At 6 weeks old, Simba met resident cat Cinema face-to-face for the first time while another resident cat, Purrl, looked on.
The Role of a Foster Parent in Raising Kittens
Kittens without a mother rely on you, their foster mom or dad, to help them grow and learn as their natural mother would.
Love & Attention
One of the best parts of hand-raising kittens is the extra one-on-one time spent with each of them. After every feeding, I try to spend at least 10 minutes interacting with the kitten. Petting and cuddling them is an integral part of raising kittens (and a great perk for the foster parent!).
By 3 weeks old, kittens’ personalities begin to emerge. The more interaction you have with them, the better. It will help you learn each personality and help them develop too. At this stage, they start exploring their nest and interacting more with their littermates and surroundings, making it a great time to introduce age-appropriate toys for them to play with.
Socialization
While spending quality time with each kitten is essential, it’s also important to help them get used to other people to ensure they become well-adjusted. Socializing them with different people helps them feel more comfortable around prospective adopters.
For example, my most recent litter of bottle-fed babies went to a birthday party at 2 weeks old, where they interacted with young children in a pet-free home. The children were gentle with the kittens, and this early socialization was invaluable in raising well-adjusted and happy kittens.
Interaction Between Kittens and Household Pets
A major perk for kittens in foster care is being exposed to other animals from a young age. Many foster parents allow supervised contact between the kittens and their own, properly vaccinated pets daily. This interaction helps kittens learn how to properly engage with animals other than their littermates.
Often, one of the resident pets will become a “mother hen,” spending time with the kittens by playing or snuggling with them.
The Importance of Socialization, Love, and Attention
Proper socialization, love, and attention lead to healthy, happy, and well-adjusted kittens that transition seamlessly into their forever homes.
If you have any questions about raising orphaned kittens, please reach out to Park Road Veterinary Clinic in Brantford.
Author: Kathy Raepple