Cats are very special animals, though much of the time their behavior can seem surprising and strange. Understanding why cats act the way they do and how they learn their behavior is not always easy. Cats learn their behavior based on experience, what we might call empirical acquisition. In this regard, if a cat feels that a certain experience is pleasant, she'll likely strive to repeat that experience over and over. The opposite can be said of unpleasant experiences. Once we understand the reasons why cats behave the way they do, we can make some changes to their behavior to get them to behave in a way we would prefer. The domestic cat belongs to the family Felidae, one of the oldest mammalian families, that includes wild cats such as lions, tigers, leopards, etc and there are 38 known species of felines in the world today. Cats are hunting carnivores with strong predatory instincts, powerful jaws with long, sharp teeth and claws that draw back into their paws when not in use. Cats have exceptionally acute hearing, and eyes adapted for vision in dim light allowing them to easily hunt just before dawn and after dusk Taking on a cat as a pet is a big commitment and should not be taken lightly. It will need attention, routine veterinary treatment, grooming and daily care. A cat will require daily care for 10-15 years - too many cats are already waiting to be rehomed through no fault of their own. This may be due to changes in the previous owner's circumstances, a wearing off of the novelty of cat ownership, a lack of time for the cat or some other reason. Just as anyone would give careful consideration to their circumstances, lifestyle, commitment, time etc before starting a family, buying a cat should be considered in the same way.
The best possible mother for any kitten is ... their own natural mother!! However, there are times when human intervention, to varying degrees, is necessary to save a kitten's life. Those times may occur when the mother cat (called a "queen") gives birth to too many kittens in her litter to adequately care for them all, or when she may not make enough milk to feed them. Occasionally, the queen may contract an infection, such as mastitis, and be unable to nurse, or she may even die. When a queen has to deliver by way of Cesarean section, this often upsets the natural flow of her milk, and she needs to be allowed to heal before allowing her kittens to nurse. Sometimes, the kittens themselves may be sick with a viral or bacterial infection that upsets their instincts to nurse, or they may not be able to nurse due to a blocked nose, and not being able to smell their mother or her milk. And, rarely, a queen may abandon her litter, or reject her kittens.
When orphaned or rescued kittens are without their natural mother, the next best thing for them is to find another female cat who is nursing her own litter and is willing to accept the newcomers. Of course, this is not always possible, and when that is the case, YOU must become the mother. Your ultimate goal is to make sure that the kitten or kittens grow into a strong, healthy, loving adult cat. It will take a great deal of your time and attention to reach this goal; however, your dedication will be rewarded with one of the most enriching experiences in your life.
You will need to focus on three main areas when raising your kittens. You'll want to create a warm, dry, clean and safe environment for them; you will need to feed them the most healthful nutrition you possibly can in the right amounts, and at the right times for their optimal growth and development; and, you will need to provide close attention to all the factors that contribute to giving your kittens the proper overall care. Kittens need love, and a LOT of it!! Without their mother, they look to you for that love, as well as for guidance.
Keep a journal. We really like the idea of keeping as detailed records as possible as to each kitten's individual progress. You will be awfully busy taking care of them, and writing down their daily weights, hydration status, stool appearance, and their overall appearance will provide invaluable information to you as they grow.
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MATERIALS YOU WILL NEED You will need to be sure you have the right supplies on hand. You;ll need to have (or make) an incubator (or a nesting box); and you will also need a heating pad; room thermometer; sterile cotton balls and gauze; an accurate gram scale; nurser kits with bottles, nipples, and cleaning brush; Pedialyte unflavored liquid; high quality Kitten Milk Replacer formula (while the powder is more economical, we only use and recommend the liquid form in the cans); and, in case you need to do tube feeding, you will need several syringes (usually 3cc, 5cc, 12cc and 20cc), and your tube feeder, which can be purchased through veterinary clinics or supply houses. Many breeders recommend the butterfly needle infusion sets as the tube is very pliable, and soft. The 0.6mm (outer) diameter tube is most popular, and the rubber catheters you will need can be found at most major drugstores. You will need a #5 French catheter for kittens up to 2 weeks old, and you can use a #8 French for older kittens
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