Why won't my 3-day-old kitten drink formula? What should I do?

Question

A 3 day old kitten doesn't want to drink formula is that normal ?

Debi Matlack · Accepted Answer

That is not normal. I recommend getting the kitten seen by a vet right away. Such a tiny baby needs to eat every few hours. Many veterinarians will use an ordinary eye dropper or small syringe to utilize as a means of dispensing the milk replacer to the kitten. Most pet stores or veterinary clinics have nursing bottles, too, but be alert to the fact that some kittens cannot suck the contents through the small nipple. You may need to actually squeeze the milk out for the kitten while having the nipple in the kitty's mouth. Warm it up a little, too, under the hot water faucet! If it is after hours at your local animal hospital, your short-term solution will be to mix an egg yolk with a can of evaporated milk (make sure it is not the sweetened condensed milk). This is only a temporary "solution" (!) and should only be used for a couple of feedings. At the first few feedings the kittens will probably only consume a few cc’s worth of milk. (There are 5cc's in a teaspoon.) You will need to feed every couple of hours at first and gradually build up time between feedings as they begin to eat more at each meal. Start by offering a small amount. If the kitten won’t eat readily from the nipple and bottle, try an eyedropper or syringe and drip a little in the mouth, adding more as the kitten's pace. Make sure that the milk just above room temperature; try not to microwave since you can cause hot spots in the milk. Follow instructions on the milk replacer for mixing and storage. You will need to contact your veterinarian if the kitten has not eaten within 24 hours or is extremely weak. Once they get the hang of it, the kittens should consume the milk replacer greedily. You can stop the feeding when the kitten begins to slow down the consumption or becomes disinterested.

Why won't my 3-day-old kitten drink formula? What should I do?

Most Helpful Answer

Related Questions

What to do if my cat has a small hole with pus coming from its ear?

My degu lost teeth after an accident. How can I feed him soft foods?

My rat is losing weight and has breathing issues. What should I do?

Is my pet's occasional sneezing and eye crust a URI symptom?

Why is my 5-week-old chick struggling to walk with splayed legs?

My rescue rat is sick, not eating, and can't move. What should I do?

Share