Kittens are fairly vulnerable and want a substantial amount of nurturing and care throughout the first few weeks of their lives. Generally, their moms are able to caring for them on their very own. However, there are instances wherein a kitten turns into orphaned or requires the intervention of a human caregiver.
Being a foster caregiver for a kitten is just not a simple process, because it requires a major period of time and a focus. Orphaned kittens want a strong feeding routine to make sure their survival and improve the possibilities of wholesome development and improvement. Here are a number of ideas for bottle-feeding kittens.
What to Consider When Bottle Feeding a Kitten
There are three fundamental issues to think about when studying the way to bottle-feed new child kittens:
- The sort of components
- Formula-to-water ratio
- Warming up the components
Make certain solely to make use of a components that’s been accepted by a veterinarian. It’s additionally vital to observe the preparation directions for the components and use the right water-to-formula ratio.
Familiarize your self with how a lot and the way usually to feed your kitten, as underfeeding will inhibit wholesome development, whereas getting ready an excessive amount of components will lead to meals waste and probably, diarrhea. You can often get feeding pointers out of your veterinarian. These will present an estimate of how a lot components to make and the way usually to feed a kitten in response to their age and weight.
Kittens additionally ideally want warmed-up components. A thermometer and a container stuffed with scorching water will provide help to to warmth the kitten components to the proper temperature.
How to Bottle Feed a Kitten
1. Prepare the Kitten Formula
Familiarize your self with the preparation directions written on the kitten components label. Oftentimes, kitten components requires two elements water to at least one half components powder. Warm the water earlier than including a scoop of kitten components. This will make sure that the powder dissolves fully with out leaving any clumps. After you’ve blended the components completely, pour it right into a container, and label it with the date and time to make sure you don’t feed your kitten expired components. Most blended components might be good for twenty-four hours within the fridge, so you may make sufficient for sooner or later’s feeding schedule.
When it’s time to feed your kitten, pour the suitable quantity of components right into a bottle. Then, place the bottle right into a warming receptacle. You can use a bottle warming machine or fill a container with scorching water and place the bottle in it to let the water warmth the bottle gently. The components ought to attain about the identical temperature as your pores and skin.
2. Position the Kitten Correctly Before Feeding
Make certain to all the time wash your fingers earlier than dealing with kittens. When it’s time to eat, gently place your kitten on a tender towel or a potty pad. Kittens ought to be positioned how they naturally nurse from mom cats. This signifies that they need to be on their bellies, not cradled on their backs.
3. Help the Kitten Find the Bottle
Newborn kittens will want some assist getting used to nursing from a bottle. You can encourage them to suckle by opening their mouth along with your fingertip and slipping the bottle nipple to their lips. If your kitten is suckling appropriately, you’ll see their mouth create a vacuum and see the components drain from the bottle at a gradual price. The kitten’s ears may even transfer backwards and forwards each time they swallow.
4. Hold the Bottle Correctly
It’s vital to carry the bottle appropriately to stop the kitten from gulping in further air. The bottle ought to be held at a 45-degree angle and be at face stage with the kitten. You don’t need to have the kitten pressure their neck to drink. Make certain additionally to have a agency and regular grip on the bottle. Don’t observe the kitten’s tugging, as this may stop them from with the ability to create a vacuum and suckle from the bottle.
5. Assist the Kitten With Eliminating
Young kittens can’t defecate or urinate on their very own and want their mom’s assist after they’ve nursed. Mother cats often lick their kittens’ again ends to stimulate their bowel motion. You can mimic this through the use of a cotton ball or material that’s been dampened with heat water. Gently rub the genital and anal space with it. Use a back-and-forth movement, and apply mild stress to assist the kitten remove. Stop rubbing proper after the kitten finishes eliminating, as overdoing it may possibly trigger irritation and chafing.
Frequently Asked Questions
You might expertise some challenges as you’re bottle-feeding your kitten. Here is extra data that can provide help to increase a wholesome kitten efficiently.
How Often Should I Bottle Feed a Kitten?
Kittens ought to be fed primarily based on their age and weight. Here’s a common chart that exhibits how a lot and the way incessantly kittens ought to nurse:
| Age | Weight | Amount per Feeding | Feeding Schedule |
| 0–1 week | 50–150 grams | 2–6 milliliters | Every 1–2 hours |
| 1–2 weeks | 150–250 grams | 6–10 milliliters | Every 2–3 hours |
| 2–3 weeks | 250–350 grams | 10–14 milliliters | Every 3–4 hours |
| 3–4 weeks | 350–450 grams | 14–18 milliliters | Every 4–5 hours |
| 4–5 weeks | 450–550 grams | 18–22 milliliters | Every 5–6 hours |
| 5–8 weeks | 550–850 grams | Start weaning | Every 6 hours |
What Should I Do If a Kitten Refuses to Eat?
Kittens might refuse to eat for quite a lot of causes. One frequent cause is that they nonetheless don’t know the way to suckle and might have further assist latching to the bottle nipple. You can strive encouraging a kitten to nurse through the use of a toothbrush to stroke their again gently. This mimics a mom cat grooming their kitten, and it may possibly encourage kittens to nurse.
Another cause {that a} kitten might not drink components is the components temperature. Kittens usually is not going to drink components that’s too chilly or too scorching. In some instances, kittens might cease nursing as a result of they’re full. If that is the case, you may strive nursing them once more after a while has handed.
If your kitten persistently refuses to nurse after a number of makes an attempt, be certain that to contact your veterinarian. Keeping up with a daily feeding schedule is crucial for kittens. So, it’s vital to determine what’s stopping your kitten from consuming as quickly as doable.
Conclusion
Bottle-feeding a kitten requires lots of effort and time. Newborn kittens will need assistance with every thing, together with studying to nurse and eliminating bodily waste afterward. While it takes a lot work to boost a kitten as a result of you must watch out with all the main points, particularly with the components you’re going to use, it’s definitely a worthwhile and significant expertise. It’s extraordinarily rewarding to witness a tiny child kitten develop as much as turn out to be an unbiased cat, and it makes all the trouble price it.
Featured Image Credit: KayaMe, Shutterstock
