Feline Neonatal Care

The newborn period is a critical time for a kitten requiring adaptation to extrauterine life. Especially during dystocia and cesarean delivery, newborn kittens are at higher risk for death and birth assessment methods (eg, APGAR score [Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiration]) that identify at-risk newborns are crucial for immediate intervention. Colostrum is secreted during the first 24 h of lactation and is crucial for neonatal kitten health including support of their immune system. Successful bottle feeding of neonatal kittens requires meticulous attention to technique, timing, and physiologic considerations; commercial kitten milk replacers are specifically formulated to replicate queen's milk.