Home With Cats

Oh, the miracle of life! Whether you are reading this because your cat is expecting or because the cat distribution system has bestowed one or more newborn kittens upon you, there are a few things you need to understand about the needs of newborn kittens.

Newborn Kittens Need A Mom

First things first, kittens change a lot in those first few weeks. And what they need changes too. Kittens that are less than seven weeks old need a mother or very specialized care that not everyone is able or prepared to provide. Newborn kittens need to be fed every 2–4 hours on a very strict schedule for the first two weeks. If the flow rate on the bottle is too high, the kittens can aspirate the formula and catch pneumonia or even die. After two weeks, they can be transitioned to 4-5 small meals per day, but the amounts need to be carefully calculated by body weight to prevent diarrhea. The VCA Animal Hospital has a detailed guide Feeding Orphaned Kittens. And your local ASPCA can put you in touch with local kitten foster programs.

AlleyCatAllies.org has a Kitten Progression Guide with nice pictures and developmental details that can help you figure out how old the kitten is and, lacking a mom cat, if you have the time and resources you need to care for them adequately. The ASPCA offers a decision tree based help guide I Found Kittens What Do I Do that can be very helpful in deciding if you should intervene if you find kittens.

If you have both the mama cat and her kittens, you will still have some things to consider in order to provide them with the best possible support.

The Right Environment

Temperature

Warmth is key. And by warm, I mean really toasty warm. Their nest box should be at 90°F for the first four days, gradually decreasing to 80°F by the end of the first week. Kittens aren’t able to regulate their body temperature until they are approximately five weeks old and are completely dependent on their environment for warmth. The mom cat and other siblings can help to provide warmth. But if you prefer your thermostat at 70°F you are going to need to provide some supplemental heat for the box.

Safety

The nest box should be in a quiet, secluded place away from bright lights and noise. This is especially important if you have small children. Newborn kittens shouldn’t be handled any more than is necessary to confirm their health and growth. Bright lights, noise and excessive handling can stress the mother and her kittens and have a negative impact on the mother’s milk production and nursing time. It can also cause the mother to move the kittens, sometimes repeatedly and not always to the best of locations. Providing a safe, secure and calm environment for the mother cat and her kittens can do a lot to maximize the potential for strong and healthy kittens.

Monitor Their Health

Daily weights can be a simple way to verify that everything is on track. Failure to gain weight is a serious sign in kittens and a vet should be consulted immediately. On average, you would expect newborn kittens to gain 7-14 grams a day. But weighing kittens this young and looking for these tiny weight shifts can be tricky. So please watch this informative video by The Kitten Lady, a professional kitten rescuer, for everything you need to know about weighing your newborn kittens.

Newborn Kittens Need A Loving And Well Informed Caregiver

Here are some additional resources that can help!

Raising Kittens
By Courtney Barnes, BSc, DVM; Krista Williams, BSc, DVM; Ernest Ward, DVM

What Should People Do When They Find Kittens
FAQ: Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine

It will surprise no one, cats don’t travel well. And they are pretty low maintenance. So if it is just overnight or just for the weekend, you might put out some extra food and water and call it done. But of course, that won’t always work. In my opinion, the next best thing to the cats taking care of themselves is a cat sitter. Certainly, it is the least disruptive option for the cats themselves.

What is a Cat Sitter

A cat sitter or, more broadly, a pet sitter, is a person who comes to your home to care for your animals while you are away. This could be a professional sitter with ten years experience as a vet tech who gives your elderly diabetic cat insulin twice a day. Or it could be your neighbor’s 13-year-old daughter who scoops the litter boxes daily so prissy Mr Fluffypants doesn’t pee on the bathroom rug. But regardless of the level of care your cat requires, there are a few key advantages to using a cat sitter that can tell you if this is the BEST choice for you.

You Have A Multi Pet Household

The more pets you have and the more diverse your household, the more that a cat sitter or pet sitter will make sense for you. Do you have five cats? Do you have two cats, a dog, a ferret, and a cockatiel? The least complicated and most budget friendly option for you will absolutely be a pet sitter. While sitters do usually price per pet, it is generally a small amount compared to boarding facilities. Furthermore, very few boarding facilities will take either ferrets or birds, period. So a sitter might be your only option.

You Want Special Service

Do you need your houseplants watered? Expecting a delivery? Want your outdoor bird feeders topped up? Or just want the added security of a more “lived in” look to your home while you are away? Many sitters are very flexible. You just need to be very clear on expectations and costs upfront to avoid any misunderstandings.

Your Cat Reacts Badly To Change

Cats do not like change. And some cats react more strongly to change than others. One of my cats, a sweet gray tabby named Mojee, turned his face to the wall and refused to eat or drink the one and only time I attempted to board him. It was so bad that I had to cut my trip short, and they ended up giving him subcutaneous fluids waiting for my return. Mojee had seizures and required daily medications. I thought that boarding him with my vet was the only option. It turns out that it is possible to get vet techs, and former vet techs as cat sitters! In fact, your vet may be the best place to start looking for a sitter if your cat has significant health issues.

If your cat doesn’t have any issues beyond being kind of pissy, territorial and opinionated, you can cut your expense significantly by seeing if a friend, neighbor or family member is up for the job. Sometime people are willing to pet sit on a reciprocal basis. “I’ll watch yours while you go to the beach if you watch mine when I visit family over the holidays” kind of thing. The advantage here, beyond cost, is the likelihood that your cat already knows and is comfortable with this person.

Selecting The Right Cat Sitter

Professional Services

There are many advantages to using a professional sitting service. Most professional service providers carry liability insurance and offer service guarantees, providing additional peace of mind. Because their reputation is on the line, they are likely to do a more thorough vetting of the pet sitters than you are likely to do on your own. You will have access to reviews and verified work history. Most sitting services offer you profiles of sitters you can choose from to help you find the best fit. The profiles generally list experience, ratings and reviews from previous clients. They also often list how many repeat clients the sitters have, always a good, positive sign.

Professional Cat Sitter Services To Consider:

Rover.com Nationwide. Sitter background or identity checks. Verified reviews by pet parents. 24/7 support for pet parents and sitters. Vet advice for sitters during bookings. A team of trust and safety experts. Vet care reimbursement through the Rover Guarantee. Unfortunately, they only list services for dogs and cats.

Nonie’s Pet Care New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner. Insured. Bonded, background screened, skilled staff. 5 star reviews. A+ Accredited Business w/BBB. Locally owned (not a franchise). They offer: pet sitting, dog walking, bed & breakfast visits, overnights, all medication administration, Pet Taxi, Poop-Scoop Service, as well as, specialized post surgery, injury or illness care. And they list services for dogs, cats, “critters”, rabbits and birds.

Private Individuals

In many ways, this is both the best and the worst option. Ideally, this is someone your pets already know and love. For friends and family members, you should know what to expect. Please! Only choose people you know are reliable and dependable. You are not going to care how much your cats love your flaky sister when you come home to filthy litter boxes, dead houseplants and a freezer completely devoid of ice cream. Clearly defining what you need done, in writing on a list, will avoid misunderstandings down the road and might just save a friendship.

If you are considering engaging someone you don’t personally know, a Vet Tech freelancer from Craigslist, a friend of a friend’s nephew, please remember, YOU ARE GOING TO GIVE THIS PERSON THE KEYS TO YOUR HOUSE AND YOUR ALARM CODE. You absolutely must check references and do at least a basic background check. A nanny cam might not be a bad idea either.

Conclusion

I have had cats for six decades, many many cats and dogs and fish and birds and ferrets and hamsters and…pets. For me personally, sitters are the best way to go. Being able to stay in a familiar environment, with familiar sights and smells, is less distressing for your pets. They will still notice you’re gone. I even think my fish noticed I was gone. But I think it is less stressful. However, it does mean giving someone access to your home. And I know not everyone is comfortable with that. But hopefully now that you know the pros and cons, you will know if cat sitter is the best choice for you.