What To Give Newborn Kittens To Eat

Kittens are born blind and deaf.

What to give newborn kittens to eat. If your cat has just given birth she ll take care of the kittens. If you have newborn kittens who ve been separated from their mother consult with a veterinarian shelter or experienced foster care giver who can help you find a new mother cat with a small litter she may be able to nurse the orphaned babies. Therefore in the first days of their life we must give them a substitute which will fulfill the same functions as colostrum. Next use a bottle and teat set specifically designed for kittens or use a syringe to drip the milk into your kitten s mouth.

The mother will also teach the kittens to toilet and socialize. Feeding elimination neonatal kittens under four weeks of age cannot eat solid food not canned not dry and cannot urinate or defecate on their own so you must bottle feed them around the clock and stimulate their genitals after every feeding so they can eliminate. If the mother cat doesn t produce enough milk for all her kittens or if your newborn kitty is a rescue you may need to obtain cat s milk for her. When the kittens are 1 2 weeks old bottle feed the kittens every 1 2 hours with a commercial milk replacer formula.

Colostrum is produced by the mother cat. Its use is not only to give nutrients to the newborn kitten but also to provide passive immune defenses by transmitting immunoglobulins. A kitten that had a mother would receive the colostrum in their first hours of life. When the kittens are 3 4 weeks old provide formula in a shallow dish as well as some kitten food that has been softened with water.

Provide blankets a heat lamp or a heating pad to ensure the kittens stay warm. Since their dietary needs are different from older kittens you will need to bottle feed if your kitten is a newborn. Chilling is one of the most critical dangers to newborn kittens. Do not give cow s milk to the kittens because it is too hard for them to digest.

If the kitten is a newborn then its eyes and ears will still be sealed shut. Provide plenty of food and a safe place so that she can look after her kittens. Then observe the kitten as you re feeding it and make sure that no milk comes out of its nose. Find cat s milk at your local pet store or veterinary office where it is sold as cat s milk or kitten milk.

The mother cat can keep the babies warm but if she leaves to eat or use a litter box the kittens can get cold. To feed a newborn kitten start by purchasing a kitten milk replacement formula at your local pet store. If you cannot find a foster mother please consult with your veterinarian about the proper way to bottle feed with a commercial milk replacer. For the first month of life newborn kittens eat only the milk their mother produces.

Newborn kittens are those under two weeks old and they survive on a diet of milk and cannot digest solid food.