How to Feed a Newborn Kitten Milk

There are several ways to feed a newborn kitten milk, including letting the kitten suckle on its own, or using a spoon, bottle, or syringe to feed it. First, if the mother cat is present, you can place the kitten near her nipple allowing it to suckle naturally. Second, if the mother cat is not around, you can opt for artificial feeding using a spoon, bottle, or syringe. Be cautious not to feed too quickly to avoid choking, and remember to feed in small amounts throughout the day. Stop feeding when the kitten's belly slightly swells.

Let the kitten suckle on its own

Newborn kittens' vision and hearing have not fully developed, making it difficult for them to sense breast milk. If the mother cat is present, wear disposable gloves and try to place her nipple in the kitten's mouth so it can suckle naturally.

Feed with a spoon

If the kitten is weak and cannot suckle on its own, use a spoon to feed it milk. Slowly pour the milk into the kitten's mouth from the spoon, taking care not to pour too quickly to prevent the milk from entering its lungs. Also, do not lift the kitten's head too high or it may inhale the milk into its lungs.

Feed with a bottle

If the kitten can suckle, use a pet-specific bottle to feed it. Pay attention to the size of the hole in the bottle's nipple; it should be small enough for only one drop of milk to fall into the kitten's mouth at a time. A larger hole may cause the kitten to choke, and a smaller hole will make it difficult for the kitten to suckle.

Feed with a syringe

For kittens that may not know how to use a pet bottle, a syringe can be used to feed them. To use a syringe, first withdraw an appropriate amount of pet goat milk into the syringe. Then, slowly inject the milk into the kitten's mouth drop by drop as it swallows. Do not continue injecting continuously to prevent the milk from entering the lungs and causing serious conditions like aspiration pneumonia.