Some helpful advices that are important to know, so that we can help save the lives of those who did not choose to be born on the streets:
1. First, if you found a nursing kitten, it is forbidden to touch him. In most cases, although not in all of them, the mother cat went to look for food and therefore left the kittens alone. If you touched the kittens, the mother will come back and smell your scent on their fur – and she will not return to nurse them! It is important to go back to the place later and check if the mother has returned. If she returned – help her, leave her water and food so she can get stronger and take care of her kittens. Often the mother gives birth in “uncomfortable” places for humans such as a wardrobe or electrical cabinet – because she feels it is the safest and most protected place for her kittens. Even if it’s unbearable to you…please wait a few days. A mother cat tends to move her kittens around, because she knows there’s not a safe enough place for them… If you’re having a hard time waiting – try to make noise (without harming her or her kittens) and make a crate with bedding and food and water in a close corner, to which she will be able to move her kittens on her own (with an emphasis again on her own).
2. In too many cases unfortunately the mother was run over or abused, and therefore will not be able to return to her kittens. A kitten up to 3 weeks should be fed every 2 hours with special milk powder for cats, using a small bottle with nipple/syringe. The milk powder can be obtained at veterinarians or in stores selling animal food. Baby milk powder can also be used. From the age of 3 weeks, the kitten can also eat a more solid food, special food for kittens in tin cans.
3. It is important to keep the body warmth of the kittens who are accustomed to being attached to their mother’s warm body! Wrap them with blankets and place a hot bottle (with the bottle covered with a blanket, so it won’t be too hot).
4. Until the age of 3-4 weeks, the kitten is unable to defecate without external stimulation of the sphincters. The mother cat does this with licking and in the absence of a mother – lightly pat with moist cotton wool on the anus area, 4-5 times a day. If the kitten does not defecate for more than two days, it should be brought to the veterinarian for examination.
5. When the kittens finish suckling and move to solid food, it is recommended to adopt them and bring joy into your life, but if you are unable to do so, a feeding area can be arranged for them in the courtyard of the building.
In order there won’t be any more miserable kittens on the streets – it is important to spay and neuter the street cats. To schedule an appointment for spaying/neutering at our clinic: 036241776 extension 4.
