What Should I Do if My Kitten Is Not Eating From Its Mom?

Newborn kittens suckle from the mother cat for a period of eight to 10 weeks to receive nourishment. For various reasons, some kittens do not take to nursing or simply refuse to be fed by the mother cat. When your kitten stops eating properly, you must address the problem so the newborn gets the nourishment it needs to grow.

  1. Verify Lack of Feeding

    • Make sure that the kitten is not eating. Do not assume that because you have not seen the kitten latch on to or eat from the mother cat that it is not suckling. Check on the mother cat and litter at random times throughout the day. Know that newborn kittens will eat both day and night, so you must watch their behavior at all hours. Remember that even though newborn kittens drink from the mother cat every one to two hours, it may take a few days for the newborn to latch on properly. Set up a video camera to record the kitten 24 hours a day if you are not able to watch the kitten in person. Review the footage to verify that the kitten is not eating from the mother cat. You can also use a webcam and watch the live feed while you are at work or have access to a computer.

    Inspect the Kitten

    • Inspect the kitten by holding it gently. Look at the kitten to make sure nothing is causing the kitten harm that would prevent it from eating. Check paws for string wound around paws and claws, which would cause discomfort. Check its eyes and mouth to make sure the kitten was not bitten by a bug, and feel the kitten by gently petting it to make sure you do not feel any lumps or bumps. Check the hindquarters or stool of the kitten to look for worms, as a kitten with worms will not eat due to a lack of appetite. You will see the worms wiggling and they typically resemble grains of rice.

    Change the Surroundings

    • Change the area where the mother cat and kittens reside. Add blankets and extra padding to make the litter more comfortable. Use soft lights and avoid loud noise in the area. Keep people away so that the kittens can feed without being scared or interrupted. You should also be aware that any changes in the kitten's surroundings that may have occurred since birth may have caused trauma to the kitten, which could cause feeding problems. This would include things such as getting a new pet, a new baby in the house or even an extra amount of noise and activity in close proximity to the kitten. You should also verify that no one has gotten too close to the kitten or attempted to remove the kitten from the mother cat's care during the first four weeks of life as this too may cause feeding disturbances.

    Seek Help

    • Take the kitten to a veterinarian if the kitten has not eaten in two to three days. Make sure to inform the vet as to why you are bringing the kitten in as he may want to see the mother cat as well. Consider having the mother cat checked out at the same time to make sure she is producing milk and does not have any clogged or blocked nipples, which would prevent a kitten from feeding.

    Avoid Temptations

    • When you notice that a kitten is not nursing properly, or enough, resist the urge to feed the kitten yourself. Once the kitten has reached 4 to 6 weeks of age, you may begin offering a milk replacement, which is available at pet supply stores or through a veterinarian. You should not feed the kitten anything else until they have transitioned over to the replacement milk. After that, you can moisten kitten food slightly with water to offer to the kitten throughout the day.