What can I substitute for kitten milk replacers temporarily? If you run out of commercial kitten milk replacers or have no time to get one, try making your own formula at home.
Most homemade recipes only require a few ingredients, so you will have no trouble creating kitten milk when in a pinch.
Homemade Kitten Milk Formula #1
What you need:
- 1 can evaporated milk
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon light Karo syrup
How to make this homemade kitten milk formula:
- In a large jar, mix all of the ingredients until everything is properly incorporated.
- Feed the homemade milk to kittens by diluting half its amount with equal parts of boiling water.
- Refrigerate after use. It can last up to 1–2 days in the fridge.
Warning:
- Avoid using sweetened evaporated milk since it is loaded with calories and sugar. Kittens may easily get an upset stomach and have diarrhoea after consuming it.
Homemade Kitten Milk Formula #2
What you need:
- ½ teaspoon of bone meal per 16 ounces of fluid
- 1 part boiled water to 5 parts evaporated milk
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 drop of high-quality liquid paediatric vitamins (optional)
How to make this homemade kitten milk formula:
- In a large jar, combine the bone meal and evaporated milk according to the instructed ratio.
- Add the egg yolk to the mixture and stir until all the ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- If you were able to get paediatric vitamins, add 1 drop of it to the formula once a day.
- Warm up the kitten milk and shake well before serving.
- Store the homemade formula in the fridge for up to 1–2 days.
Homemade Kitten Milk Formula #3
What you need:
- 1 quart whole goat’s milk
- 1 teaspoon salad oil
- 2 egg yolks
- 2 tablespoons corn syrup
How to make this homemade kitten milk formula:
- Place all the ingredients in a large jar and mix until well combined.
- During feedings, combine 1/2 of the kitten milk with equal parts of boiling water.
- Keep the remaining homemade milk in the fridge for as long as 1 week.
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Homemade Kitten Milk is Not a Long-Term Solution
Homemade kitten milk is only a temporary alternative to commercial cat milk replacers. Using it for regular feedings is highly discouraged for the following reasons:
- The specific use of homemade kitten milk is for emergencies. Thus, most recipes are not carefully formulated to fit the nutritional needs of newborn kitties.
Consuming it for an extended amount of time will very likely cause nutrient deficiencies.
- Some of the liquid ingredients, such as evaporated milk and goat’s milk, can be difficult for a kitten’s stomach to digest. Long-term feeding increases the chances of diarrhoea to occur.
- Certain ingredients for homemade kitten milk are hard to find. Looking for possible alternatives can also be difficult as their nutritional makeup might not be on par with the original ingredient.
Homemade kitten milk formula should only be given to newborn kittens for a few days. Thus, try to find a suitable commercial kitten milk replacer for your feline friend as soon as you can.
Step-by-Step Guide to Feeding Milk to Kittens
Newborn kittens and unweaned older kittens have fragile bodies and very sensitive stomachs. Feeding them milk is a meticulous process, but following the right procedure will eventually make it a breeze.
Here are the guidelines on how to feed milk to kittens:
1. Choose an appropriate feeding bottle.
Avoid using feeding bottles specifically made for human babies. They are too large for kittens, which can make drinking milk difficult.
Purchase a tiny baby bottle for kittens in pet stores or online. Check the nipple hole before buying. It should be small, so milk will not flow out quickly. If the feeding bottle does not have a nipple hole, create a small one using a sterile pinhole.
Feeding bottles are ideal for older kittens. The use of droppers or needleless syringes is recommended for premature or newborn kittens since they tend to have a hard time sucking.
2. Warm up kittens before feeding time.
Neonatal kittens are unable to regulate their body temperature until they reach 3 weeks of age. Keeping them warm prior to feeding them milk is essential. Otherwise, the food may stagnate in their stomach, which can lead to an emergency.
Place kittens in a cat carrier that is situated in a non-draughty room. The temperature inside the cat carrier should range around 85–90 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you have a fleece blanket, use it as a top layer of bedding. Then put a pet-safe heating pad wrapped in 3 layers of towel inside the cat carrier.
Warm up kittens before mealtime. Make sure that their body temperature reaches around 97–100 degrees Fahrenheit. You can do this by placing them on the towel-wrapped heating pad. Turn them on their sides every 5 minutes.
If you do not have a heating pad, carefully wrap the kittens in a fleece blanket and hold them close to your body for at least 20 minutes. We recommend gently massaging the toes of kittens with your hand to stimulate blood flow.
3. Check the kitten milk for freshness.
Always inspect the cat milk formula before using it. Take a sniff to know if it has undergone spoilage.
Once the milk gives off a rancid smell, you need to throw it out and make a new batch. The formation of curdles is also another clue that it has turned bad.
Additionally, kitten milk that is left at room temperature for more than 2 hours should be disposed of.
4. Heat the kitten milk properly.
Never use a microwave to warm up formula milk for kittens. It will cause hot spots, meaning the liquid is unevenly hot. Feeding microwave-warmed milk to kittens will scald their mouths and throats.
Another downside is nutrient loss. Subjecting a cat’s milk replacer to high heat may dissolve some of its vitamins and minerals.
For your feline friend’s safety, warm up her milk by placing the feeding bottle in a bowl full of warm water. Take note that the water should not be scalding hot.
Leave the feeding bottle inside the bowl for 1–2 minutes. Place a few drops of the kitten milk on your hand to check if it is not too hot.
Alternatively, you can use an instant-read kitchen thermometer. The milk’s temperature must be around 95–100 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. Mind your kitten’s posture when feeding.
Do not feed milk to kittens the same way you would with babies. Letting them drink on their backs can cause choking and asphyxiation.
During bottle-feeding, kittens need to comfortably lie on their bellies, similar to if they were nursed by their mother. Keep your feline friend’s head stable by placing your non-dominant hand behind it.
Use your other hand to introduce the nipple to her mouth. Tip the feeding bottle upward gently so that the kitten milk can flow into her mouth. To check if she is swallowing her food properly, carefully place a finger on her throat.
Never force-feed milk to kittens as they might inhale liquid into their lungs, which can lead to serious respiratory issues. Be patient and let them drink at their own pace.
6. Set a proper kitten bottle feeding schedule.
How long does a kitten need milk? Newborn kittens need milk until they turn 4 weeks old. Consistency is important during this period to ensure that they get enough nutrients from kitten milk.
In general, the milk intake of kittens should be 8 millilitres of formula per ounce of body weight per day. Here is a guide on how much milk a kitten needs according to her age and how often she should be fed:
- 24–24 hours old: 1 millilitre of milk per hour
- 0–1 weeks old: 2–6 millilitres of milk every 2 hours
- 1–2 weeks old: 6–10 millilitres of milk every 2–3 hours
- 2–3 weeks old: 10–14 millilitres of milk every 3–4 hours
- 3–4 weeks old: 14–18 millilitres of milk every 4–5 hours
You might be wondering: “When do kittens stop drinking milk from their mother?” Kittens begin to stop drinking milk from their mother when they are around 4–6 weeks of age.
You can start introducing wet cat food to their diet to hasten the weaning process.
6. Help your kitten relieve herself.
Newborn kittens do not have proper control of their bowels. They require assistance to eliminate or else they might become constipated.
Encourage a kitten to eliminate by mimicking the licking motion a mother cat would do to her offspring.
To do this, dip a clean cloth in warm water and gently rub it in circular motions around the anus and genitals of your kitten. Carry this out at least 1–2 times a day.
7. Monitor your kitten’s condition.
Keep a record of the amount of milk your kitten drinks each feeding. Also, write down how often she eliminates after mealtime and how much weight she has gained every week. If she is sickly, weigh her every day.
Ideally, kittens should gain 100 grams of body weight per week. On the other hand, ill kittens must gain at least 7 grams of body weight each day.
If they fail to meet these weight requirements, get them checked by the vet so you can properly address the issue.
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Frequently-Asked Questions About Kitten Milk
1. Is kitten milk necessary for abandoned or orphaned kittens?
The best source of nutrients for kittens is their mother. However, if their mother died or left them, one of the best alternatives is to give them a commercial kitten milk replacer.
This is specifically formulated to mimic the essential nutrients found in cat milk closely.
Some brands of kitten milk replacers also come with colostrum. This milk-like fluid contains antibodies, which play an essential role in strengthening the immune system of newborn kittens.
2. Can a kitten drink cow’s milk?
No, cow’s milk is unsafe for kittens due to its high lactose content. It can potentially cause your feline friend to suffer from severe diarrhoea when ingested. Lack of timely treatment may lead to life-threatening dehydration.
Goat’s milk is a better alternative to cow’s milk as it has lower levels of lactose. However, the nutritional content of goat’s milk is inadequate for kittens. For this reason, it can only be used as a temporary milk replacement.
3. Can I give a kitten normal milk made for humans?
No, regular milk specifically created for humans is dangerous for kittens. Their main ingredient tends to be cow’s milk, which can cause digestive issues in felines.
Moreover, regular milk contains added ingredients such as sugar, which can be detrimental to your kitten’s health.
4. Can kittens drink dog milk?
Kittens can be given dog milk, but it should not be the first option. Whilst the nutritional content of dog milk is nearly the same as cat milk, there are a few differences. One is cat milk has lower levels of protein and fats.
Commercial dog milk replacers specifically cater to canines. Hence, their formulation is likely the same as natural dog milk. Using any of these two as a regular substitute for cat milk can eventually cause nutrient deficiencies in kittens.
5. What kind of milk can you give a kitten aside from commercial cat milk replacers?
As mentioned earlier, milk from a mother cat is the best option for kittens. So consider looking for a nursing cat who could act as a surrogate mother to abandoned or orphaned kittens.
This is ideally the first step to take before settling on feeding kittens cat milk replacers. However, not all mother cats are generous enough to care for other kittens. It would take time to find a suitable match, so be patient.
To increase your chances of finding a surrogate mother cat, seek help from the vet. You can also reach out to foster homes, animal shelters, and rescue organisations to widen your pool of potential choices.
