Quick Tutorial: Caring for a Bottle Baby Kitten

Posted by



Caring for a bottle baby kitten can be a rewarding experience, but it also requires a lot of time, patience, and dedication. Bottle babies are kittens who are too young to eat solid food or who have been orphaned and need to be bottle-fed. This quick tutorial will provide you with the basic information you need to care for a bottle baby kitten:

1. Feeding: Bottle baby kittens need to be fed every 2-4 hours, including overnight. You can purchase kitten milk replacement formula (KMR) from pet stores or your veterinarian. The formula should be mixed according to the instructions on the package and warmed to body temperature before feeding. To feed the kitten, hold it in a natural nursing position on its stomach and allow it to suckle from the bottle. Be patient, as some kittens may take longer to latch on than others.

2. Stimulating: Kittens under 3 weeks old need help eliminating waste. After each feeding, gently massage the kitten’s lower abdomen and anal area with a warm, damp cloth to mimic their mother’s licking. This will help stimulate them to urinate and defecate. Be sure to clean them up afterward to keep them clean and comfortable.

3. Keep them warm: Kittens are unable to regulate their body temperature until they are about 4 weeks old, so it’s important to keep them warm. You can provide a heating pad set on low under their bedding, making sure there is a cooler area for them to move to if they get too warm. Make sure the bedding is soft and clean, and avoid using blankets or towels that could pose a suffocation hazard.

4. Keep them clean: Since bottle baby kittens can’t groom themselves yet, you will need to help keep them clean. Use a warm, damp cloth to gently clean their face and body after feedings, paying special attention to their eyes, ears, and bottom. You can also use a flea comb to remove any dirt or debris from their fur.

5. Monitor their health: Keep a close eye on your bottle baby kitten’s health and behavior. Look for signs of dehydration, such as sunken eyes, dry mouth, or lethargy. If you notice any signs of illness, such as vomiting, diarrhea, sneezing, or difficulty breathing, contact your veterinarian immediately. It’s also important to weigh your kitten regularly to ensure they are gaining weight and growing properly.

By following these tips and providing your bottle baby kitten with the care and attention they need, you can help them thrive and grow into healthy, happy cats. Remember, caring for a bottle baby kitten is a big responsibility, but it can also be a rewarding experience that creates a lifelong bond between you and your furry friend.

0 0 votes
Article Rating
27 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
@phoenixqueen1725
2 months ago

The grey kitten in the beginning drinking the bottle of milk is SO CUTE!!! 😭

@PattyMoore-vd1ug
2 months ago

I need help I've fed several babies the mother quit feeding these babies so I have them now two are so angry they are so hard to feed I've had them two weeks now what am I doing wrong please help me they.are going to pee and poop with my help I'm all scratched up help

@MoonsongGaming
2 months ago

I’m hoping you can help me. I have a two week old kitten that has an upper respiratory infection. I have taken it to the vet she has prescribed clavamox which I gave with much resistance lol and I was able to get to my little two week old female kitten to eat one and a half milliliters of milk replacer she definitely has an upper respiratory infection which I think I already said her eyes are conjunctivitis or whatever that it is all yucky. They told me to feed her 3 mL but they didn’t say how often she’s two weeks old and I see she should be eating like 10 but with her being sick what do you normally do and I can try and figure it out or I can just call my vet again I guess but I’m hoping you have like a standard that you do.

@jonihorn436
2 months ago

My kitten is having trouble latching onto the nipple.

@FR1LYER
2 months ago

Me doing this: OH MY GOD YOU'RE A PAIN IN THE AHH

@johnvincentcamado9348
2 months ago

I found a kitten, she's roughly 250 grams, can't find her mom so I thought I'd care for her , I bought some goat milk a few bottles too but she won't drink it idk why, what do I do?

@odaliscadance
2 months ago

Izo❤❤

@ne0n_k1tten10
2 months ago

Question dont u have to burp them

@tyea-irovern
2 months ago

Can someone help, what do I do for 1 ½ month old kittens who refuse the bottle? I've been trying to feed them for two days and I'm scared that I'm doing something wrong or hurting them. Momma cat left them after I washed their blanket because they had lots of messes on it.

@fereshtehshakeri4128
2 months ago

Why are they so cute and precious ❤🎉

@onlyluvisreal6691
2 months ago

My little orphan is leaking gray runny poo😢 do I change the formula. He's straining a lot and no poop

@hannahiscool5494
2 months ago

My cat is pregnant and you help so much

@denisefuentes7905
2 months ago

I want to be a kitten lady.

@KelsieMW
2 months ago

kitten mom passed away yesterday and i honestly dunno what to do they wont take the feeder, they are almost 2 weeks old, (moma was a stray cat), send positive vibes im gonna need em

@LanceRomanceF4E
2 months ago

Single retired vet here freaking out with two eight week old abandoned kittens. My neighbors daughter bottle fed them for the past four weeks before giving them to me to raise as house cats. I never had a pet, on the road too much, and now I’m afraid to let them out of their cage. I have a loft with a balcony in my living room and it’s a twelve foot drop to a hardwood floor. Would kittens jump from there? Or fall off while playing? At what point can I let them go upstairs?

@emilymangan4925
2 months ago

Hi, my cat had 5 kittens. They're just over 3 weeks old. One is about half the size of the others so I have started to bottle feed a couple times a day. She is still feeding from mom also. When I try to get the baby to poop, she isn't going. I'm wondering if the mom is still helping the baby poop after she feeds? And therefore is it unnecessary for me to do so?

@download3419
2 months ago

Thank you. Much needed.

@tanvi3160
2 months ago

Can u tell more about their sanitation in details

@kailinlake7170
2 months ago

😮

@VMohan95
2 months ago

That kitten sleeping in the end!!!! <3 Heart flowered