My orphaned kitten isn't eating much. How much milk & best bottle?

I recommend using a bottle with a small nipple - you can find kits for newborns at most pet supply stores. A commercial milk replacer like KMR is best, and you should feed the kitten every 2-3 hours. The kitten should be taking about 25 ml of milk per day and you should offer the bottle with the kitten laying on its stomach, not held on its back like a baby. You will also need to stimulate the kitten to urinate and defecate after eating by rubbing a warm washcloth on the genital and anal openings - neonatal kittens cannot urinate or defecate on their own. If the kitten is not interested in the bottle you may need to tube feed and should see your veterinarian for a demonstration.

I think the bunny looks fine. Just because it is smaller does not mean it is not healthy. You can add goat milk (regular, not low fat) to the kitten milk replacer and a pinch of acidophilus (aka Probiotic) to the formula to promote healthy gut flora. Formulas vary depending on region. Avoid Esbilac and any puppy formulas. FEED TWICE A DAY ONLY and let them have free choice alfalfa hay. At 3-6 weeks of age they should be eating about 13-15 cc/ml each feeding (two feedings a day) but it may be LESS depending on size of rabbit so they little one may only eat 8-12cc. That is OK. Hope this helps.

That is not normal. I recommend getting the kitten seen by a vet right away. Such a tiny baby needs to eat every few hours. Many veterinarians will use an ordinary eye dropper or small syringe to utilize as a means of dispensing the milk replacer to the kitten. Most pet stores or veterinary clinics have nursing bottles, too, but be alert to the fact that some kittens cannot suck the contents through the small nipple. You may need to actually squeeze the milk out for the kitten while having the nipple in the kitty's mouth. Warm it up a little, too, under the hot water faucet! If it is after hours at your local animal hospital, your short-term solution will be to mix an egg yolk with a can of evaporated milk (make sure it is not the sweetened condensed milk). This is only a temporary "solution" (!) and should only be used for a couple of feedings. At the first few feedings the kittens will probably only consume a few cc’s worth of milk. (There are 5cc's in a teaspoon.) You will need to feed every couple of hours at first and gradually build up time between feedings as they begin to eat more at each meal. Start by offering a small amount. If the kitten won’t eat readily from the nipple and bottle, try an eyedropper or syringe and drip a little in the mouth, adding more as the kitten's pace. Make sure that the milk just above room temperature; try not to microwave since you can cause hot spots in the milk. Follow instructions on the milk replacer for mixing and storage. You will need to contact your veterinarian if the kitten has not eaten within 24 hours or is extremely weak. Once they get the hang of it, the kittens should consume the milk replacer greedily. You can stop the feeding when the kitten begins to slow down the consumption or becomes disinterested.

You are absolutely correct this kitten should be fed every 2-3 hours at this stage. It's always better to underfeed than overfeed. I will put a link to a PetCoach article which should help you with her care. Best of luck. https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-raise-orphan-kittens/

I am sorry to hear about your kittens! A commercially formulated kitten milk, such as KMR or Just Born are the best milk sources for your kitten and can be found at many pet stores or vet offices. Until you find this you can make your own milk at home following the recipe listed in this article, which also provides details on caring for orphaned kittens https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951456

Hello, and thank you for your question. For 12 day old kittens, they should still be on mother's milk or kitten formula. They will need to eat/be fed every 2-3 hours during the day. Here is a link that provides some detailed instructions on bottle feeding kittens: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=576 I hope this helps! Good luck with your kittens!

You can get kitten formula and bottles or feeding nipples and syringes at WalMart or any pet store or feed store. Get some canned kitten food and dry food too. Depending on how old she is she may be ready to try solid food, but cow's milk is not the right kind for kittens and will cause diarrhea. Try some formula first, then if she seems interested in something more substantial, mix some formula with the wet kitten food and mash it into a gruel and let her lap it. She'll get messy, just keep her clean with a damp washcloth and warm water and make sure she stays warm. Offer her water in a saucer or very shallow dish or lid so she can reach it but not fall in. If you have trouble getting her to eat or feel overwhelmed by trying to feed her, please contact a local shelter or veterinary clinic and ask if anyone can give you some tips or if they know someone with experience raising kittens that can take her. YouTube has very helpful videos concerning orphaned kitten care.