what to feed a newborn kitten

Newborn kittens cannot eat solid food, whether its dry or canned, and they rely on their mothers milk to get the nutrients they need. If the mother is not around, you can feed your newborn kitten a nutritional substitute called kitten milk replacer. Its essential to avoid feeding a kitten the same milk that humans consume, as typical cows milk can make cats very sick. Commercial kitten milk replacers are recommended as they are superior to cows milk and homemade mixtures. The milk replacer you choose should meet several key nutritional factors, including moisture, dry matter, crude protein, fat, and lactose. Orphaned kittens should be fed on a strict schedule, preferably every 2-4 hours. Kittens up to two weeks old can generally consume their daily intake in 4-5 meals per day. Small breed kittens should be limited to 10-15mL per feeding during the first week of life to prevent diarrhea. Once your kitten is about 3.5 to 4 weeks old, you can start weaning them off of the bottle. This is a gradual process that takes time and practice.