How To Burp A Kitten [Nifty To-Do list & Things to Consider]
Affiliate Disclosure: Petpawshub.com site uses affiliate links when applicable. This site earns from the affiliate links (at no additional cost to you). Read Affiliate Disclosure here
Bringing up a kitten from birth requires a lot of patience and time. They have to be looked after around the clock, from feeding to socialising to burping.
The release of gas from the stomach through the mouth, often known as burping or belching, is a necessary mechanism for maintaining digestive health. How, though, can you get a kitty to burp?
How to get a kitten to Burp?? Hold the kitten against your shoulder so its tummy can rest there while you burp it. Next, pat its back in a gentle, even manner until you feel it burp.
Cat owners have another option: patting the back and tummy of a kitten that has been laid on its back. Each time you feed, you should do this so that you don’t have a buildup of gas.
Kittens, especially very small ones, are quite vulnerable, so if you have any doubts or are unsure of what to do, it is best to consult a vet.
And I’m sure you’d like some additional guidance on how to burp in a secure and efficient manner.
The question of when to burp a kitten often arises. What does it mean? Read on to find out!
Is it really necessary to Burp a Kitten?
Baby kittens or newborn Kittens, from birth to about three weeks old, may require burping if they are Bottled fed if the mother cat is not feeding them. So, Bottle feeding the newborn Kittens will require them to be Burped. The cause is the same as for human babies: they may be consuming air along with the milk.
Some babies never consume air and hence do not require burping. In practice, try burping (holding the kitten vertically, gently patting the back for around 30 seconds) and check if the kitten burps. The burp is not loud and is fairly quiet.
There is no harm done if the kitten does not burp. If the kitten does not burp after multiple attempts at different feedings, it is most likely not swallowing air.
If you don’t burp the kitten, the swallowed air may cause discomfort. Furthermore, the newborn kitten’s stomach is very small, around the size of a grape.
The objective behind feeding is to fill that grape with tepid milk, let the infant digest it, and then refill it at the next feeding. If you do this consistently, and they have their stomachs full and milk digested enough times per day, they will grow.
The baby Kitten will not grow or thrive if the stomach is empty for too long or is filled with swallowed air. So the aim is to feed them frequently, every two hours for newborns and every three hours for two-week-olds, and fill that tiny tummy well.
If you do this consistently, such that they get seven or eight healthy feedings per day, you won’t have to feed them around the clock.
So, while burping a baby kitten can be beneficial, it is not always necessary.
However, baby kittens die horribly quickly, and whatever you can do to improve their care may be deemed critical. Burping promotes care, hence it is necessary.
If you are bottle-feeding your kitten, veterinarians recommend that you burp it after each meal. If the kittens are being fed by their mother, this should not be necessary. If you are tube-feeding your kitten, you should not have to burp him.
How to Get a Kitten to Burp- Few Nifty Tips
When you are through feeding the kitten, you will need to burp it so that it may expel any air that it may have swallowed while it was nursing. If this air is not allowed to escape, it may result in discomfort in the gastrointestinal tract. You have a choice between two different techniques to burp the cat.
Pat the cat on its back in a way that is kind, yet forceful, until it lets out a burp. While holding the kitten upright with its stomach pressed against your shoulder, pat it on its back.
Hold the kitten so that its stomach is resting against the palm of your hand, and pat its back in a manner that is both kind and firm until it burps.
If the kitten develops bloat or colic, the formula should be supplemented with a few drops of newborn anti-colic drops like those sold at Wal-Mart under the brand name “Equate Infants’ Gas Relief.”
It is advised that a kitten should experience a consistent weight growth of about 10 grammes, or 1/3 of an ounce, per day; however, you should not be startled if a kitten maintains the same weight for a day or two and then suddenly begins to experience weight gains.
After you have finished feeding, burping, stimulating, and weighing the kitten (or kittens), check to determine whether the nest box’s bedding needs to be replaced and if the temperature is at the appropriate level.
The next step is to place the kitten or kittens back into the nest box where they will be able to sleep.
A healthy and well-fed kitten will be able to sleep through the entire period between meals.
What Are the Consequences of a Kitten Who Does Not Burp?
If you do not burp your kitten after it has been fed, this can lead to a number of different health problems, including gastrointestinal pain, vomiting, and even death.
If you find that your kitten is behaving sick or is refusing to eat, you should contact a veterinarian as soon as possible for help.
The following is a list of some of the more typical problems that can occur when bottle-feeding kittens, as well as some of the possible causes for those problems:
Experiencing Coughing
This almost always indicates that your kitten has consumed some of the milk through its mouth. If it coughs for more than a minute, you should make an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible.
It is imperative that you never feed your kittens when they are lying down, and that you burp them right after each time you feed them.
NEVER put a kitten on its back to feed it, as this raises the risk of milk inhalation for the young animal.
Vomiting
This can be brought on by a number of different things, such as overfeeding or the use of a formula that is too concentrated. If the milk is coming out of the teat at an excessively quick rate, your kitten may also throw up.
Refusing To Consume Food
If your kitten does not drink from the bottle, this may be an indication that the milk is too cold for it.
Instead of using a microwave, you should always use a water bath to get the temperature of the formula you give your kitten up to between 95 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you are concerned about your kitten’s health and its refusal to feed, you should consult a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Diarrhea
Overfeeding an infant or using a bottle with a dirty teat are two common causes of diarrhoea. Young kittens are particularly vulnerable to the dangers posed by diarrhoea since the condition can cause dehydration very rapidly.
How can you tell if a little kitten has burped?
They are very similar to human infants in that you won’t always hear them burp, but you will feel it when it happens.
After they have finished burping, most of the kittens will be ready to go back to nursing.
You will need to assist the kitten in emptying his bladder and intestines both prior to and after each feeding that you give him.
Additional Suggestions for When Your Kitten Needs to Burp
When burping young kittens, you should always use caution. Keep in mind that their bones and muscles are still developing, which means that any motions that are too strenuous could potentially cause them harm.
Be patient with your Kitten!
In the beginning, just like newborn babies, it might be difficult for kittens to expel the excess air in their lungs. Therefore, take your time and ease into the procedure step by step.
Talk to your kitten!
This might not make much sense at first, but it actually does the trick! Kittens who are raised by humans do not benefit from the natural socialisation that occurs when they are surrounded by their mothers and siblings.
As you speak softly to your kitten while you burp it, you are providing reassurance and strengthening your connection with it.
Have a towel on hand just in case!
Because kitten food is notoriously sticky and goopy, you should always be prepared with a clean towel or cloth in case your pet has an accident.
It is very usual for a small amount of formula to be vomited back up, so simply use a moist towel to wipe your kittens’ mouths after the feeding is complete.
Do kittens burp after eating?
Is it Typical for Kittens to Fart All the Time? In a nutshell, the answer is no.
After they have finished their dinner, kittens will not typically emit a loud belch while they are dozing off on the couch. It is unusual to hear a cat burp, and it is much less typical to observe it on a daily basis.
Why is it necessary to burp young kittens?
What is the Purpose of a Kitten Farting? If your kitten is burping frequently, it is a sign that there is an issue occurring in their gastrointestinal tract.
The stomachs of many cats are quite sensitive, and as a result, a cat may burp for a variety of reasons, including indigestion, hairballs, chewing grass, and acid reflux.
About Content Reviewer & Vet Expert OnBoard: Dr. Sara J at Hampton Vet Clinic. Dr Sarah is passionate about pets and loves sharing her knowledge and research with you.
At Pet Paws Hub, we strive to be the ultimate resource for learning everything about Owning & caring for your pet!