Caring for orphaned kittens: the basics

About this guideCompiled from the listed veterinary and health organisations’ guidance; not yet reviewed by a veterinarian.

General information for owners, not a substitute for examination, diagnosis or treatment by a veterinarian. If your animal seems very unwell, in pain, struggling to breathe or may have been poisoned, contact a vet immediately.

Quick answer

Key points

Before picking up kittens you find, watch from a distance for a few hours, because the mother may be nearby looking for food.
Newborn kittens cannot keep themselves warm, so warmth is essential.
Never give cow's or goat's milk; use a kitten milk replacer and ask your vet how much to give and how.
Kittens under about three weeks old need gentle stimulation under the tail to pee and poo.
Kittens can go downhill very fast; see a vet urgently if a kitten feels cold, is weak, will not suckle or has diarrhoea.

When should you see a vet?

See a vet immediately if a kitten feels cold, is very weak, will not suckle, has a seizure, is injured or looks ill.
Crying constantly or not suckling well.
Not gaining weight as expected.
Diarrhoea, not passing any poo for a day, or straining hard.
Bringing milk back up or seeming to choke during feeds, because inhaled milk can cause pneumonia.
Closed eyelids that are swollen or stuck together with pus.

Contact your nearest veterinarian or animal clinic. This site cannot assess your animal’s condition. Choosing a vet

In this guide (10)

What should you do if you find kittens without their mother?

Do not pick them up straight away: watch from a distance for a few hours, because the mother may be finding food or hiding from you. If the spot is unsafe, move them to a safe place nearby where the mother can still find them. However, kittens that look ill or injured should go to a vet or animal rescue as soon as possible; phone first to check they are open. According to the ASPCA, kittens that are clean, plump and quiet are probably being cared for by their mother; dirty, skinny, constantly crying kittens may be orphaned. Also check for an ID tag and ask a vet to scan for a microchip.

In Indonesia, stray cat populations can be large; the Jakarta Dinas KPKP, for example, runs Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) sterilisation of stray cats to control their overpopulation in Jakarta. If you decide to care for orphaned kittens, International Cat Care (ICC) advises asking a vet first about feeding, toileting, handling, health and behaviour. Raising very young kittens takes a great deal of time, because newborn kittens need to be fed many times a day, including through the night.

Evidence: ASPCA — I Found Kittens Outside, What Do I Do? ↗ · Dinas KPKP Provinsi DKI Jakarta — Sterilisasi kucing liar hasil Trap Neuter Release (TNR) ↗ · International Cat Care — Hand-rearing kittens ↗

Why must orphaned kittens be kept warm?

Newborn kittens cannot shiver and cannot yet control their body temperature, so warmth is essential for survival. The Merck Veterinary Manual explains that kittens cannot regulate their temperature until about four weeks old, and that low body temperature harms immunity, suckling and digestion. ICC and Cats Protection suggest a well-covered heat source, such as a hot water bottle or heat pad, that is not hot enough to burn. The bed must be big enough for kittens to move away from the heat if they get too warm. A kitten that feels cold is an emergency: do not force it to feed, as Merck notes that feeding should wait until body temperature is normal. Contact a vet straight away.

Evidence: International Cat Care — Hand-rearing kittens ↗ · Cats Protection — Hand-rearing kittens ↗ · Merck Veterinary Manual — Management of the Neonate in Dogs and Cats ↗

Can kittens drink cow's milk?

No. Never give kittens cow's or goat's milk; use a milk replacer made specifically for kittens. ICC explains that cow's and goat's milk contain too little protein and fat for kittens, while Cats Protection says kittens find them hard to digest. The ASPCA notes that pets lack enough of the enzyme lactase, so milk can cause diarrhoea, and Cornell says many cats are lactose-intolerant. Merck adds that commercial milk replacers are better than home-made mixtures, although none is equal to the mother's milk. Ask your vet which product to use, how much to give and how, and follow the instructions on the pack.

Cats Protection warns that overfeeding can be as dangerous as underfeeding, and that kittens can inhale milk and develop pneumonia, which can be fatal. ICC advises never feeding a kitten on its back and never forcing milk into it; kittens stop sucking when they are full. All equipment must be sterile, because orphaned kittens are very prone to infection. If a kitten refuses to feed, Cats Protection says to contact your vet urgently, because kittens have no energy reserves and deteriorate very quickly.

Evidence: International Cat Care — Hand-rearing kittens ↗ · Cats Protection — Hand-rearing kittens ↗ · ASPCA Animal Poison Control — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets ↗ · Cornell Feline Health Center — Feeding Your Cat ↗ · Merck Veterinary Manual — Management of the Neonate in Dogs and Cats ↗

How do you help a kitten pee and poo?

Kittens under about three weeks old cannot go to the toilet on their own, so they need gentle stimulation under the tail before and after each feed. ICC explains that the toileting reflex is normally triggered by the mother licking the kitten's bottom and genital area. Instead, gently rub the area with soft tissue, damp cotton wool or fragrance-free wet wipes. From about three weeks old, do this over a litter tray so the kitten learns to use it. Cats Protection says normal kitten poo has the consistency of toothpaste. Contact your vet if the poo becomes very hard, the kitten strains a lot, passes no poo for a day, or has diarrhoea.

Evidence: International Cat Care — Hand-rearing kittens ↗ · Cats Protection — Hand-rearing kittens ↗

When does a kitten need a vet urgently?

See a vet straight away if a kitten feels cold, is weak, will not suckle, cries constantly or is not gaining weight, as kittens decline fast. ICC says healthy kittens spend most of their time feeding and sleeping, and should double their birth weight in the first one to two weeks. Other signs of illness include bringing milk back up, diarrhoea, constipation, and a kitten lying apart from its littermates. Cats Protection explains that too little or too infrequent feeding can cause low blood sugar, leading to severe weakness, muscle twitching and sometimes seizures. Weigh kittens every day at the same time to track their growth.

When you go to the vet, ICC advises taking the whole litter rather than only the sick kitten, because being separated from the nest is very stressful. In Indonesia, kittens can be examined at veterinary clinics, and some areas have government services, such as the Batam city puskeswan or the Jakarta Dinas KPKP mobile animal clinics, which offer consultations with a vet. Phone first to check services and opening hours, especially if the kitten is very young.

Evidence: International Cat Care — Hand-rearing kittens ↗ · International Cat Care — Bringing up a litter of kittens: health considerations ↗ · Cats Protection — Hand-rearing kittens ↗ · Puskeswan Kota Batam — Layanan ↗ · Dinas KPKP Provinsi DKI Jakarta — Dinas KPKP DKI Jakarta Luncurkan 5 Unit Mobil Klinik Hewan Keliling ↗

How can you protect orphaned kittens from disease?

Keep strict hygiene, keep kittens away from other cats and their poo, and ask your vet to plan worming and vaccination. Cats Protection explains that kittens that received no colostrum, the mother's first milk containing antibodies, have little or no immunity. ICC says worms are common in kittens and vaccination usually starts at around 8–9 weeks of age, but orphaned kittens that never received colostrum need a schedule set by a vet. In Yogyakarta, a Universitas Gadjah Mada study found that cats of stray origin and the arrival of new cats were risk factors for panleukopenia, so the researchers stressed vaccination and quarantine of new animals. Weaning usually begins at three to four weeks of age and should be gradual.

Evidence: Cats Protection — Hand-rearing kittens ↗ · International Cat Care — Hand-rearing kittens ↗ · International Cat Care — Bringing up a litter of kittens: health considerations ↗ · Jurnal Sain Veteriner (UGM) — Faktor Risiko Feline Panleukopenia pada Kucing di Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta ↗

Sources & references

References can change. Check dates and context in the original source.

Cite this page

PanduanHewan. (2026, 25 September). Caring for orphaned kittens: the basics. PanduanHewan.org. https://panduanhewan.org/en/pet-health/caring-for-orphaned-kittens/

Caring for orphaned kittens: the basics

Key points

When should you see a vet?

What should you do if you find kittens without their mother?

Why must orphaned kittens be kept warm?

Can kittens drink cow's milk?

How do you help a kitten pee and poo?

When does a kitten need a vet urgently?

How can you protect orphaned kittens from disease?

Sources & references

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