How to Get a Kitten to Gain Weight

Kitten weight gain is crucial to the animal's health and development. The average kitten should gain 1 lb. each month for the first four months of life, according to veterinarian Mike Richards. Kittens that are underweight may need encouragement and a little nurturing, or they may have a developmental problem. Be patient when nurturing your pet, because kittens are not socialized yet and respond best to nurturing and loving gestures.

Things You'll Need

  • Baby bottle
  • Milk replacer
  • Kitten food
  • Food and water bowl
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Instructions

    • 1

      Have your kitten tested at your veterinarian. Many conditions and diseases can cause kittens to have a low weight, including worms, feline leukemia and congenital kidney, heart or liver diseases. If your kitten does have a health problem, you may have to put the animal down. However, once you determine that the kitten is healthy, you can begin to promote weight gain.

    • 2

      Feed young kittens with a baby bottle, using warmed milk replacer. Kittens like milk that should feel quite warm against your skin, but not hot. Hold the kitten by placing one hand on the hind quarters, then use your other hand to hold the bottle in front of the animal's head, so it has to extend its head toward the milk. Squeeze the bottle to moisten the nipple, then place it in the kitten's mouth. The animal should start to suck on the nipple.

    • 3

      Switch kittens to solid food at four to five weeks old. Choose high quality kitten food to help your pet gain weight. To help young kittens transition from milk to solid food use milk replacer mixed with wet food to form a gruel.

    • 4

      Set out water and wet food for your kitten, and watch your kitten's eating habits. If the kitten ignores the water, try wetting the food, or using a "running water" water bowl to visually attract the animal to the water, for improved hydration and weight gain. If your kitten ignores the food, heat it lightly in the microwave, because some animals prefer warm food, or switch brands of food, since some kittens respond positively to smelly food.

    • 5

      Don't supplement your kitten's diet with human food, since their stomachs are not equipped to handle it.

    • 6

      Reward your kitten when it does eat, by petting the animal and talking to it in reassuring tones. Cats respond to positive reinforcement, but not negative responses.