I was told to feed my kitten cows milk for every other feeding
2006-08-01 14:42:34 · 14 answers · asked by Nicole 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
Somebody LIED to you! NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!
Five weeks is still tiny. This baby should NOT be away from it's mother yet. Since it is, you need to get kitten formula from the pet store and feed it that. It needs a LOT of proper nutrition right now because it's growing like crazy. Kitten food, kitten formula, and preferably cat-mommy's milk!!!
Cow's milk is NOT good for cats. Some tolerate it well as a treat, but it's hard on their tummies. For babies, it's really bad. It does not have the nutrition necessary and feeding cow's milk to a kitten will literally starve it for lack of nutrition. It will have something going into the tummy, but it might result in runny stools, etc., and the nutritional value is extremely poor.
Whoever is telling you this knows nothing about cats or kittens. It's WAY too young to be away from mommy -- 8 weeks at BARE MINUMUM and preferably 12 weeks. That baby needs formula, and you need to contact a vet to make an appointment because the poor baby may already have some supplment issues due to lack of proper care.
Good luck and thank YOU for asking. Please tell whoever told you this -- especially if they still have kittens -- that it's the absolute WRONG advice and pass along the information.
2006-08-01 15:14:11 · answer #1 · answered by Shadycat 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Cats in general may be unable to digest milk proteins and sugars properly, just as in some people. Kittens are more prone to having diarrhea from cow milk than an adult cat. A five-week-old kitten should be old enough to start eating solid food. Try introducing it to high quality canned kitten food or moisten some dry kitten food with water. Until it is eating solid food exclusively, I would try to use a milk replacement product made especially for kittens. This should be available at any pet store and sometimes in the pet department at WalMart, KMart, etc. Be sure to take it to your veterinarian for a check-up as soon as s/he recommends it.
2006-08-01 14:57:14 · answer #2 · answered by Animal Scamp 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not really. Cats tend to be lactose intolerant, and the kitten could end up very sick as the result of diarrhea and the accompanying electrolyte imbalance. There is a product you can find with the cat food at the store, it's a milk substitute. One brand is called Cat Sip, but there are other brands. And always make sure the kitten has plenty of water nearby.
Have fun with your kitten!
2006-08-01 14:50:26 · answer #3 · answered by kids and cats 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No buy KMR a kitten milk made just for kittens. cows milk most kittens can not tolerate. It will usually give them severe diareah.
2006-08-01 15:31:36 · answer #4 · answered by cin_ann_43 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cats are lactose intolerant. Cat's do not need to drink milk(other than what they get from their mother). At 5 weeks kittens should be able to eat dry food and water. Whoever told you this is WRONG!!!!!!!!!!! Giving cats milk can cause diarrhea, you don't need that kind of mess do you?????
2006-08-01 16:24:44 · answer #5 · answered by leftygirl_75 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you do make sure it is 2 percent or skim and you can soften a good brand of kitten chow with this when they are being weaned . also leave a dish of dry kitten chow for them to nibble on and get stronger teeth. kittens need food 3 to 4 times daily because thier tummies do not hold much at one time. gradually wean them from the milk. kittens need kitten chow at least untill they are one year old. they need the extra calories and vitamins to grow strong and make sure you start thier shots by 6-to 8 weeks. lots of cat diseases out there such as distemper, fip ,feline lukemenia, to many to mention. keep your kittens inside untill these shots are given and they are wormed. watch for pot bellies usually worms. good luck
2006-08-01 15:11:11 · answer #6 · answered by petloverlady 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they sell milk in petsmart - the kind for kittens. that would be better because the cow's milk contains stuff that they can't digest and the kitty will end up with tummy problems and diarrhea.
2006-08-01 16:21:17 · answer #7 · answered by nalznkoz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Goat milk is better for cats and kittens (and people, too.)
Cow milk is hard for them (and for us) to digest due to the size and nature of the molecules. Goat milk is much closer in molecular structure to human milk (and cat milk.)
Cow milk gives them (and us) diarrhea.
2006-08-01 14:46:43 · answer #8 · answered by go away 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Give them a kitten-safe milk replacer, available at pet stores. KMR is a good one.
Be sure you're getting milk designed for kittens, not the adult cat treat variety.
If you have any questions, consult a vet.
2006-08-01 15:12:15 · answer #9 · answered by CatTech 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cows milk usually causes loose stools in cats
2006-08-01 14:47:14 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋