Few moments will be as crucial to a feline's he althy development as early “childhood”. A baby cat needs to get the nutrients it needs to strengthen its immune system and prepare its body for adulthood. Naturally, mother's milk would be the ideal food to meet the nutritional needs of a puppy cat. But, what do we do if we find a kitten that, unfortunately, could not be suckled by its mother?
Thinking about it, our site invites you to discover 6 homemade recipes for baby cats If you rescued or adopted a puppy cat and want to provide balanced and natural nutrition, you will be able to find, in this new article, simple and economical options to prepare infant formula and weaning porridge for your new partner. Can you come with us?
Can cats drink cow's milk?
Many people wonder if cats can drink cow's milk or if this food would be harmful to their he alth. In fact, lactose has gained a certain "bad fame" in recent years, with the increasing number of diagnoses of intolerance in humans. But does lactose really harm the digestive system of animals?
The digestive system of mammals changes as animals develop and acquire new nutritional needs and, consequently, different eating habits. During the lactation period (when they are breastfed by the mother), mammals produce a large amount of an enzyme called lactase, whose function is to digest the lactose in breast milk. But when it reaches the weaning period, the production of this enzyme progressively decreases, preparing the animal's body for the feeding transition (stop consuming breast milk and start feeding on its own).
Now, a cat's breast milk has a different composition than a cow's, and generally has a lower concentration of lactose. Therefore, when we make homemade formula for our kittens, we should preferably use lactose-free cow's milk or goat's milk(which also naturally has a lower lactose content).
And adult cats, can they still drink milk? While some cats can continue to produce the enzyme lactase in sufficient doses to digest small ingested portions of milk, most can develop symptoms associated with lactose intolerance. Therefore, it is best to adapt the diet of the adult cat to its natural nutritional needs, and for this we can opt for a varied diet that includes balanced feed, wet food and homemade recipes.
Milk formula for baby cats: 3 homemade recipes
If you have already consulted your trusted veterinarian and found out that your new kitten has not yet passed the weaning stage, you must artificially supply the nutrients that mother's milk would naturally offer. The most practical option would be to turn to commercial formula, which can be found at most pet stores and veterinary clinics. However, you can make your kitty a very nutritious and natural homemade formula with cheap and easy to find ingredients.
Recipe 1: 4 ingredients
This recipe for baby cats is the most suitable for feeding your little ones. To make it, you will need the following ingredients:
- 250 ml lactose-free whole milk
- 15 ml heavy cream (preferably 40% fat)
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon of honey (glucose can be used, but honey is more recommended)
Recipe 2: 3 ingredients
Unlike the first recipe, this option is made with goat's milk, which is naturally more digestible for kittens (and puppies too). You will need the following ingredients:
- 250 ml goat's milk
- 150 ml Greek yogurt (if you can find lactose-free, better)
- 1 egg yolk
Recipe 3: 5 ingredients (suitable for malnourished kittens)
Many times, a rescue kitten that was not nursed can become malnourished, making its immune system even more vulnerable This recipe for High-energy formula for baby cats is indicated to quickly reverse this condition, but it is important to consult your veterinarian to avoid side effects derived from excessive intake of protein and fat.
- 200 ml lactose-free whole milk
- 25 ml heavy cream (preferably 40% fat)
- 1 egg yolk
- ½ tablespoon of honey
- 10g butter
- 15 g of calcium caseinate (which is the milk protein already isolated)
Preparation of the three recipes
The preparation of the 3 recipes consists, first, in mixing well all the ingredients until obtaining a slightly thicker milk consistency and more yellowish in color than normal. Then, we recommend heating the milk formula in a bain-marie, until it reaches a temperature of around 37 ºC And then, you can offer it to your kitten with the help of a syringe or sterile nipple.
You can prepare the milk formula for your kittens 1 or 2 days before feeding, and keep it in the refrigerator (maximum 48 hours, at an average temperature of 4 ºC). We also recommend you consult our tips on how to feed your kitten, to help you keep them well fed and he althy during their first weeks of life.
How much milk does a kitten need to consume?
The amount of milk ingested will depend on each kitten's daily energy requirement, and this changes as the baby cat grows and gains body weight. Estimated calculation is 20 daily kcal per 100 g of body weight.
If they were breastfed by their mother, the kittens would absorb the milk in small amounts and could feed up to 20 times a day. At each feeding, a kitten usually consumes 10 to 20 ml of milk, despite the fact that its stomach capacity can support up to 50 ml. In the interval between feedings, the kittens digest the milk and absorb the nutrients.
When offering homemade formula milk to your kitten, you should do it several times a day, respecting its moment of rest and digestion. It is recommended to provide 6 to 8 daily feedings, with 3 to 5 hour intervals between they. It is very important to maintain regularity in feeding your kitten, and never leave it without eating for more than 6 hours. And remember that the kittens will also need to be fed at night and early in the morning.
Sudden dietary changes, excess milk and excessive spacing between feedings can cause symptoms of stress in cats, such as diarrhea and vomiting.
3 homemade weaning porridge recipes for baby cats
It is common to hear about weaning as a moment, but in reality it is a process that all mammals experience. And it is not only a dietary change, but also a preparation for adult life, where the animal must be able to become independent from its mother to survive on its own. That is why it is so important to respect the weaning age when choosing to bring a new pet into your home.
If a kitten develops with its mother and is suckled, the curiosity inherent in its instinct leads it to want to experience the female's food. This usually happens after the animal's first month of life, when its teeth begin to grow.
When your little companion reaches 25 or 30 days of life, you can start introducing him to solid food, but in the form of porridge to facilitate chewing and subsequent digestion. Next, we propose 3 homemade recipes to keep your kitten well fed during its infancy:
Recipe 1: homemade infant formula porridge and balanced feed
- 1 cup of balanced feed for baby cats
- 1 cup warm homemade formula
This porridge recipe is an excellent option to gradually accustom our kitten to the taste of the commercial feed that it will consume during its infancy, and to guarantee the proportions of nutrients suitable for its he althy growth.
To prepare it, we must heat the formula in a bain-marie and then pour it over the solid feedLet stand for a few minutes so that the food softens, and blend the mixture until you get a puree. The ideal is to offer the porridge to the kitten at room temperature or slightly warm.
We must remember to gradually introduce solid food into our kitten's routine. At first, we can substitute 1 serving for the porridge, and then gradually increase its intake, until it covers 100% of its daily diet. And it is important to consult your trusted veterinarian before including any new food in your pets' diet.
Recipe 2: homemade turkey (or chicken) porridge with carrot
- 150 g turkey breast (you can also use chicken)
- 1 carrot
- water in sufficient quantity to boil food
This is another simple and practical baby cat recipe that you can prepare for your kitten to supplement their diet and introduce them to solid food. To prepare the porridge, you must first boil the turkey breast of turkey (or chicken) and also the carrotWhen the food is tender, just blend it until it forms a puree. Remember to let it cool before offering it to your kitten.
Recipe 3: homemade chicken liver porridge
- 200 g chicken liver
- water as needed to boil and give consistency
This recipe for porridge for kittens can also be adapted to make an exquisite homemade pâté for your cat. The basic difference is in the amount of water we put in to achieve the consistency we want. To obtain a porridge, we must boil the livers in plenty of water until they are well cooked. Then, we let them cool for 10 minutes to be able to liquefy them together with 100 ml of the warm water that remained as a broth after cooking. Remember to let the porridge cool before offering it to your furry little one.
If we want to achieve a consistent paté, we simply have to drain the livers well after boiling them, and mash them with a fork, or else put them through the food processor.
To discover more delicious homemade recipes using the fish meat that our cats love so much, be sure to read our article “Homemade cat food – Fish recipes”. And if you also have a homemade recipe that you want to share with us and our readers, leave us your comment!
