How to Warm a Cold Kitten Safely: Hypothermia First Aid

By Tailwisp Editorial TeamUpdated October 20, 20264 min read

A tiny kitten that feels cold is in danger. Newborns cannot shiver effectively, and have little body fat. A cold kitten stops eating, its gut stops working, and its body shuts down. Warming it correctly, and quickly, can save its life.

Why kittens get cold

Newborn kittens, in the first two to three weeks, lack the ability to maintain body temperature. Normally, they stay warm by huddling with the mother and littermates. Orphans, rejected kittens, large drafty nests and wet fur lead to chilling. Healthy newborns have a body temperature around 95 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit in the first week, rising to the adult 100 to 102 by about four weeks. See kitten growth and development week by week.

Signs of hypothermia

• Cool to the touch, especially the paws, ears and mouth.
• Limp, floppy or sluggish.
• Weak or no suckling.
• Slow, shallow breathing.
• Pale or bluish gums.
• Crying weakly, or silence.
• Separated from the group.

A kitten with a rectal temperature below 94 degrees Fahrenheit is in serious trouble, but even a slightly low temperature needs correcting. If you cannot take a temperature, assume a cold kitten is hypothermic.

How to warm a kitten

1. Start skin to skin. Hold the kitten against your bare chest, under your shirt, so it picks up your warmth. This is gentle and safe.
2. Add a covered heat source. Wrap a warm, not hot, water bottle or a heating pad set on low in a towel, and place the kitten on or near it. Ensure it can move away. Avoid electric blankets that overheat. Specialized pet heating discs made for newborns are safe.
3. Wrap the kitten in a soft blanket, leaving the face free.
4. Warm slowly, over an hour or two. Raising temperature too fast can cause shock.
5. Check often. Test the heat source against your wrist. It should feel comfortably warm, not hot.
6. Keep the room warm, and free of drafts.
7. Dry the kitten if wet, by gently rubbing with a warm towel.

What not to do

• Do not use a hair dryer, hot water bath or microwave-heated items without covering. They can burn or overheat.
• Do not place the kitten directly on a heating pad.
• Do not feed a cold kitten. Cold kittens cannot digest milk, and may aspirate it. Wait until the kitten feels warm and responsive.
• Do not leave the kitten unattended.
• Do not force fluids.

When the kitten is warm

Once the kitten is warm, active and rooting, offer a small amount of kitten milk replacer, warmed to body temperature. See how to bottle feed a kitten. If the kitten does not suckle, call your vet.

Call the vet

Contact a vet right away. The kitten may need glucose, fluids and monitoring. Cold kittens may have underlying problems. See fading kitten syndrome. Keep warming the kitten on the way.

Building a safe nest

• Use a box or kennel lined with soft towels.
• Provide a safe heat source on one side, so kittens can move away.
• Keep the temperature at about 85 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit for newborns, reducing gradually to about 75 by four weeks.
• Use a thermometer.
• Protect from drafts with a cover over part of the box.
• Change wet bedding quickly.

Overheating

Too much heat is also dangerous. Signs include panting, restlessness, red gums and moving away from the heat. Provide space to move.

Older kittens

Older kittens and adults can also become cold, if they are ill or wet. Warm gradually, and call your vet. See cat emergency warning signs.

Prepare an emergency kit

Keep a towel, a heat source, a thermometer, kitten milk replacer, bottles and your vet's number handy. See cat first aid kit.

Practical warming setups

A shoebox or small carrier lined with fleece works well, with a heating disc made for pets under a folded towel at one end. A thermometer on the bedding shows the temperature at kitten level. Check every few minutes at first, and adjust the cover so warm air stays in but fresh air flows. If you are using a water bottle, refill it with warm water every hour or two, since it cools quickly.

After warming

Once the kitten is warm and moving, stimulate it gently to urinate and defecate if it is very young, then offer milk replacer in small amounts. See how to stimulate a kitten to pee and poop. Keep monitoring through the night. Cold can return quickly if the heat source cools.

When to see a vet

See a vet immediately for any cold kitten. Use the US vet directory to find a clinic, and call ahead.