Finding a one-day-old kitten abandoned after birth is both heartbreaking and urgent. These tiny lives depend entirely on human care for survival. When we found the newborn, it was barely moving—its eyes still closed, body cold, and a weak cry escaping from its little mouth. There was no mother cat in sight. We knew we had to act quickly if we wanted to save it.
The first priority was warmth. Newborn kittens can’t regulate their body temperature, so we wrapped the little one in a soft cloth and gently placed it on a warm heating pad, carefully monitoring the temperature so it wouldn’t get too hot. Slowly, the kitten began to regain some energy. Its little paws started to stretch, and its tiny body began to warm. It was a small sign of hope.
Next came feeding. Since the kitten was only one day old, it needed special formula—kitten milk replacement (KMR)—not regular milk, which can be harmful. We used a tiny syringe to feed the formula slowly, drop by drop. At first, the kitten didn’t latch, but with patience and gentle encouragement, it began to accept the milk. Feeding had to be done every two to three hours, even throughout the night, mimicking the care it would receive from its mother.
We gently stimulated the kitten’s belly and bottom with a warm, damp cloth after every feeding to help it urinate and defecate, just as a mother cat would do. Every action required love, care, and a lot of patience, but seeing the kitten grow stronger with each passing hour made every sleepless moment worth it.
Caring for a one-day-old kitten is a delicate and emotional journey, but it’s also a chance to save a fragile life. With warmth, proper feeding, and constant attention, an abandoned kitten can not only survive but thrive—and that’s the most beautiful reward of all.
