What Do You Give Kittens When They Don't Eat?

Some kittens do not eat for a variety of reasons. These might include an inability to eat, an aversion to food, poor health or stress. For whatever reason, it is important to know what to give them so they can grow to be strong and healthy. Besides visiting a veterinarian, there are several things you can do to encourage your kitten to eat.

  1. Fresh Food

    • Provide your kitten with fresh food later in the day. The kitten might be averse to eating food that has been left to harden and become stale. It may have learned to avoid eating unless it is given fresh food. Offering the kitten fresh food might encourage the animal to eat.

    Sardines

    • Give the kitten a tin of sardines. Drain the oil from the tin and smash up the sardines and place them in milk. Kittens love sardines, and the moisture will allow them to chew their food easily.

    Syringe Feeding

    • Perform syringe feeding to avoid an aversion to food. Use a small syringe (1 cc) and gently slip canned food into the kitten's mouth, giving about a half of the syringe at a time. The kitten may not like it first time, but this will at least allow it to taste the food and experience the new texture.

    Space

    • Some kittens like to eat alone in a quiet, less stressful environment. Take the kitten to a quiet separate room and try to feed it cooked chicken or meat baby food.

    Toys

    • Provide the kitten with some tassel toys to play with. The exercise might help stimulate its appetite.

    Eye Dropper

    • Some kittens are unable to eat because they don't know how to use their tongue or swallow. Using an eye dropper, get some juice from a can of cat food, sardines or tuna. Place the small drops along the side of the kitten's mouth, directly on its teeth. This will help the kitten learn how to use its tongue and swallow.

    Food on Gums

    • Gently rub some canned food on the kitten's gums. This may help it to obtain an interest in the taste and texture of food. Make sure you are gentle to avoid making this a stressful situation for the kitten, which could lead to an aversion to food.