10 Best Kitten Food Replacers
Top kitten milk replacers in 2020:
This product comes in two types: KMR kitten milk replacer powder and KMR kitten milk replacer liquid. Recommended as a food source for newborns to six weeks of age, it also serves as a kitten milk supplement for nursing cats and those weakened after surgeries. The powder version contains 42% of crude protein, providing a caloric pattern similar to a mother cat’s milk. All the vitamins and minerals are also here, including so much-needed taurine, calcium, and folic acid.
- Type: powder, liquid
- Weight: 12 oz. (powder), 8 oz. (liquid)
- Calories: 11.1 kcal per tablespoon (tbs) as a liquid
As well as most other kitten milk substitutes on the market, this one aims to feed newborns up to six weeks of age. It’s highly digestible with colostrum inside and meets all the nutritional needs of your kitten for better growth and development. PetAg Milk Replacer Plus is a US-made product, natural with vitamins and trace minerals. It contains taurine, essential for cats, and calcium for your young feline’s healthy bones and teeth. As for crude protein, it’s 6% minimum in the formula.
- Type: liquid
- Weight: 32-oz. bottles
- Calories: 12 kcal/tbs
This kitten milk replacer powder provides a balance of protein, fat, and carbohydrates to grow a kitten properly. Its caloric pattern is similar to a mother cat’s milk: no soy protein, only 33% of crude milk protein, with all the necessary vitamins and minerals. The product contains FOS and live probiotics, making it the ideal supplement for both newborns and post-surgery adult cats in need of convalescence. Mixing and feeding instructions are available at the package.
- Type: powder
- Weight: 10.5 oz.
- Calories: 13 kcal/tbs as a liquid
This kitten milk replacer aims to feed newborn kittens up to six weeks old, but it’s also safe to use as a supplement for pregnant and nursing cats. It will be an excellent kitten milk substitute for ill or post-surgery senior felines too. Please note that the formula contains gluten and wheat, which can become raw ingredients for some cats. Make sure your kitten is not allergic to these elements before giving this cat milk replacer. With that, the formula is replete with calcium, magnesium, lysine, biotin, and protein (42% minimum).
- Type: powder
- Weight: 12 oz.
- Calories: 11 kcal/tbs when reconstituted
It’s a ready-to-use product for cats and kittens over eight weeks. Please note that it’s a supplemental treat, not a complete meal replacement. The ingredients include low-fat milk and taurine, a so much-needed nutrient for a cat’s proper growth and health (eye and heart). Feel free to give this treat every day. Though the manufacturer claims it helps keep your cat hydrated, they still recommend providing her with fresh, clean water regularly. Store this kitten milk supplement for up to seven days in a fridge.
- Type: liquid
- Weight: 8 oz.
- Calories: 10 kcal/oz
GNC is the best milk replacement for kittens and ill or senior cats in need of extra supplementation. It provides felines with natural milk proteins and added nutrients for a healthy immune system, bones, and teeth. The formula is protein-rich (42% of crude protein), easy to digest, and enriched with vitamins. Taurine and calcium, together with folic acid and other essential elements, help to support a kitten’s growth and development.
- Type: powder
- Weight: 6 oz.
- Calories: 11.1 kcal/tbs when reconstituted
This kitten milk replacer is also available as a ready-to-use liquid. It’s the best kitten formula to support newborns’ growth and development for the first six weeks of their life. Also, it’s a suitable supplement for pregnant and nursing cats. The Hartz Powdered Milk is nutritionally similar to a mother cat’s milk, providing kittens with an optimal balance of all the necessary nutrients. It contains taurine (for heart and eye development), calcium (for bones), lysine (respiratory health), and linoleic acid (for healthy skin and coat).
- Type: powder
- Weight: 11 oz.
- Calories: 11 kcal/tbs as a liquid
Available in both powder and liquid, this milk replacer for kittens can serve as a daily supplement. Feel free to mix it with water to make milk or add a powder to your cat’s meal so she could get extra nutrients. The #1 ingredient here is goat’s milk, with its natural probiotics, prebiotics, and digestive enzymes. They boost the immune system and digestion and improve blood circulation. Goat’s milk is lower in lactose than cow’s, making this replacer the best choice for allergic or lactose-intolerant pets.
- Type: powder, liquid
- Weight: 7 oz. (powder), 16 oz (liquid)
- Calories: 11.9 kcal/tbs when reconstituted
There’s one more kitten milk replacer in this list, made of goat’s milk for our young pets’ better growth and development. Enriched with vitamins and minerals, it can serve as a daily supplement for kittens, puppies, and other small animals. With a minimum of 20% of crude protein in the formula, this powder also contains biotin, magnesium, and calcium to boost a kitten’s immune system, support digestion, and promote healthy bones, teeth, and coat.
- Type: powder
- Weight: 12 oz
- Calories: 84.9 kcal/tbs when reconstituted
This product warrants its name: The kit goes with a kitten milk replacer powder, a nursing bottle with a nipple, and a probiotics tube. Perfect for newborn kittens up to six weeks old, orphaned or weak to eat by themselves. Post-surgery senior cats will benefit from this kit too. The PetAg Kitten Milk Replacer contains the right balance of protein (42% min) and fat (25% min) a growing feline needs. Taurine is also here to support a kitten’s eye and heart health.
- Type: powder
- Weight: 5 oz of liquid
- Calories: 11.1 kcal/tbs when reconstituted
What to look for in quality cat milk replacers
The best kitten milk replacer should match a few criteria to call it worth giving. When choosing which one to buy for your kitten or adult cat, consider its type and nutritional profile.
As for the type of a replacer (powder or liquid), it’s more a matter of your preference than a cat’s health. Both offer nutrient-dense calories and are OK to feed if used and kept right.
As for a nutritional profile of a kitten milk substitute, please choose those fitting your situation best. Newborn kittens will need a cat milk replacer with colostrum. For older felines, the right balance of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates will be a must.
Please look for these components in a kitten milk replacer:
- Milk: Most replacers contain cow’s or goat’s milk, a source of protein that is much better for kittens than soy. Together with added probiotics and prebiotics, it serves to enhance digestibility. For gut health, some replacers come in low-lactose formulas.
- Taurine: This amino acid is necessary for a cat’s vision, heart health, and digestion.
- Biotin: It helps a cat stay active and takes care of claws, coat, and skin.
- Vitamins B12 and E: The former helps with growth, metabolism, nerve function; the latter is responsible for reproduction function and muscle development.
- Folic acid: It’s responsible for proper oxygen and nutrient levels in the tissues.
FAQ’s
Where to buy a kitten milk replacer?
Milk replacers with the best kitten formula are available in many retailers such as PetSmart, Walmart, and others. Also, you can always visit the official websites of all the manufacturers from this guide and find the information about their partners and trade promoters. The fastest and surefire way to buy a kitten milk replacer is Amazon and Chewy.
How long does kitten milk replacer powder stay fresh after opening?
After you’ve bought a powdered cat milk replacer, please keep it in a cool, dry place before opening. Think of a kitten milk replacer as of fresh milk: Once opened, a powder will stay fresh for up to 3 months in a fridge. When reconstituted, keep it for no longer than 24 hours in a refrigerator.
How often do you feed a newborn kitten with a milk replacer?
Feed a one-week-old kitten every 2-3 hours, and give a milk replacer every 4-6 hours when a kitten reaches the age of 2-3 weeks. As for the amount of kitten milk supplement they’ll need daily, follow the rule: 8 ml of formula per ounce of cat body per day. (Read how to bottle feed a newborn kitten here)
What to mix a kitten milk replacer with?
If feeding with a store-bought kitten milk replacer, there’s no need to mix it with anything. Just follow the recommendations from manufacturers on preparation and feeding, and give it to your feline accordingly. After a kitten gets the age of 2-3 months, you can gradually mix a replacer and kitten food to switch a young feline to it. If you feed a senior cat with milk replacers and she has no difficulty eating, feel free to mix them with cat food.
How to make a kitten milk replacer?
If you don’t want to buy commercial milk supplements, feel free to prepare replacers yourself. (We’ve shared the separate guide for homemade kitten formula recipes already.) Just make sure to choose the ingredients that would meet several key nutritional factors: 100 g of a milk replacer should contain 79 g of moisture and 21 g of dry matter (with protein, fat, and lactose).
When to discontinue kitten milk replacer?
When you feed a newborn kitten with a cat milk replacer, please give it until this baby gets eight weeks and older. After that, start feeding with the best kitten food formulas (both dry and wet). In the case with adult cats who take milk replacers as nutrient-dense food to recover, always consult a professional vet and feed until a cat can eat a quality traditional food.
At the end of the day
A kitten milk replacer, powder or liquid, is a must-have product for owners of newborn kittens and ill or weakened senior cats. It’s nutrient-rich but easy-to-digest, supporting a feline’s life-sustaining activity and helping her to recover.
I hope my review of the best milk replacers for kittens has helped you puzzle out all the details and find answers to all the questions about this product. Now you’re ready to choose the best kitten formula for your growing four-legged fellow!
Any questions left? Don’t hesitate to ask me in the comments.
