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Is my mother cat producing enough milk for her newborn kittens?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

How can I tell if a cat is producing milk for her kittens?

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4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Laura E. McRae

Veterinary Technician

Published on April 1st, 2015

The best way to determine if your cat is producing milk is by observing the kittens. Newborns spend long hours nursing - up to 8 hours per day - with sessions lasting up to 45 minutes. When the mother's milk is being let down, the kittens will each latch onto a preferred nipple and stay there. If you observe closely you will be able to see their little mouths and tongues moving from the suckling action. Often their ears may move as well. Nursing kittens will knead the mother's abdomen which is an important stimulus to milk let down. After a feeding session, the kittens will have round, full bellies and will fall asleep. Ideally, healthy kittens who are nursing well will gain 7-10 grams every day. They can, and should, be weighed every few days to confirm gains.

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298Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Other Answers

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    Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

    Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

    Published on March 10th, 2017

    You can weigh the kitten before and after nursing to ensure that she is gaining weight - she should also gain weight each day, so if she isn't, this means that she isn't getting enough milk. If you're unsure, I would recommend bottle-feeding her with kitten milk replacer every 1-2 hours in addition to allowing her to nurse on her mother.

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    Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

    Veterinarian

    Published on March 15th, 2019

    Monitor the kittens for any signs of distress as this is likely the best way to know if she is producing milk. Kittens who are hungry will be excessively vocal and move around more. Well fed kittens will latch onto the nipple and nurse and fall asleep. You can also weigh the kittens every day as they should gain weight on a daily basis. When in doubt, have her checked by the veterinarian. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

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    27Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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    Answered By Sara Farmer, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on July 28th, 2017

    The best way to know whether or not the kittens are getting enough milk is to weigh them daily. You should use a gram scale (food scales work great) and the kittens should be gaining about 10-15 grams per day. If their weights are stable or if they are losing weight they may not be getting enough milk and ou should take the mother and kittens to your veterinarian to make sure everyone is healthy. Bottle feeding with a kitten milk replacer might be recommended.

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    7Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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