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 Kittens need a diet of high-energy food because they grow and develop quickly. You can find out the nutritional value of your kitten's food by contacting the pet food manufacturer, or by checking the label. By paying close attention to your kitten's nutrient intake, you have a better chance of raising a healthy and happy kitten.

Kitten Dietary Needs
Protein: 35 to 50% protein
Fat: 17 to 35% fat
Energy:
  • at two months: 175kcal/day
  • at three months: 260kcal/day
  • at six months: 280kcal/day
Unlike adult cats, kittens can be fed on demand, since they will stop eating once they're full. This method allows your young kitten to eat as much as she needs in order to grow into a healthy adult cat.

Cow's milk is generally not an appropriate food for kittens. Cats lack the proper enzymes to digest dairy products. Access to fresh water is what your kitten needs.

Weaning Kittens
Weaning is the process of acclimating a kitten's system to solid food. This is a gradual change and should vary with your kitten's advancing age.

At about three to four weeks of age, a kitten is capable of experimenting with solid foods. By five to six weeks of age, though small, the kitten's teeth are ready to make the transition to a solid diet. Some mothers will allow their kittens to nurse up to three or four months of age, while others actively avoid nursing once the kittens develop teeth and begin to eat solid foods. The mother's interaction with her kittens is a good indicator of whether the kittens are ready to ingest solid foods. If you notice that she is hissing or batting at them, then you should start the process of weaning them from her care. Your veterinarian can give you advice regarding the proper steps to follow when weaning your kittens.

The kittens can be removed from their mother once they've started eating solid foods. Most kittens make the transition to canned food very rapidly between six and eight weeks of age.

Never remove a kitten from its mother before the age of six weeks unless health problems or neglect make feeding impossible. Kittens weaned too soon may even try to nurse from their human caregivers and will often knead items such as blankets and towels.

To wean a kitten gradually, follow these steps:
  • At three to five weeks, feed her gruel — canned kitten food with small amounts of water added.
  • At five to six weeks, begin the transition to canned food without adding water.
  • At six to eight weeks, gradually increase the amount of food.
  • At eight weeks, begin mixing in small kitten kibble.
Orphaned Kittens
You may have to take over the feeding of a newborn kitten if the mother is neglectful, if she does not produce enough milk, or the kitten is orphaned. You can find appropriate bottles and supplies at your local pet store.

Colostrum and Immunity
Kittens are born without immunity to infectious diseases and need at least one meal of their mother's colostrum (the first milk produced after giving birth) in order to provide them with important antibodies.

If this is not possible, the kittens must be kept in a clean environment away from other cats with the exception of their littermates. Although no perfect substitute for mother's milk exists, several good commercial alternatives have been designed for nursing kittens.

Homemade Recipes for Short-Term Use
If you're in a bind, you can make your own formula for short-term use:
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 2 teaspoons of Karo syrup.
You might prefer this recipe, if you have the ingredients on hand:
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 teaspoon Karo or maple syrup per pint mixture
  • 1 teaspoon brewer's yeast or bee pollen per pint mixture
  • A vitamin-mineral supplement like Fauve or Vital Nutrition.
Bottle-Feeding Technique for Kittens
Most kittens can be fed with a bottle, although some kittens may have problems swallowing or they're weak suckers and need a bit more help.

Kittens can be fed with bottles designed for premature babies, an eyedropper, or a special curved kitten bottle. Check with your veterinarian to find out what's right for your kitten. Remember to sterilize all equipment to keep the kitten safe from infection.

The Feeding Schedule
Kittens are like babies. The amount and timing of feeding varies as they age.
  • From birth to seven days, feed 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of formula every 2 hours. Yes, you'll have to wake up every two hours to feed the kitty.
  • After a week, the kitten should take 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons of formula every two hours during the day, and every four hours during the night.
  • In the third week of life, feed the kitten 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons of formula every two hours, but only once between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m.
After each feeding, wipe the kitten's anal and genital area with a moist cloth or cotton ball. This simulates the mother's normal licking in the area and induces the kitten to urinate and defecate. Keep the kitten clean and dry in this area to prevent rashes.

Take Care with Heat
Your orphaned kitten should be kept in a warm box with a blanket or a heating lamp. You may also wish to supply some sort of mother substitute such as a hot water bottle wrapped in a blanket or towel.

Be cautious with heat sources. In general, heating pads are not recommended. Never use a sun lamp. Animals placed directly on heating pads are at high risk of thermal burns. If a heating pad is used, turn to the lowest setting and cover with a towel or blanket to prevent direct contact with the kitten.
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