Strange bottle feeding behavior

Hi, I have a new kitten around 3 weeks old. (not exactly sure of age, but his eyes just opened a week or so ago) For the past couple days when we have tried to feed him he has literally attacked the bottle. He scratches at it like crazy and tries to climb it until he is attached to my hand and just dangling there. I didnt know if this maybe meant that hes ready to eat soft cat food or if hes just crazy... lol . he is eating, believe me he hasnt lost his appetite. its just he does this for a little while and then finally latches on to the nipple. If anyone has ever had something like this happen or can maybe help me out with this, i would so appreciate it. Thanks
Kristin

Hello Kristin,
I have reently bottle-fed two kittens. When they reached the age of three weeks they both behaved like you describe. One more than the other. I just think it means that they are hungry. The longer it was between the meals the more they attacked the bottle. Short after this the most "aggressive" one began to eat of his own. I will never forget it. It was boiled chicken and after tasting a small piece he stepped up in the food, put the front legs a part and began to sound like a tiger as soon as any other cat came close. He scared three older kittens and the two mamas away from the food.
Now he is 10-11 weeks and still in charge of the troops.
Another thought is that it can be a behavior due to the fact that he can't controle the supply of the milk by pushing with his front legs. Try to put him against your arm so he can push on you while you are feeding him.

Make sure the formula is coming out of the nipple. Also add some chicken baby food (water it down) with the formula to settle the hunger pangs. This kitty is telling you he wants more sustanance then whatever it is you are feeding him is giving him. Also don't feed him while he is on his back always be sure the kitten is on all fours when eating.

When kittens nurse at their mothes, they use their paws to 'knead' her stomach to stimulate the milk to come out, and maybe yours is doing his version of that.

Thanks alot for the info. I kind of thought that he might be hungry, more so then just for the formula. i dont ever feed him while hes laying on his back. i know thats bad for him. i was going to start trying to feed him some watered down soft cat food from my finger in another couple days to see if he would take it. other then the bottle thing everything else seems to be doing pretty good. hes still wobbly when he walks. but ive been having him walk around and practice.

Let's move this to our Kitten forum.

Originally Posted by hissy

Make sure the formula is coming out of the nipple. Also add some chicken baby food (water it down) with the formula to settle the hunger pangs. This kitty is telling you he wants more sustanance then whatever it is you are feeding him is giving him. Also don't feed him while he is on his back always be sure the kitten is on all fours when eating.

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I highly agree with hissy! I always start adding Chicken and Turkey baby food in addition to formula when my foster kittens reach around 2 1.2 -3 weeks depending on age and individual needs. ( I use del monte or gerber- it should be stage 1 and it should be turkey & turkey gravey or chicken & chicken gravey- nothing else, and be sure that you avoid any kind of ham as it could upset their tummies- i've found that mine like their baby food and formula to be "blood temperature"- when a feline kills, the animals they eat are "blood temperature so to speak"....warm the baby food in the microwave for a few seconds I suggest using a medicine dropper to "dropper feed" the kitten a tiny amount of baby food at a time- they usually do better that way. Good luck!