Can Kittens Drink Baby Formula
However even after she has weaned your kitten should still not consume human baby formula even as a treat.
Can kittens drink baby formula. Because human baby formula is made from cow s milk it is high in lactose. Because human baby formula is made from cow s milk it is high in lactose. Homemade formula 1 1 quart whole goat s milk 1 teaspoon light karo syrup. If she s not available or able to feed them you can feed orphaned kittens kitten milk replacement formula by a bottle.
The optimal nourishment for a kitten is its mother s milk. The cornell book of cats says that human baby formula can be used if made up to double the normal strength although human baby formula is normally not nutritious enough for kittens. For this reason a kitten or cat should also not be given cow s milk. While a newborn kitten can digest lactose which is also found in a mother cat s milk kittens lose that ability shortly after they are weaned.
A new litter of kittens is often an exciting event but if something goes wrong and you need to care for the kittens you may suddenly need kitten formula. Older already weaned kittens just need water to stay hydrated. Because human baby formula is made from cow s milk it is high in lactose. Kittens can drink human baby formula in desperate situations but it is not acceptable for long term diets due to lactose and an incorrect ratio of nutrients.
This means if the kitten weighs four ounces they should eat about 32 milliliters of formula total in a day so you can give eight milliliters of formula every four hours. If that is unavailable specially formulated milk replacements are the next best option. Homemade milk replacer recipes often feature ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen and can help you to get by in an emergency. No cow milk for kitties.
While a newborn kitten can digest lactose which is also found in a mother cat s milk kittens lose that ability shortly after they are weaned. Young kittens those under 4 or 5 weeks old need to nurse from their mom to get nutrients and hydration.