How to feed a kitten without a cat for 3 weeks

At 3 months, the kitten is fed 4-5 times a day, but the amount of food per serving is somewhat increased. Accordingly, by 4 months of age, 3 feedings per day is sufficient, and milk is removed from the diet due to deterioration in digestibility, replacing it with unsweetened yogurt, kefir or sour milk.

How to care for kittens without a cat in the first 3 weeks

This article is co-authored by Carrie Seay, MS-CABAC, KPA-CTP, CBCC-KA, our regular contributor. Regular wikiHow co-authors work closely with our editors to ensure the articles are as accurate and complete as possible.

Caring for newborn kittens who have been orphaned for whatever reason is a very difficult business. Of course, humans cannot replace kittens as mothers, and it takes 24 hours a day to care for kittens. But if there is no other option because the cat is not feeling well and is not able to feed the kittens, you will have to take on this responsibility. Before you try to take care of the kittens yourself, try to find a nursing cat for them at animal shelters. Some cats take in and nurse other people's kittens. This is the best thing you can do for kittens. But if you can't find a nursing cat for the kittens, you will have to take care of them yourself.

Creating a supportive environment

Three to four weeks old

The transition from mother's milk to adult food is no less important than feeding babies. Transformation of eating habits occurs gradually, with the growth of the whole body.

If your baby refuses the proposed food, he probably has enough liquid diet, and the transition to an adult diet should be postponed for a couple of days.

• Start with adult food from 3 weeks of age, but mother's milk or the familiar formula remains the main food for this period;
• Add the new food to the diet little by little, starting with one meal a day and increasing the number of meals a day to three meals a day by the age of one month;
• Give all food when it is soft and warm.

Natural foods

A suitable diet for a 3-week-old kitten is lean veal, but not in minced meat, but in the form of chipped meat. For this purpose the deep-frozen meat is cut across the fibers with a sharp knife, so that thin ribbons are formed.

The first meat portion in life should not exceed the size of a pea. Usually kittens are happy to taste the treats from their owner's fingers, but finicky kittens are recommended to open their mouths and smear a small amount of mashed meat on their palate.

In addition to mashed meat, babies are offered cream and liquid milk porridge (rice and oatmeal).

Industrial feeds

High quality dry and canned foods for kittens are specially designed for a trouble-free transition to adult food. They contain nutrients necessary for the growing body and relieving the digestive tract, as well as vitamins and minerals, amino acids and antioxidants that strengthen the immune system.

The Royal Canin Babycat 34, consisting of small pieces with a delicate texture, which are soaked in warm boiled water until mush for babies at 3-4 weeks of age, has proven to be excellent.

Age 1-2 months

The formation and consolidation of food preferences in kittens takes place just between 4 and 8 weeks of age. Gradually the range of food allowed is expanded and the feeding of formula is reduced. Professional breeders give advice for this period:

1. The new product is added to the kittens' diet little by little, allowing 3-5 days to adapt to it in order to trace food intolerance. Introduce only one unfamiliar product at a time, so that in case of a negative reaction (vomiting, diarrhea, bloating) it can be immediately removed from the diet.
2. Along with the new food, kittens should have access to mother's milk or receive the familiar formula.
3. Feed the babies 3 to 6 times a day, depending on the number of "milk" feedings.
4. The portion is put in a porcelain or metal bowl, because plastic can react chemically with the ingredients in the food. In addition, plastic bowls have a peculiar odor, which is clearly visible and very unappealing to the cat's nose.

Natural food

Kittens' stomachs, intestines and digestive glands at 4-8 weeks of age are more mature and set up to digest a variety of foods. At this age, the kitten acquires teeth and learns to chew, so to the already familiar "meals" (beef scramble, milk porridge and cream) in the diet it is recommended to add other meat and dairy products, namely:

• lean cottage cheese – fed daily;
• Pieces of raw chicken or turkey – once every two days;
• Pieces of cooked low-fat sea fish (pollock, hake, cod) – served once a week;
• chicken egg yolk: raw or boiled – introduced 1 to 2 times a week;
• Soft unsalted and low-fat cheese, grated or cut into small pieces – given 1-2 times a week;
• Meat food for children in the form of mashed potatoes or tender pâté – for the finicky tails that does not want to eat raw meat. Pieces of meat should be added to mashed potatoes, accustoming the kitten to chew their food.

Allowed foods

1. Meat – Serve raw, boiled or scalded with boiling water. Only lean varieties are suitable. Meat products should make up 60 to 80% of the total daily food intake.
2. Liver – No more than twice a week.
3. Porridge – Any kind, with the exception of semolina. All kittens do not like porridges, but they contain many substances that the growing body needs. It is recommended to mix meat and porridge in the proportion 2 to 1.
4. Vegetables – Anything except potatoes, served boiled or raw.
5. Chicken eggs – Small pets can only be given the yolk. Its use is allowed and in raw form, but not more often than once every 7 days. The yolk of quail eggs may be eaten at the same time as the egg white.
6. Dairy products – Any, but with a minimum percentage of fat. The exception – sour cream, it give kittens strictly forbidden.
7. Butter – Not recommended vegetable oil, but petroleum jelly.
8. Brewer's yeast – Have an effect on the hair coat of the little pet.

In order not to provoke complications in the gastrointestinal tract of the baby, the menu should not include the following products:

• freshwater fish;
• salt;
• Cow's milk – it is too harmful, goat milk is best. In his absence, allowed cow's milk, but in dried form. Cow's milk should only be given to kittens up to 12 weeks of age;
• purchased sausages;
• Potatoes – the starch in the vegetable cannot be digested or absorbed;
• Legumes of any kind – they cause fermentation and flatulence;
• Cheese – a very fatty product that negatively affects the pancreas;
• pork; lamb is also not recommended;
• All kinds of sweets (homemade and store-bought);
• Flour products and baked goods.

Recommendations for the diet according to the age of the kitten

Kittens 2-4 months old already have sharp teeth and should be able to eat from a bowl. Intensive growth and development of the animal requires a balanced and varied diet. The basis of the diet is lean meat, vegetables (preferably boiled) and porridge. Cereals should be boiled in plenty of water, so that the resulting porridge is of a liquid consistency. Low-fat dairy products make up half of the diet.

From 4 to 6 months, the animal's body actively builds and strengthens muscle mass. The basis of the diet is beef and chicken, cut into small cubes, and by-products. Sour milk products are allowed, but in a smaller quantity. Cow's milk should be removed from the diet. Porridge is cooked with less water, so that the consistency was more dense. It is recommended to introduce vegetables in boiled and raw form, cucumbers, zucchini into the kitten's diet.

The pet's diet from 6 months of age expands. All products must be cut into large cubes, cook porridges more crumbly. It is during this period, it is recommended to include industrial feeds in the diet, according to the age category of the animal.

Approximate weekly diet with the allowable frequency of consumption of certain foods

Product	Amount per week
Beef	Daily
Boiled chicken	Up to 4 times.
By-products (chicken and cow)	Up to 3 times, and liver no more than once.
Fish – exclusively boiled, no bones, give preference to sea fish	Cat – up to 2 times, cat – no more than once.
Hen egg yolk	Up to 2 times.
Porridge with water – oatmeal, rice	Daily.
Dairy products	Daily.
Minimum-fat cottage cheese	Up to 4 times.
Vegetables (boiled or raw)	Up to 3 times.
Greens – spinach, sprouted wheat	Up to 2 times, as an additive to meat.
Brewer's yeast	Up to 4 times.

Pre-prepared ration

Giving preference to a ready-made diet, when choosing food, consider the age, activity level, breed, individual characteristics of a furry pet. Choose quality "premium", "super-premium", "elite" products labeled "For Kittens". These foods are made from quality ingredients and contain all the necessary nutrients for the growth and development of your pet.

The line of many brands includes dietary, therapeutic and prophylactic foods, foods designed for a certain age and breed. For kittens who have sensitive digestion, use foods labeled "Holistic."

Cheap "economy" foods contain harmful colors, flavor stabilizers, preservatives, dyes, have low nutritional value and can cause food allergies, intestinal disorders. Don't believe the ads and don't skimp on your pet's health.

When feeding ready-made foods, the diet does not need to be supplemented with vitamin complexes.

Before buying food, look carefully at the label information and manufacturer's recommendations. For the owners' convenience, the approximate daily dosage is already indicated on the packages, taking into account the age of the cats.

Approximate menu by age

Until the kitten is four to five weeks old, owners should have no problems with the menu. From 1.5 to 2.5 months of age, owners should decide on their kitten's diet.

All types of diets are suitable for kittens, have their advantages and disadvantages, but until one year old, the kitten should be accustomed to a specific diet, if there is no need to adjust it. This will avoid digestive problems.

Newborn kittens

Newborn kittens are fed by the mother cat. If the cat has given up her kittens, had an operation or died in childbirth, it is up to the owners to feed the babies. Kittens should be fed strictly on the hour.

Ideally, it is best to find another lactating cat who can feed the newborn babies. If this is not possible, to feed, according to experts and veterinarians, use quality cat milk substitutes (powder, liquid), which are sold in pet stores.

You can also feed baby formula (without additives and sugar), but they need to be diluted for kittens with water a little more than indicated on the package.

• From birth to two weeks, kittens eat 10 times a day with no break for a night's sleep. Kittens are fed every two hours. At one time, the baby should drink about 3-4 ml of milk.
• From 14 to 19 days – nine times a day without a break for a night's sleep. Give approximately 5-7 ml of formula, milk replacer.
• From 18 days to a month – 8 times a day without a break for a night's sleep. Feeding 10 ml of formula.
• From one month to two months – 7 times a day.
• From 2 to 3 months, kittens are fed 5-6 times a day.

Important: Until two weeks of age, kittens are fed both at night and during the day. Only after switching to solid food or ready-to-eat foods can kittens be fed only during the daytime.

How to Feed Kittens Properly from a Bottle

Sterilize the utensils. Use a baby sterilizer, sterilization tablets or regular boiling water. Newborn kittens' immune systems are not yet built up, so it's not safe to expose them to viruses or germs through a pacifier.

Warm the mixture in a water bath. You can check the temperature by putting a drop on your wrist – it should be warm, but not hot. If you heat the mixture in the microwave, the liquid will be heated unevenly, and may leave a burn of the mucous membranes.

Get into a comfortable position. Sit on a couch or chair with a backrest and place the kitten on your lap. The baby should be lying on its stomach and sucking from the bottle in the same way as from the mother's mammary gland. Do not put him on his back and do not tilt his head up – this can cause fluid to rush into his lungs, and the kitten will develop pneumonia.

Take your time. Let your baby suckle at his own pace. Don't allow situations where he will choke. If you notice milk coming out of your nose, pump it out immediately with a syringe.

Do not force-feed or overfeed. If your kitten eats less than you should, shorten the time between feedings or offer a little more next time. Some kittens eat less because of the natural way of their bodies. So you do not need to insist on larger portions. If the kitten does not feel full and asks for more, assess the condition of his stomach. If after feeding it became tight and dense, the baby is full and does not need more.

Stimulate the digestive process. To help the kitten urinate and defecate, massage the kitten's abdomen and wipe the genital area with a damp cloth, imitating licking with your tongue – in the wild, this task is performed by their mothers. Without additional stimulation, newborn kittens will not be able to empty their bowels and bladder.

What complications can be encountered

Aspiration pneumonia (pneumonia of the lungs). Occurs when amniotic fluid, milk, or vomit is thrown into the lungs. The fluid enters the trachea when you inhale. But since the cough reflex in the first 10-14 days of life in kittens is not developed, cough and push it back they can not. As a result, lung tissue becomes inflamed and swollen, the airways stop functioning, and the animal dies. The first symptoms of the disease: heavy breathing, wheezing, gurgling, refusal to eat, weight loss, squeaking, weak sucking reflex, mucous membranes turning blue. The disease develops within 1 week and is the main cause of death in the first month of life. What to do. Thoroughly suction the fluid from the mouth and nose with a syringe at delivery. Slowly administer the mixture a drop at a time of artificial resurfacing, adhering to the rule "one sip – one drop".

2. Overcooling. Occurs due to low temperature in the nest and lack of food. Decrease in body temperature to 34 degrees leads to dysfunction of the stomach and small intestine and loss of the sucking reflex. Kittens are not yet able to maintain an optimal body temperature, and without an external source of heat, they will quickly become weak and stunted. The first symptoms of hypothermia are weight loss, weakness. If you put the kitten on your palm, the body does not tense, but remains lethargic and lifeless. What to do. Provide an external source of warmth. Monitor the feeding schedule and appetite.

3. Parasites. Occurs during transmission from the mother or failure to maintain sanitary conditions in the home. Symptoms of lesions: development of anemia, skin integrity disorders, weight loss. What to do. Restrict access to the cat's walk. Thoroughly carry out wet cleaning. If infestation is detected, treat kittens with antiparasitic shampoo – kittens can be bathed at 1 month of age.

4. Conjuncted eyelids. Occurs due to breed and genetic features. First symptoms: kittens won't open their eyes on the third week of life. What to do. Rub their eyelids with decoction of chamomile. Contact your vet.

Milk substitutes and feeding mixtures for kittens

Commercial milk replacers and formula are used to nurse kittens who are not ready for adult food. The milk replacer should not be too caloric, as gaining excess weight at such a young age, is fraught with poor heart muscle development.

When using a balanced formula, the daily food allowance for kittens is calculated according to their weight:

• From birth to 7 days – 30 ml per 100 grams of body weight.
• From 7 to 14 days – 35 ml per 100 grams of body weight.
• From 14 to 21 days – 40 ml per 100 grams of body weight.
• From day 21 to day 28 – 45-48 ml per 100 grams of body weight.
• From day 28 – at least 50-53 ml per 100 grams of body weight.

It should be kept in mind that kittens are artificial limbs and make a sudden jump in weight gain and growth, immediately after the start of nursing.

After 3-4 days the rate of weight gain slows down noticeably and stabilizes. If the kitten is not gaining weight, it is better to contact the veterinarian.

Industrial cat milk substitutes

Industrial cat milk substitutes are sold in pet stores and veterinary drugstores. The most common cat milk substitutes are:

The undisputed leader in the above list, is a cat milk substitute from the brand Royal Canin. The manufacturer offers a starter kit, which comes with a special bottle.

Important: Milk may not suit the baby due to individual characteristics. If allergic reactions or individual intolerance occurs, the kitten should be transferred to baby milk formula or homemade cat milk substitute.

Infant formula for kittens

You can use infant formula for kittens who have reached 3 to 4 weeks of age. To nurse your baby, you should choose a formula designed for babies, with no added flavorings or sugars. The most popular nursing mixes for kittens are:

Vitamins and supplements for kittens at 3 weeks of age

At three weeks of age, the kitten's body, intensely preparing for the transition to adult food. Kitten's microflora needs to become more aggressive and her immune system more active to digest the complement. In addition, the kitten should get enough taurine, which is included in industrial milk replacers.

If you feed your kitten formula or a natural-based milk replacer, vitamins and supplements will be needed. Natural sources of taurine that can be given to a three-week-old kitten are:

Pharmacy vitamin supplements can be gently introduced into formula and first complementary foods:

Please note. Fish oil and B vitamins can provoke diarrhea, add them very gradually to a kitten's diet!

First Feeding

From 3 weeks of age, kittens should be offered "adult" food. To avoid overloading the digestive tract, do it very carefully and gradually.

They give unfamiliar food little by little, starting with feeding once a day and increasing the amount to 3 times a day in 7-10 days.

Home Feeding

Small pets can be started with natural protein foods. The most suitable ones would be:

1. Chopped veal. To obtain scraped meat, the meat, frozen for 24-48 hours, is chopped with a knife on a cutting board to form lamellar slices. The initial size of the meat portion is commensurate with the size of a pea.
2. Baby meat puree in small jars.
3. Liquid well-cooked porridge (rice and oatmeal).
4. Cream with a fat content of 9-10%.
5. Fresh nonfat cottage cheese without additives.

Industrial diets

Special dry and canned foods are designed for young kittens in the 1st growth phase and provide a successful transition from dairy to adult food. They contain proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals that provide for the proper development of the kitten, but do not burden the unformed digestive system.

According to breeders, the leader in this area is Royal Canin Babycat 34.

Its small pieces have a delicate texture, swell quickly in water and turn into a nutritious mush.

Also see video on how to feed a newborn kitten without a cat:

Rules for feeding kittens at 3 weeks of age

Raising infant kittens primarily comes down to strict adherence to feeding routines. The tiny stomach is not capable of digesting a large portion, and the delicate intestines cannot digest coarse food. For babies to grow up healthy and strong, the owner should follow a number of rules:

1. Feed the babies 6 times a day, with a break at night for 5 hours.
2. If kittens have enough to eat, they will sleep peacefully most of the time, while hungry babies are restless and whiny. They crawl around all the time looking for food and, if they catch a human finger, will try to suck it.
3. All food for babies should be exclusively fresh: a new portion is prepared each time from powdered milk substitute, and natural milk formula is stored in the refrigerator for no more than 48 hours.
4. Basic milk food kittens receive from a bottle with a nipple or through a pipette with a hole put on a syringe.
5. The first mushy complement is given from the fingers. But if the baby himself does not want to try the proposed dish, you need to gently open his mouth and smear a small amount of warm mashed potatoes on the palate. The procedure is repeated until the babies get used to the taste of the new food.
6. Gradually, kittens are taught to eat from a bowl. We recommend using porcelain or metal utensils, because cheap plastic has an unpleasant smell and can react chemically with the food.
7. All pacifiers, bottles and bowls should be thoroughly washed and dried after use.
8. To ensure that the kitten's bowels are emptied regularly, after each feeding do a circular massage of the tummy.
9. If stools are delayed for more than 3 days, it is recommended to give the kitten baby Dufalak as a mild laxative.
10. With liquid stools before each feeding, babies are given Bifidumbacterin diluted in water, or some other pharmacy product containing bifidobacteria.

Feeding regimen for small kittens

Up to a month old, a feeding regimen is the key to survival. If the babies are taken care of by the mother, she feeds the kittens during the day and night.

If the kitten is fed artificially, the feeding regimen must be adhered to from day one:

• From birth to 14 days, kittens eat 10 times a day without a break for a night's sleep.
• From 14 to 18 days, the kittens eat 9 times a day with no break for a night's sleep.
• From 18 days to 1 month, kittens eat 8 times a day without a break for a night nap.
• From 1 to 2 months, kittens eat 7 times a day.
• From 2 to 3 months of age, kittens eat 6 times a day.

Please note! Kittens start to take a break for a night's sleep from 16 to 30 days of age. If there are few kittens in a litter and all kittens are intensively fed, as early as 2 weeks old, they sleep for 3-4 hours straight at night.

Up to 1-2 months of age, depending on the rate of development, massage kittens' bellies and genital area with a moist, warm sponge every time before and after meals. Without these manipulations, kittens cannot empty their bowels and bladder, causing them to die within a day.

Sample menu by age for small kittens

Until the kitten is a month old, there are no special problems with the menu. When the baby grows up, the owner is lost in the guesswork, trying to pick up a balanced and useful food. Approximate menus by age are made based on the selected type of food, individual characteristics and the needs of the kitten.

A natural diet is considered a more natural and optimal choice:

If you do not have the opportunity to purchase homemade milk to nurse your kitten or to prepare food for your pet, the only alternative is a quality ready-made food:

When choosing food, quality should be the first priority. For convenience, the quality of food is designated by classes:

The higher the feed class, the more expensive and higher quality the products. Milk substitutes and products for small kittens are usually in the premium and super-premium classes.

Simultaneous feeding of natural and prepared foods is called mixed. Before 4-5 months of age, kittens are unable to digest food of different structures, so mixed feeding is unacceptable.

In addition, mixed feeding is not recommended by veterinarians and food manufacturers, even if the animal is already grown.

Remember! Mixing different types of foods is a direct route to dysbacteriosis, indigestion and other digestive problems.

Feeding newborn kittens up to a month old

Newborn kittens up to a month of age are fed exclusively mother's milk. For the first few days of life, they do not receive milk, but colostrum, which is rich in vitamins, antibodies and proteins. Mother's milk is a source of nutrition and immunity that protects the babies for the first three months of life.

If for some reason a kitten is left without its mother's care, there is a chance to nurse it artificially. The likelihood of survival depends on whether the kitten has had time to get even a little bit of colostrum. Kittens are born with sterile intestines, and colostrum contains beneficial bacteria that help digest milk.

How to feed newborn kittens

Consider the hardest option, how to feed a newborn kitten without a cat. You found and brought home frozen kittens 1-2 hours old. Your next steps are as follows:

• Holding the kittens in your arms, boil any milk you can get.

• Cool the milk down to 36-38 degrees Celsius.

• Put the baby on its stomach in a box with a low rim.Hold the kitten's back and gently press on his cheekbones, opening his mouth.

• Gently put a pacifier in the mouth and press the bottle to squeeze out a drop of milk. If the baby does not suckle, stroke his head and forehead – as a cat does, stimulating kittens to more active suckling.

• Feed until the belly is "rounded" and the kitten doesn't "fall off" from the pacifier, usually a full baby will fall asleep right away.

• If you didn't have time to buy/make a bottle and use a syringe, practice beforehand! The syringe should not be inserted into the pet's mouth, the kitten may traumatize the gums, your job is to squeeze the milk a drop at a time, letting the baby lick it off. Be careful! With this method of feeding, the kitten takes in a lot of air. After feeding, carry the baby "column" on your shoulder, stroking his back – he will burp air, then finish feeding the kitten.

After feeding, the babies will need your help. Usually, the mother cat will thoroughly lick the tummy and genital area while feeding. For artificial feeding, you will need a cotton swab or gauze and medical gloves. Soak the swab in warm water and gently, clockwise massage the kitten's tummy and genital area, continue until the baby defecates. If the procedure is done after a feeding, the baby should be finished feeding.

Feeding frequency and weight gain

Kittens 0-3 days of age need to eat every 2 hours, regardless of the time of day. Babies' stomachs are tiny and they need a lot of energy, in addition, the process of digestion triggers and stimulates the immune system. From 4 to 14 days of age, kittens eat every 4 hours. Keep an eye on kittens' weight, poor weight gain is an alarming symptom, which means delayed development. Pay more attention to the "laggards", hold the babies in your hands, feed them more often. Average norms for a kitten born with a weight of 90-100 grams:

• 1 week – weight 115-120 g.

• 2 weeks – weight 190-200 grams – feeding 6-7 times a day, including at night.

• 3 weeks – weight 270-280 grams – we stop feeding the babies at night if they sleep.

• Week 4 – weight 360-370 grams – feeding 5-6 times a day.

• From 4-5 weeks begin to introduce complementary foods, the number of feedings the same.

Consult with your veterinarian or pharmacist vet – the baby needs vitamins, which compensate for the scarce "baby" diet. Of handy remedies you can use:

• Glucose – will help actively gain weight – 1-2 grams per feeding.

• Tetravit, Gamavit – vitamins and immunostimulants – 1 drop per feeding.

• Bone meal – useful for bone and joint formation – 1-2 grams per feeding.

• Fish oil – immune stimulator and source of vitamins, helps with constipation – 1-2 times a week, 1 drop per feeding.

• Vitamin A and D in ampoules – 1 drop per feeding.

As the first complementary food is used grated cottage cheese, diluted with milk. At first, the food is licked from his finger, gradually becoming accustomed to eating from a saucer or low bowl. Do not hurry introducing meat products into the diet, it takes a long time for a baby kitten to adapt to the new food.