If you didn’t already know, feeding an orphaned kitten human formula is bad. The human baby formula is made of cow’s milk and cow’s milk is high in lactose. So if you do find yourself taking care of a kitten. You must know how to make homemade kitten formula. It is safer, healthier, and easy.
Such homemade kitten formula recipes are useful when you don’t have anywhere else go. It’s the holiday season, your kitten is hungry, and the pet store is closed. Your kitten will be completely out of harm’s way with homemade kitten formula. It works on all kittens and can help them stay full without upsetting their tummy.
Here is the best homemade kitten formula recipe to make at home.
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#1 Homemade Kitten Formula – Using Goat’s Milk
With goat’s milk, non-fat yogurt, and eggs, there’s much you can do. Make sure whichever ingredients you use, it has no artificial flavoring or fillers. It’s rich in vitamins and proteins. And there’s no trace of cow’s milk in the yogurt or sugar in the syrup.
Ingredients:
- 32 ounce of goat’s milk
- One egg’s yolk
- Big spoon of plain fat-free yogurt
- One small spoon of Karo syrup
- Non-flavored and unadulterated gelatin
Method:
- Combine milk and gelatin in a pan. If the kitten is 1 week old, use a single gelatin envelope. For the second week, use two envelopes. And so on.
- Put the pan on low flame heat. Keep stirring the mixture slowly until the gelatin melts.
- Turn off the heat and add the rest of the ingredients slowly.
- Never feed your kitten hot formula. Allow it to cool down to room temperature.
#2 Homemade Kitten Formula – Using Evaporated Milk
Evaporated milk is way better than condensed milk. The latter may be too sweet which is not healthy for a kitten. This recipe using the simplest of ingredients to make the perfect homemade kitten formula.
Ingredients:
- 4 ounces of evaporated milk
- One egg’s yolk
- Some Karo light syrup
- A drop of pediatric vitamins (liquid form)
Method:
- Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl.
- You can refrigerate it for 7 days without spoiling.
- Never feed this formula cold. Reheat it with warm water to feed on a nursing bottle.
Read more: Importance of Feeding Your Kitten Organic Cat Food
How to Feed Homemade Kitten Formula
Not everyone knows how to feed a kitten. Feeding a kitten for the first time can be scary. You want to do everything you can to make that little furball feel comfortable. And one of the most effective ways to soothe a cat is by food. Let alone a scared and orphaned kitty!
You must keep the following tips in mind when feeding a kitten.
How to Safely Bottle Feed a Kitten
Never Feed Your Kitten Hot Formula
It shouldn’t have to be cold either! The best way to warm up homemade kitten formula is with warm water. Place the formula in a jar and under the jar place a bowl of warm water. Allow the bottom half of the jar to be completely immersed in the warm water.
If the formula has become too cold and hard, you can switch to hot water.
As soon as the formula loosens up and feels warm, take it off. You should be able to touch the formula by finger. It should feel warm but not hot so it’s easily digestible for the kitten. Sort of like a warm bowl of soup on a winter’s night.
Feed Your Kitten In A Nursing Bottle Or An Eyedropper
You might end up overfeeding your kitten without realizing it. Kittens have a natural instinct to suck the milk out of their mother’s teat. But homemade kitten formula is thicker in volume than cat’s milk.
Transfer the formula from the jar into a nursing bottle or a plastic eyedropper. Place the tip of the bottle/dropper on the tip of the kitten’s tongue. And gently press to extract a drop or two on the kitten’s tongue. This should help your kitten eat healthily and fully. Never force the formula on the kitten.
Overfeeding may lead to diarrhea or vomiting. Kittens require a few drops of food at a time. The best way to know when to stop is when her stomach becomes all round. That’s when you know she’s full and you need to stop.
This begs the following question. How often to feed a kitten homemade kitten formula?
The ideal time to feel a kitten of 1-2 weeks is every 3-4 hours. They need constant attention when they’re young. Unless the vet recommends otherwise, feeding once every 3 hours is perfect. You can increase the time distance as your kitten matures.
A kitten of 2-5 weeks must be fed once every 4-5 hours or so. And each time you feed the kitten, small amounts are a must. You must go slow and be patient with your kitten.
Wrap-Up
Supplementing store-brought kitten formula for something homemade is simple. It’s the best substitute for cat’s milk for a kitten who you’ve rescued. Newborn kittens need to be fed once every 3 hours. In an ideal world, the mother cat will always be around to feed her litter. But in case of emergencies, this article might help.
The homemade kitten formula recipes are super easy and quick to make. They contain all-natural ingredients with no fillers, artificial sugar, or lactose. Kittens cannot digest lactose completely. They need something lighter like goat’s milk. This debunks a common misconception that you must feed a kitten cow’s milk.
So to help a kitten out of starvation or malnutrition, feed her the best homemade kitten formula.
Read more: How To Syringe Feed Your Cat?