Kitten Formula Recipes

Kitten formula provides kittens nourishment when mom cat or a surrogate cat is not available to nurse. While commercial kitten milk replacer is best for kittens, homemade formula also known as kitten glop can be given in a pinch when store bought formula is not available.

Kittens do not thrive on cow milk or even dog milk. Cow and dog milk do not provide kittens with the proper nutrients they need to grow and flourish. Cats and especially kittens need high levels of protein in their food. Commercial kitten milk replacer closely replicates the composition of cat milk. There are many types to choose from (Kitten Gro, Just Born, KMR).

You can make a homemade formula to use if you run out of the commercial brands. However, remember that this is for temporary, emergency use as the homemade version may not contain all of the essential nutrients that kittens need.

Kitten Formula Recipes

1. Make a 1:5 ratio of boiled water to whole evaporate milk. Then, add bone meal (1 teaspoon for every quart) to the mixture. Bone meal is made of crushed animal bones and adds natural calcium and phosphorus to the mixture. Just be sure to use quality bone meal from a reputable company. Some bone meal has been known to contain contaminants like lead. You could also add eggshell powder or calcium carbonate, or citrate to the formula in lieu of bone meal.

2. Human baby formula can be mixed and given to kittens. However, be sure to make the human formula double strength to increase the levels of fat and protein required for kittens.

3. Goat’s milk can be use when kitten milk replacer is not around. Interestingly, goat milk has more protein and fat than human, cow, and dog milk. It also contains a lot less lactose than cow’s milk. Cow’s milk can cause diarrhea in cats as they often lack the enzymes to break down the sugars in cow’s milk. Just warm up the goat milk and serve it as you would regular kitten milk replacer.

4. You can use a cup of whole cow’s milk with a couple of egg yolks added to it. The egg yolks add extra protein and fat to the formula. But, of course, this does not provide complete nutrition to kittens. Some people add a teaspoon of vegetable oil and even kitten vitamins to the mixture to increase its nutrient content.

5. Here’s a more elaborate recipe using cow’s milk:
   
   

   8 oz. water

   1 package unflavored gelatin

   1 cup evaporated milk (whole)

   2 eggs yolks

   2 tablespoons of both mayonnaise and unflavored yogurt

   
   You can also add: kitten vitamins, corn syrup, baby food (no onions added), Pedialyte, or even acidophilus bacteria to the kitten formula.

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