How is the best way to feed formula to a newborn kitten?
Hi..I have a 5 day old kitten to take care of. The vet had to put the mama to sleep after she had her. Somehow one of her kittens got stuck and she had complications.:( The kitten has been doing good. She had her mama’s milk for the first 2 days b4 she died. I have bought kitten formula and a feeding bottle to feed her. At first she was feeding good on the bottle, but today she was fighting me putting it in her mouth. The nipple is too big. I wonder if they make them smaller? I even tried the surenge but I am so scared to squirt too much cuz she is a squirmy little thing. I have been wiping her butt like I read up on. I really want her to survive because she looks identacle to her mama. The loss of her was heartbreaking. I feel if I lose this kitten , I will have failed her. But she seems to be doing good. Was just needing some more feeding pointers. Thanks!:)
Look for a smaller nipple. I had to foster 5, 2 week old baby kittens and found that there are at least 2 different nipples for the bottles. I bigger nipple came from a bottle I bought at Walmart, the smaller one came from a pet store. I had 3 that would take the bigger one and 2 who would use the smaller one. Sorry about your cat….good luck with the baby kitten!
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How to Be a Surrogate Cat Mother: Kitten Feeding with a Bottle
Kitten feeding can feel like a difficult process without a mother cat to do it for you. Newborn kittens are so tiny and fragile, and have to operate almost entirely by instinct. It may seem a daunting task at first, but the process of kitten feeding with a bottle is not so much from that of feeding a newborn human. Once they know what to do, they will do it all on their own. All you have to do is show them proper care and follow a few simple guidelines.
Step 1
Make up the bottle of formula. To do this, first sterilize the bottle and nipple in boiling water for several minutes and allow to cool thoroughly before adding the KMR (kitten milk replacement) formula. KMR is specifically formulated for kittens, and cow’s milk is not an adequate replacement. To avoid clumping, add just a little bit of water to the powdered mix and stir until thoroughly combined before adding the rest of the hot water. The final temperature of the formula should be about 95 degrees. If the bottle gets cold, just warm it up in a small bowl of very warm water, but always check the temperature before offering it to the kitten.
Step 2
Prepare the kitten. Place a warm, soft towel either on your lap or on the feeding surface, then place the kitten gently on top of it. When feeding newborn kittens, they will need to be lying flat on their stomachs. It is best if you can do this with the kitten gently cuddled against you, because you need to be sure that the kitten is warm before feeding. Cold kittens do not digest their formula well.
Step 3
Feed the kitten. Gently work the nipple against the kitten’s mouth. They will get the idea quickly and take it in. If not, very gently stroke the kitten until it gets the idea. You will need to do this six to ten times per day, around the clock, just like a newborn human. Newborn kittens will need a little over one ounce of formula per day, divided between feedings. Be careful to not overfeed them.
Step 4
Clean up and burp the kitten. While the kitten is still on the blanket, gently slip one hand under its belly and hold it while you very lightly pat its upper back. This will stimulate the burp response. Then, using a warm, damp, slightly rough cloth, gently clean its anal and genital area to stimulate urination and defecation.
Step 5
Put the kitten back to bed. It is worn out from its feeding and needs to rest.
About the Author
Learn more about newborn kittens and other aspects of kitten care by visiting the author’s website at http://newbornkittens.net.
