How to Stimulate Urination and Defecation in Young Orphaned Kittens

Posted by Jennifer Copley Sep 30, 2009

Kittens lack the muscle control to release stool or urine on their own until they are around 3-4 weeks old, so mother cats stimulate elimination by licking the kittens’ genitals. Those who are raising young orphan kittens must do this using a cotton ball or wash cloth moistened with warm water.

How to Stimulate Elimination in Young Orphaned Kittens

To stimulate elimination, slowly and gently massage the kitten’s genital and anal area with the wash cloth or cotton ball until elimination occurs, or it is obvious that nothing will happen. A good strategy is to count slowly to 60; if nothing has happened by the time you reach 60, try again later. This should be done before and after each feeding.

Orphaned Kitten Not Defecating

Kittens should urinate and defecate regularly, but may initially go for a day or two without defecating - this is nothing to worry about unless the kitten refuses food, cries excessively, has a very swollen stomach, or shows any signs of pain, in which case a veterinarian should be consulted.

Orphaned Kitten with Diarrhea

Kittens' stools should be soft but not watery, and their urine should be clear or light yellow. Signs of problems include diarrhea (particularly if it is grayish in colour) and dark yellow urine. Runny stools indicate that the kitten either suffers from parasites or has been overfed. Diarrhea can rapidly lead to life-threatening dehydration, and urine that is dark yellow rather than clear indicates that the kitten is dehydrated.

How to Check for Dehydration in Kittens

In the case of dehydration, the administration of subcutaneous fluids may be required. Consult a veterinarian if the kitten has diarrhea or shows other signs of dehydration. A good way to check for dehydration is to gently pinch a fold of skin on the back of the kitten's neck. If it stays up rather than springing rapidly back into shape, the kitten is dehydrated.

Kitten Producing Green Stool

Other problems to check for include green stool (indicates infection) and hard stool, which indicates that the kitten is not receiving enough formula. Consult a veterinarian in the case of green stool. If the stool is hard, feed more frequently, but don't provide more food during each feeding, as overfeeding can cause gas, bloating, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Instructions for Raising Orphaned Kittens

For more information on raising orphaned kittens, including bottle feeding instructinos, emergency kitten milk replacer recipes, ideal nest temperatures, socialization tips, and more, see How to Care for Orphaned Kittens.

References:

• Foster, Race, DVM. (2009). “How to Raise Orphan Kittens.” Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc., PetEducation.com.
• Freeman, Sue. (n.d. ). Guide to Rescue Cats. RescueGuide.com.
• Kitten Rescue. (2009). Kitten Care Handbook. KittenRescue.org.
• Richardson, Jill, Dr. (October 2004). “Help for Orphaned Kittens.” The Vet’s Corner, AnimalAllianceNYC.org.
• Siegal, Mordecai, Cornell Feline Health Center. (1997). The Cornell Book of Cats: A Comprehensive and Authoritative Medical Reference for Every Cat and Kitten. Toronto, ON: Random House of Canada Ltd.