What Kind Of Milk Do Baby Kittens Drink
Bottles with faster flow could endanger the kitty by causing her to aspirate milk into her lungs.
What kind of milk do baby kittens drink. Kittens should be drinking water by the time they are 4 to 6 weeks of age. The only type of milk that is suitable for managing the specific nutritional demands of kittens is milk from lactating cats period. Young kittens need milk either from their mother or if orphaned rejected a milk supplement if a foster mother can t be found. The only milk that is healthy for kittens to drink is either their mother s or they will need a kitten milk replacer which can also be called kmr or kitten milk formula.
A newborn kitten can only digest milk and more specifically the milk from a female cat. Cow s milk can cause tummy upset and diarrhea and contains too much lactose and not enough protein fat and energy. The cornell book of cats says that human baby formula can be used if made up to double the normal strength although human baby formula is normally not nutritious enough for kittens. You can find these formulas in pet supply stores along with the other items necessary to feed your little one such as nursing bottles and nipples.
Homemade formula 1 1 quart whole goat s milk 1 teaspoon light karo syrup. You can also feed them kitten milk replacement formula. Cats and kittens do not need to drink milk and can live their entire lives without having one lap of milk. Kittens drink milk from their mothers but adult cats do not need any form of milk to thrive.
These formulas come in either canned liquid or powdered form. Feeding the wrong sort of milk such as cow s milk can have short term and long term effects including diarrhea dehydration nutritional deficiencies and long term health problems due to poor growth. To properly feed a newborn kitten purchase either liquid or powdered kitten milk and a bottle designed especially for feeding newborn animals. Milk does contain some beneficial ingredients but it s not necessary to give your cat milk.
However you may feed orphan kittens goat s milk available at many large grocery stores or supermarkets. Cow s milk is inappropriate for newborn kittens. If you really want to give them milk then you can purchase special cat kitten milk which is lactose free from your pet food store vets or supermarket but they really don t need it. Water is all they will ever need.
The following nutrients are found in regular cow s milk. Kitten milk replacement kittens orphaned prior to 4 weeks old need to drink a kitten milk replacement formula.