Summary
Bottle kittens are small and somewhat limited in mobility, so there are several choices for housing them that are easily accessible to the caregiver. Learn about different options to contain the kittens that are an appropriate size for their age.
Space Options for Bottle Kittens
Common housing options for Bottle Kittens
There are several good options for where to house very young or bottle kittens. Keep in mind that the kittens need to be kept safe from pathogens, people and pets. Kittens need to be kept warm, and the caregiver should have easy access to view them, provide for their feedings and maintain a clean, comfortable environment for them. Space options include:
- A top loading animal carrier.
- A clear plastic storage bin with a top. Holes must be drilled around the top of the bin and in the lid to provide adequate air exchange. Drill the holes from the inside surface of the container and lid to avoid sharp hole edges on the inside that could injure kittens.
- An incubator. Since incubators can maintain a constant temperature and usually have hookups for oxygen and/or nebulizing, they are especially useful for premature kittens (those born before 61 days) or those with upper respiratory infections.
As kittens grow and approach three to four weeks of age, when the transition to weaning begins, they will need more space to move around and develop their muscles. Larger carriers, bins or incubators are an option, and other options include covered playpens.
It’s important that, unless kittens are housed in an incubator, the space must include a safe heat source that kittens can move on to or off of as they need, and the space should not be so large that the kittens cannot find that heat source when they need it. For example, one heat source in the corner of a space 4–5 feet squared may be difficult or impossible for a kitten to find. That’s another reason that carriers and container bins are good options.
If there are four or more kittens in the litter, you may decide to separate them into smaller groups to have enough space. For example, you can put two or three kittens in one carrier or container and the rest in another.
