Should Kittens Drink Cow’s Milk?
Cow’s milk should not be given to newborn kittens not because it’s not safe for kittens but because it’s not good for them either.
However, nothing happens if your kittens drink cow’s milk in an emergency since there are kitten formulas made with cows milk.
Before we go further, there are differences between natural or homemade cow milk and evaporated regular or normal milk.
While it may be ok for kittens to have natural cow’s milk should the mother cat is not able to feed her kittens, regular milk is not good for kitties.
Normal cow’s milk can cause digestive issues and nutrient imbalances in pussycats, and should be diluted with enough water, and tested with a small volume to see if there would be any negative reaction.
Homemade Kitten Formula with Cow Milk
Kittens require a specific balance of nutrients, and they’re found in mother cat’s milk or specially formulated kitten milk replacers.
Queen’s milk is rich in protein and fats than cow’s milk, but commercially produced milk replacers can still be used for cats.
If you cannot afford kitten milk replacer and would have to give evaporated milk to pussy, it should be homemade, using ingredients that are safe for kittens.
Ingredients and Recipe for a Kitten Milk Substitute
Ingredients:
1 cup of whole cow’s milk
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon of corn syrup or honey
Recipe
Break the egg and remove the egg yolk in a bowl, add the corn syrup or honey and mix until it’s well mixed.
Heat the cow’s milk in a saucepan over medium heat until it is warm but not boiling.
Remove the milk from the oven and add the egg yolk mixture to it, and mix again very well.
Allow the milk substitute to cool to room temperature before you start feeding it to your kittens.
Since cow milk can cause dehydration and diarrhea in kittens, you can mix a half cup of sterilized water with the whole mixture to dilute it before giving it to your baby cats.
You can feed a newborn kitten with it in an emergency or as a regular milk substitute for your kitt.
Conclusion
It is important to note that this homemade milk substitute with cow’s milk and water should only be used as a temporary measure until you can get kitten milk replacer (KMR) or powdered kitten milk replacement formula for your kittens when they’re abandoned or don’t have access to their mother’s milk.
If your kitten shows any signs of digestive distress or if you have any concerns about their health, you should consult a veterinary doctor as soon as possible.
