When a kitten is orphaned or abandoned by her mother before weaning, she will need you to provide the sustenance she needs to live and grow. Without properly formulated kitten milk replacement your orphaned kitten will not survive. There are a few highly rated milk replacements on the market which you can easily find in PetSmart, Petco, or online. Your veterinarian will also be able to recommend and possibly provide you with a nourishing milk replacement formula for your kitten. It is a good idea to take a newly orphaned kitten to the vet in any case, so the vet can make sure the kitten is healthy.
Milk replacements may also be fed to kittens that are nursing from their mother, but need additional nutrition. Sometimes there is a smaller kitten in a litter which is unlikely to survive without extra food. Supplementing their diet with a milk replacer can help that kitten survive and grow.
Kitten milk supplement may also be fed to the mother cat while she pregnant or nursing. This may help with her nutrition and milk supply.
A highly rated brand of milk replacer is PetAG KMR Milk Replacer for Kittens. KMR Milk Replacer is available in cans as a liquid or as a powder that you mix with water at home to create the formula. The formula should be fed to your kitten according to the package instructions.
Other Positively Rated Brands Include: Just Born® Highly Digestible Milk Replacer for Kittens and GNC Ultra Mega Premium Milk Replacer for Kittens.
Ask a veterinarian for assistance in choosing a brand of milk replacer if you have questions or concerns.
How do I feed the milk replacement to my kitten?
You will need to buy a newborn nursing kit, which includes a bottle, different sizes of nipples, and usually a brush to clean out the bottle. A bottle with measurements will be most helpful so that you can control and track how much milk your kitten eats.
