How to Feed Baby Kittens

Adorable as they are, caring for a newborn kitten is hard work. Just like human infants, kittens are nearly helpless at birth, and require constant monitoring. Think carefully before you commit to fostering a newborn kitten or kittens; if you can't give them the care they need, a local veterinarian or animal shelter may be able to help you find someone who can. If you do choose to be a foster kitty-mom, good on you! Animal shelters are often overwhelmed with homeless animals, and need all the help they can get.

-Before feeding-

If you've found a litter of kittens, it's important to make sure that they really are abandoned before you take them home. If they look clean and plump, they probably have a mother who looks after them. If they kittens are crying and dirty, it's a safe bet that they need your help.

Although this is an article on feeding, there are a few important things to keep in mind before you feed a newborn kitten. Kittens under three weeks of age cannot control their own body temperature or eliminate body waste on their own. Before you feed the kitten, help the kitten eliminate by rubbing it gently on the lower abdomen and bottom, holding it over the sink or a litter box. You can use a cotton ball, cotton pad, or wad of tissues dampened with warm water. Once you've taken care of that, provide warmth with a heating pad set on the lowest temperature or a hot water bottle at about 100 degrees. Wrap the heat source in two layers of towel and place the kitten on or next to it. Once the kitten is warm, you can feed it.

-Feeding the kitten-

Kittens do not start eating solid food until they are about four weeks old. If your kitten is younger than that, it will need a replacement for milk. The most convenient is probably powdered kitten formula, available in pet stores and most veterinary clinics. Several recipes for kitten formula can be found online if you would rather make your own. Don't give the kitten cow's milk; despite popular myth, cow's milk is not very good for kitties. It does not contain enough nutrition for them, and causes diarrhea, which is extremely dangerous for kittens. In an emergency, powdered goat's milk can be used.

You will also need a feeder for infants; they are not yet capable of lapping. Pet supply stores usually sell kitten feeding kits containing a bottle, nipples, and a cleaning brush. You will need to pierce a hole in the nipple so that the kitten can suckle. Sterilize a large gauge needle and try to pierce the hole with that first. If the nipple is too tough, use nail scissors and carefully cut a hole as small as you can. If you've made the hole the right size, formula should drip slowly when you hold the bottle upside down. Too slow, and the kitten will wear itself out before it can get enough food; too fast, and it will flood its lungs. If you accidentally made the hole too big, don't use it- discard it and make another. If you're not sure, check with a veterinarian.

Preparing the formula is very similar to the same process for a human infant. Boil the bottle and nipples in water to sterilize them before each feeding. It's a good idea to sterilize your hands, too. Warm the formula by putting the bottle in hot water for a few minutes, and check to make sure it isn't too hot. There are several different styles of kitten feeding, but the important thing is that the kitten is comfortable. One method is to place it on its stomach on a clean towel or cloth, which you can then hold in your lap. Open the kitten's mouth with a fingertip and slip the nipple in, squeezing out just a tiny bit of formula for the kitten to taste. Most of the time they'll get the hang of suckling quickly, but if the kitten is very hungry, they may have a hard time slowing down to figure it out. Be patient and keep squeezing out a little bit at a time until the kitten starts to suckle on its own. Be careful not to actually squirt formula down the kitten's throat or give it too much, and watch for formula bubbling out the nostrils. This means that you are drowning the kitten- stop feeding it immediately, and if it is choking, hold it upside down until it stops. Feed the kitten until it is full but not until its belly is distended. It is better to give less food more often than to overfeed.

Kittens, like human babies, need to be burped after a meal. Hold the kitten against your shoulder (you'll want another clean towel for this) and pat it gently on the back. Also, remember that kittens are babies and need love, play, and cuddling. Newborns will probably curl up and go to sleep after feeding, but older kittens will want to play after a meal.

-How often? How much?-

Newborn kittens should be fed at least every four hours and possibly more often. If you don't think your kitten is eating enough, it may be necessary to increase the frequency of feeding. For very young kittens, night feedings are necessary.

Kittens should eat about 8cc of formula per ounce of body weight every day, spread out over several feedings. The nursing kits sold by pet supply stores usually have markings on the bottle to help you keep track. It's a good idea to invest in a kitchen or postal scale to monitor the kitten's weight. In addition to determining how much it should eat, careful tracking of weight can give warning of health problems.

-Other considerations-

There is a lot more to raising an infant kitten than feeding. As soon as possible after you bring the kitten home, consult a veterinarian to get a health check. Some veterinarian's will give a discounted or free check-up if you tell them that the kitten is rescued. It's also important to keep the new kitten isolated from other pets for at least two weeks- some say three- and to constantly monitor their health, cleanliness, and hydration. Kittens are fragile, and often don't show signs of illness until it is critical. If you are ever unsure whether you should take the kitten to the vet, you probably should. Finally, remember that sometimes, despite the best foster care, abandoned kittens don't make it. Please don't blame yourself if this happens, or let it discourage you from trying to help again.

How to feed baby kittens

The first and most important question in "How to feed baby kittens" is to determine, to what do you plan to feed them?

Dogs are, quite obviously the easiest and probably most convenient choice. Considering my two chocolate labs try to eat their stainless steel dog bowls after they have finished their food, it appears that baby kittens would need nothing more that just a touch of Purina behind the ears eau de Purina if you like.

For entertainment purposes, crocodiles are an interesting choice. The only consideration here is if just one kitten is really enough or do you need to add multiple kittens so you're not teasing them the crocodiles, not the kittens. I think cruelty to animals is a terrible thing so maybe multiple kittens would be considered proper etiquette here. Remember, civility is a virtue.

Speaking of civility, Coyotes are in vogue this year and they seem to enjoy kittens. However, the main problem with coyotes is they are rather rude dinner guests. Think of Wile E. Coyote and his behavior toward the Road Runner. Do you really want a dinner guest that will attempt to catch his prey with a stick of Acme dynamite? I'm not sure of your aficionado status in regards to the Roadrunner Wile E. Coyote standing feud, but the coyote's antics always seem to end poorly for him and thus, probably your other diner guests.

Birds of prey have a special place in my heart and I'm told they love tenderized brazed kitten with a raspberry vinaigrette sauce paired with a bottle of Silver Oak 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon. Even though their tastes are a little more on the expensive and exotic side, I must admit that I'd rather have a bird of prey stop by for kitten hors d'oeuvres than a coyote with a stick of dynamite.

I guess the last only "real" option for feeding kittens is sharks. This of course begs the question of what type of cheese to serve with the kittens and what type of crackers will pair well with the saltiness of the ocean water. Saltines are just a tad too obvious and generally considered in poor taste. Also, there is the ever-present question of how many kittens are necessary? More than just a bag-full would require some sort of a multiple-kitten-launch-system. Kitten trebuchets are difficult to mount on boats so sharks are probably best left as a last possible kitten feeding outlet.