How to Feed Newborn Kittens With a Bottle

Feeding a newborn kitten can seem like a daunting task at first, especially if there is no mother cat to do it for you. When kittens are first born, they are tiny, delicate, and completely helpless. If you have ever fed a human baby, however, you are well on your way to becoming a good surrogate mother for your furry little baby. Once they know what to do, however, they will do most of the work all on their own once instinct takes over. All you have to do is take care of them and follow a few basic guidelines to ensure that your newborn kittens are well fed, healthy, and taken care of.

Things You'll Need

  • Small animal nursing bottles
  • KMR (Kitten Milk Replacement-powdered or pre-mixed)
  • Cotton balls
  • Warm water
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Instructions

    • 1
      Neonatal kittens are very helpless when they are first born.

      Mix up a small bottle of the formula. A good bottle for kitten feeding will hold a bit under two ounces. Sterilize the bottle and nipple by submerging in boiling water for several minutes, then allowing to cool thoroughly. When the bottle is cool, add the KMR (kitten milk replacement) formula. You will want to keep the formula from clumping, and the best way to do this is to work it into a paste with a bit of cold water before adding the hot to finish it. When the formula is ready, it will have a temperature of about 95 degrees. If the bottle gets cold, warm it up in a small bowl filled with very warm water. In either case, do not give it to the kitten without checking the temperature first.

    • 2
      Raising a litter of newborn kittens is a delightful undertaking.

      Prepare the kitten for feeding. Lay a warm, soft towel on your lap, then gently place the kitten on it. Newborn kittens need to feed while lying on their stomachs in order to avoid inhaling the formula. This works best with the kitten cuddled against you, because the kitten will need to be warm before he starts eating. A newborn kitten's digestive system is very fragile, and cold wreaks havoc on their digestive systems.

    • 3
      Orphaned kittens need intervention from humans or they will die.

      Feed the kitten. Press the nipple of the bottle lightly against the kitten's mouth and gently urge it inside. The kitten should get the idea quickly and begin sucking. If not, gently stroke the kitten's head and back until she begins to nurse. Newborn kittens will need to be fed six to ten times per day, just like a human baby. Count on feeding them every two hours, around the clock. Be careful to not overfeed them. A newborn will need a little over an ounce of liquid formula per day.

    • 4
      The most important thing to remember when caring for newborn kittens is you must keep them hydrated, warm and well-fed.

      Clean and burp the kitten. Gently hold the kitten in one hand under its belly and lightly pat on its upper back to stimulate burping. After that, use a warm, damp, slightly rough washcloth or cotton balls to gently clean his anal and genital area. This is an important step as it simulates the mother's licking and is necessary to stimulate urination and defecation.