How to Dropper-Feed Kittens

If a kitten has been abandoned or something has happened to the kitten's mother, the kitten may die if not feed and taken care of properly. A dropper is an eyedropper than can hold a small amount of substance, like milk replacement formula. Feeding a kitten using the dropper feeding method involves using an eyedropper to place kitten formula inside of the kitten's mouth. Formula helps a kitten to get the nutrients the kitten needs to continue to develop.

Things You'll Need

  • Eye Dropper
  • Kitten Milk Replacement Formula
  • Towel
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Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase a dropper if you do not have one. Make sure the dropper is clean and free from dust or other substances. You may want to wash the dropper with warm soapy water and rinse it well prior to using the dropper.

    • 2

      Mix the milk replacement formula for the kitten. There are several brands available, including PetLife, that make a formula for young kittens. Follow the instructions on the box to determine how much your kitten needs per feeding. Young kittens need to eat frequently so you may want to mix formula for the day in the morning prior to the first feeding. You will also want to warm the formula -- lukewarm is best -- prior to feeding it to the kitten.

    • 3

      Fill a dropper with the kitten formula. Only fill the dropper about half way so that a lot of formula does not coming gushing out at once into the kitten's mouth.

    • 4

      Wrap the kitten in a blanket and hold the kitten in a 45-degree angle. The blanket will help keep the kitten warm because kittens have a hard time regulating their temperature while they are young.

    • 5

      Open the kitten's mouth slightly and put the tip of the eyedropper in the kitten's mouth. Do not put the entire length of the dropper in the kitten's mouth but merely rest the dropper on the tip of the mouth.

    • 6

      Release a few drops of formula into the kitten's mouth. Do not put too much formula into the kitten's mouth at once because the kitten may ingest the milk into the kitten's lungs, causing it to drown. It may be hard to tell when a kitten is full and some kittens will continue to eat as long as there is food available. To determine how much to feed a kitten, read the kitten formula's guidelines corresponding to the age and weight of the kitten. After the kitten is three weeks old, you can start mixing a small amount of formula into wet kitten food.