What Kind of Cat Food Do Newborn Kittens Eat?

Very young kittens have very specific nutritional needs.

Breast Milk

Ideally, newborn kittens should drink their mother's breast milk, which has all the nutrients that the kittens need. They normally spend all their time with their mother, who provides for all their needs. They can start taking supplemental food sources such as milk replacer when they reach 3 weeks of age.

Orphaned Kittens

In the case of abandoned kittens with no access to their mother, the human owner has to meet their nutritional needs to maximize their chances of surviving. Newborn kittens can drink commercial milk specially formulated for kittens, or human baby formula. Contrary to popular belief, cow's milk is not suitable for cats, because it has too little fat and too much lactose, calcium and phosphorus.

Bottom Line

Whenever possible, newborn kittens should drink their mother's milk, because it meets their nutritional needs best. However, if the mother dies, rejects the kittens or has mammary disorders, the kittens need human intervention to survive. In such a case, they should be fed human baby formula or feline formula.

References

• Max's House Animal Rescue: Kitten Care