Post-Natal Care of Your Queen and her Newborn Kittens
26 march - 27 march 2007
Week 1: Tiny Food Processing Factories
Written by The
Franny Syufy
Veterinary & Aquatic Services Department, Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc.
A healthy kitten is firm, plump, and vigorous. Kittens nurse about every 1-2 hours. If they nurse until their stomachs appear round and they sleep quietly, they are eating enough.
If they are crying and moving a lot, they are not eating enough.
They may be swallowing air which makes the stomach appear larger. As they become weaker, they will lay still and not cry. Kittens develop a preference for which teat they nurse from within days of birth. They locate the same teat by smell. Before, during, and after nursing, the queen will lick the stomach and perineal area to stimulate urination and defecation. She will continue to do this for 2-3 weeks.
A normal kitten weighs 100 grams plus or minus 10 grams at birth. Those with weights under 90 grams at birth are more likely to die within the first days of life. The minimal weight gain should be 7-10 grams daily, although, they may lose weight slightly in the first 24 hours after birth.
Conclusion:
Although during the first week of a kitten's life he will be concentrating on feeding and growth, (he will double his birth weight this week) other physical changes are taking place which will become more apparent soon, so hold onto your hat!