Newborn Kittens How to Feed a Kitten with a Bottle?

Newborn kittens need high energy to survive and develop healthily. Feeding problems occur in newborn kittens when the mother cat is sick and unable to feed the kittens, or rejects the kitten for some reason. In such cases, cat owners need to take on the role of the mother cat. Until the kitten reaches adulthood and can eat normal cat food, it should be fed with milk powder formulated for cats, and feeding should be done with a bottle.

How to Feed a Kitten?

Cat owners who have kittens separated from their mothers early or rejected by their mothers for some reason often wonder, “Kitten How to feed a cat with a bottle? The question arises: How to feed kittens with a bottle? Feeding kittens with a bottle is actually quite simple. You can easily feed your kitten by learning the things to pay attention to in 3 steps.

Preparation Phase

Depending on the size and health of the kitten, it may need to be fed 9 to 12 times a day. In the first two weeks after birth, kittens should be fed every two hours during the day and every four hours at night. Bottles made for humans are too large for kittens. Therefore, it is necessary to choose bottles with small openings designed for cats. You can review the types of bottles you can use for feeding cats by clicking here. Since premature kittens do not have sufficient sucking power, sucking cannot be achieved, so a dropper should be used instead of a bottle. In cases such as premature birth or the kittens not being fed by the mother, it is necessary to contact a veterinarian and get advice.

There are specially developed foods for kittens. According to the kitten stage Different formulas can be used, such as powdered milk or canned kitten food. You can review the types of powdered milk you can use for kitten feeding by clicking here, and you can also view canned foods suitable for slightly older kittens by clicking here.

The bottles used for feeding kittens must be sterile. To do this, it is sufficient to keep the bottle and nipple in boiling water for about five minutes. Some bottles do not have a hole in the tip. A small hole needs to be made in the tip for feeding. At this point, it is important to ensure that the food does not flow out of the hole too quickly. You can prepare for feeding with a towel for the kitten to sit on or wrap the kitten in, warm water to help warm the food in the bottle, and specially selected kitten food. Before feeding the kitten, it is necessary to let the food in the bottle sit in warm water for a while to make it lukewarm. The food should not be too hot.

Feeding Step

This is the answer to the question, “How to bottle feed a newborn kitten?” Sit on a chair, place a towel on your lap, and position the kitten with its face towards your lap. Wrap the kitten in the towel to prevent it from getting cold during feeding. Place the bottle in the kitten's mouth without lifting its head. In fact, all that remains at this point is to wait for the kitten to be full. When the kitten has had enough to eat, it will move away from the bottle. When the kitten moves away from the bottle, you can be sure that it is full.

Post-Feeding Instructions

“How to bottle feed a cat?” The answer to the question doesn't end with feeding. After a cat eats, it needs to pass gas, just like humans, and it needs your help with this. Hold the cat's lower abdomen with one hand and gently tap its back with the other. However, you must be very gentle here, otherwise the cat may vomit. If the cat doesn't pass gas immediately, you can skip this step and try again later.

Among the things to do after feeding is stimulating the kitten to relieve itself. Mother cats do this by licking the genital area of ​​their kittens. After feeding, you can stimulate the kitten by wiping its genital area with a warm, damp cloth. However, because the kitten's skin is sensitive, pressing too hard can irritate the area. You can easily do this with gentle movements and a damp cloth that has been changed or disinfected each time to ensure hygiene.

After relieving itself, the kitten will probably fall asleep immediately. Make sure it sleeps in a warm place. You need to be careful. Although they have fur, kittens can easily get cold. Wrapping them in a towel also gives them the feeling of lying next to their mother. In cold weather, placing a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel next to the kitten also helps it feel better. Feeding Tips When feeding a kitten, you should make sure that the food does not flow too quickly from the bottle or dropper and that you position the kitten correctly. Too much food flowing into the kitten's mouth can cause the food to enter the lungs, creating a life-threatening situation. You may need to check the nipple of the bottle if the kitten is having difficulty sucking. However, you can gently stroke its head or tap its back a few times to encourage it to start sucking. You should weigh the kitten every day. For the first two weeks after birth, the kitten should weigh approximately 14-15 grams every day. It needs to gain weight. If you don't see progress in this pattern, the kitten may be malnourished. In such cases, you should consult a veterinarian immediately.

Feeding Tips

When feeding a kitten, you should ensure that the food does not flow too quickly from the bottle or dropper and that you position the kitten correctly. Too much food going into a kitten's mouth can cause the food to enter the lungs, creating a life-threatening situation. If the kitten is having difficulty suckling, you may need to check the bottle nipple. You can also gently stroke its head or pat its back a few times to encourage it to start suckling.

You should weigh your kitten daily. A kitten should gain approximately 14-15 grams per day during the first two weeks after birth. If you don't see this progress, the kitten may be malnourished. In such cases, you should consult a veterinarian immediately.