Chances are that your feline Buffy just gave birth to newborn cats and you do not have an iota of knowledge on how to care for the tiny kittens. Not to worry it’s something you can do and this guide will help you go through that phase effortlessly.
Table of Content
How Do I Feed Newborn Cats?
You have no business feeding your newborn cats any food; solid, liquid, dry, or canned that is not their mother’s breast milk. Rather than thinking of how to feed kittens under 4 weeks, you should consider feeding their tired momma well so she can produce quality and good breasts for them till they are 4 weeks of age.
If their mom is not around you can go for the newborn kitten nutritional substitute called kitten milk replacer. Do not feed them human babies’ milk. They’re not human. Do not give them cow milk, that makes them sick.
Once you have the kitten milk replacer ensure you do not refrigerate it if it’s a dry milk replacer. But if the kittens remain already mixed one you can refrigerate them.
Here is how to take care of and feed your newborn cats;
- Prepare the formula at a warm temperature.
- Ensure the materials, your hands, the kitten gown, and the bottle are all clean.
- Carefully insert the bottle tip into their mouth and feed them gently.
- Ensure you position yourself in a way that is comfortable for both of you.
- Do not press the content into their mouth, let them suckle.
- Burp them the same way babies do after feeding.
Read Also: Cat Pregnancy | All You Need to Know About Cat Gestation Period
How Many Times Do I Feed My Newborn Cats?
Kittens are to be fed at least every 3 hours every day even if the 3 hours encroach into midnight ensure you keep to it.
If you skip the timing or overfeed them, it can cause your kitten to have diarrhea or develop severe dehydration.
Here is a standard frequency for feeding your newborn cats depending on how old they are:
- Up to 1 week old: every 2-3 hours
- 2 weeks old: every 3-4 hours
- 3 weeks old: every 4-6 hours.
- 6 weeks old: three or more feedings of canned food spaced out evenly throughout the day
- 12 weeks old: three feedings of canned food spaced out evenly throughout the day
What Do Newborn Cats Eat Besides Kitten Milk Replacer?
Kitten milk replacer is only food for kittens below 4 weeks. Once your kitten is about 3.5 to 4 weeks old, you can start weaning them off of the bottle. And in replacement, you can feed them canned food added to the formula in the saucer. At some point, you have to only serve them canned food.
How Do I Take Care Of And Warm Up Newborn Cats?
Adequate care of newborn cats involves wrapping them in a few layers of towels. You can also use a heating pad or heat disc alongside a soft fleece blanket. Ensure that the carrier is large enough for your kitten to move away from the heater when they want to.
What Is The Weight Of A Newborn Kitten?
Depending on the breed, and litter size, newborn cats will weigh about 3.5 ounces. As they grow, they should be adding at least 10 grams per day.
Can I Hold A Newborn Kitten?
As much as it’s adorable to hold a newborn kitten, vets recommend you slow your rolls and keep your hands away from the kittens.
All you should do at this point is watch and feed them as it is required and ensure they are healthy and gaining weight.
Do Mother Cats Reject Their Kittens If Humans Touch Them?
Never will a mother cat reject her kittens because humans touched them.
Conclusion
When a mother cat gives birth she has all the requirements to take care of her kittens until they are all grown up. However, if the mother cat is not around you can do justice by feeding the cat’s kitten milk replacer until they’re strong enough to eat canned food. Do not make the mistake of touching the little kittens because mother cats will be aggressive, give them time to grow and become fully feline fellows just like you will love them.
References
- https://pets.webmd.com/ – Newborn Kitten Care
- https://www.alleycat.org/ – Caring for Neonatal Kittens
