Did you find an orphaned kitten? Are you left wondering how to care for a newborn kitten? Once the kitten is warmed, you'll need to provide nourishment.
Kittens should always be fed kitten milk replacer formula, available at pet stores and even department stores like Wal-Mart and Target. If you find a kitten and the stores are closed, you may need to feed a homemade kitten formula substitute in order to sustain the baby until kitten formula can be purchased.
A homemade kitten formula substitute can be fed for up to 24 hours. Kittens over the age of 4 weeks can eat canned kitten food (or kibble, allowed to soak in hot water until the kibble swells and softens.)
How to Make a Homemade Kitten Formula Substitute
Kittens -- especially newborns -- require regular feedings. If you're suddenly and unexpectedly caring for newborn kittens, you must make an emergency formula substitute to sustain the babies until the pet store opens.
The following homemade kitten formula recipe can be used for up to 24 hours in an emergency situation:
- Crush a child's multi-vitamin into powder.
- Add the vitamin powder to 2/3 cup of homogenized whole milk.
- Beat 3 egg yolks and add them to the milk.
- Add 1 tablespoon of corn oil.
- Mix the formula ingredients and microwave the homemade formula until it's warm (but not hot.)
Do not use this formula for more than 24 hours. This formula will sustain a kitten, but it is not suitable for long term use. The kitten may die due to malnutrition or dehydration, which can result from diarrhea.
Never, ever feed straight cow's milk or human baby formula. This can be deadly.
Refrigerate the formula between feedings.
How to Feed a Newborn Kitten
Once the homemade kitten formula is ready, it's time to feed the little one. Always warm the formula before feeding. It must be warm, but not hot.
Place the kitten on his stomach and slightly elevate his front end by placing a rolled washcloth under the front legs. Feed the kitten until he turns away.
Also, never squeeze the bottle or force liquid into the kitten's mouth. This may cause him to choke or aspirate the liquid.
Ideally, the kitten should be fed using a bottle that's designed for use with small animals. If you do not have one on-hand, try one of the following items:
- Eye dropper;
- Medicine dropper;
- Syringe with the needle removed; or
- Liquid syringe.
Never feed a kitten while he's on his back! The baby will be prone to aspirating and inhaling the formula. This will cause the kitten to choke and he may develop aspiration pneumonia.
How Often Should I Feed the Kitten? How Much Formula Should I Feed Him?
Feeding frequency and amount is based on the kitten's age. If you're going to care for a newborn kitten, take him to the veterinary clinic for an exam. The vet will determine his approximate age. In the interim, follow this guide to determine kitten age and feed appropriately.
- Newborn Kittens and 1-week-old -- The eyes are closed, the ears are folded over and the kitten crawls. A newborn to 1-week-old kitten needs bottle feedings every 2 to 3 hours.
- 2-weeks-old -- The kitten's eyes are closed until approximately day 10. The ears are still folded over and the kitten crawls, though he can't walk. Bottle feed every 3 hours (8 feedings per day)
- 3-weeks-old --- Eyes are open and ears are beginning to stand erect. The kitten's center incisor teeth are growing in too. He will begin to walk by the end of week 3, though he'll be quite wobbly. Bottle feed every 4 hours (6 feedings per day)
- 4-weeks-old --- The kitten's ears are erect and his canine teeth are starting to grow in. The kitten is walking well, but not running. Offer canned kitten food every 6 hours, followed by a bottle feeding.
Uncertain about the kitten's age? Care for the baby as though he's slightly younger.
If the kitten is crying, this means one of two things: he's hungry or cold. If the baby is crying and he's warm, adjust the kitten's feeding schedule so he eats more frequently. The aforementioned is only a guide; individual preferences may vary slightly.
How to Care for a Newborn Kitten After the Feeding
Kittens under the age of 4 weeks will need assistance going to the bathroom. This must be tended to after every meal.
Place the kitten on top of a couple paper towels and dampen a cotton ball or cotton pad in a cup of warm water. Stroke the kitten's genital area, moving from front to back, periodically re-dipping the cotton ball so it remains warm. It may take a few minutes, but continue until the kitten eliminates.
Once the kitten has gone to the bathroom, put him to bed. Kittens must be kept in a warm at all times. Place a heating pad inside a cardboard box (cut a slit in the side of the box, enabling you to keep the power cord outside of the box.) Turn it on "low" and cover the heating pad with a fleece blanket.
If a heating pad is unavailable, use a warm desk lamp (though focus the lamp on one area of the box, so the kitten can move out of the light if he gets too hot.) Another option is a bathroom heat lamp. Place the kitten's box in a bathroom and warm the room by running a hot shower. The steam will help the kitten's breathing too.
The kitten must be kept warm at all times. Newborn kittens are prone to hypothermia.
Would You Raise a Newborn Kitten?
If you're the type of person who would be compelled to rescue orphaned kittens, it's advisable to keep a feeding kit on-hand.
Purchase a bottle (designed specifically for feeding small animals) and a canister of kitten milk replacer formula and store these items in a safe place, just in case the need arises.
Kitten caretakers will need to assess the baby for dehydration. If the kitten is dehydrated, you must rehydrate before feeding formula. Read "How to Care for Newborn Kittens -- Helping a Dehydrated Kitten" for information on how to tell if a cat is dehydrated, along with a recipe for homemade rehydration solution.
For additional tips, read How to Care for Newborn Kittens and Orphans.
For more information on the supplies needed to care for newborn kittens, see this related article titled Orphaned Kitten Supplies and Buying Kitten Formula.
Mia Carter - Mia Carter - Journalist, Producer/Editor & Web Writer. Carter's work has appeared on CBS and CNN.com.
