The right milk and equipment
Orphaned or weak kittens must be fed a proper commercial kitten milk replacer, never cow's milk, which lacks the right nutrients and can cause serious digestive upset. Use a purpose-made kitten feeding bottle with a correctly sized nipple, and prepare the formula fresh according to the label, warmed to roughly body temperature. Test a drop on the inside of your wrist to check it is warm but not hot before every feed. Keep every bottle, nipple, and mixing utensil scrupulously clean and sterilised, as newborns have fragile immune systems. If a kitten will not suckle at all, contact your vet, as tube feeding may be needed.
Correct feeding position
Always feed a kitten lying on its belly, in a natural nursing position, with its head level and slightly tilted down. Never feed a kitten on its back like a human baby, because milk can easily enter the airway and cause aspiration, which is dangerous and sometimes fatal. Support the body gently and let the kitten set its own pace of sucking rather than squeezing milk into its mouth. Tilt the bottle just enough to fill the nipple and avoid air gulps, and pause if you see milk bubbling from the nose. Working slowly and calmly protects those delicate lungs.
How often to feed
Very young kittens need feeding little and often, roughly every two to three hours around the clock in the first week, including overnight. As they grow you can gradually stretch the interval, moving toward every three to four hours in the second and third weeks and longer still after that. Follow the volume guidance on your chosen formula and let the kitten's appetite and steady weight gain be your guide. Weigh each kitten daily on a kitchen scale and expect consistent gains of a few grams each day. Slow feeding, no gain, or weight loss is a signal to contact your vet without delay.
Toileting and when to seek help
Kittens under about three weeks cannot toilet on their own and rely on the mother's licking to stimulate them. After each feed, gently wipe the genital and anal area with a soft, warm, damp cloth or cotton pad until the kitten urinates and passes stool. Keep the kittens warm at all times, as a chilled kitten cannot digest and will fade quickly. Watch for warning signs such as constant crying, refusal to feed, diarrhoea, a distended belly, or a cool, limp body. Any of these, or a kitten simply not thriving, warrants a prompt call to your vet, since hand-reared kittens can deteriorate fast.