What To Feed Kitten Without Mother

Mother s milk is best for any baby mammal and prior to attempting to bottle feed a kitten with supplemental formulas it is recommended to seek out nursing cat that could take the place of the absent or unable mother.

What to feed kitten without mother. If the kitten is less than 15 days old it should eat every three hours if it is between 15 days and one month every 4 hours if it is between one month and one month and a half every 4 6 hours by this point it can already drink milk in a bowl older than 1 month and a half you can incorporate solid food mixed with milk or water to the diet like baby food. You can start to transition your kitten away from the bottle at 3 or 4 weeks of age. When your kitten is around 6 or 7 weeks of age you can switch her to a dry diet. Never hold a kitten and feed it like a human baby.

When the kitten has breastfed from its mother it ll have colostrum otherwise the colostrum ought to be obtained elsewhere. You should never feed a kitten on its back because this can cause them to aspirate or inhale fluid into their lungs. Instead keep the kitten s feet down and it s head straight as though she s nursing from her mother. Correctly position the kittens and bottles for feeding.

Do not feed a kitten until it is warm since it can t properly digest when cold. Begin by offering formula in a shallow bowl that s easy for her to drink from. When you feed the kitten hold it horizontally with the belly facing downwards and the head tilted slightly upwards. A veterinarian is best places check cat colostrum as some could have frozen supplies.

Then start the shift to an adult diet by mixing canned or dry cat food with warmed formula. It is okay though to syringe feed a few drops of 5 sugar water or to rub a little bit of karo syrup on the kitten s lips. Many veterinarians have incubators to warm a chilled kitten. Be aware that even if you find a cat able to nurse the young kitten she may not accept the kitten.

Hold her by the scruff of her neck and place the nipple into the side then center of her mouth. Inside the emergency calf colostrum could be fed although not the most suitable. Kittens cannot control their body temperature so help them regulate their body temperature before trying to feed them especially if they have been exposed to cold temperatures. Hold the kitten correctly while feeding.

Kittens under three weeks old can t control their body temperature.