sop: kitten care guidebook department: ops/foster foster ... · by fas. make sure crate is lined...

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SOP: Kitten Care Guidebook

Department: Ops/Foster

Implementation Date: 03.23.19

Revision #: 03.2020

Created: March 2019

Author: Jenn Mueller– Foster Care Coordinator

Foothills Animal Shelter Foster Department–

Kitten Care 101 Guidebook: The Cure for

Amnesia

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*This guide is not a substitute for communicating with the foster department. Always keep the foster de-

partment updated on how kittens in your care are doing, whether it is going well or not. Kittens are very

fragile and staff will better be able to help you if you are updating us the entire time they are with you. If

you are experiencing any problems/concerns with your kitten, it is important you contact the foster de-

partment immediately. *

Never hesitate to ask us questions!

Getting in Touch with the Foster Department

Foster Hours of Operation: 8am to 6pm, 7 days a week, by appointment

Except holidays when the Shelter is closed

Email: [email protected]

Remember to choose ‘Reply All’ when responding

For all general communication, this the most ideal way to contact the Foster Department.

Direct Office Phones:

720-407-5231

720-407-5239

Emergency On-Call Cell Phone

(after hours & holidays)

720-460-1314

Leave a message and you will receive a prompt call back.

Mom and Babies

0-3 Weeks

4+ Weeks

Socializer Kitten

A note on this guide: It is set up

in color coded sections, as shown

in this table.

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How to Determine a Kitten’s Age

What age is your kitten? When your kitten arrived at the shelter, staff determined its

age before it was ready to head out to foster. Ever wonder how we do that when we

generally have no clue when their actual birthday is?

Is my kitten a boy or girl? Along with determining their age, staff will attempt to de-

termine the gender of your kitten upon arrival. Very young kittens can be tough to de-

termine, but as they grow it will become easier.

https://www.alleycat.org/resources/kitten-progression/

http://www.kitten-rescue.com/sexing_the_kitten.html

https://www.alleycat.org/resources/kitten-progression/

http://www.kitten-rescue.com/sexing_the_kitten.html

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Age Weight Milestones What do we need?

Birth 4-5 oz • Eyes and ears closed

• Sleeps most of the time

• Keep handling to a minimum

10-14

days

8 oz • Eyes and ears should open during this time

frame

2-3

weeks

12 oz • Baby incisors erupt

• Can begin to eliminate without stimulation

• Will start crawling, standing, and playing

• Regular handling can begin

• Competition for rank and territory begin.

Separation from mothers and littermates at

this point could lead to poor learning skills

and aggression towards people and other

pets.

1st dose Ponazuril

and Pyrantel given at

2 weeks of age.

Booster both in 2

weeks.

Kitten Milestones by Age

Depending on your kitten’s age, there are certain milestones to watch for and specific treatments

they will need on a regular schedule.

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Kitten Milestones by Age Cont’d

Age Weight Milestones What do we need?

4weeks 1lb • Baby canine teeth erupt

• Walking more, but may not have great bal-

ance

• Begins to self groom

• Can thermoregulate

• Ready for introduction to gruel and dry

kitten food

• Hearing is developed by 4 weeks of age

• Sight is fully developed by 5 weeks of age

6

weeks

1.5lbs

(1lb 8oz)

• Baby premolars erupt

• Running, playing, and using litterbox

consistently

• Should be eating mainly dry kitten food,

supplemented with canned food

8+

weeks

2+lbs • Ready for Spay/Neuter and adoption if

2+lbs

• Rabies vaccine given at 16 weeks of age

Booster Ponazuril and

Pyrantel. Boostered

every 2 weeks until 16

weeks of age

1st FVRCP vaccine

given if at least 1lb

Graduation!

Booster all. Once

2+lbs, release to

adoption!

Booster FVRCP vac-

cine Booster in 2

weeks. Booster py-

rantel and ponazuril

.

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Age Mom and Kittens

Setting Up for Your New Foster Kitten Based on Age

Moms with kittens will need a den set up somewhere in your home where mom can feel safe and secure

while she cares for her little ones. It’s usually best if this is a dimly lit (low lighting) area that is out of the

way and will have low traffic around it. Keep in mind that you can prep an area for her, and she may

choose to set up somewhere completely different; mom’s choices aren’t typically predictable! Find a cor-

ner or closet in the room you plan on confining them in and prepare it. You can use a large litter box, or

something similar to house mom and kittens (depending on kitten ages). This will give mom a safe place to

keep kittens contained (in the box) but she will be able to get out and stretch her legs when she needs to.

You can use new, clean bedding as well as bedding mom has been using while at the shelter so that her

scent is on it already and helps her feel more comfortable.

Return to Kitten

Milestone Chart

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Age Mom and Kittens

Large crate (big enough for mom and babies)

Bedding– Clean and recently used by mom

2 litter boxes– and kitten sized

Unscented, non-clumping litter

Litter scoop

Scale

Optional Baby gate or play pen

Items You’ll need

Once you get mom and kittens to your home you can set the crate facing towards the area you set up and

open the door. Mom will eventually come out and explore the area. Once she’s comfortable and has

picked her spot she may head back to the crate and start moving the kittens to her chosen area. Usually,

once she’s picked a place, that’s it… you won’t be able to convince her to move elsewhere. If kittens are a

little older and able to move around on their own, mom will love a perch somewhere near her “nest” so

she can take a break from them but still keep watch. Once mom has picked her location, set up a litterbox

and food/water for her and kittens. Depending on the area you have available to work with; you may

need baby gates or play pens to help keep mom contained, once she’s chosen her spot, if you do not want

her to have free roam of your house at that time. If you have resident pets, they must be kept entirely

separate from mom and babies.

Return to Kitten

Milestone Chart

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Crate (clam shell if available)

Bedding (enough so you can change frequently)

Warmie

Stuffed Animal

Scale

Items You’ll need

Kittens should be housed in a small crate or play pen, provided

by FAS. Make sure crate is lined with warm blankets, and is

large enough to house a warmie, with room for the kittens to

move away from the heat source if needed. Adding a soft

stuffed animal will offer the kittens something warm to snuggle

with in place of siblings and mom. Make sure to keep bedding

clean and dry, change as needed.

Age 0-3 weeks


Return to Kitten

Milestone Chart

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Kittens can be housed in a small crate, play pen, larger crate, or small room as they

grow and begin to really explore. Crates should be big enough to house a warmie (if

needed), with room for kittens to move away from the heat source. Space kittens

are housed in should be kept small to encourage weight growth and keep them

from running off all of the calories they may eat during the day, and this will help

them learn solid litterbox skills. Keep in mind that as kittens grow they will learn

how to climb, so they will not be confined by baby gates or play pens for long!

Small room or play pen/baby gates

Crate

Warmie

Bedding

Litter box


Litter Scoop

Scale

Items You’ll need

Age 4+ weeks


Return to Kitten

Milestone Chart

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Kittens who are in need of socialization will require a special set up to ensure the best

chance at success and to reduce the risk of possible bites happening. A large wire kennel

should be set up with a bed, litter box, and food/water dishes. Using this set up ensures

the kitten will not find someplace to hide, and you have relatively easy access to the kitten

in the beginning when handling. Once the kitten has warmed up to people, you may ex-

pand its area outside of the crate.

Large wire kennel

Purrito bag

Litter box

Bedding


Litter scoop

Highly desirable reward– such as canned food or human

baby food (no food that contains garlic or onion)

Wand or feather type toy

Scale

Items You’ll need

Age Socializer (typically 8 weeks or less)

Setting Up for Your New Foster Kitten: Based on Age

Return to Kitten

Milestone Chart

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Guide to Socializer Kittens

Handling Recommendation:

‘Burritoing’ - to hold, use so-

cialization bag or wrap in

towel. Use gloves or gently

scruff to handle if needed

Hand feeding wet food

or baby food, letting

kitten lick off your fin-

gers

Pick up, hold briefly and re-

turn to safe place– “catch

and release”

Play with small interac-

tive toys (no catnip),

but focus on handling

and being close to

kitten

First Few Days

What you see:

Kitten hissing, spitting,

swatting, growling

Start Here

We will supply you with a “purrito bag” when you pick up your so-

cializer kitten. This bag is a wonderful way for your kitten to be

with people and experience your day with you, without having to

be constantly handled. The thick felt material envelops them and

the mesh window gives them a view of the world as well as letting

them experience the sounds and smells of their environment. Continue to next steps

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Map to Socializer Kittens

At 5-7 days

What you see:

Still observing some hissing,

spitting, swatting, growling and/

or backing away

What you see:

Hissing on approach but respon-

sive, purring, warming up to being

handled

What you see:

No change or improvement

What to do:

Continue handling, including all

over body. Increase: Interaction

time, frequency of approaching,

standing/walking near kitten

What to do:

Continue handfeeding canned

food and continue focus on

handling, holding

What to do:

If possible, separate from other

kittens to handle, and confine

to small area for interactions.

Consult with Foster Staff.

Do not introduce kitten to your resident pets until

they are soliciting affection from humans. If intro-

duced to your pet before they are fully socialized

with humans, they may bond with them over the

humans in their life. The goal is to have a kitten

that is well socialized with humans and ready to

head up for adoption! Continue to next steps

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After 7-10 days

What you see:

Social, purring, relaxed with

handling and approach

What you see:

Still a little hissy, shy, apprehensive

What you see:

Still no improvement

What to do:

Congratulations! Continue han-

dling and encourage kitten to ap-

proach you for food or play time.

What to do:

Keep at the handling, hand

feeding, separating from oth-

ers, etc. Some kittens stay shy

What to do:

Consult with Foster Staff for

new ideas or to return kitten to

shelter for more intensive work

or Working Whiskers Program

You made it!

Depending on how old the kitten is and

where they are in their socializer journey,

foster staff may ask you to return the kitten

once they have hit a certain point. It is

sometimes more a matter of bonding with

whomever they spend the most time with

instead of needing further socialization

work. It will be important for them to find

their new forever homes ASAP when this is

the case so they may begin to bond with

their new owner and you can work with an-

other kitten!

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Bowls for food (canned, dry, gruel) and water

Dry food– Royal Canin Mom and Baby cat, Purina Pro-

plan Kitten, Purina Proplan Adult Cat

Canned food– Kitten and adult

KMR– Powder, not the liquid that is sold in cans

Syringes and/or bottles

Nipples (varying sizes)

Soft cloth or cotton balls

Scale

Items You’ll need

Age Mom and Kittens

Kittens that come with mom should ideally need little support in feeding until they reach weaning age.

Sometimes, though, mom will need a little help making sure everyone is being fed enough, especially if there

is a runt in the litter. Often, the bigger kittens in a litter will push the smaller ones out of the way and get the

majority of mom’s milk. While you have mom and kittens in your care it will be important to weigh the

kittens throughout the week to ensure they are all gaining weight steadily. Report any stagnation or loss of

weight to foster department. If you begin to notice any of the kittens struggling to eat and/or gain weight,

you may be advised to subsidize mom’s feedings with bottle feeding of your own. Refer to feeding instruc-

tions for kittens age 0-3 weeks (page 15) for instructions on how to bottle feed a kitten.

Otherwise, your main job will be to keep mom well fed and when the kittens are old enough, help introduce

and guide them through the weaning process. Refer to feeding instructions for kittens age 3-5 weeks (page

18) for instructions on how to help a kitten transition from milk or formula to gruel, and eventually dry and

canned food. While mom is nursing it is important that she always have access to food as her body is ex-

pending a tremendous amount of energy. While mom is nursing, offer kitten dry food all day, always replen-

ishing the bowl when she empties it. You can offer canned kitten food 2-3 times a day, offering 1/2-1 can

each time, depending on the size of the can. You can also offer a small amount of RC mom and baby cat

food, but be cautious of how much you use. This is an expensive food that is mainly used to encourage

kittens to eat dry food and will be an important tool in the weaning process. If kittens are weaned (around 4-

6 weeks of age) you can begin offering mom adult dry and canned food, and feeding kittens the appropriate

dry and canned food.

Feeding Your Foster Kittens: Based on Age

Return to Kitten

Milestone Chart

Always store

unused KMR

powder in the

fridge or freezer

to keep it fresh!

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Bottle baby kittens are 0-3 (or 4) weeks old. They will need special, around the clock care, with feedings every

2-4 hours. If mom is not present or able to feed, it will be up to you! Kittens will need to be fed KMR, a milk replac-

er formula. You can use either a syringe, syringe with nipple, or bottle, or any combination of the three. What-

ever works best for you and the kitten! Nipples should be cut so that formula easily drips out when the bottle is

inverted. You should not need to squeeze a bottle to produce a drop of formula.

See Pages 16-17 for steps tips on bottle feeding

Syringes (varying sizes)

Bottles and cleaning supplies

Nipples (varying sizes)


Blanket/Towel

Cotton ball /soft cloth

Timer/Alarm clock

Scale

Items You’ll need


Age 0-3 weeks

Return to Kitten

Milestone Chart

Always store

unused KMR

powder in the

fridge or freezer

to keep it fresh!

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Steps for bottle feeding-

1. CHECK KITTEN- Make sure the kitten is warm, and not chilled. Use a warmie or hold the kitten close to your body until it warms up. At this age, kittens cannot generate their own body heat, so wrapping in a towel or blanket will not warm them up without a heat source. A chilly kitten will not be able to eat and feeding them while they are cold can have serious health consequences. The energy needed to metabo-lize the food may not be readily available when they are cold, which means food may just sit in their stomach undigested and cause issues. Their ability to swallow may also be weakened so there is a greater risk of aspiration. If your kitten is cold and you are worried that it has not eaten in a very long time, put some honey or syrup on its gums to help boost blood sugar while you work on warming it up.

2. PREPARE FORMULA– Mix formula according to instructions on container. Do not mix too much formula at one time. Only make enough formu-la to last you 12-24 hours. Make sure formula is warm, not too cold or too hot. Only heat up what you need for that feeding. Refrigerate the rest for future use. You can submerge a bottle or syringe of formula in a mug of hot water to heat it up and test the temperature on the in-side of your wrist. A kitten’s body temperature is normally around 95-100° F, and an adult cat’s body temperature is normally 100-102° F. The formula should be around 100° F, as this is the temperature of the milk they would normally receive from mom.

2. PREPARE FORMULA cont’d– If the formula is too cold it can lead to gastrointestinal upset and lower the kitten’s body temperature, un-doing all of your hard work! Be careful to check that the formula is also not too hot, as this can injure the kitten.

3. PREPARE KITTEN- Place kitten on its belly. Nev-er hold a kitten on its back to feed. They can easily aspirate fluid into their lungs this way. If the kitten is moving, and flailing too much to feed; you can wrap them in a blanket or towel and hold them upright. Experiment with both positions to determine what works best for you and the kitten

https://www.catster.com/lifestyle/cat-kitten-health-care-bottle-feeding-orphan-ask-einstein


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4. FEED- Place a drop or two of formula onto the kitten’s tongue to introduce them to the formula and to make sure they are ready to swallow. If the kitten latches onto the nipple immediately, congrats! You are on the road to a successful feeding.

• If feeding with a bottle, make sure you do not squeeze the bottle as this may force too much formula into the kitten’s mouth at one time. If using a syringe, use a very slow and measured pace as you press on the plunger, making sure again that you do not force too much formula into the kitten’s mouth.

• If the kitten does not latch on right away, don’t give up! Some kittens may be too weak to latch, or will require a few feedings to really understand what to do. Wiggling the nipple back and forth in their mouth can help stimulate them to latch on. If they are chewing on the nipple and seem receptive to feeding, slowly trickle formula into their mouth and make sure they are swallowing. You may not get a full meal in, but you will likely get enough food in them to keep them going until the next feeding time.

• A full meal will usually be 3-9ml per feed (see chart for age specific guidelines), de-pending on the size of the kitten. Kittens will usually turn their head to the side when full, but some will continue to eat as long as food is available, so stop feeding around the suggested maximum amount per feeding to avoid overeating.

Age Amount (per feeding) Schedule

0-1 Week 2-6ml Every 2 hours

1-2 Weeks 6-10ml Every 2-3 hours

2-3 Weeks 10-14ml Every 2-4 hours

Kitten Feeding Chart by Age

5. Gently pat the kitten on the back to help it work out any excess air, much like burping a baby but you may not hear an actual burp.

6. STIMULATE AND CLEAN- Stimulate urina-tion/defecation using a soft cloth, cotton ball, or Kleenex. Gently dab rectum and genital area until kitten urinates and/or def-ecates. Urine should be clear to light yellow in color and occur at every feeding. Feces at this stage should occur 1-2 times a day. It should be well formed and mustard yellow in color. If your kitten hasn’t defecated in the last 1-2 days, let foster department know immediately.

http://www.kittenlady.org/bottlefeeding/

http://www.kittenlady.org/stimulating

http://www.kittenlady.org/bottlefeeding/


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Weaning from bottle (formula) to other foods usually takes place during the 3-5 week age range. This can be a very difficult time due to the possibility of back-sliding: a kitten who appears to be learning and making the switch from milk/formula to eating gruel/wet food is not actually getting enough food on their

own or may even stop eating suddenly. Feedings can occur every 4-8 hours de-pending on how much the kitten is eating on their own. Kittens will begin wean-ing with gruel– a mixture of canned food and formula, eventually working in dry food and decreasing the amount of formula in mixture. During this time kittens may need syringe feeding to subsidize what they are able to eat on their own, or to “prime the pump” and get them started eating. It is important to be ex-

tremely vigilant during this process as only a day or two of insufficient nutrition can lead to dehydration, malnutrition, illness, and Fading Kitten Syndrome (see page 22, for more info on this). Begin offering water at all times if kitten is mo-bile. You will still need to stimulate your kitten as they wean and progress into

using a litter box.

Syringes (varying sizes)

Canned food (KITTEN specific)


Royal Canin Mom and Baby Cat dry food

Purina Pro Plan Kitten dry food

Low sided dishes

Scale

Cotton ball /soft cloth

Timer/Alarm clock

Items You’ll need

Age 4+ weeks


Return to Kitten

Milestone Chart

Always store

unused KMR

powder in the

fridge or freezer

to keep it fresh!

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Steps-

1. CHECK KITTEN- Make sure the kitten is warm, and not chilled. Use a warmie or hold the kitten close to your body until it warms up. At this age, kittens are beginning to thermoregulate, but may still need a little help. A chilly kitten will not be able to eat and feeding them while they are cold can have serious health conse-quences. The energy needed to metabolize the food may not be readily available when they are cold, which means food may just sit in their stomach undigested and cause issues. Their ability to swallow may also be weakened so there is a greater risk of aspiration. If your kitten is cold and you are worried that it has not eaten in a very long time, put some honey or syrup on its gums to help boost blood sugar while you work on warming it up.

2. PREPARE GRUEL– Gruel is a mixture of canned kitten food and KMR, mixed to varying degrees of liquid to chunky depending on the kitten’s age and eating ability. Each kitten should get about 1/2 can of canned food each at each feeding. See chart for suggested canned food to KMR ratios. Begin with a thin gruel, adding more warm water as needed to make it thin enough for them to lap from a small plate or low bowl. As your kitten progresses, make the gruel chunkier by adding more canned food and less KMR/water until you are feeding only wet food. As your kitten grows and masters eating gruel, you can mix a little Purina Pro Plan kitten food or Royal Canin Mom and Baby Cat dry food in with the gruel so that they begin to learn what dry food feels like.

3. PREPARE KITTEN– You can hold the kitten in your lap or sit near the kitten while they eat. Be prepared for the kitten, the floor, and even you to get messy! Learning to eat is a fun, but messy process. You can gently stroke the kitten with a soft toothbrush during feeding times to simulate grooming the mother would do while they eat.

1/2 can

(1.5oz)

1 can

(3oz)

1.5 cans

(4.5oz)

2 cans

(6oz)

Canned

food

1/3 tsp 3/4 tsp 1 1/2— 2tsp KMR

Gruel Ratio Chart

http://www.kittenlady.org/feeding/

http://www.kittenlady.org/feeding/

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4. OFFERING FOOD– Make sure gruel is offered on a small plate or low sided dish. Kitten eye sight at this age is poor. Using low sided dishes makes it easier for them to find the food and will help reduce the amount of time they spend gnawing on the side of the bowl. You can use your finger, a spoon, or sy-ringe to offer some gruel to the kitten and peak their interest. If kitten does not seem interested in food at all, try warming the gruel up in the microwave. Warming the food increases the aroma and may help entice a kitten to eat, especially if they are suffering from a URI and are congested. If a kitten will not try the gruel, make sure the gruel is thin and draw up a small amount in a syringe. You can try “priming the pump” by “force” feeding, gently, a small amount of gruel. Sometimes just a few ml of gruel, introduced via syringe will encourage the kitten’s appetite. If the kitten does not begin to readily attempt to eat after a few ml, you can offer 3-9ml (depending on size of kitten) via syringe. If your kitten is just beginning the transition from bottle to gruel, top off each meal with formula as needed. DO NOT regress back to bottle feeding if your kitten has already started the weaning process. Regressing back to the bottle will cause your kitten to backslide! Be patient and willing to try different ways of helping your kitten eat, and contact the foster department if you are struggling.

5. STIMULATE AND CLEAN- Stimulate urination/defecation using a soft cloth, cotton bowl, or Kleenex. Gently dab rectum and genital area until kitten urinates and/or defecates. Urine should be clear to light yellow in color and occur at every feeding. Feces at this stage should occur 1-2 times a day. It should be well formed and mustard yellow in color. Depending on the age of your kitten, they may be exploring using a litter box while weaning! Monitor urine and feces, and don’t be afraid to jump in and stimulate your kitten if they are struggling to grasp using the litter box. If your kitten hasn’t defecated in the last 1-2 days, let foster department know imme-diately.



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Weighing your Kitten

It is important for you to track your kitten’s weight while they are in

foster. Refer to pages 4-5 for the estimated weight of a kitten in each

age group. Kittens will begin at different weights, and may gain faster

or slower than their siblings or other kittens you have fostered in the

past. The main thing you are looking for is consistent weight gain.

Stagnation or loss of weight could signal an underlying issue and

should be addressed immediately. You should aim to weigh kittens

twice daily until they reach 6 weeks of age (once in the morning and

once in the evening aiming for the same time each day) so that you

are familiar with their personal growth pattern and can identify any

stagnation or loss as soon as possible. Kittens 6 weeks or older can be

weighed daily, or at least a few times throughout the week. Alert the

foster department immediately if you notice stagnation or loss of

weight in your kitten(s), including details such as feeding schedule,

amount they typically eat in a feeding, energy, any vomiting or diar-

rhea, and if they are dehydrated- Refer to page 25 for how to assess

hydration.

You can keep track of their weight however works best for you. Below

is an example of a chart that could be used.

Date: Time of weighing: Weight:

2/28/19 11:00am 1lb 2oz

Click here to go to Printable

Kitten Weight Chart on page

28.

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“Fading kitten syndrome is not a single

entity; rather, it describes a large number

of problems and conditions that can

cause death in young kittens” (Dr. Eric

Barchas, Catster 2018).

Fading Kitten Syndrome

Kittens will sometimes get sick and/or die, seemingly without warning. While it may appear to have hap-

pened without cause, there has usually been some problem building gradually in the background, difficult to

detect until it has reached a crisis level. Once in crisis, kittens unfortunately usually have a poor prognosis,

though some may pull through with prompt emergency care. The early detection of problems before they

reach crisis level whenever possible is the best way to avoid a kitten developing fading kitten syndrome.

Symptoms– Kittens will often display similar symptoms with fading kitten syndrome no matter the cause

• Lethargy (usually extreme)

• Low body temp

• Pale gums/tacky skin/dehydration (Know this is discussed in detail later)

• Low respiratory rate or very rapid respiratory rate, gasping

• Failure to nurse or eat (age dependent)

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Warmie or heating pad

Blanket

Honey or syrup

Items You’ll need

What to do– If you notice a kitten exhibiting any of the above symptoms, alert the foster department imme-

diately. The kitten will require veterinary care and the foster department will advise you on what to do.

There are some things you can do while at home to support the kitten until help can be provided

• Warm the kitten up: Place a blanket on a heating pad or warmie and place the kitten on the blanket. If

the kitten is not yet mobile and has been laying on the heating pad for too long, it may be overheating

and you will need to move it away from the heat source

• Place a drop of honey or syrup on its gums; this will provide an immediate blood sugar spike during a

time when the kitten may be too weak or cold to eat

Fading Kitten Syndrome cont’d

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Fading Kitten Syndrome Cont’d

The symptoms of Fading Kitten Syndrome can be linked to a large number of problems and are often the cul-

mination of multiple problems building together. This is in no way an all inclusive list, but just a few of the

possible problems that can lead to crisis.

Inadequate Mothering( By the feline mother)- This is considered one of the leading risk factors for fading

kitten syndrome. Kittens that have been orphaned are at greater risk as they are not receiving the benefits of

mom’s milk and care. Kittens who are still with their mother may be at a higher risk if mom is inexperienced,

not producing enough milk, not letting the kittens nurse, stressed, or malnourished. Mom can also acci-

dentally lay or sit on a kitten.

Trauma– Possible causes could be when a kitten falls from a height or gets crushed, such as being stepped on

or sat on (see above).

Hypothermia– While also a symptom of Fading Kitten Syndrome, this can be a cause as well. This can occur

when a kitten is separated from its mother and/or litter in a chilly environment. If caring for a singlet kitten,

this can happen when they are not placed where they have easy access to heat and will hold the warmth in.

Young kittens are not able to generate their own body heat until around 4 weeks of age. A cold kitten will be

less able and likely to nurse and could suffer the consequences of not eating enough.

Low Blood Sugar/Anorexia- A kitten that has gone too long between feedings or has not been eating enough

to sustain itself at each feeding may suffer from low blood sugar. The longer they go without eating an ade-

quate amount, the more at risk they are.

Infectious organisms– Whether bacterial, viral, or parasitic, kittens are at risk of infection, and this risk is

greater if the kitten was unable to nurse from mom initially. They may have missed out on receiving im-

portant antibodies that would help protect them from infection that are passed to kittens during the first

few feedings after birth (Dr. Ernest Ward, VCA 2009).

Hereditary defects– This can range from heart irregularities to undeveloped immune systems. We are unfor-

tunately not always able to detect a defect.

- https://www.catster.com/cat-health-care/affordable-vet-care-for-your-cat

https://www.catster.com/cat-health-care/affordable-vet-care-for-your-cat

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Checking your Kitten’s Hydration– How to tell if your kitten may be

dehydrated

Whether your kitten has diarrhea (see page 26), is vomiting, or is just

overall not doing well– you may be asked to assess whether or not they

seem hydrated by foster staff. There are two “easy” ways to check for de-

hydration.

1. Gently pinch the kitten’s skin over the shoulders, (the scruff). If the skin

springs back slowly, (takes more than one second), the kitten may be de-

hydrated

2. Gently pick up the kitten’s lip to check the gum line. Gums should be

pink and moist. If not (ie. pale and tacky), the kitten may be dehydrated

https://www.cliniciansbrief.com/article/assessing-patient-hydration

https://www.pet-happy.com/would-you-know-if-your-cat-is-dehydrated/

If you believe your kitten is dehydrated, contact the foster department immediately. Your kitten will most

likely need to come to the shelter for an exam and treatment. Treatment will often include subcutaneous or

IV fluids, as well as other possible treatments to treat other underlying problems that may have lead to the

dehydration or are a product of the dehydration.

https://www.cliniciansbrief.com/article/assessing-patient-hydration

https://www.pet-happy.com/would-you-know-if-your-cat-is-dehydrated/

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Diarrhea

can come in all consistencies, colors, and even smells! Alert the fos-

ter department when you first see loose stools. Any detail you can

provide will help us identify the best way to help you and your

kitten. This can mean sending pictures, or even just describing what

you see and smell. Based on what you tell us, we will determine if

your kitten needs medication or should come in for an exam/testing

and treatment.

When did it start?

How often is your kitten defecating or trying to defecate?

What is the consistency (use fecal scoring chart on page 27)

What is the color?

Does it have a strong smell?

How are appetite and energy?

Has there been any vomiting?

How is hydration? (See page 25)

The Scoop on Poop

“Squash it”: Canned pumpkin is something that is easy to

have on hand. This may be one of the first things we sug-

gest when you initially report diarrhea, but there are

some guidelines to dosing pumpkin! When you let the fos-

ter department know you are seeing loose stools, if we

advise trying pumpkin we will advise how much each

“dose” should be based on the size of the kitten. It is im-

portant we know when pumpkin has been tried as a treat-

ment for loose stools so we can track what has and has

not worked.

• Give 3 doses, with 4-10 hours between. If loose stools are not better by the third dose, do not continue.

• If loose stools do firm-up, either within the 3 doses or by the end of the dosing, stop administering. If you continue when it is firmed, pumpkin will loosen the stools again. It works both ways!

• Dose as a medication – through a syringe for control

of quantity. It does not work as well when mixed with

food.

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https://www.proplanveterinarydiets.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/PPPVD-Fecal-Scoring-Chart-EN-FINAL.pdf

https://www.proplanveterinarydiets.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/PPPVD-Fecal-Scoring-Chart-EN-FINAL.pdf

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Date: Time of weighing: Weight: Observations

Ex. 2/28/19 11:00am 1lb 2oz Great appetite and energy!

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Barchas, D. E. (2018). What Is Fading Kitten Syndrome and Why Do So Many Foster Kittens Die From It? Re-

trieved from Catster: What Is Fading Kitten Syndrome and Why Do So Many Foster Kittens Die From

It?

Brown, J. (2018). 9 Ways to Find Affordable Vet Care for your Cat. Retrieved from Catster: https://

www.catster.com/cat-health-care/affordable-vet-care-for-your-cat

DVM, E. W. (2009). Kitten- Raising Kittens. Retrieved from VCA Hospitals: https://vcahospitals.com/know-

your-pet/kitten-raising-kittens

Munkevics, M. (2014). Would you Know if your Cat was Dehydrated. Retrieved from Pet-Happy: https://

www.pet-happy.com/would-you-know-if-your-cat-is-dehydrated/

Purina. (n.d.). Purina Fecal Scoring Chart. Retrieved from ProPlan Veterinary Diets: https://

www.proplanveterinarydiets.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/PPPVD-Fecal-Scoring-Chart-EN-

FINAL.pdf

Rainbolt, D. (2014, April). Ask Einstein: How Do You Bottle Feed and Orphan Kitten? Retrieved from Catster:


Rescue, K. (2009). Sexing The Kitten. Retrieved from Kitten Rescue: http://www.kitten-rescue.com/

sexing_the_kitten.html

Rudolph, L. W. (2016). Assessing Patient Hydration. Retrieved from Clinicians Brief: https://

www.cliniciansbrief.com/article/assessing-patient-hydration

Shaw, H. (2018). Bottle Feeding. Retrieved from Kitten Lady: http://www.kittenlady.org/bottlefeeding/

Shaw, H. (2018). Feeding Kittens. Retrieved from Kitten Lady: http://www.kittenlady.org/feeding/

Shaw, H. (2018). Stimulating Kittens. Retrieved from Kitten Lady: http://www.kittenlady.org/stimulating

Shaw, H. (2018). Weaning Kittens. Retrieved from Kitten Lady: http://www.kittenlady.org/weaning

Special thanks to all Foothills Animal Shelter Foster Families for their amazing pictures and constant

patience with our kittens.

Thank you to Tance and Susan for your amazing input on the creation of this guidebook!

sop: kitten care guidebook department: ops/foster foster ... · by fas. make sure crate is lined...

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