Young kittens need to be kept warm in order to protect their health.If you have rescued an orphan litter, make sure they are dry and chilled.If you want to avoid feeding a chilled kitten, hold it to your bare skin and gradually warm it.Lining a cardboard box with towels or a blanket will keep the nest warm.With caution, consider using a snuggle disk, a heating pad, or a heated sock filled with rice.Keep the kittens warm for four weeks by monitoring the nest's temperature.
Step 1: Determine the kittens age.
Knowing how old the kittens are will give you a better idea of how long you will have to keep them in a nest.Cats gain about one pound per month.If you use the other guidelines, kittens less than two weeks old will have closed eyes and folded down ears, while kittens between two and three weeks are likely to have open eyes.Between three and four weeks, kittens have open eyes, erect ears, and can walk.Most kittens will not need to be nested if they are more than four weeks old.The average kitten will gain 1 pound every month after being born.
Step 2: If they are wet, dry them.
If you find a litter of kittens that have been wet, wash them with a towel as soon as possible.If the kittens are wet, they are more likely to get cold.If the kittens are less than a week old, you can use a blow dryer to dry them.Don't blow the kitten's face if the air stream is hot.It is not recommended to use a blow dryer on kittens less than a week old.
Step 3: The kittens should be chilled.
The kittens have ears, mouths, and feet.The kitten's body temperature is too low if any of these feel cool to the touch.You can also take the kittens' temperatures with a baby or small pet rectal thermometer.At 1 week, kittens should have a body temperature of 95-99 degrees Fahrenheit (37-32 degrees Celsius) and at 2 to 3 weeks, it should be 97-98 degrees.
Step 4: To warm the kitten, hold it against your bare skin.
You need to warm the kitten slowly if it is chilled.Rub it with your hands to raise its temperature.If you can, have someone put a towel in the dryer for 10 minutes while you hold the kitten.Wrap the kitten in a warm towel.Don't submerging the kitten in hot water or warm it too quickly.
Step 5: Feed the kitten until it is warm.
If you want to feed a kitten, you need to increase its body temperature.A kitten with a temperature of less than 90 degrees can be life threatening.A kitten can't digest food if it's cold.The animal may not be able to swallow and inhale food, so don't feed it with a needle.Get medical care for the kitten.
Step 6: A cardboard box with towels or a blanket can be used to build a nest.
Line the bottom of the box with towels or a blanket.The box should be kept away from sources of cool air.The cardboard makes a great kitten nest.Maintaining a clean environment requires changing the bedding at least daily.
Step 7: Purchase a heating pad.
The most effective heating pads for small pets are snug disks.At your local pet supply store, you can purchase a cuddle disk.If you can't get a snuggle disk, use a normal heating pad.A good snuggle disk brand is Snuggle Safe.
Step 8: Wrap the heating pad well and keep it at an appropriate temperature.
The kittens should not be burned by the heating pad.If you are using a snuggle disk, follow the instructions on the box.If you are using a heating pad, keep it on a low setting.Wrap the heating pads with a thick towel to make sure the kittens can't get to them.Make sure the wrapping is not too hot.
Step 9: A heating pad is needed to heat one side of the box.
The other half of the box should be placed on the heating pad.The heating pad can be placed under the bedding.You want to create a heated zone in half of the box and a cooler one in the other half.The kittens will move from one side of the box to the other.
Step 10: The nest has an ambient temperature.
You can check the nest's temperature using an air thermometer.The ideal temperature for kittens up to two weeks old is approximately 30 degrees Celsius.The ambient nest temperature for three and four week old kittens should be between 75 and 80 degrees.The kittens should be kept in the nest and monitored for four to five weeks.
Step 11: Wrap a bottle of hot water around a towel.
You can use a bottle of hot water to keep the nest warm if you don't have a heating pad.Water can be heated to around 100 degrees Fahrenheit.Place it in the nest's bedding by Wrap it securely in a towel.The water bottle needs to be replaced at least every two hours.
Step 12: It's possible to heat a sock filled with rice or beans.
If you want to warm the kittens, place a hot sock in the nest.Tie the open end into a knot by filling it with rice or white beans.Place the sock in the nest by microwave.The method is similar to the water bottle method in that you have to check the temperature frequently.
Step 13: A heat lamp is placed over the nest.
Some vets and kitten fosters prefer a heat lamp over an electric heating pad.If you want to use a heat lamp, hang it over the box and place it on the other side.As the kittens get older and become more mobile, make sure the heat lamp is out of their reach.It is a fire risk to use a heat lamp with cardboard.It's a good idea to avoid direct contact between the heat lamp and the cardboard.