Sunday, March 24, 2024
HomeExclusiveHow To Feed Kittens Without Mom

How To Feed Kittens Without Mom

Nighttime Feeding Is Not Necessary For 5

How to Syringe Feed a Newborn Kitten

A five-week-old kitten will be too old to need night feedings. The infant kittens stomach is too small for it to feed itself, so it needs to be fed every three hours. During the day, it can stay active during the day, so night feeding may not be necessary. You can also stimulate your kitten to urinate and pee. Place the kitten in a warm, dry place.

While it is not necessary to feed a five-week-old kitten with a bottle, it is still important to feed them kibble and water throughout the day. You can also introduce a kittens food as soon as they are old enough to eat by themselves. Kittens should be handled and fed, either while on your lap or on a soft surface. Make sure to keep their paws away from your face and avoid biting if you dont want to risk the kitten getting hurt.

The first few days of your new kittens life should be spent getting used to their new surroundings. They will have a hard time getting used to you and your home. You should also be cautious not to handle them too much, especially when they are still in the first few days. Even if your kitten is used to being touched, its important to be gentle. Cats are not used to having their stomachs emptied by themselves, so dont try to squeeze their tails.

Kittens Need To Be Taught How To Clean And Groom Themselves

Only recently did I begin seeing Pepper groom himself at random times, but Ive not been able to capture it on camera yet. And yes, its just as adorable as you would imagine.

Otherwise, the cleaning up is left to me, and I use gentle pet wipes on his face after feeding, and on his bottom after he pees or poops. Apparently, if you dont clean a kitten up well, it can get rashes around its mouth or something called urine or fecal scalding on its bottom and legs.

To comfort a kitten, you can use a clean toothbrush to gently comb their head and body to mimic a mother cats grooming, which also teaches them the habit as they grow.

Best Kitten Wet Food Brands

The best wet food brand for your kitten is the one they will eat without experiencing any allergic or otherwise abnormal reactions. In general, popular brands of wet food for kittens include:

If you aren’t sure what wet food to buy your kittens, or you’re worried that your kittens may be having adverse reactions to the food you’ve purchased, consult a local vet for recommendations on quality cat food that will suit the kittens’ needs.

Recommended Reading: How To Get Cat Urine Out Of Hardwood Floors

How Do I Feed Orphaned Kittens

Most kittens will suckle on small pet nursing bottles, also known as pet nursers. When bottle fed, kittens will nurse until they are full and then reject the bottle.

Be sure the opening in the nipple restricts the outflow of fluid to one drop at a time in order to avoid a flow rate that is too rapid for the kitten. When the flow rate is too rapid, it can lead to aspiration, pneumonia, and/or death.

When feeding, hold the kitten in a horizontal, head-neutral position. If the kitten is too weak to suckle, your veterinarian can show you alternative feeding methods and assist in tube feeding if needed.

TIP: Handling kittens during feeding contributes to critical socialization.

Bottle Feeding The Kitten

What To Feed A Baby Cat Without Mother
  • 1Use kitty formula. Go to the cat section of the pet store to purchase kitten formula. You can purchase canned or powdered formula. Choose one and do not switch back and forth between using powdered and canned formula. This can cause diarrhea
  • Smell the formula when you open it. It should have a sweet smell. If it smells badly, it may be expired.
  • Refrigerate the powdered formula after you open it.
  • Prepare the bottle. Wash your hands and prepare the formula according to the instructions on the container. Warm up the bottle by placing it in a cup of water that you microwaved for a couple of minutes. Do not put the bottle with the formula in the microwave. Shake the bottle once it is warm to make sure everything is mixed well.
  • The bottle and nipples should be sterilized by placing them in boiling water for a few minutes. You may want to buy several bottles and nipples, sterilize them, and keep them in the refrigerator so they are ready to use.
  • The amount of formula you use depends on the age and weight of your kitten. You do not want to over or under feed.
  • Squeeze a drop of the milk on your wrist to make sure that it isn’t too hot or cold.
  • Never give your kitten cow’s milk.
  • 2Position the kitten. Sit down and place the kitten in your lap. The kitten should have its feet down and its head straight. Never feed the kitten with its feet in the air. Do not try to raise the kitten’s head.
  • The kitten will probably be able to latch on during the second try.
  • Don’t Miss: My Cat Has A Uti What Do I Do

    When Should I Take Kittens To The Veterinarian

    Overall, its a good idea to keep in touch with your veterinarian during the first four weeks of the kittens life so they can help you monitor their progress and answer any questions that may arise. Your veterinarian will most likely see them once, but they may request more check-ups depending on the progress you report along the way.

    How To Burp A Kitten

    Similar to their human counterparts, baby cats can be burped by placing them upright against your shoulder. If theyre a little too small to hold comfortable against your shoulder, then place them in the palm of your hand. Once theyre in position, give them gentle pats against the back until they burp.

    Remember that keeping their food tilted slightly while feeding should reduce the amount of air they drink down with their formula. This will help to keep them more comfortable and safe, while getting the right amount of food before they feel full.

    Read Also: Cats For Adoption In Nyc

    Supplies You Will Need For Newborns And Young Kittens:

    • Kitten formula such as Just Born or KMR . The liquid formula is best to use if you are not sure what to do.
    • Feeding bottles and several nipples .
    • Eye dropper or syringe in case the kitten will not eat from the bottle.
    • Several bath towels for bedding and cleaning kittens.
    • Kitchen food scale for weighing kittens .
    • Digital rectal thermometer
    • Have Emergency Veterinarian or Veterinary Clinic number on-hand.

    Diy Emergency Kitten Formula Recipe

    Feeding newborn kittens without mom cat

    While vets say a combination of one egg yolk, unflavored gelatin, whole goats milk, Karo syrup, and goats milk yogurt is the preferred emergency formula, lets be honest. Do you even know where to buy goats milk and goats milk yogurt? Because we sure dont. Fortunately, theres an easier recipe you can follow. Youll need

    • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
    • 8 ounces whole milk

    Youll want to warm the mixture just as you would store-bought kitten formula, and you can store the leftovers in the fridge. If you have liquid pediatric vitamins on hand, adding a dropperful will provide additional nutrients.

    Is there anything more adorable than a litter of newborn kittens? We certainly dont think so. But newborn kittens, like all newborns, require a ton of work. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to make the process easier. If you plan ahead, allow your cat to care for her kittens, and seek veterinary assistance when you need it, caring for your new kittens will be a joy rather than a hassle.

    Editors’ Recommendations

    Don’t Miss: Flea And Mite Treatment For Cats

    Touching A Newborn Kitten In Distress

    The only other reason to touch a kitten is when theyre considered as being in distress. If a kitten is listless, coughing and sneezing, feels cool to the touch or is bleeding, this is considered as being in distress. That being said, if you feel that something is wrong, you can trust your gut and check on your kittens.

    The reason why you should limit touching the newborns is that the mother cat may be protective of their kittens. This means you may be hissed at, biffed or scratched if the mother feels there is a danger. As well as this, some mother cats may move their brood to a more remote area, which can make it harder for you to keep an eye on your cat and kittens.

    This may also mean they move away from an area that you have set up specifically to keep everyone safe and happy. The environment your kittens live in is one of the most essential aspects of ensuring their wellbeing, and we discuss how to create the best environment for your kittens in further detail, below.

    What To Do After You Visit The Vet

    If you have seen your veterinarian and determined that ongoing bottle-feeding will be necessary, it is important to plan ahead for the coming weeks. Kittens should be easy to identify from one another so you can accurately keep track of which kittens have been fed, how much they eat, as well as monitoring their weights and any other signs of illness. The easiest way is to place collars on them to tell them apart. Make sure to use collars that are small enough so as not to interfere with nursing or mobility and ensure a proper fit so tiny paws can’t get stuck in them. Kittens should be bottle-fed kitten milk for at least the first four weeks of their lives. You may begin to introduce canned kitten food around three weeks of age in additional to bottle-feeding and once the kitten is eating on its own, gradually start reducing the amount of milk you offer.

    Remember that your veterinarian is the best source of information when it comes to kitten care. Ask your vet for information about the amount and frequency of feedings, how to help the kittens urinate and defecate, and how to keep them clean and warm.

    Recommended Reading: How To Clean A Cat Tree

    Can You Feed A Kitten Cow Milk In An Emergency

    The simple answer is that kittens should only consume their mothers milk, or they should use a kitten milk replacer, commonly known as KMR or kitten milk formula.

    Kittens lack the enzymes needed to digest the lactose in cow milk, therefore giving cow milk to kittens can induce diarrhea and dehydration in very young kittens. This is why it is critical not to offer cow milk to kittens.

    What Do Orphaned Kittens Need For Proper Nutrition

    What To Feed Kittens Without Mother ( Helpful Guide To Feeding

    Water is a critical nutrient for orphaned kittens, just as it is for all other stages of their life. Normal water intake is relatively high for kittens, needing 155-230 milliliters of fluid per kilogram of body weight each day.

    “Compared to cow’s milk, queen’s milk contains more than twice as much protein, which helps explain why cow’s milk is not ideal for feeding orphaned kittens.”

    On average, the total fluid volume fed per day should be approximately 180mL/kg of kitten body weight. Queen’s milk is highly digestible and very calorie dense. Compared to cow’s milk, queen’s milk contains more than twice as much protein, which helps explain why cow’s milk is not ideal for feeding orphaned kittens.

    Commercial kitten milk replacers are recommended as they are superior to cow’s milk and home-made mixtures. The milk replacer you choose should meet several key nutritional factors. For every 100g of milk replacer fed, there should be:

    You May Like: How To Put Ointment In Cat Eye

    Taking Over The Mother Cats Role For Unweaned Kittens

    Taking over the mother cats role is not an easy task. Unweaned kittens are extremely young and need special attention to thrive. They cannot relieve themselves on their own until they reach the age of four weeks, and during this time they still need a lot of stimulation from their mother. Thankfully, this task is easier than it sounds. Here are some practical guidelines for caring for unweaned kittens.

    During the early socialization phase, which begins around three weeks and ends at three months, it is crucial that kittens have consistent contact with people throughout their lives. Mother cats teach kittens how to play, become predatory, and establish boundaries. When a new kitten is unweaned, the caretaker should continue this socialization process and help the unweaned kittens learn to play with people and cope with new stimuli.

    Once the kittens have begun eating solid food, you can take them out of the nest to a new home. If you cannot find a suitable home for the kittens, you can bring them to the local animal shelter for adoption. They are much more likely to take care of other cats if they are not being neglected by their mother. The kittens will become dependent on the caretaker once humans are involved in their lives.

    How Often To Feed Kittens

    A basic bottle baby kitten feeding schedule should look like this:

    • Up to one week old: Feedings every 2-3 hours
    • Two weeks old: Feedings every 4-6 hours
    • Three weeks old and up: Feedings every 6-8 hours

    Kittens should be gradually weaned off frequent feedings so that they eat fewer times per day and consume more per meal. If you’re unsure of the age of the kitten, pay attention to how much they eat at every feeding, and how frequently they are whining for formula, to get a better sense of how frequently they need to eat.

    You May Like: What Happens When A Cat Dies Naturally

    How Much Should A Newborn Kitten Weigh

    Newborn kittens usually weigh about 3.5 ounces, depending on their breed and the litters size. A healthy kitten should gain at least 10 grams per day. If you dont see growth in their body size, this is often a sign of illness.

    Its essential to track and write down your kittens weight and how much theyre eating every day. You can use a gram scale for accuracy in weighing animals this small. If your kitten isnt eating or growing as expected, contact your veterinarian right away.

    Kitten Weight Gain And Developmental Milestones

    How to Care for Kittens without Mom ?| How to Feed a Newborn Kitten?

    Kittens should gain about ½ ounce every day or 4 ounces per week. Weigh them at the same time every day with a kitchen or small postal scale. Lack of weight gain in a 24 hour period is cause for concern. Begin syringe feeding the kitten and have a plan in place for who foster parents should contact. To syringe feed the kitten, mix up the KMR as usual and then draw it up in a syringe. Put a nipple on the end of the syringe and place the kitten in the proper feeding position. Try to get the kitten nursing by slowly pushing KMR out of the syringe and through the nipple into its mouth. Make sure it swallows the formula before you push more into its mouth.

    You May Like: How Long Do You Feed A Cat Kitten Food

    Provide Newborn Kittens With A Clean Warm And Dry Environment

    Firstly, you will need to provide your kittens with a suitable, enclosed bedding area to keep them safe. A queening box or a large cat carrier work well. Kittens of this age are incredibly vulnerable so you will need to keep them away from other animals.

    Young kittens are susceptible to the cold so maintaining a constant temperature is essential. The nest temperature should be between 85 to 90 °F for the first 2 weeks of life. Then reduced to 27°C at 2 weeks. When your kittens reach 4-weeks old, the temperature can be reduced again to 22°C. A heat source can be provided for kittens by using a covered hot water bottle, heat pad, or heat lamp. The temperature can be maintained by providing plenty of bedding. However, you should refrain from using too many blankets as young kittens can get tangled in them. A soft pet bed is a safer choice.

    Check the temperature in the nest regularly to make sure it doesnt get too hot. You can use a reliable thermometer for this. You will also need to make sure the kittens can escape from the heat if they need to by providing a cooler and a warmer end of the nest.

    Choosing The Best Kitten Food

    When it comes to kitten food, quality counts. Choose only food that has been certified by Association of American Feed Control Officials , which establishes nutritional standards for complete and balanced pet foods. This means that the food has been tested to make sure it is properly balanced for your kittens growing needs. If youve adopted a kitten from a shelter, find out what the kitten was eating previously and stick with that diet to avoid stomach upset.

    Read Also: When Is It Time To Say Goodbye To Your Cat

    Recommended Reading: How To Care For A New Kitten

    How To Bottle Feed Kittens

    If the mother cat can’t feed one or more of the newborn kittens at all, it’s important to get to a veterinarian as soon as possible. In the meantime, you must find a way to feed the kittens since they need to eat every few hours with the exact frequency depending on their age. This is usually done . It is also essential to provide motherly care to newborn kittens. Keep them warm and help them urinate and defecate after each feeding.

    The most commonly available type of kitten formula is called KMR, which stands for “kitten milk replacer.” KMR comes in cans or cartons and is available to buy in most pet supply stores and on websites that sell pet supplies. There are other brands of kitten formula available as well.

    RELATED ARTICLES

    Most Popular