While living in Los Angeles I created our kitty bottle baby foster program for the Baldwin Park County Shelter's orphaned kittens with the help of Animal Advocates Alliance.
For all of you who are ready to adopt a kitten this season, here are some of my must haves:
If you have an unweened kitten, these Four Paws nursing bottles are the only way to go. The long triangular nipple can handle any sized zealous feeder!
These Durapet kitty bowls are the best. The low-profile models are shallow and easy for tiny kittens to lap up newly introduced kitten wet food. The bottoms are lined with rubber - no slipping on the floor.
The Snuggle Safe Heating Pat is a godsend. Heat it in the microwave for six minutes and it emits 120 degree heat for 12 hours. If your kitten is in a cage, make sure that your kitten has room to sleep away from the heating pad if it becomes too hot. Normal kitten body temperature is between 100-102.5 degrees F, so putting a towel or blanket in between the heating pad and the kitten is important.
The most reliable way to tell if your kitty is sick is to take it's temperature. A cat or kitten may not show obvious signs of illness until the infection or disease has gotten the better of your kitty companion.
With my foster kitties, the first inkling of something not right and my Vick's SpeedRead Digital Thermometer is in their tushies. I have avoided many sleepless nights catching illnesses early! Don't forget the vaseline!
Teaching kittens how to drink water from a bowl can be one of the biggest challenges. I have found that the original Drinkwell Pet Fountain attracts a kitten's natural curiosity. You don't have to do anything! The kitten will learn on its own. And we love to see kitties drinking their water! It's good for them!
Last but not least, the next hardest thing to teach a kitty to do is to use the litter box. Again, innovation has made this a no brainer for new baby kitten owners.
Cat Attract Cat Litter contains a scent that attracts the kitty to the box and to scratch the litter. Place your just fed kitten in the box and watch what happens: A kitty box trained Kitten!
