How do I monitor a kitten's health during weaning?

Daily health checks prevent life-threatening complications during the daily monitoring and weaning period. Kittens undergo rapid changes that need close observation. I have been doing this for every litter since 2014. You miss subtle signs of dehydration, malnutrition, and developing nervous system or muscle problems at your peril.

Weigh the kittens every morning before their first feeding of the day. Weigh them on a digital scale that measures in grams; consistent daily gains of 10g or more from birth indicate kittens are absorbing milk properly. My 2020 litter gained an average of 14g a day, using this method. If there is a loss, you must adjust their diet immediately. Keep a record of the results to see trends.

Skin tent tests should be performed twice each day. Pinch the scruff in a fold and see how quickly it falls back into place. If recovery is immediate, there is no problem. If the skin falls back slowly, the animal is becoming dehydrated, which requires action on our part. I actually combine this with gum checks. Healthy animals have pink, moist gums, while sticky, dry gums indicate that something is wrong.

Keep a close eye on stool consistency. Stools for healthy kittens should be brown and firm. Watery diarrhea indicates that the formula needs further dilution; hard, constipated stools require more water in the formula. Please keep track of how often they urinate and eliminate in a log. My records helped detect parasites at the outset in three litters, thereby averting outbreaks.

Watch/monitor them throughout the day. Healthy kittens, especially, have a predictable amount of energy that prompts them to play. Reduced energy means something is wrong; pay attention to how much food they eat at each meal. It's how I discovered LMWS and stopped Otto and Toonie from being orphans - two colourpoint males born in August 2021.

Read the full article: Kitten Weaning Age: 3 to 8 Weeks Guide