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New born kittens should be immediately examined by a veterinarian in order to know if there are birth defects. Some new born kittens have defects such as cleft palate which usually lead to incompatibility with life. Because of this, some kittens are humanely euthanized.

If your new born kitten has no physical defects, it is still important that you let your veterinarian check for possible health problems. Your vet will schedule your kitten for vaccinations.

Most new born kittens are healthy since prenatal infections do not happen. Egg excretion in cats begins late which lowers the risk of hookworm and roundworm. However, vets suggested that cats be immunized at the age of 3 weeks and should be repeated during her 5th, 7th and 9th week.

A health check is also recommended for kittens that age 6 to 7 weeks. Health checks include heart murmurs, ear mite, hernias, eye disorder and other parasites.

Remember, kittens are not like the adults. Listed below are the dos and don’ts in feeding a new born kitten.

DO’S:

• Feed your new born kitten with a balanced premium food which is particularly designed for such age. Kittens need lots of protein in order for her to have strong bones and muscles. She will also need more calories to obtain high energy levels. You can give your new born kitten with other supplements as she grows older. But during her early days, she will greatly need the calories found in canned foods for growth and energy.

DON’TS:

• Never feed your kitten with dog foods. Cats need taurine and it is not present in dog foods. Without it, your kitten might develop heart failure and disease or might go blind.

• Do not feed your kitten with table scraps. You should also not add his diet with milk because it can cause diarrhea and indigestion. You will only encourage her of begging habits which might lead her to malnutrition.

• Never include liver, canned fish or tuna in his diet. This is because they can cause imbalance of vitamins A, D and E which can result to serious health problems.

To completely care for a new born kitten, you must also know her basic needs. Kittens usually need warmth, nourishment, and nurturing.

• Warmth

Put your kittens in warm area because they will possibly die in chilled places. You can maintain the warmth of your kitten by simply holding her and keeping her next to your skin.

• Nourishment

You will need a tool in feeding your kitten. It can be a bottle, a syringe or an eye dropper. Though your new born kitten needs twice nutrients of a queen cat still, at the early age she will not be able to hold the amount of food you usually give to an adult cat. When she reaches the age of 6 weeks, your kitten should have four small feedings everyday. Then, when she’s 12 weeks old, you can feed her at least three times daily until she reaches six months old.

• Nurturing

There are several tasks that you need to do in caring for a new born kitten. These tasks include:

1. Elimination – new born kitten will definitely need your help during her moving bowel and flushing of her kidneys. Usually, the cat does this task by simply washing the butts of her kittens using her tongue. You need not do the same, but you can also accomplish this task by using a towel.

2. Massage – Massage is a great way to prepare your kitten to her new home.

3. Grooming – If the kittens have fleas, use a comb and gently comb hair of the kitten to remove the fleas.

It is so easy to care and nurture a new born kitten. However, make sure that you are doing the right thing because if you don’t, that would be a complete disaster to your kitten.