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11 Best Kitten Milk Replacers

If you're fostering kittens or have a mama cat that is struggling to provide enough milk for all of her kittens, a kitten milk replacer will become your secret weapon.

This gives an easy-to-digest milky drink that can mean the difference between survival and thriving for a little underweight kitten. You may also find kitten milk replacer abbreviated as KMR.

Finding the best kitten milk replacer might be difficult, especially if you're already pressed for time due to mewling mouths and frequent feeding sessions.

But don't worry, BestForPets (bestforpets.org) has done all the legwork. Our assessments contain a list of the %product_count% best kitten milk replacers on the market today.

All you have to do is read about each product and order the one you believe will best suit your hungry cats. They will be grateful!

Reviews

Overall Winner: PetAg PetLac Kitten Milk Replacement Powder
 

We recommend the PetAg PetLac Kitten Milk Replacement Powder as the best overall kitten milk replacer.

This formula is designed to be easy to digest for tiny kitten tummies, and it contains live bacteria and probiotics to support your kitten’s digestive system as they grow.

This kitten milk replacer is designed to mimic the fat, protein, and vitamin levels found in mother cat’s milk.

It contains taurine, other amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and milk proteins, among other things. Overall, you can be confident that this is an excellent option for your young kittens.

Pros

  • Excellent value for money
  • Made in America
  • Complete nutrition is provided.
  • 858 calories per kilogram
  • It has 33% protein and 18% fat.

Cons

  • There are none that we can see.

 

Best Value for Hartz Kitten Milk Replacer Powdered Formula
 

If you want the best kitten milk replacer for the money, we recommend Hartz Kitten Milk Replacer Powdered Formula.

This powder, which contains real milk protein, has been specifically developed to help your kitten’s growth in all areas.

It contains calcium, taurine, lysine, and linoleic acid, all of which contribute to the healthy development of your kitten.

This powdered kitten formula is heavy in calories and fats, making it an excellent alternative for underweight kittens.

However, it is difficult to wipe out of the bottles after feeding, and it does not blend well. Even so, we consider this to be the best kitten formula for the money on our list.

Pros

  • Excellent value for money
  • 5000 calories per kilogram
  • It has 30% protein and 40% fat.
  • Nutrition that is completely balanced

Cons

  • Bottles can be tough to clean.

 

Premium PetAg KMR Kitten Milk Replacer Powder
 

The PetAg KMR Kitten Milk Replacer is an amazing product and our top pick. This is the best-selling brand for a reason!

The highly digestible recipe provides comprehensive nourishment for developing kittens, so no supplements are required.

All of your kitten’s vitamins and minerals are balanced by the vital milk proteins.

We like that it comes in three can sizes, so you can pick the one that best fits the amount of kittens you need to feed without worrying about having too little or too much formula.

The only reason this didn’t make our top two is that, as a premium product, it will cost you a lot more if you have a lot of kittens to feed! Aside than that, this is an excellent option.

Pros

  • There are three can sizes available.
  • It has 42% protein and 25% fat.
  • Prebiotics are included.
  • 740 calories per kilogram

Cons

  • Expensive

 

Kitten Milk Replacement Powder Nutri-Vet
 

The Nutri-Vet Kitten Milk Replacement Powder is manufactured in the United States of America and contains protein, lipids, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids to give full nutrition for developing kittens.

It also contains probiotics, which will aid in the development of your kitten’s digestive system. One of the first elements is whey protein, which promotes the development of healthy skin and muscles.

It also contains Nutri-Opti-Gut Vet’s blend of nutrients, which is designed to help your kitten’s growth at every stage.

Pros

  • There are two sizes available.
  • It has 30% protein and 40% fat.
  • 5,150 calories per kilogram

Cons

  • Some kitties dislike the taste.
  • Mixing is difficult.

 

GNC Ultra Mega Premium Milk Replacer for Pets
 

The GNC Pets Ultra Mega Premium Milk Replacer is manufactured with natural milk proteins and employs a powder formula based on skim milk to deliver all of the necessary nutrients and food for a developing kitten.

The enhanced formula is also gentle on little kittens’ stomachs. It is specifically intended to aid in the growth of healthy bones, teeth, and muscles, as well as to ensure your kitten’s immune system is functioning properly.

The one thing we didn’t like about this mixture is that it can be a little more difficult to blend than other powders, leaving lumps even when thoroughly mixed.

Pros

  • It has 42% protein and 25% fat.
  • 740 calories per kilogram

Cons

  • Probiotics are not present.
  • Even when thoroughly combined, chunks may remain.
  • Expensive

 

Nutri-Vet Milk Substitute
 

The Nutri-Vet Milk Substitute. This recipe promotes quick growth in kittens due to its high calorific content, but keep in mind that some kittens dislike the flavor of this particular combination.

Fortunately, it comes in three different can sizes, so we recommend starting with the smallest and making sure your kittens are willing to drink it.

Veterinarians created this kitten milk, so you can be confident that it has all of the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals your kitten requires to grow strong and well.

It does, however, include dry egg powder, which might cause allergies in some cats.

Pros

  • It has 42% protein and 25% fat.
  • 5,200 calories per kilogram

Cons

  • Some kitties dislike the flavor.
  • It does not blend nicely.
  • It contains egg.

Buyer's Guide: Selecting the Best Kitten Milk Replacer

Choosing the best kitten milk replacer can be difficult, especially if you are already pressed for time owing to caring for your new kittens, who can be rather demanding when they are hungry!

Our advice is intended to assist you in selecting the best kitten milk replacer for your specific kitten’s needs.

Who should buy a kitten milk substitute?

There are several instances in which KMR may be required.

  • The kittens were abandoned. Kittens are sometimes separated from their mothers for a variety of reasons. These kittens are normally fostered out to someone who has the time to feed, care for, and clean them on a regular basis.
  • The mother cat cannot produce enough milk. If a mother cat produces a big litter of kittens, she may have difficulty producing enough milk to feed them all. In this instance, the runts are at risk of being underweight. KMR can be added to the mother cat’s milk and given to any of her kittens who appear hungry.
  • For elderly or sick cats. Because kitten milk replacer has a comprehensive variety of nutrients, it is a good choice for enticing an elderly or unwell cat to eat. They may not want to eat kibble or wet food at times, but a bowl of KMR may tempt them.

What makes a decent kitten milk substitute?

Kitten milk replacers should contain a variety of high-quality components that will aid in your kitten’s development. Here are some specific things to check for:

  • Protein and fat levels. All kitten milk replacers should clearly mention the amount of protein and fat, as well as the number of calories per kilogram of product. These amounts are intended to replicate the amounts found in cat’s milk, so you can be confident that your kitten will receive the nutrition they require to grow strong and well.
  • Prebiotics and probiotics. These aid with the development of your kitten’s digestive system, lowering the likelihood of an upset stomach. FOS, which stands for fructooligosaccharides, is a prebiotic that may be listed. These are included to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in your kitten’s intestines.
  • Minerals and vitamins. The majority of KMR will contain vitamins A, D3, E, and B12. Calcium should be provided as well to assist your kitten in developing a strong skeletal structure.
  • The amino acids. Taurine is an essential nutrient for all cats and should be included in KMR as well. Linoleic acid promotes the growth of a healthy coat in kittens.

Can Dimensions

Kitten food comes in a variety of can sizes, and it’s a good idea to calculate how much KMR you’ll need each day before buying the wrong size!

If you just feed one cat and have a large can, the remaining powder may spoil before you have a chance to use it all.

Once opened, many KMR powders should be kept in the fridge or a cool, dry place, but always read the exact recommendations on your particular brand.

Some KMR producers indicate that you can freeze unused powder to keep it fresh for up to six months, while others expressly state that you should not. Again, double-check before purchasing, especially if you anticipate needing to do so.

How much kitten milk replacer should you give your kitten?

As a general rule, you should feed your kitten 8 milliliters of KMR per ounce of body weight.

Using our finest overall KMR as an example, 1 tablespoon of powder combined with 2 tablespoons of water yields roughly 34 milliliters of formula, which is sufficient to feed a 115-gram kitten for one day.

This should be divided among 3-4 hourly feeds. You can gradually increase the amount of KMR you feed your kitten until they are about 4-6 weeks old.

As your kittens begin to wean on solid food, you can also feed KMR in a shallow bowl and a bottle.

Your kittens should be entirely weaned on solid food by six weeks, but you can continue to free-feed KMR at a rate of 1 teaspoon powder per 5 pounds of body weight until your cat no longer requests it.

Conclusion

BestForPets (bestforpets.org) is confident that after reading our reviews of the best kitten milk replacers on the market today, you’ll find one that’s great for your tiny kitty!

To summarize, we chose the PetAg PetLac Kitten Milk Replacement Powder as our overall best kitten milk replacer.

This palatable powder is a fantastic choice, with an easy-to-digest recipe designed to give complete nourishment for kittens who can’t feed on their moms and fortified with both pre- and probiotics.

We propose Hartz Kitten Milk Replacer Powdered Formula as the finest value kitten milk replacer.

This high-calorie and fat-containing formula provides comprehensive nourishment for developing kittens and contains real milk proteins as well as a blend of vitamins and minerals.

This review should have made your decision on the best kitten milk replacer or best kitten formula a little easier.

We understand how tough it can be to pick between all of the available options when all you want to do is offer the best diet possible for your kittens.

All those late-night feedings will be worthwhile when you see your kittens thrive on their milk substitute!

Author Image

Dr. Deborah Fletcher

Deborah R. Fletcher, DVM, is a skilled veterinarian with more than 15 years of experience dealing with companion and exotic animals. She has experience caring for a variety of animals, including household cats and dogs, reptiles, birds of prey, and even primates. Dr. Fletcher is a valuable part of the BestForPets team, where she contributes to their aim of providing pets and their owners with the finest possible treatment and services.

Veterinarian (DVM) Dr. Deborah Fletcher

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