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How to feed and care for a 1-2 month old kitten I just found?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | unneutered

Hey, I got a urgent question you see I found this kitten outside my home she was stuck behind a board or something and was constantly meowing I took her home it was quite and was snuggling but then she was meowing constantly I went out to find her mother but noone was in sight I searched the back and the front of the sector no kitten or mother was in sight and now I'm worried if I separated a kitten from her mother I feel kinda guilty and happy at the same time the kitten is about 1-2 months old

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Dr. Elizabeth

Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

Veterinarian

Published on December 6th, 2019

Poor Tim! If you can't find the mother, you will need to take care of Tim. Young kittens can require a lot of care initially. At his age, Tim can begin weaning. If he is healthy, he will eat out of low lipped bowls or plates. I recommend to get kitten formula, canned kitten food and dry (kibble kitten food). Set out a bowl of the plain dry kibble, a bowl of the canned kitten food and bowl of kibbled soaked in formula. You may need to smear the canned food and the soaked kibble around his mouth or even place a few small pieces in his mouth. Most kittens will begin eating this way. Gradually reduce the amount of soaked kibbled over the next 3 weeks. The food I recommend most is called Royal Canin Baby Cat. It is made for young kittens under 8 weeks of age:
https://www.royalcanin.com/us/cats/products/retail-products/mother-babycat-dry-cat-food

Here is a link about raising very young kittens including a formula you can make at home if nothing else is available:
https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-raise-orphan-kittens/

Lastly, here is a link about litterbox training:
https://www.petcoach.co/article/litter-box-training-for-your-kitten/

I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.
Vote Icon1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Megan, DVM, CVA

    Veterinarian

    Published on July 25th, 2017

    I would use a kitten formula and use either a kitten bottle or small syringe to feed it. You should feed him small amounts every 2-3 hours. Most cats will start to refuse to eat when full. Also you can start putting him in a plate of canned kitten food (all 4 paws) in about a week to try to encourage him to start weaning over to cat food. You will likely still have to supplement with formula until he starts eating more of the canned kitten food. Also make sure you are stimulating his genitals with a warm wash clothe every time he eats to help encourage him to pee/poop. I hope this helps!

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on January 16th, 2017

    So lovely of you to take in Skippy and look after him! Given that he is around one month old, it's fine to start weaning him onto kitten food. To help him wean and to get used to dry food, I would soak a high quality kitten formulated dry food in water water until soft. Then mix that with kitten formula such as KMR to make a mush the consistency of oatmeal. Over the next two weeks, gradually increase the amount of dry kitten food and decrease the amount of water and KMR you use until he is eating the dry kitten food only. You can feed him as much as he wants to eat, as it will help him gain weight and grow. Once he's bigger and on fully on kitten food, then you can start feeding him according to the package instructions on the kitten food bag. Make sure Skippy has deworming treatments as well, as intestinal worms will prevent him from gaining weight.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

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What to feed and care for a 1-week-old found kitten without a mom?
Good for you for taking in Binkie! Very young kittens need to drink kitten milk replacer (Esbilac is one brand) from a kitten bottle every 2-3 hours. Shortly after feeding her, you will need to take a slightly damp warm cloth and gently rub her abdomen and hind end to stimulate her to urinate and defecate. Keep her confined to a confined crate, open box, or other small area with blankets or towels since she is not yet old enough to move around your home on her own. Remember that she is not able to regulate her body temperature as well as an adult, so try to keep the air temperature from becoming extremely hot or cold. Around 4 weeks of age you can begin to introduce softened kitten food in addition to the kitten milk replacer. Binkie should go to her vet around 6 weeks of age to start her vaccinations, deworming and flea preventatives. Enjoy your little one!
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I found a 1-day old orphan kitten. How do I care for a newborn?
How lovely of you to look after this kitten! Newborns kittens are extremely fragile and require round the clock care. First thing you need to do is get a kitten formula. I'm not sure if you can get KMR brand in India, but I would recommend that if you can find it, it's an excellent formula. Newborn kittens cannot last long without food, so find some kitten formula immediately. It's also very important to keep it warm at all times. I will put a link below on how to raise an orphan kitten. http://www.2ndchance.info/orphankitten.htm
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Is 4 weeks too young for kittens? What food and care should I give?
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