Taking the Fear Out of Bottle Feeding and Basic Kitten Care

I'm fostering an approximately 10 day old singleton kitten now, and she's very hungry. I'm guessing she didn't eat today before she was brought into the shelter and maybe part of yesterday. Her stomach capacity is only 10 ml right now though and she's still in hunger distress after eating 10 ml of formula. I've moved her feeding time from every 2 hours to every 1.5 hrs and I'm thinking of moving that up to every 1 hour. I cannot find any info on the amount of time it takes food for a kitten this old to move from the stomach to intestines. This is a problem I encounter frequently since I foster for the shelter and it's often kittens already at that distress point when they're brought in. When they're really hungry like this, how often can I safely feed them? I don't want to go over their stomach capacity but also don't want them to be distressed. Can you point me in the direction of some information addressing this topic? 

Hi Becky,

Thank you so much for the email.  When I get kittens that come in like that, I do exactly like you are doing.  The key is to not wake them to feed them.  Their stomach capacity should increase with every feeding and they will sleep longer.  Is the kitten a healthy weight for a 10 day old?  If they are, it shouldn't take more than a few feedings.

I'm fostering an approximately 10 day old singleton kitten now, and she's very hungry. I'm guessing she didn't eat today before she was brought into the shelter and maybe part of yesterday. Her stomach capacity is only 10 ml right now though and she's still in hunger distress after eating 10 ml of formula. I've moved her feeding time from every 2 hours to every 1.5 hrs and I'm thinking of moving that up to every 1 hour. I cannot find any info on the amount of time it takes food for a kitten this old to move from the stomach to intestines. This is a problem I encounter frequently since I foster for the shelter and it's often kittens already at that distress point when they're brought in. When they're really hungry like this, how often can I safely feed them? I don't want to go over their stomach capacity but also don't want them to be distressed. Can you point me in the direction of some information addressing this topic? 

Thank you so much, Marnie, that makes me feel better. I've had her for a day and a half now, so approximately 10 feedings, and she is definitely vocalizing less but is still rooting around after getting 10 ml. She was 8.4 oz this morning. I was guessing on her age based on weight, eyes, and ears. Uploading a photo. If she's just hit two weeks then that's a healthy weight. Does she look two weeks to you? This is my first neonate singleton. Is more vocalization with a singleton this age common? Thank you so much for your insight!

Hi Becky,

Thank you so much for the email.  When I get kittens that come in like that, I do exactly like you are doing.  The key is to not wake them to feed them.  Their stomach capacity should increase with every feeding and they will sleep longer.  Is the kitten a healthy weight for a 10 day old?  If they are, it shouldn't take more than a few feedings.

I'm fostering an approximately 10 day old singleton kitten now, and she's very hungry. I'm guessing she didn't eat today before she was brought into the shelter and maybe part of yesterday. Her stomach capacity is only 10 ml right now though and she's still in hunger distress after eating 10 ml of formula. I've moved her feeding time from every 2 hours to every 1.5 hrs and I'm thinking of moving that up to every 1 hour. I cannot find any info on the amount of time it takes food for a kitten this old to move from the stomach to intestines. This is a problem I encounter frequently since I foster for the shelter and it's often kittens already at that distress point when they're brought in. When they're really hungry like this, how often can I safely feed them? I don't want to go over their stomach capacity but also don't want them to be distressed. Can you point me in the direction of some information addressing this topic? 

Hi Becky- I am so happy you found the information helpful.  You are clearly a very conscientious foster and the kitten is in very good hands.  I would say you are aging that kitten correctly and it is a very healthy weight.    Don't worry about limiting  the intake. Let the kitten eat until it is full. As long as the kitten isn't medically compromised, they can regulate their intake.   What we worry about is people waking kittens up to eat shortly after they have eaten when their GI systems are not prepared to intake more food. 

You are doing an amazing job.  Let me know if you have any others questions. 😻

Marnie 

Thank you so much, Marnie, that makes me feel better. I've had her for a day and a half now, so approximately 10 feedings, and she is definitely vocalizing less but is still rooting around after getting 10 ml. She was 8.4 oz this morning. I was guessing on her age based on weight, eyes, and ears. Uploading a photo. If she's just hit two weeks then that's a healthy weight. Does she look two weeks to you? This is my first neonate singleton. Is more vocalization with a singleton this age common? Thank you so much for your insight!

Hi Becky,

Thank you so much for the email.  When I get kittens that come in like that, I do exactly like you are doing.  The key is to not wake them to feed them.  Their stomach capacity should increase with every feeding and they will sleep longer.  Is the kitten a healthy weight for a 10 day old?  If they are, it shouldn't take more than a few feedings.

I'm fostering an approximately 10 day old singleton kitten now, and she's very hungry. I'm guessing she didn't eat today before she was brought into the shelter and maybe part of yesterday. Her stomach capacity is only 10 ml right now though and she's still in hunger distress after eating 10 ml of formula. I've moved her feeding time from every 2 hours to every 1.5 hrs and I'm thinking of moving that up to every 1 hour. I cannot find any info on the amount of time it takes food for a kitten this old to move from the stomach to intestines. This is a problem I encounter frequently since I foster for the shelter and it's often kittens already at that distress point when they're brought in. When they're really hungry like this, how often can I safely feed them? I don't want to go over their stomach capacity but also don't want them to be distressed. Can you point me in the direction of some information addressing this topic?