Newborn kittens regulate temperature poorly and depend on ambient heat and the queen for their first weeks; chilling quickly shuts down sucking and digestion.
Without a mother, a common first-week target is around thirty degrees Celsius, lowered weekly, fine-tuned by behavior: huddled crying means cold, sprawled away means hot.
Heat only half the nest so kittens can move along a gradient, and always buffer heating pads with towels to prevent burns; no direct contact.
Never feed a chilled kitten; warm it slowly first, since feeding while cold can be fatal, and call a vet for guidance when unsure.
