WHEN TO USE
If the kittens are orphaned, if the litter is too large, or if the mother's milk cannot be consumed (due to a mammary condition), it may be necessary to administer a cat milk replacer. Feline mother's milk produces a certain amount of growth in kittens. Therefore, if the kittens do not gain weight over two consecutive days and no disease is detected, the mother's milk may be insufficient, with the kittens not receiving enough for growth. In this case, bottle feeding a milk replacer as a supplement to the mother's milk is a good solution for preparing all kittens in the litter for weaning.
HOW TO CHOOSE
Cat milk replacer, or substitute mother's milk, may be chosen based on various criteria:- Composition of the milk. It is best to administer a type of milk that is as similar as possible to the mother's milk. Cat milk is fairly concentrated, similar to dog milk in composition, and much richer than cow's milk, particularly in fat, protein, and minerals.
Even though the composition of commercial substitute mother's milk is not always clearly indicated, a few guidelines can aid in making a selection. Kittens are adapted to digesting milk, that is, to digesting protein, fat, and lactose, all of animal origin. However, they are not yet well supplied with enzymes for digesting starch. Therefore, it is best to choose a milk with as little starch as possible, and, more generally, with as few ingredients of plant origin as possible (except oil, which provides essential fatty acids). The milk should contain all the necessary minerals (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, chlorine, potassium), trace elements (iron, copper, zinc, iodine, selenium, fluorine, manganese), and vitamins (A, D3, E, K, C, B-group vitamins), as well as a certain number of essential amino acids (such as tryptophan and arginine), without forgetting the essential fatty acids (linoleic, linolenic, and arachidonic acids). Finally, kittens, like adult cats, require taurine in the diet.- Dilution of the milk. The dilution recommended by the manufacturer must be considered in conjunction with the indicated composition. Substitute mother's milk is generally sold as a powder that must be mixed with water.- Depending on the product, it is recommended that one part powder be diluted in two or three parts water.
Ease of administering, cleaning, etc. Usually, manufacturers supply bottles with nipples more or less adapted for kittens.- The results obtained. This is by far the most important criterion. Kittens must grow (gain weight) steadily without diarrhea, etc...
HYGIENE AND FEEDING SCHEDULE
The method used for bottle feeding is at least as important as the quality of the milk administered. The feeding schedule must be regular over 24 hours, both day and night, with feeding occurring more frequently the younger the kitten: from seven bottles every 24 hours in the first week to two in the sixth week, with solid food being offered by the time the kitten is thirty days old. Strict hygiene must be observed during feedings, as kittens are fragile and must be protected from infection:- The person who prepares the milk and administers the bottles must be sure to wash his or her hands prior to these activities;- Before the bottles are filled with milk, they must be thoroughly cleaned (with a bottle brush) and rinsed in very hot water. They must also be sterilized regularly;- The milk must be prepared just prior to feeding;- Unless the manufacturer indicates otherwise, the milk must be prepared using water that has been boiled and cooled to a temperature of 37 to 38°C before feeding;- At each bottle feeding, the kitten must be allowed to suckle freely;
When the kittens are young, the caregiver should stimulate their perineum with a warm, damp cloth during suckling to imitate the mother's licking behavior and thereby stimulate urination and defecation.
Log in
