Kitten Milk
Kitten milk formula is a similar idea to the human baby formula. It contains all of the nutrients they need to help grow and can be made up as and when required as a replacer.
Most kittens will feed from their mother until they reach the weaning stage. This milk gives them everything they need when they need it, so there is no need to intervene and feed them extra. At weaning stage, once they start eating solid foods, providing them with water is enough for hydration.
If your kitten is an orphan, not feeding for some reason or is so weak that they need extra help, then a formula is a great alternative, but you can still follow the general weaning pattern and gradually bring them off it after four weeks of age.
Cat Milk
Adult cats will often get everything they need from ordinary cat food and water. Therefore, milk should just be provided as a treat as opposed to a huge part of their diet.
Because of this, always ensure you are staying on top of their daily intake of nutrients. Just as you would with biscuit treats, ensure you aren’t giving them too much of any one thing, and their diet is balanced and healthy. Adjust meals and treats accordingly, and try to limit the cat to around 200ml per week. Treats should not make up more than 10% of a cat’s daily consumption.
Cat milk can, however, be good if you have noticed they are a bit off their food or are losing weight. As long as you know there is no medical issue, milk could help to give them the nutrients they need.
Bottle Or Powder?
Adult milk is available in both ready-made bottle form and powder form. The former is easier, although the latter will have a longer shelf life.
Most kitten formula is dried powder, so the protein is available in a digestible form. You have to manually mix it with water according to instructions.