What can I replace it with and can I make it myself?
- Fact 1:
For the most part, cat milk contains the same components as any other milk. - Fact 2:
There are more than three dozen manufacturers of artificial cat milk in the world - Fact 3:
Unfortunately, having taken on such a responsible task, many manufacturers were unable to recreate the formula of cat milk as accurately as possible. - Fact 4:
Buying a real formula is great, but without following the right rules, you can harm your pet.
The nature of cats is very gentle. As soon as the kittens are born, they immediately need milk. Therefore, the wise organism of the mother cat begins to prepare for this important process in advance. Even before birth, special structures of the body begin to produce colostrum (“young” milk), which is of vital importance for newborn babies. As soon as the kittens are born and attach themselves to the cat, along with colostrum they receive a “vaccine” against dangerous infections. This is practically the foundation for the kitten’s future immunity, which is laid in the first 24 hours after birth.
But tragedies happen when a mother cat dies during labor (or after childbirth), or for good reasons is unable to feed her offspring. Sometimes cats don't have milk. In such an extreme situation, all responsibility for the cubs falls on the shoulders of the owner. He only has a day to find a replacement for cat milk. Despite the fact that colostrum has a unique composition that cannot be replaced by any chemical formula, there are several alternatives to this miraculous liquid. And every cat owner should remember them.
Features of natural milk substitutes for cats
Looking at photos of cat milk substitutes in online stores, many owners do not see a significant difference between traditional products suitable for human consumption.
But there are still some nuances; artificial colostrum contains several groups of elements for the good formation of the immune system of furry babies, these include:
- Vitamins.
- Minerals.
- Nutrients.
The optimal solution when a cat cannot feed newborns due to illness or other excesses is to purchase a ready-made product for these purposes. To be aware of all aspects and understand the difference between the usual goat or cow raw materials, you need to have all the information about specialized nutrition.
Important! If we take into account the content of lactose and proteins, then animal colostrum is superior in these indicators not only to the fluid of artiodactyls, but also to human breast milk.
Why is cat milk special?
At first glance, it may seem that cat milk is not significantly different from other types of milk. This is true: it has not only the same consistency and appearance, but also the same chemical composition. Only the ratio of the substances contained in it differs. In percentage terms they are distributed as follows :
- 70-75% – water;
- fat content is no more than 12%, which is noticeably lower (by about 6%) than in the milk of cows and goats;
- 3-5% falls on lactose;
- about 10% are proteins.
As you can see, cat milk is significantly different from regular milk. In addition, during the first feeding with mother's milk, special antibodies are transferred to the kittens, which protect the offspring from various viruses and form the babies' immunity. Therefore, it is impossible to fully replace mother’s milk for a kitten with natural analogues.
Description of composition
For serious pet owners, the first question that arises is the quality of ready-made food rations, and not how much the cat milk substitute costs, because the further development of the animals depends on this indicator.
There are quite a few manufacturers, some of them offer entire product lines for sale, often containing a sufficient number of such elements as:
- Amino acids, namely taurine.
- Mineral components.
- Vitamin complex.
- Omega-3 and omega-6 are fatty acids.
A shortage of components is unacceptable, so when purchasing a package you should carefully study the information on the contents provided on the spread. If you miss this moment, your pets may get sick; some individuals have had severe complications and pathologies.
How often are newborn kittens fed and how is the serving size determined?
In order for tiny babies to emerge, they will have to be fed every 2 hours, including at night. Two-week-old kittens can be fed every 3 hours during the day and once at night. Feeding three-week-old cats involves feeding them 4 times a day during the day; they are not touched at night. After eating, the kittens immediately fall asleep, and when hungry, they begin to squeak loudly and crawl around the box, poking their noses into the walls.
For the first five days after birth, kittens should eat 30 ml of the prepared mixture per 100 g of weight per day. Then the amount of food is gradually increased so that the daily norm is 38 ml/100 g. From the 15th day, every day the baby is given 45 ml/100 g of weight. This diet is maintained for the next 9 days, and then, for a month, the daily dose is 55 ml.
With a properly selected diet, the cat should regularly gain weight. If at the time of birth the baby weighs 90 g, then in the first week of life he should add 20 g, up to 110 g, and a week later - up to 190–200 g. In the third week, the baby’s weight should be at least 270 g. When does the kitten weigh a little less than 400 g, they begin to gradually introduce complementary foods.
Description of specific situations
There are several cases when owners cannot do without a ready-made diet for feeding furry newborn babies.
People ask the question of how to make a cat milk replacer or which company to choose after discovering the following problems in an adult:
- Carrying out a caesarean section.
- Insufficient amount of colostrum.
- Complete lack of nutritional fluid in the body.
- Mastitis.
The possibility of purchasing natural food in factories or specialized stores is not excluded, but such products are quite difficult to find in the required volume, and the price will also seem overpriced to some owners.
Based on these facts, people prefer to buy artificial analogues; high-quality products can give babies all the necessary nutrients for further development.
How to use it correctly
Milk substitutes should be given to newborn babies who do not yet know how to drink on their own using a bottle with a baby pacifier; in extreme cases, a disposable syringe without a needle will also be suitable for these purposes.
Before starting feeding, the mixture must be heated to a temperature of about 38–39°C.
It is recommended to store the prepared substitute in the refrigerator. The optimal storage period is no more than a day. To properly prepare cat milk replacer purchased in stores and veterinary pharmacies, you should pay special attention to the following recommendations from experts:
- The kitten's body is very susceptible to various types of pathogens. Therefore, it is important to use sterile containers for preparing complementary foods and feeding them. Before feeding, you should wash your hands thoroughly.
- It is recommended to avoid purchasing large packages of formula, although they may seem more economical. The fact is that during long-term storage, bacteria and microbes that are dangerous to the health of the baby can penetrate into the product.
- You should avoid feeding your animal from a spoon. Such experiments often end in the death of the kitten, because the baby can choke on the mixture. In addition, the food can enter the lungs and lead to the development of pneumonia.
- The dosage of food should be increased very carefully and gradually, taking into account the age norms of the kitten. In this case, you should carefully monitor the behavior, condition and stool of your pet to avoid overfeeding or malnutrition.
- The mixtures should be diluted exclusively with clean and warm boiled water in the ratio indicated on the package.
The mixture should be prepared according to the recommendations indicated on the packaging of the finished cat milk replacer of one or another brand.
Tips for choosing
Experts often warn consumers against rushing when purchasing goods, because in the current situation, attacks of anxiety and panic regarding the health of pets cannot be ruled out.
It is necessary to select only the highest quality and most affordable version of the product, so as not to later encounter a shortage that will lead to a change of brand.
It wouldn’t hurt to first read reviews about cat milk replacer; you can do this without leaving your home; in the age of modern technology, there are many sites where pet owners share such information.
Among the leading brands it is worth highlighting:
- Royal Canin.
- Nutri-Vet.
- Gimpet.
- Trixie.
- Dolphos.
Every person interested in purchasing can easily select the most suitable composition for his situation; the assortment is really large, but at the acquisition stage you should be careful.
Advice! A price that is too low will not confirm the quality of the product, but high prices should also not be taken as a guarantee; it is better to stick to the average, then the food will not affect the family budget, and if there is a shortage, you can always find the packaging on the counter.
Frequency of feeding
During the first week, babies are fed every 2-3 hours during the day to avoid various diseases and to strengthen the body. Then gradually reduce feeding at night, bringing the feeding interval to 5 hours in the second week. At week 3, when the kittens begin to see, feeding at night is stopped (from 24:00 to 6:00 am). After 4 weeks, they proceed to the feeding process according to the usual schedule.
We invite you to familiarize yourself with: Bengal cats - photos and descriptions of the characteristics of the breed
The kitten may refuse further food intake due to the fact that he generally eats little. Sometimes this is associated with some kind of disease. If you have any doubts, consult your veterinarian.
If the baby's tummy is large and dense, you should stop feeding after feeding the required portion. The animal may not feel full and therefore continue to eat.
Raising kittens without a cat is a completely accessible process for any compassionate person. Very little time will pass and the result will be a playful mood and a healthy appearance for your grown-up pet.
Self-created
Among the most common methods of preparing a nutritional composition, there are easier and more complex versions that involve the use of different ingredients.
To make a cat's milk substitute at home from raw materials milked from a cow, you need to follow a certain algorithm of actions.
Buy a natural product in an amount of 0.5 liters, using a metal container, the liquid warms up a little, experts do not recommend using a microwave oven, add and mix thoroughly 4 tablespoons of sugar and the egg yolk.
To increase the beneficial properties, specially developed vitamin complexes for small kittens should be introduced; they are sold in drops; the addition to the diet should be dosed according to the instructions.
Sterilization and hygiene
Pacifiers, syringes, bottles and other feeding devices should always be sterilely clean. After each feeding, the syringe or pipette, pacifier, milk container must be properly processed. Rinsing with hot water is not enough to clean dishes.
The ideal option is to use a special steam sterilizer. It is sold in pharmacies in children's products. You can use pharmacy sterilizing liquids. After using them, the dishes must be rinsed under warm water. The use of dishwashing detergents is strictly prohibited.
Also watch the video on how to feed a newborn kitten without a cat:
Using condensed milk
High-quality sugar-free products are excellent as a base for colostrum; bone meal should be added to the heated mass.
- It is necessary to adhere to the proportions of 1 to 1; the finished composition is well absorbed by animals and nourishes them with useful vitamins.
- You can use it at a very early age of your four-legged friend; for feeding, you need to prepare a pipette or a small medical syringe.
- The use of regular baby food cannot be ruled out; people experienced in this matter advise buying the “Malyutka” brand, diluting the substitute according to the instructions.
Dishes for feeding kittens
You can feed kittens from bottles and syringes purchased at the pharmacy. Often, an ordinary disposable syringe without a needle is used for this purpose. The syringe must be replaced with a new one throughout the entire feeding period. Its lower end is sometimes rounded, treated with thin sandpaper or a file. Even in cases where the kitten initially does not immediately like this method of feeding, he will gradually get used to it and even begin to suck out the contents of the syringe.
A homemade device in the form of a bottle of used drops and a pipette is also suitable for feeding kittens. A bottle of eye drops, for example, chloramphenicol drops, is ideal. It resembles a baby bottle, and the top part is adapted for a nipple made from the rubber part of a pipette. Before use, all items are washed well and must be sterilized. Abandoned kittens have very weak immunity, so bottles and nipples must be sterilized and the syringe replaced with a new one.
