Step 3: Prepare the kitten

• Ensure that the kitten is warm before offering food. Do not attempt to feed a kitten who feels cold to the touch; it can create serious health consequences.
  • A kitten’s ideal body temperature is 100-102 degrees Fahrenheit. To warm up a kitten, place him on a heating pad wrapped in 2-3 layers of towels. Turn the kittens from side to side every 5 minutes and massage them gently with hand-rubbing.
  • NEVER feed a kitten on his back. The kitten should be on his stomach in a position similar to how he would lay next to his mother to nurse. You may try holding the kitten upright swaddled in a warm towel or have the kitten lay on a towel in your lap. Being wrapped up makes kittens feel safer as they eat. Experiment with what position works best for you and the kitten.
    • • If the kitten allows it, the front legs should be free to allow him to “knead” with his paws. This kneading activity is essential to the kitten’s muscle development & helps aid in digestion.

• • Turn the bottle upside down and allow a drop of formula to come out. Place the bottle nipple in the kitten’s mouth and gently move it back and forth, holding the bottle at a 45-degree angle to keep air from getting into the kitten’s stomach. This movement should encourage the kitten to start eating. ***Don’t squeeze the bottle, a kitten should suckle the formula out of the bottle on his own. If at first you don’t succeed, wait a few minutes and try again. Be patient; it may take a few tries. Usually the kitten will latch on and begin to suckle. If the bottle appears to be collapsing, gently remove the nipple from the kitten’s mouth and let more air return to the bottle.

• Allow the kitten to suckle at his own pace. If a kitten refuses to suckle, try stroking the kitten’s back or gently rubbing her on her forehead. This stroking is similar to momma cat’s cleaning and it may stimulate the kitten to nurse. If this doesn’t work, try rubbing some Karo Syrup on the kitten’s lips.
• AN IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT ASPIRATION: if liquid bubbles out through the kitten’s nose or he starts coughing, he may have gotten formula in his lungs. Pat the kitten very gently on the back to elicit a cough or sneeze, or hold him in an inverted position, (tail over head), for a moment to remove the formula from his lungs.
• If you are feeding multiple kittens, feed the first kitten until he stops nursing, then begin feeding the next kitten, and so on.
• To determine if a kitten has eaten enough, use your best judgement. A well-fed kitten’s belly should be round, but not hard and distended. Smaller or weaker kittens may eat less per feeding and will need to be fed more often. You can also use the “Minimum Feeding Requirements for Kittens Based on Weight” chart and the chart above “Kitten Weight & Feeding Chart”
• You can feed a 2nd round if you feel any of your kittens need to eat a little more. When a kitten stops nursing, he/she has had enough.
  • Remember – feeding smaller amounts more frequently is better for kittens, as it will help to keep them hydrated and prevent issues associated with overfeeding.
• Be sure not to overfeed, as this could cause diarrhea.
• Kittens need to be burped, just like human babies. Lay the kitten on his stomach, on your shoulder or in your lap, and very gently pat his back until you hear a little burp. You may need to burp a couple times per feeding.

It is normal for a bottle kitten to be “fussy” every now and then, and if it refuses to drink you may wait and try again at the next scheduled feeding. If a bottle kitten skips several meals, or has not eaten in 8 hours, something may be wrong. If the kitten(s) seem lethargic, follow the fading kitten protocol.