My cat had kittens 3 days ago and one is very limp and TINY (I weighed her and she's 58 grams)
It's midnight so I can't go to town to get any simulated mother's milk. But I did read about getting sugar into her. What can I use? I don't have any corn syrup. I have gaterade -- what else could I use?
THANKS
Anonymous
Favorite Answer
No, No, No on the sugar!
When was the last time you saw her eat? Get out the yellow pages and find a Wal-mart Super Center and get that cat some formula.
Here are some quick fixes if all else fails,
"Recipes for Emergency Kitten Fomula
The pet store is closed, and you have hungry kittens that need formula! Never fear!
In a pinch, the Cornell Book of Cats says that human baby formula can be used if made up to double the normal strength (human baby formula is normally not nutritious enough for kittens). As with the below formulas, please remember that any emergency formula should only be used until regular Feline Replacement Formula (such as KMR or Just Born) can be purchased at the pet store. None of these are nutritionally complete for the long term health of a kitten.
Formula #1
1 quart whole goat's milk
1 teaspoon light Karo syrup
1 tablespoon nonfat plain yogurt (goat's milk preferred)
1 egg yolk
Knox unflavored gelatin:
Newborn-1 week 1 pkg
2nd week 1 1/2 - 2 pkgs
3rd week 2 1/2 - 3 pkgs
4th week 4 pkgs
Put goat's milk in saucepan, add gelatin in the amount above depending on the kitten's age. Heat goat's milk/gelatin mixture just until gelatin is dissolved. Remove from heat. Mix in remaining ingredients and refrigerate. It will keep up to one week. Heat to skin test temperature and feed kittens.
Formula #2
8 ounces homogenized whole milk
2 egg yolks
1 teaspoon salad oil
1 drop liquid pediatric vitamins (optional)
Mix well and warm before using. Keep refrigerated.
Formula #3
1 part boiled water to 5 parts evaporated milk
1/2 teaspoon bone meal per 16 oz fluid
Mix well, refrigerate, warm before using .
Formula #4
1 can Evaporated Milk
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons Karo syrup
All three mixed well and kept in tightly sealed jar in fridge.
At feeding time mix 1/2 of the estimated feeding amount with:
Equal amount of boiling water
(once a day mix 1 drop of human infant liquid vitamins in each kitties formula)
If constipation occurrs: add 1 drop of vegetable oil to each kitties formula no more than once daily till problem is eased. Test temperature before feeding (the combination of boiling water and chilled formula should be just about right)."
This came from http://www.kittenrescue.org/pages.php?pageid=15#Recipe .
Being this young, you need to get it some food fast, as they need to eat quiet often. I would only use this as a "quick fix" but as soon as I could get some formula.
verna
1
Sarah
Well you could try slowly feeding it kitten formula. I don't mean milk. Milk causes diarrhea. So never feed your kitten formula because diarrhea causes dehydration which can lead to deaths in kittens. I mean actual real kitten formula. Take a syringe or bottle and slowly feed the kitten. Feed it at a 45 degree angle or the same angle kittens feed from their mothers. Never feed it like a baby; otherwise, it will choke to death. Your kitten might have an internal disease. Some kittens are born with these. Some kittens are born and they lose the will to live and survive. I have had kittens before that were like this. All you can do for them is give them the best love and attention you can now. Another thing you can try is weaning the other kittens off of mommy's milk and maybe even trying to get the skinny one to eat mushy dry food. That is dry kitten food mixed with either kitten formula or water NEVER milk. If you can call the vet and see if he/she has any more advice on what you should or can do. I wish you the best and sincerely hope your kitty gets fat. Another thing too now that I think of it is buy foods made for kittens high in fat and protein and such...kitten food...and give it to the mother cat or in the wean dish.
Catalina
An emergency home recipe for kitten food is:
•12oz of water
•1 envelope Knox Gelatin
•1 12oz can of whole evaporated milk (not skim)
•2 tablespoons mayonnaise
•2 tablespoons plain yogurt, not nonfat
Boil the water, add the gelatin - stir well. Add the following ingredients in order, mixing well after each addition:
•1/2 of the canned milk
•mayonnaise and yogurt
•the rest of the milk
You will probably not have all this with you but it does give you an idea of what she can be fed and some people also add egg yokes (no whites) to this. pureed meat such as lamb, chicken, or beef can also work. To be honest anything will do to get her through the night even the dreaded milk will help as cats are only lactose intolerant and not allergic but only as a one off emergency thing.
Have you tried to put her on to a nipple and rub her to stimulate mum's licking (try while others are feeding and also when the others are not).
The link below will take you to a whole page of web links which all have tips and recipes.
Anonymous
Is the mama willing to feed her? Does the mama want anything to do with her? Have you tried gently massaging the kitten's mid- to- lower belly to aid digestion? Have you tried putting the kitten's mouth directly on the mama's teat?
Kitten's need their mama's milk because of their special nutritional needs. You must get kitten formula into her if the mama rejects her (through a special feeding bottle available at vets, local feed stores, local pet stores). The limpness could be because the kitten is starving to death.
Contact the vet first thing in the morning for more information. Your vet may need you bring the mama and her entire litter in to make a proper analysis. Most vets will only charge for one pet in cases like this, but it is best to ask your vet his policy over the phone.