Kitten without a mother: how to help a newborn

It can be quite difficult to care for a newborn kitten without a mother, especially if you don’t know where to begin. These little animals require a lot of care and attention to survive and develop properly, but you can give them a wonderful start in life if you take the appropriate measures.

There are a few important things to do, like feeding and warming them. The key to ensuring the kitten’s success in the early stages is knowing what to do.

To make sure you’re prepared to provide the best care possible for a newborn kitten who has lost its mother, we’ll walk you through the important things to consider in this guide.

What to feed a newborn kitten if the mother is not around

Kittens left without a mother are subject to stringent requirements. To guarantee a quick increase in weight, food should be high in calories:

• kittens up to 7 weeks require 628 J of energy per day;
• from 20 weeks – 837 J;
• from 5 months – 963 J.

Babies should only be given soft, easily digested foods; solid foods are strictly prohibited.

Can you give cow"s milk

Kittens shouldn’t drink regular milk because it is excessively fatty and can lead to severe diarrhea. It should only be used as a base, never as a powder, when making natural mixtures. In this instance, combining pasteurized cow’s milk—which has a fat content of no more than 3%—with egg yolks and multivitamins is acceptable.

You should always keep an eye on how well your baby is digesting food. You will need to switch to special newborn food if the animal refuses to eat or exhibits symptoms of severe bloating, rumbling in the abdomen, or a violation of defecation after eating.

The mixtures for newborn kittens are most similar to a mother cat’s milk in terms of composition.

Milk replacers for kittens

Numerous synthetic concoctions are appropriate for young kittens. You need to look at the composition before you buy. About 35% of the protein and 25% of the fat should be present, respectively. The following are crucial:

• lactose;
• minerals;
• vitamins B1, B2, B4, B5, C, E, K3;
• Omega-3, Omega-6;
• zinc, iron and iodine.

The kitten cannot develop normally in the absence of these elements.

Beaphar

Beaphar Kitty-Milk, a Dutch mixture, is appropriate for kittens up to 35 days old. About 890 rubles is the price of a 250 gram package. The European Union of Veterinarians has verified and confirmed that the composition includes all essential nutrients, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and microelements in the proper ratio. There are 34% protein and 24% fat in the mixture.

Gimpet

Enhanced milk Gimpet Cat-Milk (Germany) is ideal for the recuperation of weak and weary kittens because it has a higher taurine content. A package weighing 200 grams costs 610 rubles. The product has a 35% protein content and a 27% fat content.

Hartz

The most widely used artificial formula for nursing newborn kittens worldwide is thought to be the American product Hartz Milk for Kittens. It can be administered to a newborn as early as the first day of life and up to 35 days of age. Hartz contains 32% protein and 29% fat, respectively. Since the product isn’t vitamin-fortified, multivitamins must be added during preparation. The cost is 320 rubles for each package.

Royal Canin

One can buy Royal Canin Babycat Milk cat milk replacer for 1200–1500 rubles (about 1 kg for a large package). The product is unique in that its composition includes the following ingredients in addition to vitamins and milk protein:

• soybean and coconut oils;
• fish oil;
• fructooligosaccharides.

These ingredients are meant to promote healthy bone development, healthy hair growth, and a stronger immune system in the kitten. Babies readily eat the mixture because aromatic additives make it smell as close to cat’s milk as possible.

Canina

For kittens who are intolerant to natural milk, the Canina Katzenmilch formula is advised as it is entirely lactose-free. The percentages of protein and fat—25% and 30%, respectively—respect the average. Minerals (phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, and calcium) are included in the composition; however, vitamins are not included and must be given to the kitten separately. A package will cost you 700 rubles for 150 grams.

Table: other mixtures for newborn kittens

• contains dry milk, vitamin and mineral complex, biotin;
• sold only on the websites of the manufacturer and official dealers.

• coconut oil;
• dry whey;
• sodium caseinate;
• dextrose;
• vitamins;
• macro- and microelements.

Photo gallery: ready-made mixtures for feeding kittens

Beaphar Kitty Milk milk formula for kittens is a complete replacement for mother"s milk for orphaned, abandoned or lost kittens Hartz Precision Nutrition Milk Replacer for Kittens (with taurine) is suitable for feeding kittens from birth to 5 weeks of age (35 days) Kittenmilch CdVet is a milk replacer for kittens with colostrum, an absolutely natural product for feeding cat offspring Nutri-Vet Kitten Milk contains the necessary amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and amino acids that newborn kittens need Advantages of TROVET Kitten Milk – high palatability, energy value and fat content comparable to mother"s milk Royal Canin Babycat Milk cat milk replacer has a rich vitamin and mineral composition Gimpet Cat- fortified mixtureMilk is similar in composition to natural cat milk and contains all the necessary vitamins Canina Katzenmilch is an unrivaled substitute for mother"s milk and consists of 30% easily digestible protein, which is necessary for a growing kitten

How to properly feed a kitten from birth to one month

For a newborn kitten, it’s crucial to not only select the appropriate formula but also to properly prepare and feed it to the animal. The animal must be weighed daily; a steady weight gain indicates that the "child" is getting the proper nutrients. He should gain ten to fifteen grams every day on average.

General feeding rules

When feeding a kitten, the most important things to remember are to use clean dishes and fresh food. Regular washing and boiling of bottles and nipples is required. Food must meet strict guidelines regarding temperature. Cats can only process liquids between 36 and 38 °C. He won’t drink cold formula at all, and he will get hurt by hot formula.

It’s important to keep in mind that a newborn does not yet know how to eat properly. During the initial weeks, you must assist him:

1. Put the kitten on his tummy, slightly raising his head.
2. Gently, without pressing, open the mouth with two fingers, carefully insert the nipple at an angle of 45 degrees.

Hold the bottle at a 45-degree angle when feeding.

Pouring the mixture into a wide stream is not advised as there is a chance the kitten could choke.

Feeding devices

You’ll need your nipple and a tiny bottle. Vet pharmacies sell them for purchase. For instance, the Hartz company manufactures a set for newborn kittens that includes a 60 ml container, a nipple that is 1 cm long, and a tip diameter of 5 mm. This set is ideal for a single meal. A set like this costs roughly 110 rubles.

A veterinary pharmacy will sell a bottle and nipple for feeding a kitten.

Instead of purchasing a veterinary kit, you can use a syringe (without a needle) or a standard glass eye dropper with a rubber tip. They are cheap (about 20 rubles), but using them will be more challenging because they are not made for feeding kittens.

Video: how to feed a kitten from a bottle, syringe

How to properly dilute the mixture

For every product, the preparation guidelines are the same:

1. Use a measuring spoon (it is usually included in the finished mixture) to select the required amount of powder (instructions on how much dry mixture to take will be on the packaging).
2. Mix the dry mixture with preheated water in a ratio of 1:2.
3. Shake the bottle for a minute so that the mixture becomes homogeneous, without lumps.
4. Check the temperature of the finished milk by pouring a drop on your wrist. At the right temperature of the mixture, it will cause practically no sensations in a person (which corresponds to the temperature of his body, which is also comfortable for the kitten).

The mixture should not be kept for longer than one or two hours after dilution. It is not permitted to store in the refrigerator for use the following day.

Frequency of feeding

A kitten’s formative days are the most crucial and challenging. Every two hours, including at night, they require food. There are typically seven or eight feeding procedures. Kittens are fed in the following ways beginning at one week of age:

• Increase the intervals between meals to 3 hours, and at night it is allowed not to feed for 5 hours.
• From the age of three weeks, the permissible feeding regimen is 5-6 times a day.
• At the age of 2-5 months, kittens are fed 4 times a day.
• From 5 to 8 months – 3 times a day.
• After 8 months – 1-2 times a day, like adult cats.

How much food should be given, weight gain standards

Depending on the product’s makeup, the final mixture’s dosage may differ slightly. A single portion is typically computed using the following formula:

• for a kitten under 2 weeks old – 25-30 ml for every 120 grams of the animal"s weight;
• 2–3 weeks – 45–50 ml for every 120 grams of animal weight;
• over 3 weeks – 75-60 ml for every 120 grams of the animal"s weight.

A kitten gets fed less frequently as it gets older, but each feeding contains more milk.

After what time will the kitten be able to eat on its own

The kitten can be weaned off the milk replacer beginning in the fourth week. But take it slow. Initially, you should introduce other products to the baby bit by bit. For instance, you could soak small pieces of dry food in the mixture until it gets mushy.

You should dilute the powder further each day until the infant starts consuming food and water without the mixture in it. At roughly six weeks of age, veterinarians advise giving up the milk replacer entirely.

Recipes for making the mixture yourself

You can prepare food for the kitten based on whether or not he can tolerate pasteurized cow’s milk. In order to follow the traditional recipe, you’ll need:

• a glass of warm milk;
• 2 chicken egg yolks;
• vegetable oil – 1 teaspoon;
• 1 drop of a multivitamin solution (for example, Trivita or Tetravita).

If the kitten is extremely thin and feeble, you can make a condensed milk-based sweet mixture that contains enough fats and carbohydrates to help the baby gain weight and become stronger quickly. The following recipe is followed in making it:

1. Condensed milk is mixed with water in a ratio of 1:5.
2. Add bone meal at the rate of 1 teaspoon per liter of liquid.

Only kittens older than one week are permitted to eat this dish. It is only appropriate for feeding emergencies; you should switch to a regular mixture with milk or a powdered substitute after five to seven days.

Video: how to make a mixture for kittens

Although raising a kitten in the absence of its mother can seem overwhelming, you can ensure the kitten’s survival and well-being by taking the appropriate care of it. Its main priorities should be maintaining its warmth, giving it kitten formula every few hours, and encouraging it to relieve itself by gently stimulating its abdomen. Giving the kitten the best chance at a healthy life means providing basic care, love, and attention.

Features of caring for orphan kittens

Making sure the babies are always warm is crucial. The temperature regime is inappropriate for the kittens if they are trembling and their paw pads are cool. If there is no battery, you can place the box in the "nest"—a warm, towel-wrapped heating pad—near the radiator, but not too close. It is advised that the room where young orphans are housed have a temperature of no less than 24 degrees Celsius.

It’s critical to recognize that infants’ immune systems are frail. They must receive the greatest protection against illness and colds:

• always wash your hands before handling the kitten;
• use only sterile dishes for feeding;
• protect the animals from drafts (the box should have high sides and not stand under an open window or opposite the front door).

The kitten still doesn’t know how to relieve itself right after birth. With this, the cat assists it. The task of stimulating the digestive and excretory systems will fall to someone in the mother’s absence. Following each feeding, you should place the kitten on its back, rub its belly, and use a cotton pad soaked in warm water to massage beneath the tail. The kitten will be able to use the potty on its own in about two to three weeks (though it still needs to be cleaned after each urination or defecation because it still cannot wash itself with its tongue).

Video: how to help a kitten go to the toilet

Situation	Solution
Kitten is cold	Wrap in a soft blanket or use a heating pad on low
Kitten won"t eat	Feed kitten formula with a small bottle every 2-3 hours
Kitten can"t pee or poop	Gently rub the kitten"s belly and rear with a warm, damp cloth
Kitten looks weak	Keep warm, feed regularly, and ensure hydration
Kitten cries constantly	Check temperature, feeding, and comfort; adjust accordingly

Although taking care of a newborn kitten without a mother can seem overwhelming at first, you can give the kitten a good start in life if you give it the proper care and attention. Keeping it warm and fed is crucial because newborns are incapable of controlling their body temperature or feeding themselves. As you care for the kitten, exercise patience and gentleness while creating a cozy and secure environment.

Cow’s milk can upset the kitten’s stomach, so you’ll need to feed it a special formula. Feeding should occur every few hours, and it will be easier if you use a kitten-specific syringe or bottle. To prevent stress, always make sure the kitten is at ease and content when being fed.

Help with toilet habits is also necessary for newborn kittens. You’ll need to encourage them to urinate and defecate by rubbing a warm cloth gently over their abdomen in a manner similar to that of a mother cat. For the kitten’s health, it is essential to keep it dry and clean.

Above all, don’t be afraid to ask a veterinarian for advice or if you have any questions. Their guidance can have a profound impact on the kitten’s early development and guarantee that it develops into a happy and healthy adult cat.

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