Newborn kittens require special care and attention. Most cat owners don’t have to undertake this important responsibility because the mother cat is able to meet her litter’s needs adequately. Kittens are also brought to their new homes when they are around 8 weeks of age, the typical age when they are weaned from their mothers.

However, there are cases when helpless newborn kittens need to be hand-reared. Having a good understanding of what these neonates need is very important to ensure their proper growth and development.

Orphaned kittens or those that were abandoned by their mother benefit from being hand-reared. The runt of a litter may also need special care since the mother will usually favor the healthier kittens. The runt is usually forgotten or ignored; there are even instances when the mother cat harms the runt. Removing a kitten that is not being cared for from the litter is best done to ensure its survival.

Your veterinarian NW Las Vegas can give advice on meeting the needs of your pet.