Typically, a kitten mainly depends on its motherās milk for sustenance. This milk provides all the essential nutrients that a kitten needs, especially in its first 24 to 48 hours of life. However, there may be times when you have to feed a kitten by yourself with a homemade kitten formula.
If you are a true feline lover, you mightāve faced this situation more than once. Your neighbor or friend might have given you one. Or you encountered one on the street and your heart just melted so you brought it home. Or possibly, you got one from a store or an animal shelter.Ā
Good thing is, there are substitutes for kitten milk. One is milk formula for kittens that are readily available in local pet stores. Another option for you is to make a homemade kitten formula.
Whatās a Supplement Kitten Formula?
Supplement Kitten Formula, also called Kitty Glop, is a nutrients-filled and easy to eat food especially designed for kittens.
Kitty Glop is particularly necessary for orphaned kittens, nursing mother cats, older cats that need dietary supplements, those with gum or dental problems and felines recovering from illness.Ā
Canned kitten foods and commercial kitten formulas are available in pet stores but they are not as healthy.
Ingredients of Supplement Kitten Formula
Itās actually quite easy to prepare a supplement kitten formula at the comfort of your own home. Itās most likely that the ingredients needed are already available in your own kitchen.Ā
You may use the following:Ā
- Condensed/ evaporated milk (containing minerals, vitamins, and amino acids)
- Sulphur acid or taurine (may be replaced with full-fat plain yoghurt or fish oil)
- Salad oil (salmon, olive, soy bean)
- Egg yolk
- Mayonnaise
- Honey
Kitten Formula Recipes
Recipe 1
Ingredients:
10 oz. evaporated milk
1 raw egg yolk
1 cup whole fat yogurt
2 tbsps. of regular mayonnaise
3 oz. sterilized water (boiled water or baby water)
Steps:
Put all the ingredients in a blender.
Mix until blended well.
Let it warm to kitten body temperature before feeding
The formula is ready to give to your kitten.
Recipe 2
Ingredients:
1 can evaporated milk (regular size)
1/2 tsp. honey
1 equal size water
8 oz. container plain yogurt
1 strained jar baby food meat (e.g. veal, lamb, or chicken)
Steps:
Mix all the ingredients.
Refrigerate up to three days and heat in the microwave.
These are just two simplest recipes that you may try at home. There are, of course, a lot more that you may try.Ā
How to Feed Your Kitten
Similar to human babies, kittens are very dependent when it comes to feeding. Here are the things you need to remember when feeding them:Ā
- Mix the formula well. Make sure that thereās no lump.Ā
- Put the kitten on a soft surface. It should be positioned at 45-degree angle on its tummy. Tilt the bottle with the formula and let the kitten nurse it.
- If the kitten is not sucking right, open its mouth and fit the nipple bottle in.
- After the feeding process, help the kitten burp. You may do this by holding the kitten to your chest with its head raised. Then, tap its back using your fingertips.Ā
Final Words
See? Itās actually pretty easy and simple to feed and care for a kitten. It doesnāt require much to make a homemade formula. After doing this for seven weeks, you may slowly introduce nutritious solid food to your kitten. You may also try a combination of dry and wet foods to get all the needed calories.