Can a human woman breastfeed a kitten?

Question

As a last resort of course.

Answer 1

What kind of last resort is this? Is she stuck on a desert island somewhere with only her swollen milk glands and a little kitten? Is she planning on raising the kitten for companionship until the rescue ship comes? This raises another question, can a woman drink her own milk to stay alive in such a situation? Should she consider just eating the kitten? Or would the animal rights activists be outraged by this? I believe Sharlala above, who gave her kitten her extra milk and it survived, who actually answered the question, but your question actually lets the cat out of the bag, so to speak, to a whole bunch of other questions!

Answer 2

Woman Breastfeeding A Kitten

Answer 3

There was a story last year about a woman in China who did this. They died within a few days because human breast milk does not have the proper nutrients to sustain a kitten. Animals's are supposed to have the milk that is designed for them. A human baby wouldn't do well on kitten's milk either.

Answer 4

because we didn't all grow up learning how to do it, like how to hold the baby in the correct position or make sure there's enough nipple/breast in the baby's mouth at the right angle etc. We used to, but not anymore. And these days breastfeeding in public is controversial so we can't really learn from other people in the community. And often babies aren't fed straight away after birth which reduces the feeding reflexes. Babies in the wild and births where there's no interference usually do very well with breastfeeding. Animals born in captivity with interventions during the birth by people or other wild animals like predators can struggle and have to be hand-fed by people or in the wild die. Same as us - when there's a lot of interventions during the birth we lose a lot of the instincts that come with birthing and feeding and mothering. For both women and babies. Women who live tribally generally don't have problems with breastfeeding like women in industrial developed countries. Yes, it is natural, but these days extremely little is natural, so many people struggle with what is.

Answer 5

That seems like that would be a little painful don't you think? I don't think I would want anything with razor sharp teeth and claws gnawing on my breasts. If it was a last resort, she can always express milk and put it in a dropper and feed it that way. Or she could just go to Wal-mart or a pet shop and buy a tiny bottle (they do make them) and some kitten formula for it.

Answer 6

It's 2007. Women can now have jobs and own property. Women are even allowed to vote (and actively encouraged to do so). So if a woman wants to breast-feed a kitten...well, i'd say that is between her and the kitten.


(Disclaimer: this behaviour might prove to be dangerous both to the kitten (inappropriate nutrients) and to the woman (kittens have claws, breasts are sensitive)...but still, if the woman and the kitten are ok with it, who am i to try to stand in their way?)

Answer 7

well now I wouldnt say the kitten could actually latch on..but I will tell you this. human breastmilk CAN sustain a newborn kitty. My husband brought home a two day old kitten he had found while working. I had just given birth to my 2nd son and had an enormous amount of frozen breast milk..so you guessed it! i fed the kitten the thawed milk with a kitty bottle everytime I nursed the baby....he thrived and grew to adulthood!!

Answer 8

I would really not suggest this for two reasons. (1)- The kitten;the human breast milk may contain to many,or not enough proper nuitrients for its growing body.Instead I would suggest a supliment,like Carnation milk,or even a home-made rue,made of different natural items. (2) The welfare of the females breasts!Kittens still breastfeed when they have teeth!Ouch!!!
Personally,I hope this situation never has to cross your path.If you have a kitten,or a pet that yo cannot take care of,I would suggest giving it to your local pet host.(ASPCA..etc)
Hope I helped!
~Mac

Answer 9

Yes. However the milk is not the right composition so it wouldn't be taht good for the kitten. Cats are den animals so their milk is much higher in fat and lower in sugar than human milk.

Answer 10

only if she has recently given birth and is also breastfeeding her child. Without having just had a baby, she would not be lactating, and without the sucking sensation from her child, she would not continue to produce milk.