How Much to Feed a Newborn Kitten?

A newborn kitten should stay with its mother and siblings during the first weeks of its life. The mother provides the protection the kittens need and the milk containing nutrients and antibodies. However, if you adopt an orphaned newborn kitten, you need to take care of the feeding. If you fail to provide the necessary amounts of food and nutrients the kitten needs, it may not survive.

  1. Kitten Formula

    • A newborn kitten that doesn't have access to cat's milk should receive milk substitute or replacer. Consult a veterinarian to recommend you a suitable milk replacer. Feed the kitten using a pet-nurser bottle during its first three to four weeks of life. After the first four weeks, you may gradually introduce solid food, but it should be a kitten formula. Food formulated for kittens contains 30 percent protein. Regular cat food doesn't contain the sufficient amount of protein. Don't give cow's milk to the kitten because it is different from cat's milk and may cause diarrhea or stomach ache.

    Amount of Food

    • Kittens have higher energy requirements than adult cats because they need to develop. The energy intake of kittens should be two to three times more than the intake of an adult. According to the Pets website, a kitten should receive a milk portion that equals 1/4 of the kitten's weight. Weigh your kitten and divide the result by four to obtain the amount of food you need to give it per day. Spread out this amount over several feedings. Weigh your kitten daily or at least weekly because it gains weight quickly during the first weeks, so you need to alter the amount of food it receives.

    Feeding Frequency

    • Bottle-feed the newborn kitten once every one to two hours. When the kitten is three or four weeks old, switch to a food bowl and give it both milk and kitten food four to six times a day. Dip the food in milk substitute or water so that is easily digestible. When the kitten is between the ages of six and 12 weeks, gradually increase the amount of kitten food, decrease the milk substitute and feed the kitten four times per day. After the age of three months, give your kitten food three times a day.

    Kitten Weight

    • At birth, kittens may weigh approximately 3.5 ounces, but the weight may depend on the breed. Kittens double or triple their birth weight during the first weeks of life. Kittens gain up to half an ounce a day and this is considered normal. If the kitten doesn't receive enough food and nutrients, it may not survive, so feeding it quality food in sufficient amounts is crucial.