Six Tips to Bottle Feed Kittens

Kitten season means shelters and rescues are overwhelmed with babies needing special care until they are big enough to be adopted.

Often, these kittens are fostered until they are old enough to find forever homes. If you care for an orphaned kitten and need to learn how to feed it until it is ready for solid food, this guide is for you.

Photo © American Humane

1: What Should I Feed a Kitten?

Do not ever feed your baby kitten cow's milk, as it lacks the necessary nutrients and can cause digestive issues, which can be life-threatening. Instead, they use the approved kitten's replacer formula to mimic their mother's milk.

1. Before feeding, the formula must be warmed to a specific temperature range of 98 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit. This can be done by placing the bottle in a mug of hot water and avoiding using a microwave. Always check the temperature on your wrist before feeding the kitten, as it prevents potential harm.
   
   
2. Clean the bottle and nipples between each feeding to maintain hygiene and prevent infections.

2: How to Bottle Feed a Kitten?

1. Choose the Right Bottle: Use a pet nursing bottle with a nipple dispensing only one drop at a time. A too-rapid flow rate can lead to aspiration, pneumonia, and potentially death. Conversely, a too-slow flow will make the kitten work too hard to nurse.
   
   
2. Underline Correct positioning: The correct positioning is crucial for surrogate bonding. It's important to note that placing a kitten on its back like a human baby is not the right approach. Instead, place it on its stomach in a similar position to how it would nurse with its mother. This not only fosters bonding but also prevents the formula from entering the windpipe and causing aspiration pneumonia, a key health risk to avoid.
   
   
3. Reiterate the feeding Process: The feeding process is a sequence of steps. Start by turning the bottle upside down and allowing a drop of formula to come out. Then, place the nipple in the kitten's mouth and gently move it back and forth while holding it at a 45-degree angle to keep air from being ingested. If the kitten does not immediately suckle, wait a few minutes and try again. You can also try stroking the kitten's back or gently rubbing its forehead, which mimics a mother cat's grooming and can encourage nursing. This clear sequence of actions ensures the proper feeding of the orphaned kitten.
   
   
4. Burping: Kittens must be burped after feeding, just like human babies. To burp a kitten, lay them on their stomach, shoulder, or lap, and gently pat their back until you hear them burp. This might need to be done a few times per feeding.
   
   

3: How Frequently Should I Bottle Feed a Kitten?

Kittens should eat eight milliliters of formula per ounce of body weight daily and be fed every two to four hours. 

Understanding your kitten's behavior during feeding is key. Their needs can vary depending on age. Kittens may require multiple nursing turns per feeding, but when they stop nursing, it is clear that they have had enough. A well-fed kitten will have a round belly that is not hard or distended, indicating that it is satisfied.

If your kitten is smaller or weaker, they may need to eat less per feeding session but more frequently.

4: How Should I Stimulate My Kitten to Eliminate?

Kittens cannot eliminate (urinate or defecate) independently until around four weeks old and rely on their mother for assistance. 

As a caring pet owner, your role in assisting your kittens with elimination is crucial. Before and after each meal, you can use something soft and absorbent, such as tissues or toilet paper, to gently rub the kitten's genital area in a circular motion. This simple act plays a significant part in their well-being.

Always monitor your kittens' eliminations in a log; remember, you are their first line of defense. Contact the vet with any concerns.

5: when do I seek Veterinary Advice?

If you have concerns about bottle-feeding your new kitten, contact your vet. They can provide personalized advice and ensure your kitten is healthy and thriving.

6: How Can I Help Bottle Feed Kittens in Shelters?

More kittens than ever before are flooding into shelters.

In 2023, 17,000 more kittens entered shelters than in 2022. Orphaned kittens rely on milk replacers to grow strong and prepare for adoption. Unfortunately, this nutrient-rich formula is costly, and shelters are already stretched thin due to overcrowding and low adoption rates. But you can help.

Your gift today provides a life-saving milk replacer to kittens in need.

By following these guidelines and supporting your local shelters, you can ensure that every kitten gets a healthy start in life.