Newborn kittens cannot eat solid food, whether dry or canned, but they can breastfeed milk to get the nutrients they need, but how are newborn kittens breastfed?
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How to breastfeed newborn kittens
When raising kittens, you should start breastfeeding them immediately after birth until they reach the age of 4-5 months. There are formulas made specifically for kittens (lactose-free) that must be adhered to and no other type of milk should be given to the kitten. [2] The following is an explanation of a set of recommendations regarding breastfeeding newborn kittens:
Time for breastfeeding kittens during the day
Newborn kittens should be fed every 3-4 hours a day, and attention must be paid to the need to adhere to the night hours if it is the time for breastfeeding the kitten, as breastfeeding time should never be neglected, because the kitten needs For the necessary nutrition at this age.
How to prepare milk
The milk for feeding the cat is prepared using a formula of artificial milk and water. For example, each spoonful of the formula can be mixed with 3 spoons of water (a spoon for the formula of milk, i.e. it is not like tablespoons of food), and the water must be warm before mixing it with the milk. After mixing the amount, the temperature of the milk must be checked to ensure that it is lukewarm.
Starting to breastfeed the cat
When you start breastfeeding the cat, you must hold the kitten with one hand while supporting the chest and abdomen area, i.e. the cat does not breastfeed while lying on its back, but rather takes a breastfeeding position similar to that of its mother (lying on its stomach), and when breastfeeding begins, the cat will begin to place its front paws on the palm of the hand holding the milk bottle, [2] and in the meantime, the milk bottle must be turned upside down Upside down, place the nipple of the milk bottle in the cat's mouth and gently move it back and forth, holding the milk bottle at a 45-degree angle to prevent air from entering the cat's stomach. This movement will encourage the cat to start nursing.
Steps with pictures
1. Plan your time
Remember that a kitten's metabolism is high and she needs to eat frequently (due to her small stomach). This means that you or someone else, a family member, a friend or a neighbor will need to be around all day until the kitten is big enough to eat solid food.
Check the kitten's body temperature.2
When you are ready, make sure the kitten is warm. A kitten's digestion rate depends on temperature, so if she is cold, digestion will be slower and the milk will stay in her stomach and ferment. Newborn kittens tend to stay close to their mother to keep warm. The ideal temperature is 95-97 degrees Fahrenheit (35.5-37 degrees Celsius) for the first three weeks.
Feed the kitten.3
Place the kitten in a comfortable chair with a folded towel on your lap. Position the kitten as if she were nursing from her mother, with her head straight, her legs down, and her stomach relaxed. When you first try to feed the kitten, drip a little milk onto the end of the syringe or nipple. Hold it very close to the kitten's mouth. Her sense of smell is strong and she will likely smell the milk and put her mouth in front of it.
Look for signs.4
When learning how to feed a kitten, keep in mind that overfeeding or feeding incorrectly can cause breathing problems. Watch the kitten while nursing to ensure there is no milk coming from the nose or bloating in the stomach.
Stay calm.5
It is important to remain patient and calm while bottle feeding your kitten. In addition, allow your kitten to take her time while bottle feeding to avoid overeating or digestive problems.
Clean your kitten's bottom.6
The mother cat licks the kitten's anus and genital area after each feeding to encourage her to urinate and defecate. The mother actually licks the kitten's secretions, which is her natural way of avoiding dirt that might attract predators. Without the mother, however, you will need to do this step. Use a clean cotton ball and tissues over the anal area in a licking motion. As the kitten relieves herself, wipe away the cotton ball. Finish with a clean cotton ball to clean the kitten's bottom and wait until the next feeding.
Return the kitten to a warm bed or box to rest.7
Continue feeding as usual and regularly as possible for the next few weeks until she is weaned and on solid food. At that time, talk to your veterinarian about an appropriate weaning diet.
- After the kitten stops nursing, the kitten's mouth should be wiped and burped.
- Once the kitten reaches 4 weeks of age, its teeth will start to appear, and when its teeth appear, it will start to bite the nipple of the milk bottle, and thus it will be ready to eat soft food in addition to milk.