Write an article based on this "and clean if there is no mother cat. Litter-train the kittens. Spend time with the kittens every day. Always wash your hands. Watch for any signs of illness in the kittens. Take the kittens to veterinary appointments. Allow the kittens to leave their room for periods of time. Take photos and videos of the kittens, if possible. Take the kittens back to the shelter, when the time comes."
ere is no mother cat. Kittens cannot regulate their own temperature well. Usually the mother cat will keep them warm and clean, but if there is no mother, it will be your job to make sure that the kittens are clean, dry, and warm. Make sure that there is no food or feces stuck to the kitten's fur. You can put a heating pad specifically made for pets to provide a warm spot in their nest. Only warm half of the nest, and put the heating pad under the blankets. This will let the kitten go to the cooler corner if they get too warm. Do not use a heating pad made for humans. To do this, after every feeding (nursing, bottle feeding, eating solid food etc.), place the kitten in the litter box. It should then do its business. If a kitten has an accident, quickly pick it up as soon as possible and place the kitten in the litter box. With persistence, the kitten should learn how to use it. Kittens will usually learn how to use the litter box on their own or from their mother. Just make sure that the litter box is far from their food and kept clean. You can reinforce litter box use by praising the kitten after it uses the box. The litter box will need to be scooped at least three times a day, and the litter changed at least twice a week. Use clay litter instead of other types of litter, as clay litter can't be ingested as easily. Make sure you hold the kittens frequently, petting them and picking them up. Play with the kittens a lot. The more time you spend with them, the better socialized they will be to people throughout their lives. Spending time with the kittens is the best part of fostering, so enjoy it. Touch their paws a lot, as they will need to be comfortable with it in the future to have their nails clipped. In order to protect the kittens, you, and any other pets you have from disease, you should wash your hands before and after handling the kittens. A kitten's immune system is still developing, so you need to protect it from everything you can. You also want to keep any illnesses that the kittens might have brought with them away from your existing pets. Most kittens that are fostered will appear healthy when they are placed in your care but it is always possible for illnesses to develop. Look for lethargy, fur loss, breathing problems, diarrhea, scratching, vomiting, discharge, or lack of appetite in the kittens. If the symptoms persist, call the vet. If the kittens have goop coming from their eyes or nose, call the vet or go to the animal shelter to have the kitten looked at. In most cases, you will then be asked to give the kitten medication until the goop is gone. When you sign on to foster kittens, you will need to agree to take them in for a variety of veterinary appointments. This typically includes signing them up for spaying or neutering and taking them in to have it done. There may be other veterinary appointments for the kittens, depending on their health and what veterinary procedures have been done on them before you took them in. In many cases you will need to get them a variety of vaccinations and have their general health assessed by a veterinarian. If you want to, start to let the kittens leave the room for short periods of time once they are seven or eight weeks old and have been at your house for at least a few weeks. However, they should always be accompanied by you and never allowed to run around loose, especially if you have other animals. Don't force the kittens to interact with other cats or dogs as this can result in injury and fear. Always supervise the kittens carefully, and keep all doors closed. Your shelter will appreciate cute photos and videos being supplied when the kittens are up for adoption. They can post them online, on their website or on a pet finding websites. Typically, you can email the foster coordinator the pictures. If you can, also include a small bio of each kitten. Include a general summary of their personality, which will be helpful for adoptive families considering the kitten. This is the hardest part of fostering, as you have likely grown close to the kittens you are fostering. Remember that you have greatly helped this animal and it will have a great new home and wonderful life thanks to your efforts. If you want to, you can ask your shelter if they would let you know when the kittens are adopted and, if possible, the email of their adopters if you would like to keep in contact.