do not feed a kitten cow’s milk alone. This will make the kitten sick.

Homemade Kitten milk substitute

• 1 egg yolk
• Few drops of oil
• 1 cup evaporated milk. (If you can’t get evaporated milk usual normal unsweetened milk try to find goat’s milk rather than cow’s milk.)
  Instructions

1. Mix ingredients well and heat to a warm temperature. Test that it is warm and not too hot (just like for a baby). You’ll need a kitten nursing bottle available from a pet shop (a very small baby’s bottle will do in an emergency) or a syringe you can find at a pharmacy if the kitten won’t suck on the bottle.
2. Make sure the milk only drips out slowly.
3. Make the mixture fresh and warm each time. An easy way to heat a bottle of milk formula is to place it in a very hot bowl of water for a few minutes.
4. When you feed the kitten make sure he is upright (not upside down – see pictures on the internet)  Also, do not overfeed or force feed a kitten.
5. After eating use a wet baby wipe/wet towel (warm if possible) to rub his bum area until the kitten goes to the toilet.  Kittens must be kept warm in between feeding and nestled in blankets in a quiet safe area.

Here is a useful link for more info and details: www.messybeast.com/handrear.html 

FINDING A KITTEN OVER 3 WEEKS

You will find if a kitten is over three weeks old it can normally handle soft food. This can include Whiskas canned food, chicken/beef congee and you can even slowly start to introduce them to Whiskas biscuits. But to get them used to the hardness of the biscuits for a week soften the biscuits with water. If the kitten is confused and will not eat soft food you may need to bottle feed milk and slowly introduce it to soft food on a plate over time.

Remember fish is not a good diet for kittens or cats. Fish can give a cat bad stomach problems and diarrhea. Please stick to brand-named canned food and biscuits such as Whiskas as well as meat (chicken and beef.) See below a list of places in Hoi An and Da Nang where to find shops selling cat products.

FURTHER HEALTHCARE – IMPORTANT

Deworm your new kitten

1. Kittens need to be dewormed at 2, 4,6, and 8 weeks, then again at 12 and 16 weeks of age.
2. You can then move to 6 months and 1 year, then deworm as an adult.

Vaccination and Rabies

1. Cats need their first combination vaccine at 9-10 weeks old.
2. They will also need their Rabies vaccine at 12 weeks.

Sterilization

Cats need to be sterilized before the age of 6 months. This is extremely important.

Fleas and skin care

1. A kitten with fleas can be treated very easily.
2. Medicated shampoos can be found around town easily.
3. Using a wet baby wipe add a tiny amount of shampoo and wipe over the kitten.
4. Rinse using clean wet baby wipes. Make sure to dry the kitten and keep warm straight after washing.

SICKNESS

If you find the kitten has severe, watery diarrhea, becomes lethargic, and does not eat or drink, you will need to contact your local vet immediately. A kitten with these conditions can die extremely fast.  In emergency whilst waiting for vet treatment you can attempt to syringe feed sugar water to the kitten. But please be careful and do so gently.

Any other unusual signs of sickness or injury please contact your local vet to help you. Or call VAWO for advice.