How to Care for Orphaned Kittens Less Than Three Weeks of Age - Feeding the Kittens

1. Buy powdered cat milk replacer. Buy powdered cat milk replacer, like Cimicat, from the vet clinic, major pet stores, or the internet. This is the cat equivalent of infant formula, with the same composition milk from the kittens' mother. Do not feed cow's milk since the sugar, or lactose, will likely upset the kittens' stomachs.[8]
- If you don't have milk replacement and the kittens are hungry, offer some boiled water that has been cooled. Use a dropper or syringe, until you can get to the vet clinic or pet store. The water keeps the kittens hydrated and won't cause upset stomachs.[9]

2. Prepare to feed the kittens. Sterilize the bottle and nipple in boiling water, then let them cool completely on a clean towel. Mix up the milk replacement formula using a little whisk to get the lumps out. You should warm the milk up to 95 - 100 degrees before feeding it to the kittens. As a final check, drip a few drops onto the underside of your wrist to make sure it's not too hot.[10]
- Always make sure the kittens themselves are warm before feeding them. Never feed a kitten whose temperature is less than 95 degrees. This could cause aspiration pneumonia which makes it difficult to breathe and may even be fatal.[11]

3. Correctly position the kittens and bottles for feeding. Never hold a kitten and feed it like a human baby. Instead, keep the kitten's feet down and it's head straight, as though she's nursing from her mother. Hold her by the scruff of her neck and place the nipple into the side, then center of her mouth. The kitten will adjust it till it's comfortable for her.Let the kitten control the suction from the bottle. Don't squirt or force the milk into her mouth.[12]
- Don't forget to burp the kittens after feeding. Burp the kittens like you would a human baby. Place a kitten on your chest, lap, or shoulder and gently rub and pat her back with 2 fingers until she burps.
- If a kitten is having trouble latching on, hold the kitten's face and don't let her move her head. Try to feed her again and squirt just a few drops of milk out. She'll probably latch on.[13]

4. Feed the kittens frequently. You'll be able to tell a kitten is hungry if she cries and wiggles around like she's hunting for a nipple. The kittens will feed every 2 - 3 hours around the clock during the first 2 weeks of life. It's best to use a kitten feeding bottle that has a specially designed kitten teat (made by Catac).[14] Follow the guidelines on the package of milk replacer to determine how much to feed in each meal. A full kitten often falls asleep while suckling and has a rounded belly.[15]
- In an emergency, use an eyedropper or a small syringe to drip milk into the kitten's mouth.
- After 2 weeks, the feeds can be stretched out to to every 3 to 4 hours, with a gap of 6 hours overnight.