Evie Summers
Newborn kittens require a lot of sleep — up to 22 hours a day! They need a warm, secure, and comfortable environment to rest in. If the kitten has a mother, she will take care of most of their needs, but if not, you'll have to step in. You'll need to feed them every 2-4 hours and keep them warm using a heating pad or a cosy nest of blankets. You can also try stroking their nose and forehead to help them relax and fall asleep.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Amount of sleep | A newborn kitten sleeps for about 22 hours a day. |
| Sleep duration | Kittens sleep for one to two hours at a time, with an average sleep session lasting 78 minutes. |
| Sleeping environment | A cat bed that's low to the ground is the best place for a kitten to sleep. |
| Sleeping location | Dr. Mader recommends putting your kitten to bed in their original room but leaving the door open so they can explore other potential sleeping spots. |
| Sleeping with a human | Sleeping with a human can provide a kitten with warmth, comfort, and a sense of security, but there is a risk of injury if the kitten falls off a high bed or is rolled onto. |
| Bed type | The bed should be warm, soft, and cozy, providing a sense of security. |
| Bed location | The bed should be kept in a secure, warm area such as a closet, a small room, or a fenced-off area of a room. |
| Bedding | Use a soft blanket or towel to cover the base and sides of a box or basket. |
| Temperature regulation | Newborn kittens cannot regulate their body temperature, so it's important to keep them warm. |
| Feeding | Newborn kittens should be fed every two to four hours, and burped after feeding. |
| Dehydration | Dehydration is one of the biggest threats to newborn kittens, so ensure they have constant access to water. |
| Urination | If a newborn kitten hasn't eliminated urine within 12 hours, rub its genitalia with a warm, wet washcloth. |
| Health | Check the kitten's ears for mites and its fur for fleas, and consult a veterinarian if any health issues are detected. |
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What You'll Learn
Newborn kittens sleep up to 22 hours a day
To support their rapid growth and development, newborn kittens need a significant amount of sleep. If the kitten has a mother, she will take care of most of their needs, including feeding. In this case, your role is to ensure the mother is healthy and that the kittens are in a warm and secure environment. Make sure their crate or area has a blanket on the floor and a warm bed for them to sleep in. If the kittens don't have a mother, you will need to feed them a special kitten formula every two to four hours and keep them warm with a heating disk or pad. You can also create a cozy nest out of blankets to help them sleep.
To encourage a newborn kitten to sleep, you can stroke its nose and forehead or pet it in other places it might enjoy, such as under the chin or on the top of its neck. You can also place young kittens under your sweater or a light blanket to help them relax and fall asleep. It is important to ensure that the kitten's bed is in a secure, warm area, such as a closet, a small room, or a fenced-off area of a room. Additionally, provide the kittens with necessities like water, a litter box, and toys, and make sure their space is kitten-proof.
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Keep the kitten's bed in a secure, warm area
Newborn kittens are vulnerable and require a lot of care and attention. They cannot regulate their body temperature for the first few weeks of their life, so it is important to provide an external heat source to keep them warm and cozy.
To create a secure and warm sleeping environment for a newborn kitten, set up a bed in a draft-free area, such as away from open windows or drafty hallways and doors. A kitten's bed should be low to the ground, providing a sense of security and warmth. Additionally, you can place a cat bed or two in other cozy spots around your home, such as the living room couch, to give the kitten options as they grow more mobile and adventurous.
If the kitten is without its mother, you may want to provide a small box with blankets to create a sense of security and warmth. You can also use a heating pad set to around 98 degrees Fahrenheit, ensuring the kitten can move away if it gets too warm. A DIY heating pad can be made by filling a long sock with dry, uncooked rice, tying it securely, and heating it in the microwave for about a minute. Place the heated sock in the box with the kitten, wrapped in a towel, and repeat the process every 2-3 hours to keep them warm throughout the day.
Another option is to fill a plastic bottle with warm-to-hot water, wrap it in a towel or blanket, and place it in the kitten's bed. Ensure the bottle is not too hot and that the kitten can move away from it if needed. For the smallest kittens, cover their bed or box to eliminate drafts.
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Check for health problems like itching or pain
Newborn kittens are completely dependent on their mother or caregiver for protection, warmth, and nutrition. They are also extremely vulnerable to sickness. Therefore, it is important to be vigilant about any health problems.
The medical term for itching is pruritus, which is defined as an unpleasant sensation within the skin that provokes the desire to scratch. It is a sign, not a specific disease. The most common causes of itching in cats are parasites, infections, and allergies. Parasites, including mites and fleas, are often the first possible cause a veterinarian will seek to exclude. This may include microscopic analysis of skin scrapings, flea combing, and trial treatments with appropriate insecticides. Bacterial, fungal, and yeast infections are also common causes of itching. Specialized cultures can identify fungal infections, such as ringworm. Samples may be taken from the skin to identify bacterial and yeast infections. If an infection is suspected, a veterinarian may prescribe a course of antibiotic or antifungal drugs lasting 3 to 4 weeks. If the itching persists, the underlying cause may be an allergy. The most common causes of allergic itching are insect bites, food allergies, and an inherited skin allergy called atopy. Food allergies are identified based on the response to a diet trial, which involves providing the cat with a diet that does not include the foods it has normally consumed.
In addition to itching, there are other health problems to look out for in newborn kittens. Fading kitten syndrome, for example, is a condition in which a kitten fails to thrive between birth and weaning. The underlying causes can include maternal neglect, trauma, birth defects, parasites, and infections. Kittens with fading kitten syndrome may exhibit symptoms such as excessive crying, weakness, lethargy, or reluctance to nurse. This syndrome is typically fatal, but recognizing the symptoms and seeking veterinary help can increase the chances of survival.
To ensure the health and well-being of a newborn kitten, it is recommended to have them examined by a veterinarian within three days of birth or adoption. Routine check-ups and diagnostic testing, such as blood work, fecal and urine testing, and imaging, can help identify any potential health issues. Additionally, creating a safe and comfortable sleeping environment is crucial. A cat bed that is low to the ground is ideal, providing warmth, comfort, and a sense of security.
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Feed the kitten a special kitten formula every 2-4 hours
Newborn kittens need to be fed very regularly, so you'll need to set an alarm to ensure you're getting up to feed them every 2-4 hours. During the first four weeks of a kitten's life, they should be fed every three hours, including through the night. After this, you can start to wean them off the bottle, but they'll still need to be fed regularly.
It's important that you feed your kitten a special kitten formula. Mother's milk is highly digestible and very calorie-dense, and it contains more than twice as much protein as cow's milk. Cow's milk is not ideal for feeding kittens as it can make them very sick. Commercial kitten milk replacers are recommended as they are superior to cow's milk and homemade mixtures. The milk replacer you choose should meet the nutrient requirements for growing kittens. The volume of milk fed per day should be approximately 180ml per kilogram of kitten body weight.
Before and after each feed, you should wash your hands and the bottle that you used. It’s also recommended that you use a “kitten gown”—a robe or shirt—that you only wear when handling or feeding your kitten. This helps to reduce the possibility of spreading germs.
To feed your kitten, prepare the formula and warm it to slightly above room temperature. Test the temperature right before feeding. Hold the kitten on their stomach, lying next to you, with their head in your lap. Hold the bottle to their mouth and let them suckle at their own pace. If they don't eat right away, gently stroke their forehead, mimicking how their mother would clean them, to encourage them to eat.
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You can place young kittens under a light blanket
Newborn kittens need to feel warm and secure when they sleep. They spend about 90% of their time sleeping, which is almost 22 hours a day. As they mature, they will sleep less, averaging about 16 to 20 hours of sleep a day. Newborn kittens also wake up frequently to be fed, requiring feeding every two to three hours.
Kittens need a sense of security when they sleep, and a bed that is low to the ground is best. You can also place an additional cat bed or two in cosy spots in your home to give your kitten options. A warm, soft bed is important for a newborn kitten, especially if they do not have a mother cat. In this case, you will need to use a heating disk or a heating pad on low heat underneath a blanket in their cage. You should continue to provide a kitten without a mother with a heat source until they are about six weeks old, as they are susceptible to hypothermia.
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Frequently asked questions
Newborn kittens are considered to be between the ages of 0 and 4. During this time, they spend about 90% of their time sleeping, which is almost 22 hours per day. After the newborn stage, kittens will sleep for around 16 to 20 hours per day.
Newborn kittens require a warm and secure environment. You can create a soft, cosy bed by using a soft blanket or towel to cover the base and sides of a box or basket. You can also use your own body heat to warm up a cold kitten, or a heating pad on a low heat underneath a blanket in their sleeping area.
You can try stroking the kitten's nose and forehead, which encourages it to blink and close its eyes. You can also try placing the kitten under your sweater or a light blanket. Playing with your kitten can also help to tire it out before bedtime.
