How to Feed a Kitten With a Syringe

The best food for newborn kittens is their own mother's nutrient-rich milk. However, if the mother dies while giving birth, cannot nurse or is unavailable, it's important to continue to give nutrition to the kittens. Very small kittens may be fed using a syringe. It is important to adhere to a strict procedure to avoid accidentally harming the kitten.

Things You'll Need

  • Syringe
  • Kitten formula
  • Postal or kitchen scale
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Instructions

    • 1

      Use the right size syringe to ensure proper feeding. Use a 3cc syringe for kittens younger than one-and-a-half weeks, use a 6cc syringe for kittens under three weeks old and use a 12cc syringe for kittens over three weeks. Hungry kittens older than three weeks may require multiple syringes full of formula.

      The syringe, the container used to heat the formula and your own hands should be sterile for each feeding.

    • 2

      Prepare the formula. Warm the formula to 95 to 100 degrees. Heat a dish of formula in simmering water, because a microwave oven may heat the formula unevenly. Test for warmth with a drop or two on the back of your hand; it should feel barely warm.

    • 3

      Draw a full syringe of formula and position the kitten upright (not on its back) on a soft surface. Gently support the kitten under the belly with one hand, and angle the tip of the syringe slightly toward the roof of its mouth. The kitten should suckle the end of the syringe.

      If the kitten does not accept the syringe, gently open its mouth with the tip of your finger.

    • 4

      Allow the kitten to dictate how much formula it receives. The plunger should move slowly as the kitten suckles, with little or no help from you. If the plunger sticks, either try rotating it or remove the syringe from the kitten's mouth before attempting to free it.

      Never force formula into the kitten's mouth: even a small amount can enter its lungs and drown it.

    • 5

      Stop feeding when the kitten stops suckling and pulls away. If the kitten finishes the syringe and continues to suckle, you can refill the syringe and allow it to eat until full. Then burp the kitten by holding it upright on your shoulder and gently patting its back.

    • 6

      Plan to feed a newborn kitten every two to two-and-a-half hours, around the clock. As the kitten gains weight, the feeding schedule can be reduced gradually. By four weeks, the kitten should require around 4 feedings per day.