hand feeding kittens

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Monique - 09 Apr 2007 02:23 GMT

So, recently a friend was looking after a 5wo kitten that the mum cat
had kicked off the boob. Not having any kitten milk or even full fat
cows milk she gave the kitten mixed up baby formula. Since the kitten
died, the owner of the mum cat has said that the baby formula is what
'killed it' - even though the kitten had the formula a week before
passing on, and as soon as finances permitted (two days after the
kitten got to her place), the friend bought kitten milk from the vet.

In case this situation ever comes up again, what can you feed a kitten
if you have no kitten milk, or foster mum, that one might readily have
in the house? Is baby formula a better option than skim cows milk?

Tia

Reply to this Message

MaryL - 09 Apr 2007 14:42 GMT

> So, recently a friend was looking after a 5wo kitten that the mum cat
> had kicked off the boob. Not having any kitten milk or even full fat
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> Tia

I can't answer your question, but I doubt if the baby formula killed the
kitten. Obviously kitten replacement formula would be better, but it was
not available under the situation you described. My suspicion is that the
mother cat pushed the kitten out because there was something wrong with the
kitten. It's harsh, but that's often what happens -- and it does allow the
mother cat to care for the healthy ones and probably increases their chance
of survival. It's instinct for the mother cat, not "uncaring" or "cruelty"
as people so often claim (which you did not, I realize).

MaryL

Reply to this Message

~*Connie*~ - 10 Apr 2007 13:22 GMT

> So, recently a friend was looking after a 5wo kitten that the mum cat
> had kicked off the boob. Not having any kitten milk or even full fat
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> Tia

There is a formula called kitten glop that you can make with easily
obtainable ingredients.

Five weeks, it should have been able to eat regular wet cat food - maybe
watered down a little. I have had some kittens refuse till they are six
weeks, but most start at five. As Mary said, there could have been something
wrong with the kitten, or it could have been the baby formula, but you don't
mention the brand/type so there is no way of knowing.

Reply to this Message

Monique - 11 Apr 2007 01:02 GMT

> > So, recently a friend was looking after a 5wo kitten that the mum cat
> > had kicked off the boob. Not having any kitten milk or even full fat
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> wrong with the kitten, or it could have been the baby formula, but you don't
> mention the brand/type so there is no way of knowing.

It was Lactogen, I'm in Australia. I don't know whether thats
available 'everywhere.' The kitten wasn't interested in kitten food.
She tried that several times. It did seem to like cooked meat
(chicken) though, but not much of it, half a teaspoon if she was
lucky :S Its other siblings were attacking kitten food by the same
age.

I'm on the opinion that there was something wrong, but still, you have
to wonder if there was anything else you could have done, don't you?

Reply to this Message

~*Connie*~ - 12 Apr 2007 01:10 GMT

> I'm on the opinion that there was something wrong, but still, you have
> to wonder if there was anything else you could have done, don't you?

When my fosters are sick, and I've brought them to the shelter several
times, and they get to the vet, and get the best care there, and still don't
make it, I still wonder if there is anything else I could have done. It is
totally natural. Heartbreaking, but natural.

Reply to this Message