The kittens are blind and deaf. Their eyes are sealed shut and their ears are folded. A small stump of umbilical cord is still attached to their bellies. The are relying solely on their sense of smell to find Cleo so they can nurse.The newborn kitten are truly helpless and need Cleo to care for their every need. She licks the babies’ stomachs and bottoms to stimulate intestinal function, bladders, and bowels. They also needs her for warmth, as they are very sensitive to cold, and can't yet regulate their own temperature.
For the first 36 hours, the kittens nurse nearly around the clock. We wont handle them too much at first (later, we will make sure to do lots of cuddling), as they should be focusing on just eating, sleeping, and especially growing!