what to feed brand new kittens

How to Feed a Newborn Kitten.

• 1. Try to find a nursing mother feline (queen). Consult with local veterinarians and shelters to find out if there is a nursing mother cat who may be ...
• 2. Get milk. A newborn kitten can only digest milk, and more specifically the milk from a female cat. Feeding the wrong sort of milk, such as cow's ...
• 3. Have a backup plan if you can't have replacement milk right away. The ideal milk is to use replacement queen's milk. If you do not have any, then ...
• 4. Plan your time. Remember that the younger the kitten, the higher the kitten's metabolism and the more often she needs to be fed (due to her tiny ...

Full Answer

What is the best food I could feed my kitten?

• Cucumber
• Pumpkin
• Steamed broccoli
• Carrots
• Asparagus
• Peas
• Bananas
• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Cantaloupe

More items...

When do I start feeding my kittens real cat food?

Kittens are ready to try solid foods at 4 weeks old. Weaning a kitten from a 100% milk diet to solid food is a delicate business. Some kittens might start showing interest in their mother’s food from 3 weeks of age. Most will be ready to be introduced to kitten gruel by 4 weeks of age. At this stage, you should be actively encouraging kittens ...

What do you feed 4 week old kittens?

What Does a 4-Week-Old Kitten Eat?

• Milk Replacement. It might seem logical to give cow's milk to a young kitten, but this would be a mistake. ...
• The Gruel. Starting at 3 weeks old, a young kitten is encouraged by the momma cat to stop suckling and start eating different foods.
• Timing and Calories. ...
• Other Care. ...

Do kittens really need kitten food?

Yes, kittens do need a special food. Kitten food is essential during the first year of life to support growth and development. Large breed cats, like the Maine Coon, need kitten food for 18 months to 2 years because they take longer to reach maturity. Kittens are playful, curious and full of energy. They need a complete and balanced diet to support their energy and explorations during this time.

What food do I feed kittens for the first time?

Use canned food or dry kitten food mixed with water; at first, add a lot of water, and then reduce the amount of water as the kitten matures. A general schedule for kitten weaning might be: Weeks 4-5: Give wet or moistened dry food, mixed with formula to form a slush.

What do you feed a baby kitten if you don't have formula?

Homemade milk replacer for kittens1 • 6 tablespoons (90 ml) condensed milk • 6 tablespoons (90 ml) water • 1/2 cup (120 ml) plain yogurt (not low fat) • 3 large or 4 small egg yolks Blend uniformly and warm to 95-100°F. + Refrigerate between uses.

Can you give kittens regular milk?

Do not feed cow's milk to kittens, as it does not have the proper nutrition for them. Cow's milk will also cause diarrhea, a possibly life-threatening condition for young kittens. Only feed your kittens an approved kitten formula.

Can I feed my kitten powdered milk?

Powdered kitten milk replacement formula is better for kittens than the canned liquid formula. We recommend that you use only powdered kitten milk replacement formula from the start, or as soon as possible, to prevent diarrhea.

What kind of milk can you give newborn kittens?

We recommend that you use only powdered kitten milk replacement formula from the start — or as soon as possible — to prevent diarrhea. Two major brands of formula are available: PetAg KMR® Powder and Farnam Pet Products Just Born® Highly Digestible Milk Replacer for Kittens.

Can baby kittens drink evaporated milk?

How to make kitten milk at home. You cannot feed it as is. You can mix 1 can of evaporated milk, 1 egg yolk, 2 tablespoons of light corn syrup, and preferably pediatric kitten vitamins. Mix everything together in a large bottle (shake to mix).

Is evaporated milk OK for kittens?

If it is after hours at your local animal hospital, your short-term solution will be to mix an egg yolk with a can of evaporated milk (make sure it is not the sweetened condensed milk). This is only a temporary "solution" and should only be used for a couple of feedings.

What milk is good for kittens?

The short answer: The only milk that is healthy for kittens to drink is either their mother's, or they will need a kitten milk replacer, which can also be called KMR or kitten milk formula.

Can a newborn kitten drink regular milk?

No, regular milk is liable to give newborn kittens diarrhea. This can cause the kittens to lose fluid so the milk will do more harm than good.

How do you take care of newborn kittens?

Keeping newborns warm is crucial—they should be about 85-90 degrees F. Any cooler than this and they can't digest their milk. Feed kitten milk repl...

How many mL do you feed a newborn kitten?

To meet their calorie needs, a newborn requires around 14-15 mL of kitten replacement milk per day. This should be divided up into small, regular f...

What is the best way to feed a kitten?

This allows the kitten to suckle, as if from her mother. If you do not have a feeding set, then the next best option is a syringe, which you can use to drip the milk into the kitten's mouth.

How to feed a kitten?

Position the kitten similarly to the way he would nurse from his mother, with her head straight, feet down, and stomach resting. When attempting to feed your kitten for the first time, get a drip of milk on the end of the syringe or teat.

How many meals should a kitten eat a day?

A kitten aged between six to 10 weeks old needs to be fed six to eight meals a day, while a kitten aged 10 weeks to six or seven months needs four meals a day and a kitten up to nine months needs three meals a day. Note that it's not until adulthood that two meals a day for a cat is acceptable.

How long should kittens nurse from their mother?

Ideally, kittens should stay near and nurse from their mother cat for up to eight weeks prior to being separated and/or adopted. In the case of a rescue, death of the natural mother, or when circumstances cause cat mothers to reject one or more of her litter, human intervention is necessary.

What temperature should a kitten be for a baby?

Newborns usually snuggle close to mum and tend to run quite hot. The ideal temperature is 96–100 °F (35.6–3 7.8 °C) for the first three weeks of life.

What to do if you can't have replacement milk?

Have a backup plan if you can't have replacement milk right away. The ideal milk is to use replacement queen's milk. If you do not have any, then use boiled water to feed the kitten and purchase some replacement milk immediately.

How to clean a kitten's anal area?

As the kitten relieves herself, wipe it away with the cotton wool. Finish with a clean piece of cotton wool to clean up her bottom, and then you are done until the next feed.