Feeding Newborn Kittens: How Often And What To Feed

Newborn kittens are relatively immature at birth and require round-the-clock care. They need to be fed every 2-4 hours, depending on their age, with those under 10 days old requiring feeding every 2 hours. Kittens under 4 weeks old cannot eat solid food and should be fed their mother's milk or a kitten milk replacer. It is important to never feed a kitten the same milk that humans consume as this can make them very sick.

Newborn kittens should be fed every 2-4 hours

Newborn kittens need to be fed every 2-4 hours. This includes those that are orphaned and have to be hand-fed using a bottle. It is very much like caring for a human baby in that regard. However, they grow up much faster, so you are not doing it for months at a time. But it still takes a similar dedication.

For the first week of life, newborn kittens need to be fed about every two to three hours. After that, you can usually stretch it out to every four hours. It is recommended that you warm kitten milk replacer to approximately 100°F (38°C) before feeding, but be careful not to overheat it. Cold formula, overly rapid feeding rates, and overfeeding can lead to regurgitation, aspiration, bloating, and diarrhea.

If the orphaned kitten develops diarrhea, reduce the formula volume. It is better to slightly underfeed than to overfeed neonatal kittens. Kitten milk replacer should be the sole source of nutrition until 3-4 weeks of age, at which time the weaning process may begin.

Newborn kittens need constant attention, feeding, and help during the first stage of their life. They need round-the-clock care for the first four weeks of their life. They also need a clean, warm environment. If there is no mother cat, a cat-carrying basket with lots of bedding and a soft toy to snuggle up to is ideal. You can use a simple box with soft blankets to contain the kitten. For warmth, a warm water bottle wrapped in a towel works well.

Kittens under 4 weeks old cannot eat solid food

Newborn kittens are relatively immature at birth compared to other mammals. They require round-the-clock care for the first four weeks of their lives. During this time, they should be fed every two to four hours.

Kittens under four weeks old cannot eat solid food. They depend entirely on their mother's milk for nutrition during this time. The mother's milk is critical to their development, as it is high in protein and contains important elements for their immune system.

If a kitten is orphaned or separated from its mother, it will need to be fed with a kitten formula. Cow's milk is not suitable, as it can cause life-threatening diarrhea. Kitten milk replacers can be purchased at most pet supply stores and should be fed to the kitten using a specific kitten bottle.

At around three to four weeks old, kittens will become curious about their surroundings and may start to play with their siblings. They will also start to show interest in their mother's food and may occasionally nibble on it. However, they are not yet ready to eat solid food, and their primary source of nutrition should still be their mother's milk or a kitten formula.

It is important to gradually introduce solid food to kittens when they are ready. Starting with wet food and then moving on to dry food once they are around six to eight weeks old is recommended. At this age, their teeth will be more developed, and they will be able to crunch and chew dry food comfortably.

Cow's milk can make kittens very sick

Newborn kittens should be fed every 2-4 hours, including throughout the night. Kittens up to two weeks old can generally consume their daily intake in 4-5 meals per day. From 3 weeks old, kittens can be fed every 4-6 hours, and at 6 weeks, they can be fed three or more meals of canned food spaced out throughout the day.

Now, on to why cow's milk can make kittens very sick. Firstly, it is important to note that kittens should only be fed their mother's milk. Mother's milk is very high in protein and transfers important elements to the kitten's immune system. It also contains more than twice as much protein as cow's milk. Cow's milk is not ideal for orphaned kittens and can make them very sick. This is because, as cats mature, they often lose the enzyme needed to break down milk. This is known as being "lactose intolerant". As a result, when cats consume milk, it causes gastrointestinal upset that can lead to vomiting, diarrhoea, and an upset stomach. In addition, the process of pasteurisation changes the protein in cow's milk, and particles of homogenized milk will leak into a cat's gut, causing digestive problems.

Dehydration is dangerous for newborn kittens

Newborn kittens are relatively immature at birth compared to other mammals. They require careful attention to their hygiene and feeding for optimal health and development. Water is a critical nutrient for newborn kittens, and dehydration can be dangerous for them. Dehydration is an excessive loss of water and electrolytes (minerals such as potassium, sodium and chloride). This can occur when kittens do not get enough milk or lose too many fluids, often due to prolonged diarrhoea, vomiting or overheating.

The bodies of newborn kittens have a higher water content than adult cats, and they are not as able to regulate water loss. Dehydration can quickly become dangerous for newborn kittens, and they need immediate medical care. Dehydration can lead to irreversible organ damage or even death. Newborn kittens should be fed every 2-4 hours, and it is important to keep them hydrated.

There are several ways to determine if a kitten is dehydrated. One method is the "tenting" or "turgor" test, which involves lifting the skin between the neck and shoulder blades and observing how quickly it falls back into place. Well-hydrated skin will flatten within a second or so. If the skin stays tented, the kitten is dehydrated. This test may be unreliable for kittens under six weeks old. Another way to check for dehydration is to observe the colour of their urine. Newborn kitten urine should be a very pale yellow. Dark urine could be a sign of dehydration, although one should be careful of the urine picking up colour from nearby faecal matter.

A capillary refill test can also be performed. Press on the kitten's gums, and if they are moist and pink, the colour should return within 2-3 seconds after removing your finger. If the colour takes longer to return, the kitten may be dehydrated. Other signs of dehydration include a dry mouth and tongue and unresponsive, sunken eyes.

If dehydration is suspected, contact a veterinarian as soon as possible. Mild dehydration without vomiting can be treated at home by giving fluids by mouth. If the kitten won't drink, an electrolyte solution can be administered with a bottle or syringe into the cheek pouch. Balanced electrolyte solutions for children, such as Ringer's lactate with 5% Dextrose in water or Pedialyte, are suitable for kittens and can be given at a rate of 2-4 millilitres per pound of body weight per hour. Feed the solution every 2 hours until the skin elasticity returns to normal, and then introduce a thin milk replacer mixed with the electrolyte solution.

Newborn kittens need to be burped after feeding

Newborn kittens are relatively immature at birth compared to many other mammals. They rely on their mother's milk to get the nutrients they need. If the mother cat is not around, you can feed your newborn kitten a nutritional substitute called kitten milk replacer. This should be done every two to four hours, depending on the kitten's age. For example, kittens up to one week old should be fed every two to three hours, while three-week-old kittens should be fed every four to six hours.

It is essential to keep newborn kittens warm, as they can easily get chills, which can be life-threatening. You can use a heating pad or a heat disc to do this, but make sure the kitten can move away from the heat source if needed.

Now, onto the topic of burping. Just like human babies, kittens need to be burped after feeding. Lay the kitten on its stomach and gently pat its back until you hear a little burp. You may need to do this a few times throughout each feeding. It is important to clean the kitten with a warm, damp washcloth after feeding, as formula can be sticky.

Newborn kittens also need help with elimination after feeding. Use a warm, moist cotton ball, tissue, or washcloth to gently rub the anal area to stimulate urination and defecation. This should be done after each feeding until the kitten is about three weeks old.

• Wash your hands before and after each feeding.
• Use a "kitten gown," such as a robe or shirt, when handling or feeding the kitten to reduce the risk of spreading germs.
• Feed the kitten gently, handling it with care. The kitten should be on its stomach, lying next to you, as this is how it would nurse from its mother.
• Let the kitten suckle at its own pace. If it doesn't eat right away, gently stroke its forehead to stimulate how its mother would clean it.

Frequently asked questions