The best way for an infant of any species to thrive is to be cared for by its mother. Sometimes bad things happen, however, and kittens or puppies are left in the care of humans to be hand-raised. If you have a pregnant pet, be prepared just in case.  If you're a kind person who takes on a litter of orphans after a stray mom has an accident, be prepared for a lot of work.

Both puppies and kittens open their eyes at about 10-14 days of age. If your litter still has its eyes closed, you've got some real newborns. They must be kept warm and dry, in a draft-free area. Newborns require feeding every 2-3 hours around the clock. Once they are 2 weeks old, feedings can be decreased to every 4-5 hours. There are commercial formulas available through veterinarians, shelters and pet stores. If you cannot acquire a properly balanced formula, try the following recipes.

Kitten Milk Replacer
Puppy Milk Replacer

Be careful to store formulas refrigerated and warm to 'wrist comfortable' temperature before feeding. Homemade formula should not be stored for more than 72 hours before a fresh batch must be made. Please note that plain cow's milk is not adequate nutrition for these little ones. Both cat and dog milk are very high in fat content and vitamins, and feeding regular milk will cause indigestion, malnutrition, and long-term health problems.

Very small kittens or puppies may be fed with a syringe or an eyedropper, but as they grow a bottle with a properly sized nipple should be provided. Kittens and puppies should always be fed while lying on their stomachs or in an upright position, never on their backs' they might choke and end up with milk in their lungs. If a kitten or puppy seems weak and is not eating well, you may need to seek expert assistance to learn how to pass a stomach tube.

Until they are 2-3 weeks old, kittens and puppies cannot urinate or defecate without stimulation. Usually their mother provides this stimulation by grooming them, but you can substitute a warm moist cotton ball gently rubbed on the genital areas until elimination occurs. While not one of the more appealing aspects of newborn care, this is a very important part of hand-raising a litter. If stimulation is not provided, urinary tract infections and kidney problems can develop, proper digestion can become impaired, and your orphans will fail to thrive.

You may start offering formula in bowls by the third or fourth week, and solid food during the fourth week. Once your litter has started accepting solid foods readily, start diluting your formula to a more watery consistency until by 6 weeks of age they are drinking plain water and eating a good quality kitten or puppy food.

Once your litter is weaned, your job will become much easier. Don't adopt them out just yet, though. Try to keep them together until they are 8 weeks old, since this time period is crucial for them to learn social behaviors that will help get along with other animals and people so that they can be happy and secure in their new homes.