What To Feed Kittens 10+ Weeks Of Age A Kittens Diet After Weaning
Most kittens need to continue eating foods designed specifically for growth until they are around 10 months of age. Only feed your kitten commercial diets that meet the standards put forward by the Association of American Feed Control Officials . Look for a statement on the products label that says something along the lines of:
- Kitten Food A is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for growth and reproduction.
- Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that Kitten Food B provides complete and balanced nutrition for growth and reproduction.
Try these vet-recommended wet kitten foods:
How Do I Feed Orphaned Kittens
Most kittens will suckle on small pet nursing bottles, also known as pet nursers. When bottle fed, kittens will nurse until they are full and then reject the bottle.
Be sure the opening in the nipple restricts the outflow of fluid to one drop at a time in order to avoid a flow rate that is too rapid for the kitten. When the flow rate is too rapid, it can lead to aspiration, pneumonia, and/or death.
When feeding, hold the kitten in a horizontal, head-neutral position. If the kitten is too weak to suckle, your veterinarian can show you alternative feeding methods and assist in tube feeding if needed.
TIP: Handling kittens during feeding contributes to critical socialization.
Before Beginning The Weaning Process
When its at all possible, kittens should be exposed to some mothers milk, especially within the first 12 to 24 hours of life. The first milk, or colostrum, contains antibodies that the kitten can only absorb during this time.
If a queen has an extremely large litter of kittens and cannot produce enough milk, each kitten should still get some of her milk. Some milk is better than no milk, says Dr. Jules Benson, vice president of veterinary services at Petplan. If she cannot produce any milk due to mastitis or other issues, another nursing mother may accept the kittens if they are close to the size of her own.
If no nursing cat is available, you can feed a kitten milk replacement formula with a nursing bottle or syringe. In an emergency, Benson recommends mixing a cup of whole milk, an egg yolk, a drop of liquid multivitamin, and three Tums in a blender but this is strictly for temporary use, to get some nutrition into the kittens, and you should switch to formula as soon as possible.
Youll be bottle feeding for three to four weeks. Always warm the bottle in a cup of hot water and taste test it yourself to check the temperature and that it hasnt soured. If youre using a powder formula, store unmixed powder in the freezer.
Feed slowly but frequently: every two to three hours during the day. At night, dont worry about it theyll wake you when theyre hungry. If theyre sleeping, let them sleep, and get some sleep yourself.
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Can You Feed A Newborn Kitten Baby Formula
May 10, 2022
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Kittens are born with the instinct to feed themselves, but its difficult for them at first because they have no teeth and cannot produce saliva. This article will teach you how to feed kittens formula with a syringe until their jaws develop.
Kittens are very curious and will explore their surroundings. As a result, they need to be entertained to keep them from getting bored and lonely. If you dont have formula, what should you feed your new kitten? Read more in detail here: what to feed a baby kitten if you dont have formula.
Avoid feeding the kitten cows milk, dairy substitutes, and human infant formula to prevent death or damage. For kitten formulae, pet care goods from the internet, feed shops, and pet supply stores may be useful. Adapted from videos on animal health.
Contents
If You Dont Have Any Formula What Can You Feed A Newborn Kitten
Kittens under the age of four weeks are unable to ingest solid food, whether it is dry or canned. They may pick their mothers milk to get the right quantity of nutrients. The kitten must depend on you if their mother is no longer alive. Kitten milk substitute may be used as an alternative to kitten milk.
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What Should You Expect When Caring For Newborn Kittens
Caring for orphaned neonatal kittens takes round the clock effort, but it can be done if you are willing to put in the time and dedication. You have to be prepared to get up throughout the night for the feedings. Its very much like caring for a human baby in that regard. However, they grow up much faster, so you are not doing it for months at a time. But it still takes a similar dedication. You definitely have sleepless nights and periods of worry. Are they getting enough to eat? Are they growing the way they are supposed to?
It can also be really sad sometimes, because they dont all make it. Some studies say that the mortality rate for kittens can be up to 40 percent. But you definitely create a real bond caring for them through that period.
Newborn Kitten Care Week By Week
Your new kittens have arrived, and even though the mother cat did most of the work, you still have things to do. Before long, those helpless kittens with closed eyes and ears will be enthusiastic bundles of energy. In the meantime, you’ll need to guide them through their first weeks of life.
If your kittens have a healthy and loving mother cat, they’ll rely on her to perform much of the important early work. You’ll help out and provide valuable care, but you’ll stay out of mom’s way as she cares for the litter. Or, you might find yourself with a litter of kittens whose mother cannot care for them for some reason. In that case, you’ll be responsible for additional care. Either way, here is a basic outline of newborn kitten care, week by week:
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Frequency Of Milk Replacements
For the initial six weeks of milk feeding, you should plan out how many milliliters of milk you should feed the kittens, depending on their age.
- For baby rabbits less than a week old, it is recommended that you give them around two milliliters of milk formula twice a day.
- When the rabbits cross one week, you can up the quantity to about seven millimeters.
- At two to three weeks of age, baby rabbits will almost require the double amount, so around 13 millimeter is advised.
- 13 to 15 millimeters of milk is sufficient for rabbits till they reach six weeks. At this point, the rabbit may try to wean off milk bottles, so try feeding it solid food thats easy on their tummies.
Can You Feed A Kitten Cow Milk In An Emergency
The simple answer is that kittens should only consume their mothers milk, or they should use a kitten milk replacer, commonly known as KMR or kitten milk formula.
Kittens lack the enzymes needed to digest the lactose in cow milk, therefore giving cow milk to kittens can induce diarrhea and dehydration in very young kittens. This is why it is critical not to offer cow milk to kittens.
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Whats My Role In Helping A Kitten To Eliminate
Kittens cannot eliminate on their own until about 3 weeks of age. They rely on the queen to stimulate their reflex to initiate elimination. Orphaned kittens, on the other hand, rely on their caretakers to stimulate them to eliminate. After feeding, you can stimulate their reflex to eliminate by gently stroking the area between the anus and vulva or penis with a warm, moistened cotton ball or soft cloth. Your veterinarian can teach you this technique.
Elimination And Litter Box Training
Young kittens cannot eliminate on their own. A momma cat will clean her kittens, stimulating them to urinate and have a bowel movement. As their human caregiver, you now have the honor of performing this duty. After each feeding, use a warm, moist cotton ball, tissue or soft cloth to gently rub and clean the kittens lower belly, genital and anal area. The kitten should begin eliminating within a minute. Kittens should urinate after each feeding and have a bowel movement one to four times a day. Do not continue to rub the kitten for more than a minute or so, since this could irritate their delicate skin. Gently wash the kitten after she is done eliminating using a clean, damp, soft cloth. Record the kittens elimination type and frequency in the logbook.
When they are between 3 and 4 weeks of age, kittens can be introduced to the litter box. Use a small cardboard box or plastic litter box with just enough clay litter to cover the bottom. Dont use clumping litter. Adding a used cotton ball to the box will help them get the idea of what to do next. Put the kittens in the box, allowing them to get the feel for the litter. Natural instinct will generally prevail and the kittens will begin investigating, scratching, and, within a few days, using the box.
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Choosing The Best Kitten Food
When it comes to kitten food, quality counts. Choose only food that has been certified by Association of American Feed Control Officials , which establishes nutritional standards for complete and balanced pet foods. This means that the food has been tested to make sure it is properly balanced for your kittens growing needs. If youve adopted a kitten from a shelter, find out what the kitten was eating previously and stick with that diet to avoid stomach upset.
Kitten Feeding Schedule: How Much Food Kittens Need
Just like human babies, kittens do a lot of growing in the first year of their lives. The kind of food and how much a kitten consumes directly affects their growth rate and development. By making sure a kitten is on a proper feeding schedule, you’ll be able to monitor your kitten’s growth and ensure they are receiving appropriate nutrition.
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How Do I Keep A Newborn Kitten Warm
Kittens should be kept in a cat carrier wrapped in a few layers of towels. Using a heating pad or heat disc for pets alongside a soft fleece blanket can also help keep them warm. Ensure that the carrier is large enough for your kitten to move away from the heater when they want to.
It is very important to keep your cat carrier in a safe, warm room away from other pets. Itâs helpful to go and check on your kitten throughout the day. If your kitten feels cold, you need to warm them up as soon as possible.
What Kind Of Milk Can You Give A Kitten
Kittens should have milk from a mother cat if the cat is present. If not, a kitten replacer with vitamins is the next best substitute. If you need something for an emergency, goats milk is an option. You can goats milk for kittens in this recipe:
- One quart goats milk
- 1 tsp light corn syrup
- 1 tablespoon non-fat goats milk yogurt
- An egg yolk
- A package of unflavored gelatin
Simply warm the goats milk in a saucepan and add the gelatin. Stir until it is dissolved. Remove it from the heat and add the other ingredients. Refrigerate and use within a week.
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Try To Verify The Age Of The Kittens
This is important because you dont want to take a nursing kitten away from their mom or leave a kitten with their feral mom too long if you want to socialize them.
- Under one week: Eyes shut, ears flat to head, skin looks pinkish. Part of umbilical cord may still be attached.
- 1 week-10 days: Eyes beginning to open, ears still flat. A kitten this age is smaller than your hand.
- 3 weeks: Eyes are fully open, ears are erect, and teeth are visible. Kittens this age are just starting to walk and will be very wobbly.
- 4-5 weeks: Eyes have changed from blue to another color and/or kittens have begun to pounce, leap, and are more mobile. Kittens this age will begin to eat gruel or canned food.
How To Wean Kittens
To begin weaning a kitten, mix the kitten food with formula so they recognize the taste. Smear the mixture around their mouth with your finger and let them lick it off. Once they get used to the taste, theyll seek it out elsewhere. Then you can introduce them to lapping from a bowl. Monitor them so they dont lap too fast, and never push their face into the bowl, which could cause them to inhale the mixture and develop pneumonia.
Between the fourth and sixth week, gradually transition the weaning kittens to dry food, supplementing with formula if needed. 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. Supplement with formula if the kitten is not taking to the new food, to make sure it gets enough calories.
- Weeks 5-6: The weaning kittens should start to nibble on the kibble, slightly moistened with water.
- Weeks 6-7: By now, the kitten weaning process is complete, and they should be eating all solid food by week seven.
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Tips For Safely Bottle
- The kitten should lay on its belly with its legs comfortably splayed out. Avoid placing the kitten on its side or back during feeding as this puts your kitten at risk. By laying on their belly, your kitten is automatically placed in a natural nursing position that is safe for them.
- Keep the kitten warm before feeding so that they can digest the milk replacement at a natural rate. You do not want to overheat them, but rather provide a heating source that replicates their mothers body heat.
- Keep a journal or digital copy of the feeding schedule so that you can monitor how much formula you are feeding the kitten. It may also be a good idea to set alarms so that you can determine when the next feeding should be.
- Prepare the formula in advance so that you do not accidentally rush and miss a step during the process. Your kitten relies on this formula for its health and vitality, so care should be taken when preparing the formula.
- Care for the kitten after feeding. They will feel tired and sleep, so keep them warm and protected. If you only have one kitten, use a rolled-up blanket or plush toy to provide them with some social companionship. Kittens feel better when they are huddled together, and this also keeps them comfortable.
- Invert the bottle so that the kitten does not suck in air. Take into account the placement of the mothers nipples during feeding time, as it is likely that their head is slightly tilted.
What To Feed Kittens 4 To 6 Weeks Of Age Weaning Begins
Weaning is the gradual transition from a diet of only mothers milk or an appropriate milk replacer to solid foods. For kittens, this generally begins around 3 to 4 weeks of age.
Start by offering a gruel made from high-quality canned kitten food mixed with warm water several times a day. Also put out a small bowl of water. For large litters, set up several feeding stations to ensure that everyone has access to what they need.
Bottle-fed kittens will let you know that they are ready to try solid food when they start chewing on the nipples while they nurse. Initially, continue to offer a bottle every 6 to 8 hours while food is freely available, but once the kittens are eating canned food well and drinking water from a bowl, you can stop the bottle feedings.
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What May I Use In Place Of Kitten Milk
One can of evaporated milk, one egg yolk, two tablespoons of light corn syrup, and two kinds of pediatric kitten vitamins are combined in a formula. Combine everything in a big bottle . When feeding time arrives, combine these pieces in a ratio of 1/2 to 1/2. Before keeping it, bring it to room temperature.
Other Kitten Weaning Tips
When you are weaning a kitten onto solid food, its important to use a food formulated specifically for kittens. These formulas have the higher levels of calories, protein and calcium that growing kittens need. If you are caring for a mother cat and her litter, its okay for the mom cat to eat the same kitten food while shes nursing.
Weaning kittens must be kept warm. Build a nest by lining a high sided box or pet carrier with towels. Benson also recommends adding a layer of diapers above the towels, cutting the leg holes to make them lie flat. Theyre going to get messy, he says, and this makes clean-up much easier. Place a heating pad or hot water bottle under the towels on one half of the box. This gives the kittens plenty of heat, but also a place to cool off if they are too hot.
Kitten weaning is a natural process they may just need a little help from you. The key: a little patience and a lot of love.
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