How to Fatten My Kitten Up

Kittens require high protein diets to stimulate growth when they are small.

Kittens that have been abandoned by their mother at an early age, or are found as strays, will likely be malnourished as a result of not feeding long enough from their mother. Milk from a mother cat provides the kitten with a lot of fat and protein to help it grow up strong and healthy. If you have found a malnourished kitten that needs to be fattened up, you will need to hand-feed the malnourished kitten until it is able to be weaned onto normal cat food.

Things You'll Need

• Kitten formula
• Bottle or eyedropper
• Canned food

Instructions

1. Fill a small bottle with kitten formula that has been warmed according to the manufacturer's instructions. There are a few well-known kitten formulas that will nourish the kitten to a proper weight.

2. Feed the kitten by hand several times a day. If the kitten appears too weak to eat from the bottle, you will have to feed it via eyedropper so that it eats enough formula.

3. Rub the kitten's stomach after each feeding. Gently massage the stomach so as to stimulate proper digestion.

4. Continue feeding the kitten formula until it reaches three to four weeks. At this time, mix a small amount of canned food into the kitten formula. Gradually wean the kitten off the formula until it is only eating canned food. By this point, the kitten should have gained a significant amount of weight and improved in general health.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask your veterinarian to recommend a kitten formula.

• Don't feed your kitten regular cow's milk. This does not contain enough fat or protein to help nourish a small kitten.

• If your kitten's condition does not improve over a few days, seek the help of a veterinarian to help you develop a proper feeding plan. Your veterinarian will let you know how severe the cat's condition is and whether it requires professional care.

References

• Cats Unlimited: Kittens