Feeding an abandoned neonatal kitten is the next most important thing, in giving them a shot at survival.

What to feed & what not to feed

Formula - The best option is to buy Kitten Milk Replacer Formula aka ‘KMR’. This is available at Petsvcare and Best Care. The instructions on how to feed them are provided on the can, and additional assistance should be gained from a vet. For more details, keep reading.

Goat Milk - It is not advised to feed with goat milk. It has a lesser success rate than the formula, as it is not entirely sufficient. However, if the formula is temporarily unavailable, raw goat milk will sustain the kitten until you are able to get the formula.

Cow Milk - Do not feed cow milk. A neonatal kitten's stomach cannot digest cow milk, so may result in an upset stomach. Further, cow milk does not contain the required nutrients.

Kittens can be fed through a syringe, or an eye dropper, but the most effective way is with a bottle and a nipple. These can be purchased at pet stores and most pharmacies. Ensure that it isn’t the normal bottle feeding nipple size used for newborn babies as it is too big for a kitten.

Instructions

Step 01: 

Ensure that the kitten is warm [Refer Keeping Newborns Warm]. It is not safe to feed them until you have stabilized their temperature. 

Step 02: 

Ensure that the milk is comfortably warm to the touch. 

Step 03: 

Keep the kitten belly down and support its head with your thumb . Never keep them on their back or carry them while feeding.

Step 04: 

Gently slide the nipple/syringe into the kitten's mouth.

Step 05: 

After the feeding is over, make sure to clean any excess milk from around the kitten’s mouth.

Step 06: 

Stimulate the kitten to potty (Refer Stimulating Newborns to Potty).

If the kitten latches - that's great, but it's okay if it takes a while for them to get the hang of things! Bottle feeding is an art form that improves with time, so be patient and don't give up. 

Tips

Be sure you're holding the head and body stable to guide her. Kittens don't necessarily understand what you're trying to do, so it's up to you to hold them steady and show them.

Take a look at your bottle and nipple, and make sure there are no issues such as a nipple that is cut too big or too small, or clumps in the formula that may be causing a blockage.

Wrap the kitten in a small baby blanket if need be to help her feel focused and swaddled; just make sure she is still in a proper belly-down position.

Rubbing the face with a cloth can simulate a mother's tongue and help them feel prepared to eat.

Refer to a kitten weight & feeding chart that provides information on how much should be fed and how often, depending on its weight. Weighing a kitten is important as it helps keep track of the kitten’s growth. 

We know that bottle feeding a neonatal kitten can be scary, and holding them may be nerve wracking - but it is all a part of the process. Be patient, take deep breaths, and carefully begin the process.