HOW TO RAISE PREMATURE KITTENS

premature kittens

Discovering an orphaned or abandoned kitten, and deciding to hand-raise the little one can be a rewarding, yet daunting undertaking. Finding out that the kitten may be premature can leave you feeling even more anxious and wondering whether you'll be able to care for this fragile being.


How can I tell if a kitten is premature?

There are several things to look for if you suspect a kitten is premature:

• Very low weight. A full-term newborn kitten weighs 3.3-3.7 pounces (91-105 grams). Anything lower than approximately 3.1 ounces (87 grams) is considered a low birth weight in kittens. Live premature kittens can weigh as little as 2 ounces (57 grams), although these extremely tiny kittens do not often survive.
• Very small body size.
• Wrinkled skin.
• Sparse or no fur on the chest, abdomen, legs and sometimes over the whole body.
• May not be able to hold head up or crawl.

Can a premature kitten survive?

Yes, it is sometimes possible to successfully hand-raise a premature kitten. Having said that, looking after premature kittens is very time consuming and can be heartbreaking at times. These little beings are at a disadvantage from the moment they are born. Premature kittens are a real challenge to take care of and often don't survive, despite the best of care.

What is different about premature kittens?

These kittens are very fragile and prone to infection. They gain weight, grow and develop more slowly than full-term kittens and will take longer to reach milestones such as opening their eyes, sitting up and walking. Premature kittens need to be kept warmer than full-term kittens. Their internal organs are often underdeveloped, as they haven't had a chance to finish forming in the safety of the mother-cat's womb. This is especially significant in the digestive system, which means that premature kittens often have problems digesting their food and having bowel movements.

How do I care for a premature kitten?

As well as following the advice about caring for newborn kittens, there are several things you must do when caring for a premature kitten. Remember, for every day that a kitten is premature, it is equivalent to one week in a premature human infant. For example, a kitten that is ten days premature is equivalent to a human baby being born at 30 weeks - 10 weeks premature.

Warmth

Premature kittens need to be kept warmer than full term kittens:
Birth to 3 weeks: 95 degrees (35C)
3-4 weeks: 85 degrees (30C)
Over 4 weeks: 80 degrees (27C)
Because these kittens need to be kept very warm, it is important that they stay well hydrated. Give 1ml of boiled, cooled water after every feed using a syringe (without the needle), feeding slowly. Increase this to 1½ml at 10 days.

Feeding

A premature kitten requires feeding as often as every 1-2 hours in his first week to ten days of life. This can be very tiring but it is the only way to ensure that the kitten receives the nutrition he needs. His formula needs to be diluted, as his immature digestive system cannot yet handle full-strength formula. Make up the formula as directed and then add another ¼ of the amount of boiled, cooled water to dilute the formula. The kitten will take only 1-2ml per feed, as his stomach is very small. As he grows, he will take a little more formula at each feed.
Often, premature kittens are too weak to feed or haven't learnt how to swallow yet.

Elimination

Premature kittens sometimes experience problems having bowel motions, as their bowels are often underdeveloped and uncoordinated. Just as with full-term kittens, premature kittens should have a bowel motion at least once every two days. Sometimes, even a cotton ball can be too rough for the delicate skin around his bottom. Instead, get a small stream of warm water going at the sink, place his bottom in the stream and using your other hand, stimulate him with the index finger. Make sure your nails are short. Sometimes kittens will not produce a bowel motion if they feel that the cotton ball or tissue you are using is too harsh on their bottom. Your finger is the softest thing you can use to stimulate him. Dry him well and make sure he doesn't become chilled.
If the kitten becomes restless and cranky or his abdomen looks distended or bloated, he may be constipated.
You can also use a massage technique to try and get his bowels moving. After a feed, lay him on his back and gently massage his abdomen in small circles with your thumbs. Massage his tummy and sides, right up near his spine. What you're doing is mimicking the peristaltic (wave-like) motion that the stomach and bowels use to move the food along. You need to do this for as long as he'll let you. Make sure you massage close to his anus with your thumbs so it begins to connect with the messages from the bowels. Finally, take his little back legs and alternately straighten and bend each one in a cycling motion.
If the kitten still doesn't have a bowel motion, he needs to see a vet. The vet can give the kitten an enema, which is often a successful way of relieving the blockage. Some kittens will need several enemas until their bowels start working properly. Never try to give the kitten an enema yourself.

Touch

Touch is an important factor in the development of all kittens and is especially important for premature kittens. Remain serene and calm around the kitten, as he will pick up on any anxiety you are feeling and it may translate into anxiety or illness in him. He needs lots of physical contact with you, as gentle contact stimulates his mental and physical development and calms him. A great way to keep an eye on him, as well as comforting him,  Add a sock heater and he has a warm, safe place to be where he can be close to you.

Healthy & Happy Indoor Cat

INTRODUCTION
Cats can be happily kept inside all the time. Many people do so and would have it no other way. They say they have deeper and more satisfying relationships with their cats and that those cats are healthier and live longer. While living happily inside, cats are not getting hit by cars, being injured in cat fights, catching infections such as feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus (Feline "AIDS"), being stolen, hunting and possibly killing wildlife, urinating and defecating on neighbors' properties, and harassing or being harassed by other animals. Clearly there are many good reasons for permanently keeping cats indoors and outdoors in a protected area.
PHYSIOLOGICAL REACTIONS TO STRESS
An outdoor cat lives a more stressful life than an indoor cat, and stress leads to a myriad of physical and psychological disorders.  When faced with a challenge, the cat "gears up"; the heart rate increases, blood flow to the internal organs increases, and stored sugar is released into the bloodstream, ready to meet increased demands for energy. Many of these immediate effects are triggered by the release of the hormone- adrenalin from the adrenal glands. The body is now ready to "fight" or "flee," depending on the circumstances.  If the challenge persists, other hormones are released, among them ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) from the pituitary gland. ACTH in turn causes the release of still more hormones, such as cortisone and hydrocortisone from the adrenal glands. These hormones help to continue the supply of energy-sustaining sugars. Finally, should the perceived threat continue, the previously adaptive system starts to break down.  Chronic exposure to corticosteroids and other substances can cause organ systems to start degenerating, resulting in such negative effects as decreased immune response, stomach ulcers, and decreased growth to name but a few. Variation in the body's response is based on the type of threat it is exposed to.
Outdoor cats on the street, or even in the country, are faced every day with territorial disputes, threats from other animals, people, cars, environmental noises which cause panic, and situations which generate pure fear and stress. Indoor  cats generally live longer, healthier and happier lives than outdoor cats - a fact that cannot be disputed.

How to train a cat

Have you ever thought or ask the question 'what is the best technique on How to Train a Cat?

You have probably heard the answer 'you can not any way possible train a cat!'. I realize that having the thought how to train a cat may seem out in space some were, but evidence to imply that cats actually can be trained and it really is easier than you may have thought.

The very first issue many cat lovers face when figuring out how to train a cat and the way they train their kitty cat forgetting that your cat is not a dog!

Lets start by saying that dogs are completely different with a different social structure along with a unique brain to go along with many other differences that separate cats from doges.

Most dogs learn from repetition along with receiving dog treats for encouragement and so the main component to dog training is the fact that they are social animals and thrive in proper environments.

Now how to train a cat they are not concerned what you think and go about their business however they want. The only truth most people realize that when trying to train a cat is people learn fear which is is not a good thing at all.

Now first off you never want to use a penalty with your kitty, some dogs may be reprimanded by the pack leader, and that may work, during the process of how to train a cat, your feline friend very simply not trust you from that point forward.

Ok so what is the best method on how to train a cat? You need to discover what cats tend to respond to? The simple answer to the question is that cats seem to respond to what works well for them, anything that does not fit may be avoided.

Remember to be positive with you cat and appeal to his or her natural instincts during the how to train a cat process, instead of combating against it and success will soon come your way.