HOME | DD

Description
So, I was thinking on making a Youtube video explaining this, but I figured that it wouldn't get many views and I'm better off just typing it instead of talking so much xp if enough people ask me to make a video I will, but for now this will have to do. Hope it helps anyone wanting to foster, or if you just found some little baby kittens and you want to try raising them yourself, then here you go! Also, if anyone has questions, feel free to ask. I can make more How-To's.

Newborn
At about a day old, they will have their eyes closed, ears folded, and they can't do much but roll around a bit. If you look on their tummies, they will have a little piece of the umbilical cord hanging off. Leave it alone! It will naturally dry up and fall off, like a human baby. They will have no teeth. Their ears begin unfolding at three days old. At six days old their eyes begin opening and they begin crawling. Do NOT try to open their eyes yourself, let it naturally happen. If forced open, it can have serious consequences, like blindness.

Kittens in this age range must be fed every two hours. You can use a special kitten bottle found at pet stores and sometimes places like Walmart or Target. Kitten formula can also be found at pet stores or Walmart/Target. However, I recommend using goat's milk. You can buy it at some stores, in powdered form or like any other regular milk. The kittens love it, it is creamy, good for them, and easy on their little tummies. After every feeding, the bottle should be stored in the fridge, for bacteria begins forming in the milk very quick. When it's time for their next feeding, you can put it in the microwave for about ten seconds, shake it up, and drip a little onto your wrist. It should be room temperature, meaning you won't feel it on your arm. After a feeding, you should hold him upright and gently rub his belly or back to make him burp. This can prevent tummy aches

Also, don't forget! Kittens this small need to be stimulated to go to the bathroom. It's not hard, and it is very important to remember. It may seem gross, but it's not as bad as it seems, and it's funny to see the relieved looks on the kittens' faces when they're finally relieved Simply hold the kit over a sink with warm water (but not too warm). You can take a damp little rag (or use your finger, if you're comfortable with that) and gently rub over the groin area until they're done. Make sure both of you are clean~

Make sure they have a little place to sleep, like a cardboard box or a cage or carrier with plenty of warm blankets and maybe a heating pad, if you have one. They should be kept at about 80 degrees F. To help them sleep, put a blanket over whatever they are in. The darkness should calm them and they'll sleep much better.

One Week Old
At one week, their eyes should be completely open. They will start becoming more aware of their surroundings, and eventually even begin trying to venture off. They can walk, albeit very wobbly-like. At this age, if they are eating healthily and have no diarrhea or other problems, you can feed them every three hours instead. They still need to be stimulated to go potty.

Two Weeks Old
Their ears are still opening. The small teeth at the front of the mouth will begin pushing through their gums. They still need to be stimulated to go to the bathroom, and only need to be fed about every five hours.

Three Weeks Old
They will begin noticing sounds more. Still need to be stimulated to go to the bathroom, can be fed about every eight hours. Their ears are completely open.

Four Weeks Old
The kittens can begin eating solid foods. Kitten chow can be bought at many stores, and is small enough for them to eat. They can eat wet food as well, or chicken baby food. They'll also drink water. They should still be bottle fed. Around this age they should begin wanting to play, with people and also their siblings. Make sure you don't leave them sitting in their box too often; they need to be held once in a while so they get used to human interaction, and it also helps their development. Don't keep them out too much either though, for it can hinder their sleep, which they need. If you keep them out a lot, though, they may need to be fed more often.

They can also begin using a litter box by this time. Get them a tiny little box or a tiny litter box; whatever they can get into themselves. Clay litter is not recommended, for they can ingest the particles into their lungs and get sick. Go to a pet store or even a place like Walmart or Target and look for pine pellets, or Feline Pine. It smells much better and is better for the kittens. You can just get a piece of toilet paper or tissue and throw the poo in the toilet. No smell!

Five, Six and Seven weeks
They will begin running, jumping, twisting, you name it! Their eyes should begin turning another color besides blue (unless of course they just have blue eyes). They'll have all the movements of an adult cat by about six weeks. They'll hate being in a cage all the time and will want to come out and look around and play!

Eight Weeks Old
They can be adopted out at this age. Their eyes have completely changed color, they run around and play like crazy, and all of their teeth are in.

DONE!
Well, congratulations! You made it through this tutorial thingy! If you're thinking of fostering, hey, go for it, although I must warn that taking in bottle fed kittens is hard work, and can be tragic at times. But hey, you have to remember that you are doing something wonderful for these little babies. In the end you save more than you lose, and they love you more than anything else. Thanks to anyone who reads this, I'll answer any questions that you have.

Description
So, I was thinking on making a Youtube video explaining this, but I figured that it wouldn't get many views and I'm better off just typing it instead of talking so much xp if enough people ask me to make a video I will, but for now this will have to do. Hope it helps anyone wanting to foster, or if you just found some little baby kittens and you want to try raising them yourself, then here you go! Also, if anyone has questions, feel free to ask. I can make more How-To's.

Newborn
At about a day old, they will have their eyes closed, ears folded, and they can't do much but roll around a bit. If you look on their tummies, they will have a little piece of the umbilical cord hanging off. Leave it alone! It will naturally dry up and fall off, like a human baby. They will have no teeth. Their ears begin unfolding at three days old. At six days old their eyes begin opening and they begin crawling. Do NOT try to open their eyes yourself, let it naturally happen. If forced open, it can have serious consequences, like blindness.

Kittens in this age range must be fed every two hours. You can use a special kitten bottle found at pet stores and sometimes places like Walmart or Target. Kitten formula can also be found at pet stores or Walmart/Target. However, I recommend using goat's milk. You can buy it at some stores, in powdered form or like any other regular milk. The kittens love it, it is creamy, good for them, and easy on their little tummies. After every feeding, the bottle should be stored in the fridge, for bacteria begins forming in the milk very quick. When it's time for their next feeding, you can put it in the microwave for about ten seconds, shake it up, and drip a little onto your wrist. It should be room temperature, meaning you won't feel it on your arm. After a feeding, you should hold him upright and gently rub his belly or back to make him burp. This can prevent tummy aches

Also, don't forget! Kittens this small need to be stimulated to go to the bathroom. It's not hard, and it is very important to remember. It may seem gross, but it's not as bad as it seems, and it's funny to see the relieved looks on the kittens' faces when they're finally relieved Simply hold the kit over a sink with warm water (but not too warm). You can take a damp little rag (or use your finger, if you're comfortable with that) and gently rub over the groin area until they're done. Make sure both of you are clean~

Make sure they have a little place to sleep, like a cardboard box or a cage or carrier with plenty of warm blankets and maybe a heating pad, if you have one. They should be kept at about 80 degrees F. To help them sleep, put a blanket over whatever they are in. The darkness should calm them and they'll sleep much better.

One Week Old
At one week, their eyes should be completely open. They will start becoming more aware of their surroundings, and eventually even begin trying to venture off. They can walk, albeit very wobbly-like. At this age, if they are eating healthily and have no diarrhea or other problems, you can feed them every three hours instead. They still need to be stimulated to go potty.

Two Weeks Old
Their ears are still opening. The small teeth at the front of the mouth will begin pushing through their gums. They still need to be stimulated to go to the bathroom, and only need to be fed about every five hours.

Three Weeks Old
They will begin noticing sounds more. Still need to be stimulated to go to the bathroom, can be fed about every eight hours. Their ears are completely open.

Four Weeks Old
The kittens can begin eating solid foods. Kitten chow can be bought at many stores, and is small enough for them to eat. They can eat wet food as well, or chicken baby food. They'll also drink water. They should still be bottle fed. Around this age they should begin wanting to play, with people and also their siblings. Make sure you don't leave them sitting in their box too often; they need to be held once in a while so they get used to human interaction, and it also helps their development. Don't keep them out too much either though, for it can hinder their sleep, which they need. If you keep them out a lot, though, they may need to be fed more often.

They can also begin using a litter box by this time. Get them a tiny little box or a tiny litter box; whatever they can get into themselves. Clay litter is not recommended, for they can ingest the particles into their lungs and get sick. Go to a pet store or even a place like Walmart or Target and look for pine pellets, or Feline Pine. It smells much better and is better for the kittens. You can just get a piece of toilet paper or tissue and throw the poo in the toilet. No smell!

Five, Six and Seven weeks
They will begin running, jumping, twisting, you name it! Their eyes should begin turning another color besides blue (unless of course they just have blue eyes). They'll have all the movements of an adult cat by about six weeks. They'll hate being in a cage all the time and will want to come out and look around and play!

Eight Weeks Old
They can be adopted out at this age. Their eyes have completely changed color, they run around and play like crazy, and all of their teeth are in.

DONE!
Well, congratulations! You made it through this tutorial thingy! If you're thinking of fostering, hey, go for it, although I must warn that taking in bottle fed kittens is hard work, and can be tragic at times. But hey, you have to remember that you are doing something wonderful for these little babies. In the end you save more than you lose, and they love you more than anything else. Thanks to anyone who reads this, I'll answer any questions that you have.