🍼the bottle feeding schedule the intake packet skips
for the 2am feeds, when the shelter handout just says "every 2-4 hours" and stops there
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1
week 1, eyes still closed: every 2 hours
yes overnight too. they can't regulate their own body temp yet so skipping the 3am one isn't an option
2
KMR (kitten milk replacer), never cow's milk
cow's milk = diarrhea, learned this the hard way with my first foster
3
2 weeks old: every 2-3 hours
4
3 weeks: every 3-4 hours
this is where the handout just says "as needed," which is not a schedule
5
gram scale, weigh at literally every feed
7-14g gained per day is normal. less than that for two days in a row and something's off
6
stimulate to go potty after every feed
until eyes open they can't do it themselves, warm cotton ball, small circles
7
4 weeks: every 4-5 hours, start the gruel
8
test formula temp on your wrist
not your finger, your wrist reads it more like their mouth does
9
the chapter on failure to thrive is worth reading before you need it, not after. i skipped it and regretted it
10
5 weeks: gaps stretch to 5-6 hours
healthy ones start self-weaning around here, some don't and that's fine too
11
the 3am feed nobody actually warns you about
your alarm needs to be louder than you think. mine tried gentle chimes for a week, she said no
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