If you need to feed newborn kittens without a mother, you will need to bottle-feed them a special kitten milk replacement formula every 2-4 hours. Here are some tips to help you feed and care for orphaned kittens:
- Purchase kitten milk replacement formula, which is specially formulated for kittens and available in liquid or powder form.
- Use a sterilized feeding bottle, a syringe, or a dropper to feed the kitten.
- Place the kitten on a warm towel on your lap with the kitten on their belly.
- Never tip a kitten on their back during feeding as this can cause aspiration or the inhalation of liquid into the lungs.
- Ease the nipple into the kitten’s mouth and let them suckle at their own pace.
- Feed the kitten until they are comfortably full but do not allow the stomach to become tight or distended.
- Wet kitten food and moistened kitten chow can be left in their enclosure as they get older.
- Orphaned neonatal kittens need help urinating and defecating. Generally, a mother cat would do that with her rough tongue. Without the mother, use a warm, damp cotton ball or cloth and rub gently over their genitals and anal area.
Remember that caring for orphaned neonatal kittens takes round-the-clock effort, but it can be done if you are willing to put in the time and dedication.