A kitten’s diet has two phases: the period when it is nursed by its mother until about two months of age, and the period after weaning. Normally, it is recommended to leave the kitten with its mother until 10 weeks of age to support its psychological development. Weaning should happen gradually. But if you get a kitten that was separated from its mother very early, you need to take a few precautions with its feeding. Here is what to know.
Milk Feeding
In its first days of life, you cannot feed a little kitten kitten kibble. Its food must consist mainly of milk, whatever the cat breed. Milk covers all of its energy needs. But this type of feeding is not that simple.
Choosing the Milk
It is important to choose a special kitten milk to feed your little cat. You can also make it yourself. To do so, you will need:
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Whole cow’s milk (600 ml),
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Cream with about 12% fat (200 g) and
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Egg yolk (1).
Just mix everything together and you will have a temporary milk until you buy the most suitable one. Some nutrients in this mixture are present in too small amounts, especially the minerals and vitamins that only a milk fully adapted to kittens can provide your pet.
Number of Meals and Quantities
The number of bottle feedings to give your kitten each day and the amount of milk are important. They generally vary according to its age and the type of milk used. In general, you should give 8 meals a day during the first week. In the second week, move to 6 meals, then 5 meals a day during the third. In the fourth week, it will need 4 meals a day. After that and until weaning, you can continue with 4 meals a day or move to 3. These meals should be spread at regular intervals over 24 hours.
As for the amount of milk per day, for a 100 g kitten, 13 ml per day in the first week is enough. From the second week, increase to 17 ml per day, then 20 ml in the third. Finally, it needs 22 ml per day from the fourth week. For kitten milk replacers offered by veterinary laboratories, the amount depends on the type of milk and is usually shown on the packaging. However, never force your pet to drink. It will take the amount that suits it. It is best to increase the amount little by little: give a small amount in the first days and increase gradually. If the kitten eats too much, its stomach will be full and it will have trouble digesting.
How to Feed
During the first weeks, the kitten cannot lap milk, so you need to bottle-feed it. A bottle is often included in the box of milk replacer. The hole in the nipple must be small, otherwise the milk may flow too fast and the kitten will struggle to swallow. It can then end up choking, which may lead to lung problems. To prevent this, you can pierce the nipple with several tiny holes using a needle. That way, the milk will just seep out when you turn the bottle upside down.
The kitten must suckle by itself, which can be hard at first. Even so, do not squeeze the bottle to speed up feeding, or you risk making it choke. However, check from time to time that the holes are not clogged by a lump. The milk should also be served lukewarm. And make sure to clean the bottle thoroughly after each use.
Weaning
From 3 weeks old, you can start offering the kitten some solid food. Weaning means moving from a milk-only diet to a mixed one. Kittens often taste whatever you offer them. For example, you can mix milk with a small amount of solid food to make a fairly runny mash. Then serve it in a shallow bowl. If the kitten does not want to taste it, put some of the mixture on your fingers or spread a little on its lips and let it lick. Once it starts eating the mash, gradually reduce the amount of milk until you remove it completely.
If weaning is too abrupt, it can cause digestive problems such as diarrhea. It is therefore best to start at 4 to 5 weeks old. That is when milk starts to no longer cover all of the kitten’s growth needs. Plus, it will be delighted to discover new foods.
Please visit: https://www.ultrapremiumdirect.com/chat/croquette/chaton/ to learn more about cat food.
Read also: How to Prepare for the Arrival of a Litter of Kittens | Kitten Socialization: Why Is It Crucial for Their Development?
