The newborn kittens should stay with their mother until they are eight to ten weeks old, as nothing replaces colostrum and breastmilk. Before this age it is not advisable to give them up for adoption. But how to feed newborn kittens that have been rejected by their mother? And those who have been orphaned?
Although it is not advisable to separate a baby kitten from its mother and siblings, as this negatively impacts its well-being, development and socialization, sometimes there is no other option. For this reason, in this article on our site we will explain how to feed newborn kittens You will also discover how to properly control growth and many other fundamental details of feeding baby kittens. Find out how to feed a newborn kitten in this complete guide!
What do newborn kittens eat?
Immediately after the birth of the kittens, the parent begins to produce a special milk called " colostrum", from yellowish color and rich in protein. This milk will provide all puppies with the necessary immune defenses at this very vulnerable stage. Later she will produce mature mother's milk, which is the ideal food for any baby kitten
All the needs of the kittens will be covered by mother's milk during the first weeks and any factor that prevents it leads to rapid dehydration of the little ones. Therefore, we must make sure that all the kittens suckle correctly, especially when we are talking about large litters, and that they gain weight appropriately. Thus, mother's milk is what a baby kitten eats until at least eight weeks of age, at which point cats are weaned.
How to feed orphaned newborn kittens?
To begin with, you should know that feeding orphaned kittens is a complex process, so the first thing we advise you to do is go to a veterinary. The specialist will help you assess the state of he alth of the litter, offer you advice and the best formula for the little ones.
Milk for newborn cats
Artificial formula is a food that we can buy at any clinic or veterinary hospital and, although it is not as efficient as milk mother, covers the nutritional needs of kittens. At this stage they require around 21 to 26 kcal per 100 grams of weight. We can temporarily replace it with an emergency infant formula.
Milk formula should be prepared just before giving to kittens and should be distributed to kittens in sterile syringes and teats. Ideally, each kitten should have its own nipple shield. It is advisable not to prepare the milk in advance, but if you have to, you should keep it in the fridge at a maximum temperature of 4°C, and never more than 48 hours.
Syringes are more appropriate for kittens less than 4 weeks old because bottle nipples are often too big for them or have too much fluid output.
Milk should be given at a temperature of 37-38°C, it is better to heat it in a bain-marie because if you heat it in the microwave it They will form very hot bubbles of liquid and other very cold ones. The kitten must show a sucking reflex to be able to feed it with a bottle, otherwise it could cause swallowing problems. If not, consult your vet.
Dispensing rate to feed kittens
The number of feeds a kitten should receive per day is variable. When they are close to their mother, kittens tend to absorb milk in small amounts, but numerously, up to 20 times a day. For this reason, the rhythm of distribution of the replacement food must be regular, without exceeding 6 hours between feedings Likewise, sufficient time must be left for the kittens stomach can empty, in about 3-4 hours.
It is recommended to offer 4 to 8 daily feedings, leaving between them a time of between 3 and 6 hours maximum. It will be essential to respect the rest times of each individual and avoid constantly waking them up, as this can generate a stress picture.
It is also important to note that even if conditions are favorable and kittens are drinking heavily, artificial feeding can cause developmental delayof kittens. This must not exceed 10% and must be compensated at weaning. The stomach capacity of a newborn is about 50mL/kg. Generally, a kitten only absorbs about 10-20 ml per milk feeding , so the concentration of the milk replacer is essential to meet the needs of kittens.
If the energy density of the baby kittens is too low we will have to increase the number of feedings. In this case, to cover the nutritional needs, we will create an excess of fluid that can affect the water balance and damage the kidney. On the other hand, if the milk replacer is too energetic or if we give too much to the kitten, it may have osmotic diarrhea or other digestive disorders.
Feeding newborn kittens step by step
Before we begin we must prepare a calm and relaxed environment, in this way we will avoid the appearance of stress, swallowing or digestion problems. To feed orphaned kittens we must place them in the same position they would adopt if they were with their mother: the head raised and the belly on a towel We will let them suck until they are satisfied, always trying to respect the quantities that we have mentioned above.
Once they have finished suckling, we will wait a few minutes and then help the kitten to defecate and urinate, gently massaging its belly and genital area to empty its solid or gaseous intestines. It is a very important step. Then we will place all the kittens, one by one, in their nest so they can snuggle up and rest. We will continue to feed them in this way until weaning age begins, which is around 4 or 8 weeks of age
If the kitten wakes constantly, meows and whimpers, it is a sign that he is being underfed. If we do not increase the number of shots or kcal. of the milk provided, it is probable that, progressively, becomes inactive and stops gaining weight In the event of malnutrition, we will observe diarrhoea, dehydration, hypothermia and hypoglycemia. In the most serious cases, we should go to the vet urgently.
Care for newborn kittens
In addition to everything mentioned above, we must provide a suitable environment for kittens. At this stage they are not able to regulate their temperature, so we must provide them with a soft and warm nest.
We can use a cardboard box or a carrier and, at the bottom, we will place a thermal mat at about 20ºC or 22ºC On top we will place Several towels, since direct contact with the mat could cause burns in the little ones. If it is very cold we can cover the "nest" that we have prepared with a blanket, leaving only a small hole.
The ambient humidity is a parameter that you must control: the hygrometry must be between 55-65%, especially when the kittens are away from the mother. To do this, you can simply place some bowls of water near the nest to keep the oral and respiratory mucous membranes of the kittens hydrated.
Weight control of newborn kittens
Birth weight is an important diagnostic factor. It is established that low birth weight is related to the severity of illnesses in newborns. One study shows that 59% of stillborn or dead cats a few days after birth had low birth weight.
If the cat received an inadequate diet for her physiological state during pregnancy, the weight of the kittens may be affected. In addition, kittens with a low birth weight have a higher metabolism and higher energy needs. They are more predisposed to hypoglycemia. To preserve the data, we recommend that you record the weight of the kittens in a table every day, at least during the first 2 weeks.
The normal birth weight of a kitten is between 90 and 110 grams But in addition, it should gain about15 or 30 grams each day for the first month (at least 7 to 10 grams daily) and must have reached twice their birth weight by age 14 days. From then on your weight will increase between 50 and 100 grams each week Being male or female does not influence weight gain during the first few weeks.
A weight loss may be acceptable if it does not exceed 10% per day and affects only a limited number of kittens. On the other hand, if the entire litter loses weight, the cause must be found quickly, going to the veterinary if necessary. If a kitten's weight decreases each day, the food is probably insufficient or of poor quality.
A kitten that loses weight for 24 to 48 hours or stops gaining weight for 2 or 3 days must necessarily receive a food supplement, the results are more favorable if it is intervened at the beginning of the loss of weight.
Age to Weight Relationship of a growing kitten from birth to 8 weeks:
- Birth: 90 - 110 grams
- 1st week: 140 - 200 grams
- 2nd week: 180 - 300 grams
- 3rd week: 250 - 380 grams
- 4th week: 260 - 440 grams
- 5th week: 280 - 530 grams
- 6th week: 320 - 600 grams
- 7th week: 350 - 700 grams
- 8th week: 400 - 800 grams
Weaning kittens
What do month-old kittens eat? Weaning of cats begins around four weeks of life, although in some individuals it may be later and in others earlier. We must respect the times of each of the baby kittens. We will start by placing wet cat food puppies near the nest, 2-3 times a day.
As they become more interested in food, we will add water, which we must keep fresh and refreshed at all times. Later we will replace the wet food with dry food for kittens soaked in water Finally we will stop adding water to the food. Once again we remember that it is a progressive process that must be adapted to each one of the kittens.
If you want to learn more about the feeding, care and he alth of kittens, don't hesitate to take the VETFORMACIÓN Veterinary Assistant course, which will teach you how to take better care of your felines professionally. Likewise, you can also specialize in the Feline Ethology course.
