Kittens are nursed for five to seven weeks. Initially, kittens drink colostrum, the liquid produced by the nursing cat before her milk comes in. Colostrum is rich in antibodies, which provide young kittens with vital early protection against infectious diseases. Kittens grow extremely rapidly, gaining approximately ten to fifteen grams per day. They double their birth weight within ten days, and by the age of seven to eight weeks, weigh five to seven times more than when born. It is helpful to weigh kittens daily, and at the same time every day. If a kitten does not gain or loses weight, or cries often, a milk supplement should be provided. Cow's milk is not a good milk substitute for kittens, because it contains too much lactose and not enough calories (see Main Stages of a Cat's Life). Commercial milk replacement preparations adapted specifically to the needs of nursing kittens are available. Hand-feeding a kitten is, needless to say, a repetitive, time-consuming task.
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