Feeding a baby kitten depends on its age. Kittens under 4 weeks of age cannot eat solid food, whether it’s dry or canned. They can drink their mother’s milk to get the nutrients they need. If the mother is not around, you can feed your newborn kitten a nutritional substitute that’s called kitten milk replacer. It’s essential that you avoid feeding a kitten the same milk that humans consume, as typical cow’s milk can make cats very sick. Instead, use a commercial kitten milk replacer that meets several key nutritional factors.

Here are some general guidelines for feeding baby kittens based on their age:

• 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: every 8 hours

For kittens 3 to 5 weeks old, they should be given baby cat kibble. For kittens 5 to 6 weeks old, they should be given a mixture of wet kitten food and baby cat kibble. For kittens 5 to 8 weeks old, they should be given solid food, such as kibble and wet food.

When feeding a baby kitten, hold the kitten in a horizontal, head-neutral position. If the kitten is too weak to suckle, your veterinarian can show you alternative feeding methods and assist in tube feeding if needed. Kittens should be fed on a strict schedule, preferably every 2-4 hours. Kittens up to two weeks old can generally consume their daily intake in 4-5 meals per day. Small breed kittens should be limited to 10-15mL per feeding during the first week of life in order to prevent diarrhea. Feed your kitten until they are comfortably full but do not allow the stomach to become tight or distended. When they are full, tiny formula bubbles will form around their mouth, and they will spit the nipple out. Wet kitten food and moistened kitten chow can be left in the enclosure at all times so your kitten can begin to experiment with it.