What To Feed Kitten Without Mother

Never hold a kitten and feed it like a human baby.

What to feed kitten without mother. Most kittens do just fine without human intervention but if a kitten needs to be bottle fed either because the mother cat is absent ill or rejects the kitten you ll want to weigh the kitten regularly to make sure its weight reflects a healthy and normal growth rate of a kitten. Instead keep the kitten s feet down and it s head straight as though she s nursing from her mother. Then start the shift to an adult diet by mixing canned or dry cat food with warmed formula.

Hold the kitten correctly while feeding. Hold her by the scruff of her neck and place the nipple into the side then center of her mouth. A veterinarian is best places check cat colostrum as some could have frozen supplies.

Begin by offering formula in a shallow bowl that s easy for her to drink from. Kittens under three weeks old can t control their body temperature. 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.

When you feed the kitten hold it horizontally with the belly facing downwards and the head tilted slightly upwards. Be aware that even if you find a cat able to nurse the young kitten she may not accept the kitten. 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.

When your kitten is around 6 or 7 weeks of age you can switch her to a dry diet. Correctly position the kittens and bottles for feeding. Many veterinarians have incubators to warm a chilled kitten.

Do not feed a kitten until it is warm since it can t properly digest when cold. You should never feed a kitten on its back because this can cause them to aspirate or inhale fluid into their lungs. A heating pad on low a warm water bottle or even a sock filled with rice and put in the microwave can all provide a steady but mild heat source to a cold kitten.