“Crosby, I hear Mom talking about orphan kitties with her friends. What should a person do if they find baby kitties all alone?”

“Well, Buddy, I’m certainly not the expert on this stuff, but I can tell you a little bit about what I know. First thing is to make sure it’s really an orphan, and that the mama cat isn’t away eating or something. If the kitties are sleeping, cozy, look clean and taken care of, then they’re probably not orphans. But if they look dirty and are crying constantly because they are hungry and cold, and there is no mama anywhere around, the first thing is to keep them warm. Wrap them in blankets or place them on a heating pad on the lowest setting and with towels covering the pad – you don’t want it to get burned! And then call a vet or rescue/shelter right away to see if they can take the babies. Lots of them even have incubators that keep the babies warm and comfy.”

“What if they can’t take the babies? What should you feed them, Crosby?”

“Well, Buddy – you don’t want to feed them dairy milk – it could make them really sick or kill them! It doesn’t have enough nutrition for their little bodies. Mama’s milk is what’s best, and even water is better then cow’s milk. And pet stores have milk replacement products that work really good. Then you put the liquid in a pet nursing bottle – it’s kind of like a tiny baby bottle! There’s a whole lot more to learn and understand, and that’s where the experts come in. But it gives you an idea of what happens.”

“Crosby – I was a car engine baby and my mama died when I was just a few days old. Did someone have to feed me with a bottle?”

“Yes, Buddy, they did. A foster mom took care of you and your brothers or sisters every day until you were old enough to eat food on your own.”

“Wow, Crosby, I feel pretty special. I’m so glad she did that. Otherwise I might never have met you! I love you, Crosby.”

“And I love you too, Buddy.”

Reference websites for this article and to get additional information, please click below: VCA Animal Hospitals https://vcahospitals.com/know…/feeding-orphaned-kittens

Kitten Rescue Los Angeles https://kittenrescue.org/2017/03/raising-orphaned-kittens/