Examining Kittens

Introduction

Every morning, all kittens should be visually inspected. Use a morning checklist to prevent overlooking a problem. If you find something wrong, notify your supervisor immediately so proper action can be taken.

Throughout the day, you should monitor:

• Alertness and activity level.
• Amount of food and water consumed.
• Litter box use, including consistency of fecal matter and amount of urine.

Kittens typically sleep a great deal during the day and night due to their young age. When awake, a healthy kitten will be alert, playful and curious about its surroundings.

If food or water appears untouched, the kitten may be experiencing a serious problem. Feces should be evident in all litter boxes and should be well-formed, not runny or discolored. Kittens that have diarrhea or bloody feces may have a problem that requires immediate attention.

Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after handling each kitten.

to view a series of pop-up windows with information on what to look for when examining kittens.