A newborn or a small kitten left without a mother cat is in your care. If you don’t know how and what to feed a kitten at home. Then, the article contains advice from owners and breeders who have successfully raised many kittens from birth to one year. They will help you ensure the kitten’s proper development and rapid growth.
With such a tiny kitten, you need to be more careful in what you eat. Kitten and baby food
A newborn, one-month-old kitten can be fed with diluted baby formula and baby meat puree, but it is better to purchase a cat's milk substitute at a pet store.
It is best to feed a newborn kitten using a pipette or syringe tip without a needle. At one and a half months, kittens can lap and eat small pieces, and you can put a bowl for them. Read more in the article, which indicates the rules and secrets of feeding from 1 week to a year.
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Kittens and milk
Milk is vital for kittens up to three months of age, but for cats older than six months it can upset digestion. The best milk for kittens is cow's milk, which needs to be diluted by half.
Choosing fish for a kitten
Cooking porridge for the kitten
Breeders recommend diversifying the menu of a one-month or 3-week-old kitten with porridge. They are prepared with milk without adding sugar or salt. It is better to use crushed buckwheat or rice and offer it from three weeks of age.
Deadly food
Do not give your kitten sausages, sausage, sugar, salt, and avoid feeding from your table. The food from our table is dangerous for kittens.
Newborn kitten formula
If a cat milk substitute is not available to you, then you can make a similar one yourself. Take slightly diluted baby formula or half-diluted cow's milk, add egg white in a ratio of 4 to 1 and shake.
Menu from month to year
A one-month-old kitten can be given porridge with milk, from a month and a half a kitten can eat porridge with meat broth, a 2-month-old kitten is ready to eat boiled chicken and meat puree. Offer dry food soaked in water to a three-month-old baby. By six months, the kitten can eat raw minced meat and fish, and by one year it is ready to switch to dry food or raw meat in pieces.
Feeding kittens of exotic breeds
Breeders of British and Scottish Folds exclude carrots from the kitten menu, as it harms their color. need increased amounts of protein. The owner of a small exotic should not offer his pet thick porridge.
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It is not uncommon for a small kitten to be left without a mother or a cat to caesarean section refuses to accept cubs. In this case, you need to find a donor cat. Let her be a different breed, it’s not so important, the kitten doesn’t care. There is a known case when British kittens were fed by a Thai cat, loving them no less than her babies.
You can find information about possible nurse cats at the cat club in your city.
If you are not lucky enough to find such a mother, then you need to take everything into your own hands and feed the baby yourself. Here are some tips that will not be superfluous.
In the first days of life, the kitten needs to be fed every two hours, then you can switch to 5-6 meals a day.
Veterinary pharmacies sell cat milk replacer, which comes with detailed instructions, as well as all related products: pipette, measuring spoon, etc. Do not allow any amateur activity and strictly follow the recommendations.
Determine the temperature of the mixture by dropping a little on the elbow joint - it should be warm, but in no case hot. Before you start feeding, massage your baby's tummy with a piece of damp cloth to improve peristalsis.
The finished mixture can be replaced. Here are several options for preparing it at home.
1. Mix one chicken egg yolk, 80 g. milk, 20 gr. cream, 20 ml. 40% glucose, 1-2 drops of vitamins A and D and 3 ml. 5% ascorbic acid.
2. 100 gr. beat the milk with 1 fresh chicken egg, then strain the mixture through cheesecloth. Add 1-2 drops of vitamins A and D.Monitor your kitten's weight gain daily.
If you do not have a special dry formula for feeding kittens, you can purchase formula intended for feeding infants.
What to pay attention to:
1. The mixture must be adapted - this means that it is as physiological as possible.
2. The mixture should be numbered 1 - for children from 0 to 6 months. This is important because a mixture that is universal for all ages cannot, by definition, be good. Agree, a child at 1 week and at 1 year have completely different food needs.
3. A measuring spoon should be included with the mixture. This allows you to calculate the amount per meal as accurately as possible. While the concepts of “Teaspoon” and “Tablespoon” are very vague.
4. List of good mixtures: Nutrilon, Similak, Friso, Nenni, NAN, Agusha, Nestozhen, Humana.
We dilute the mixture.
For a kitten, the mixture should be approximately 1.5 times less saturated than for a child.
So we take the jar and take a look.
There should be a feeding chart.
The first column is the child's age.
The second is the amount of water.
The third is the number of spoons of the mixture.
We are not interested in the remaining graphs.
Let's take the first line. Divide the number from the second column by the number from the first. We get how much water is needed for one measuring spoon of the mixture. Multiply the resulting amount by 1.5.
Example.
0-1 month | 120 | 4 |
Divide 120:4=30. That is, one measuring spoon of this mixture needs to be diluted in 30 ml of water. This is for the child.
Now we multiply 30 * 1.5 = 45. This is for a kitten.
Thus, for a kitten, one scoop of powder should be diluted in 45 ml of water.
I can say for sure that these calculations have been tested for mixtures of NAN, Nutrilon, Similac, Friso and Nestozhen.
For everyone else, do the math yourself.
The required amount is calculated according to the feeding table, which is given in the second message of this topic.
If it turns out. that some mixture is not suitable, this sometimes happens individually, you can try alternative options from the same manufacturer - fermented milk mixture, comfort, hypoallergenic, lactose-free, anti-reflux. But it makes sense to discuss this with your veterinarian.
Starting from 4-5 weeks, you can gradually add boiled chicken meat, low-fat cottage cheese, etc. to the animal’s diet, paying attention to the age for which they are intended. From 5-6 weeks of age into the kitten's diet.
Feeding newborn kittens with a cat is not difficult. Even if it is possible to “borrow” a cat for feeding, the situation does not seem so problematic. What to do if there is nowhere to get milk?
Offer regular milk Goats and cows are not allowed for newborns; the composition of milk in cats is significantly different. Such feeding will cause more harm. But there is a way out.
- Pharmacies sell formulas for kittens after birth, deprived of mother's milk. Their composition is as close as possible to breast milk, the kittens will receive the same beneficial microelements and grow fully. Beaphar Kitty-Milk and Royal Canin (Babycat Milk) mixtures are especially popular.
- You can use baby formula for babies, which is sold at any pharmacy.
- Another option is to prepare the product yourself.
For artificial feeding, a syringe, pipette, 
a medicine bottle with a rubber dispenser cap. The veterinary pharmacy sells special bottles and nipples designed for these purposes. When feeding, you need to make sure that the kitten does not swallow a lot of air, this will lead to bloating and pain.
Food is prepared immediately before use. The temperature should initially correspond to the kitten’s body temperature, and as it grows, lower it to room temperature.
Feeding procedure
- Sit in a comfortable position, lay a bedding on your knees - a towel, a diaper;
- The kitten needs to be placed in the same position as when sucking milk from a cat - standing, lying on its stomach with an elevated position;
- Squeeze out a little product so that the kitten feels the smell, takes the pacifier in its mouth, if this does not happen, carefully insert it into the mouth, then instinct will react;
- You need to feed a newborn with a pipette; you should not squeeze out the contents. It is necessary for him to develop a sucking instinct; he does it himself;
- After about 7 days, you need to switch to a syringe, but squeeze out the milk slowly so as not to choke.
What to feed kittens
There are only 2 options - special products for cats, infant formula, homemade food from cow's and goat's milk.
How to feed baby formula
The best option for a newborn is to buy a special mixture Beaphar Kitty-Milk, Royal Canin (Babycat Milk). Their composition takes into account the characteristics of the body of small kittens and is as close as possible to the action of mother's milk. Made in powder form. As practice shows, this option is rarely used for 2 reasons - high cost, difficulties with purchasing. The cost of a 300 g package is about 800 rubles.
It is more convenient, faster and cheaper to buy formula for artificial feeding of children.
The package must contain the number 1, which means for the child 
up to 1 month. Nutrilon, NAN, Similak, Nenny, Agusha, Humana, Nestozhen are considered the best. For a kitten, the preparation is 1.5 times weaker. There should be a sign on the jar with instructions for preparing the mixture. It is necessary to pay attention to the lines where the age, amount of powder, and water are indicated.
It looks something like this
– 0 –1 month, 120, 4.
- 120/4 = 30 ml of water * 1.5 = 45 ml for a kitten.
- Therefore, 1 scoop of the product must be dissolved in 45 ml of water.
After a month of feeding, add low-fat cottage cheese, boiled chicken egg, special canned food. From 5 weeks it is recommended to introduce vitamins. And after 8 months you need to abandon the mixture.
How to feed cow's milk
Give milk to pure form it is forbidden. Because it causes intestinal upset, indigestion, and an allergic reaction. If the kitten is too hungry, you can initially give it rice water, it will temporarily satisfy its hunger.
Start preparing the product with cow's milk.
- 500 ml milk, egg yolk, 4 tbsp. spoons of sugar. Mix everything and heat to animal body temperature.
- 50 ml milk, 15 g whole milk powder, 2.5 g dry yeast. Mix and heat.
How to feed goat milk
This ingredient is more suitable for newborns. Milk quickly 
is absorbed by the body, does not cause allergies, and forms intestinal immunity. But it must be given to the kitten in a diluted form in a 1:1 ratio.
How often to feed
The diet changes almost every day. Failure to adhere to the schedule is fraught with health problems.
- Days 1–4 – feeding is carried out every 2 hours around the clock;
- 5–13 – the break between feedings is already 4 hours;
- 14–24 – during the day they feed every 4 hours, at night 1 time;
- 24–35 – continue to feed during the day according to this schedule, night feeding is canceled.
Cooking Features
It is necessary to pay attention to the temperature of the food. Since cold food disrupts digestion, hot food burns the oral cavity. From the first days of feeding, the temperature should be 37 degrees - an approximate indicator for the kitten’s body.
Lower this level every week. By the end of the month, the mixture should be at room temperature - 24 degrees. If there is nothing to measure, proceed as follows. The bottle is pressed against the bend of the elbow, nothing is felt - neither cold nor heat - you can give it to the kitten.
Calculation of the amount of mixture
You need to get a measuring spoon to properly prepare food for newborns. The amount of feed is calculated taking into account body weight.
- Days 1–4 – 30 ml of the prepared mixture per 100 g of weight;
- 5 –13 – 38 ml;
- 14 –24 – 46 ml;
- 25 –35 – 53 ml per 130 g body weight.
Blend recipes
Preparing food for kittens is quite simple. Main 
The ingredient is, of course, milk. Auxiliary ones are added to it.
Recipe 1
Cow or goat milk is mixed with egg yolk in a 4:1 ratio. Beat well until smooth.
Recipe 2
The most nutritious, healthy mixture for kittens is prepared from several ingredients. Add 15 g of dry yeast and 2.5 g of dry yeast to 50 ml of cow's milk. Separately, beat the chicken egg until foamy. Combine with the mixture. Add 1 g of vegetable oil, 4 g of sugar.
Recipe 3
Mix 50 ml of raw, boiled milk, add half the yolk, 1 teaspoon of corn oil.
Recipe 4
200 ml of milk mixed with yolk, 0.5 tsp. vegetable oil, 20 ml glucose, 2 teaspoons of infant formula.
Recipe 5
Add whipped yolk to 500 ml of milk.
Healthy diet for a kitten
Proper nutrition ensures proper growth for kittens. At breastfeeding they receive all the necessary vitamins and microelements. When artificially feeding with formulas, additional complementary foods must be introduced.
About 3 weeks after birth, kittens begin teething. This is when you need a supply of vitamins. Some products are starting to be introduced.
The kitten's diet consists of:
You can't add sugar because it disrupts metabolism. Complementary foods should be given 4 times a week.
How long should you feed a kitten formula?
The first months of life are very important for the future health of the kitten. At this time, immunity is formed, the digestive system starts, and teeth erupt. The mixture helps to put the kitten on its feet and ensure its full development.
However, over time, the need for it disappears. You need to feed for 35 days. At most, 2 months. After this, the kitten is transferred to regular food, are taught to constantly eat from a bowl.
Raising kittens without a cat, especially for the first time, requires a lot of effort, patience, and skills. The following tips will help you overcome difficulties and tell you how to get out of a difficult situation.
Feeding a kitten without a cat is a very labor-intensive and lengthy process. You need to quit all your business, not go to work, feed the babies every 2 hours day and night. The sacrifices must be justified.
An interesting fact remains that when such a situation arises in rural areas, kittens are fed fresh cow's milk from a pipette for literally a week. When they get to their feet, offer a small bowl. No special care. As a result, they grow up alive, playful, and healthy. They determine their own norm.
From time to time there are cases when cats refuse to feed their newborn offspring. And then the animal owner has to think about how to get rid of the still blind kittens. Below we will describe what and how to feed a kitten in order to raise it healthy, and whether baby food is suitable for feeding.
Features of feeding newborn kittens
Veterinarians unanimously say that kittens must be fed exclusively with a special milk formula, which is created taking into account the needs of the little furry and is as close as possible to cat milk. But such mixtures can be very difficult to find in a regular pet store, and the prices for such a mixture are quite high. In such conditions, infant formula can be a good substitute.
The mixture must be diluted with boiled water, in an amount twice as large as indicated in the instructions. Baby food is taken intended for children from birth. Since baby formula contains more fats and carbohydrates than cat milk. And this can lead to health problems for your four-legged friend in the future.
A kitten in the first months of life should be fed every three to four hours, both during the day and at night. You need to use a special small bottle with a nipple for these purposes. It already comes as part of a pack with the mixture. Or you can feed with a syringe and pipette.
Be sure to monitor your pet's condition. If the mixture does not suit him, he will become lethargic, may suffer from abdominal pain, the kitten’s stool will become green and with mucus, there may be streaks of blood, and there will also be poor weight gain. Normally, the baby will gain 10-20 grams of weight every day.
Correct technique for feeding a kitten
Kittens are fed only in a belly-down position. At first, it is worth controlling the speed at which artificial milk is supplied to the baby, since if the sucking reflex is weak, he may choke.If the kitten eats little formula at one feeding, then after half an hour or an hour you should try to feed it again. After feeding, be sure to wipe the baby’s tummy with a damp cloth, similar to how a cat should lick it. This is done so that he goes to the toilet, otherwise without such a massage he will not be able to do it.
Great attention is paid to hygiene small cat. Artificially fed cats have a weakened immune defense, so their bedding is changed regularly, the bottle and pacifier (syringe, pipette) are sterilized, as for infant. The mixture should be freshly prepared and at the same temperature as the kitten's body.
From the fifth week of your baby’s life, you can begin to expand his diet. Ideally, you should prepare complementary foods yourself, but canned purees for children under one year of age are also suitable. A prerequisite will be the absence of sugar, salt, onions and garlic in purchased food. All these ingredients are extremely harmful to the four-legged baby.
Thus, the kitten can be easily fed using baby food. You just need to be careful when purchasing formula or puree for feeding him.
Video: how to feed a kitten milk
There are situations when, for some reason, the breeder has to take care of feeding newborn kittens. Here are tips that will help you properly organize the feeding and nursing of newborn kittens.
Food for newborn kittens
- The ideal option is to find a nursing cat.
- Regular cow's milk is strictly prohibited! The kitten will not be able to digest it and will die.
- For feeding kittens, goat's milk, cat's milk replacer (sold in a pet store, it is better to get it from Royal Canin) or powdered infant formula (diluted with 2 times more water than for feeding a child) is suitable.
- You can store the prepared mixture in the refrigerator, but no more than a day.
- Do not feed the kitten formula from the refrigerator, it needs to be heated; see the table for the required temperature of the formula for feeding.
Feeding technique
Kitten care
- The kitten gains weight by 10-15 grams per day; to control its weight, it must be weighed every day.
- Since the kitten's digestive system is weak, he needs help with the toilet. To do this, after each feeding, massage the kitten’s tummy and anus with a cloth or cotton wool soaked in warm water. Usually the cat always licks the kittens after eating.
- If you do everything correctly, the kitten will relieve itself 3-4 times a day.
- The stool should be light brown. If you overfeed your kitten, the stool will be yellow and runny. Gray or green diarrhea is systematic overfeeding, this leads to loss of fluid, and subsequently to the death of the kitten.
- Be sure to wipe the kitten twice a day with a damp cloth, do not forget about the face.
- Kittens should be toilet trained when they begin to eat solid food.
- Don't worry if your kitten doesn't poop for a few days. This is a very common occurrence among artificial people. If he hasn’t pooped for 4-5 days, you can give him a little Vaseline oil(1 ml 2-3 times a day). The effect will be the next day or every other day.
Place for kittens
- The kitten's house should be placed in a secluded, quiet place, avoiding drafts.
- In the first week, the kitten should be kept at a temperature of 27-30 degrees, in the second - 26-29 degrees, then the temperature can be reduced to 24 degrees Celsius.
- There are special incubators with an infrared lamp for heating kittens. But you can get by cardboard box with high edges.
- Place something very warm at the bottom of the box; woolen items work well. Lay a towel or diaper on top and change it when it gets dirty.
- You can place a heating pad under the bedding to keep the kitten warm.
- Place in a box soft toy so that the kitten can cuddle up to her like a mother.
Every day the kitten gains 15 grams in weight, for each added gram the amount of mixture increases by 4-5 grams.
1 week
2 week
3 week
| Day | Amount of food | Mixture temperature | Feeding schedule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 15 | 46 ml. per 100 g weight | 28 - 30º | From this day on, kittens can begin to be fed additionally. You can let the kitten lap up formula milk on its own from a saucer or spoon. Every 4 hours |
| Day 16 | 46 ml. per 100 g weight | 28 - 30º | Every 4 hours |
| Day 17 | 46 ml. per 100 g weight | 28 - 30º | Every 4 hours |
| Day 18 | 46 ml. per 100 g weight | 28 - 30º | Every 4 hours |
| Day 19 | 46 ml. per 100 g weight | 28 - 30º | Every 4 hours |
| Day 20 | 46 ml. per 100 g weight | 28 - 30º | Every 4 hours |
| 21 days | 46 ml. per 100 g weight | 28 - 30º | Every 4 hours |
