Dealing With Orphan Kittens, Part 2
Put only a teaspoon per kitten on a low saucer that they can reach or walk in if they wish. (And they usually do.) Dip your finger in it, and hold it under their nose. If they show no interest, wipe it on their mouth. If licking their lips has got their attention, offer them more on your finger. Once they start taking the food off your finger, you can lower your hand toward the saucer, until eventually you end up with the finger in the food, and they are eating from the dish. Things may be very messy for a while, and you will need to keep feeding them by bottle until it is apparent that they are eating at fairly regular intervals, and no longer need your assistance. A small, low saucer/bowl of formula helps bridge the gap between being fed and independent eating. Don't leave canned food or formula out too long, particularly in warm weather. Take it up, and the next time you offer food (which should be four times a day for young kittens) put it on clean dishes. At this time, you should also have a dish of kitten chow out. They will play in it, and with it for a while. But eventually the smell and occasional nibble will lead them to eating it.
Now that they are eating, the next challenge is litterbox training. There are two "camps" on this, one which says the mother trains them, and the other insists it is instinct. Both are right in some respects. A cat has a natural aversion to leaving its waste uncovered. But without an example, it takes them longer for this instinct to kick in. Much like a baby, young kittens can be placed in a litterbox of clay litter, after they have a full stomach, which is likely to trigger the bowel reflex. You can also use a damp facecloth to stimulate their bowels, and when they start going, set them down in the litterpan. Do not use clumping litter at this time. Small kittens will try and eat almost anything, and the clumping litter turns into a cement-like material that can block their bowels and cause serious problems.
It may be wise to keep your weaning kittens in an area that has an easily cleaned floor, until they learn the litterbox is where they go. If you find that they have chosen a particular spot
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