Caring for a Newborn Maine Coon Litter: Week 1

When a litter of Maine Coon kittens arrives, the first week is entirely focused on survival and stability. Newborn kittens are incredibly fragile, so the first week, we are focused only on warmth and weight gain.

Before the Big Day

Several days before we expect the kittens to arrive, we prepare a place for our queen to settle in and have her kittens. Usually this is a small pop-up tent. Inside, we layer towels, a heating pad (just on half), and several puppy pads over the top. This makes a comfy spot for mama and babies, and also makes it easy for us to keep it clean. We put several towels over the top and sides of the tent to keep it dark and private, so mama cat feels safe. She starts nesting in the tent in the days leading up to the big day. She will make biscuits and spend more time sleeping in there.

Birth Day

Aurora with her litter born March 5, 2026

As each kitten is born, we make sure the kitten is breathing well, and that mom cleans the kittens and they start to nurse. It’s very important for the kittens to be clean and dry because they can’t regulate their body temperature yet.

In the first hour we also:

·        Check the kitten’s mouth to make sure there is no cleft palate

·        Make sure the umbilical cord is clean and dry

·        Weigh each kitten and record the birth weight

·        Assign a collar color for identification

·        Help any kittens that are struggling to latch

The most important thing in those first hours is that every kitten is clean and dry and begins nursing.

Aurora cleaning one of her newborn kittens

Days 1–3: Monitoring and Nursing

During the first few days we monitor the kittens very closely. Kittens are weighed at least twice a day, and our goal is for them to gain about 10 grams every 24 hours. The first sign that something is wrong with a kitten is that they aren’t gaining weight correctly- or even worse- losing weight.

If a kitten struggles to gain weight, we try to help it nurse from mom first. Supplement feeding is used only as a last resort, since tube feeding or bottle feeding newborns increases the risk of aspiration.

We also check on the kittens frequently to make sure mom isn’t accidentally dropping kittens on the rug when she gets up to eat or use the litter box. Sometimes they don’t stop nursing when she gets up, but they can’t hang on for long. I do not sleep much the first two or three nights after a litter is born. Every little kitten cry has me up and checking on them.

Day 4: Nest Moving Instinct

Around day four, many mother cats feel the instinct to move their kittens to a new nest. To give her a safe option, we prepare an alternate nesting spot nearby—usually a closet, the nook under my desk, or a quiet corner that the mom favors—lined with towels, a heating pad, and puppy pads.

Some moms use it and some don’t, but providing the option helps them follow their natural instincts safely. It also gives us some places to start looking if the kittens suddenly disappear.

Weight Checks

From day 4 through the first two weeks, kittens are still weighed at least once every day. If a kitten isn’t gaining as much as I’d like to see, the kitten is very closely monitored and may even get weighed as much as 4 times every day. Between the weigh-ins, we are carefully watching to make sure the kitten has energy and is getting the chance to nurse. If the kitten shows any sign of low energy or not wanting to eat, we treat it as a serious emergency. We keep a full arsenal of medical supplies and medication on hand to use in these situations. Thankfully we can normally get a kitten back on track just by making sure it’s getting a fair turn at the milk bar and not napping through meal times.

Lola’s litter was born March 6, 2026. You may be able to guess that these kittens passed their weight check with flying colors!

A Quiet First Week

During the first week, the kittens remain almost entirely with their mother. Apart from weight checks, they are left undisturbed so mom can care for them naturally. The kittens and their mama are happiest when they’re all snuggled up together, so that’s how we like to keep them.

This means:

·        No cuddle sessions with the babies

·        No individual photos

·       We don’t even sex them right away

The focus during this week is simple: healthy kittens that are gaining weight and a confident, relaxed mama cat. Our cats are wonderful mothers, but even so, there is a reason that cats have litters- it is natural for them to lose babies. Since our cats don’t live out in the wild, our job is to make sure every kitten has the absolute best chance possible to not only survive, but to thrive and grow up to live the happiest kitty life possible. With careful preparation, diligent monitoring, and quick intervention (when needed), I am very proud to say our kittens do very well.