Newborn kittens are practically no different from newborn children in terms of feeding. They also need mother’s milk, and they should be introduced gradually. And they also need mother’s milk. But it happens that a cat-mother can leave her kittens, or she simply does not have milk to feed kittens. And then you will have to feed your kids yourself. How often the kittens should be fed a day depends on their physical condition. And, of course, this is not the simplest thing is to feed a newborn kitten. However, you can cope with it.
How to feed a newborn kitten
So, in order to feed the kitten, you first need to prepare everything you need for this. Namely, take a pipette, a bottle for newborns and a nipple, a thermometer to measure the temperature of milk, cotton wool, heating pad or you can replace it with a plastic bottle. You also need a woolen fabric so that the kitten is warm and milk itself, or you can take a milk mixture for children, it is also suitable. And, of course, you need to stock up on. After all, as noted earlier, this is not easy.
As a cat’s milk, an ordinary children’s mixture can act. Or you can take cow’s milk previously diluted with water. In the early days of their life, kittens are very weak and helpless. Therefore, it is better to use a pipette for feeding during this period. And when they get stronger a little, you can use a children’s bottle. Remember that the newborn kittens need almost the same care as newborn children. This means that each item (a bottle, a nipple, a pipette) must be washed well and boil. Milk should be given to babies at a temperature of about 38 degrees.
Sit down, as you are comfortable, then take the kitten. Holding his neck slightly, enter a pipette (subsequently nipple) his mouth. Everything must be done very carefully so as not to scare the kitten. And then slightly press on the pipette (bottle), but so that the milk does not flow too much. At the age of the kitten, up to seven days, it must be fed every two hours for about 6 grams of milk. Starting from seven days, and to the age of two weeks, increase the dose of milk to 8 grams and feed it every and hours in the afternoon, and every four hours at night. From two weeks to three – 10 grams every few hours in the afternoon, at night you can only once.
How to feed a newborn kitten
In between feedings, the kitten should constantly be in a warm place. Wrap a heating pad or plastic bottle of water with a woolen cloth and put it next to the kitten so that it is warm. The optimum temperature is 25-30 degrees. Five weeks later, the temperature must be lowered to 20 degrees.
Upon reaching the age of 3-4 weeks, he can already slowly introduce complementary foods. During this period, it is better for him to give everything in mashed form and with the addition of milk (vegetables, fish, meat, all in mashed potatoes). In the fifth week, you can gradually give meat and boiled fish, but only crushed (or scrollful) so that it can chew. From the sixth week to the eighth, you can gradually increase the dose of scrolled meat and boiled fish. Try to ensure that the kitten moves from milk food to a more solid. Upon reaching eight weeks, you can feed him with hard food, while not forgetting to give him milk.
How to feed a newborn kitten
Remember that you can’t forcefully pour milk into a kitten. High risk of he will choke. In order for the kitten for the first time to quickly begin to drink milk from the nipple, moisten it outside with milk. Kittens also need body massage. This will improve their blood circulation and digestion. Pay attention to the kitten chair.