Kitten Formula Bottle Feeding

Do a skin temperature test to make sure that the milk is not too hot.

Kitten formula bottle feeding. Be very careful not to squeeze formula into the kitten s mouth as this can cause aspiration. Tiny baby bottles with tiny nipples for kittens can be purchased online or in pet stores. The rest of the time will be spent sleeping. Kittens are susceptible to germs.

Kittens that are bottle fed should consume about a tablespoon or 15 ml of special kitten formula at each feeding. These bottles typically hold small amounts of formula so they are easy to handle while also holding a small kitten. When it s time to feed your kitties mix of the formula with an equal amount of boiling water. To be sure the kittens are getting enough food you may need to continue bottle feeding them a few times a day until they are eating well on their own.

This is very time consuming for someone who is bottle feeding a newborn kitten so if at all possible you will want to try to keep the kitten with its mother or a surrogate lactating cat who can nurse it. If you can t find a tiny baby bottle you can also try using a syringe without the needle especially if the kitten won t take the bottle readily. The kitten should roll her tongue into a u shape and begin to swallow. It depletes some nutrients and can cause hot spots that burn a kitten s mouth.

Never microwave the formula. On average a newborn kitten weighs 100 120g and should receive about 25 40 cc of formula per day for the first week or so of life. Once it passes the skin temperature test you are ready to feed kittens. It is not recommended to use a microwave.

It should feel warm but not hot. This should be ramping up throughout the week and the kitten should take about 50 70 cc per day the second week and 80 100 per day the third week. Instead when feeding kittens soak a bottle in a bowl of hot water. Kitten bottle feeding and stomach capacity chart estimated kitten age weeks kitten weight lbs oz kitten weight grams daily caloric requirement amount of formula per day ml amount per feeding ml approximate number of feedings per day 1 week 2 oz 57 g 11 kcal 15 ml 2 ml 7 3 oz 85 g 17 kcal 23 ml 3 ml 7 4 oz 113 g 23 kcal 31 ml 5 ml 7 1 week 5 oz 142 g 28 kcal 38 ml 6 ml 7 6.

Be sure to feed them what they need to be full but don t overfeed them. If you need to bottle feed a kitten you ll need to use special baby bottles. Mix up the formula right before using it for optimal nutrients. Gently slide the nipple into the kitten s mouth and invert the bottle to start the flow of formula.

Oral syringes can usually be purchased from a pharmacy and used. Follow the feeding chart for a guideline of amount and frequency. Some kittens catch on right away others may take a few days. Increase the amount of canned food slowly adding more food and less formula.

A kitten will nurse for about 45 minutes at a time every 2 to 3 hours for the first week of life. Tips for feeding kittens kmr. Soak all bottles and syringes in boiled water to sterilize them. After a minute test the temperature of the formula on the inside of your wrist.

Shake well before serving. Add one drop of liquid pediatric vitamins into the mixture and pour it into a nursing bottle. This is very time consuming for someone who is bottle feeding a newborn kitten so if at all possible you will want to try to keep the kitten with its mother or a surrogate lactating cat who can nurse it.