What to do if a kitten doesn't open its mouth to eat milk

** Dangerous situation:** When a newly born kitten doesn't open its mouth to eat milk, it's in a life-threatening situation. The owner can hold the kitten near the mother cat's abdomen, massage and squeeze the mother cat's nipples to promote milk flow, and help the kitten find the nipple position through its sense of smell. If necessary, assist the kitten in suckling the nipple, so it learns to drink milk. If the kitten cannot drink milk on its own, artificial feeding is necessary. Use a syringe to extract milk from the mother cat or goat's milk to feed the kitten. Remember to feed in small amounts repeatedly and keep the kitten warm during the process. Also, abdominal distension caused by inability to defecate independently can also lead to the kitten stopping drinking milk. The owner can use a cotton swab to wipe the kitten's anus and stimulate defecation.

A newly born kitten can only survive without milk for a maximum of 2 hours. If it goes beyond 2 hours, it may develop hypoglycemia, shock, and lowering of body temperature, which can lead to death.

If the kitten cannot drink milk or is too weak to do so, firstly, ensure the kitten's warmth. Then, hold the kitten near the mother cat's abdomen to strengthen their bond. Artificially massage and squeeze the mother cat's nipples to promote milk flow, allowing the kitten to find the nipple position through its sense of smell. If the kitten still doesn't drink milk, the owner needs to help it suckle the nipple, teaching it how to drink milk.
If the kitten cannot drink milk on its own, the owner can collect the mother cat's milk and feed it to the newborn kitten gradually using a bottle. If there isn't enough breast milk, pet goat milk can be used. Mix it with lukewarm water (about 40°C) and feed it to the kitten using a 1-milliliter syringe. gently push the syringe tip into the kitten's mouth and administer the milk. Rub the kitten's throat with your thumb to stimulate swallowing.

When artificial feeding, determine the approximate feeding frequency and volume based on the kitten's age. Feed the kitten smaller amounts but more frequently, usually every two hours. Also, ensure the kitten's warmth and frequently observe its breathing and body temperature.

If the kitten sucks too much breast milk, causing abdominal bloating, and the mother cat doesn't lick the kitten to help it defecate, the kitten may experience discomfort or pain in its abdomen and stop drinking milk. The owner can use a cotton swab dipped in water to gently wipe around the kitten's anus, helping it defecate. After defecation, feed the kitten some glucose to prevent dehydration or shock due to low blood sugar.
Oral development issues, upper jaw defects, and birth defects can also cause the kitten not to open its mouth or drink milk. If the kitten has such problems, consult a veterinarian immediately for treatment.