Expert: Karen Craft - 4/6/2008

Question
Someone dropped a kitten over our 8 foot cement brick wall last spring.  And we fell in love.  She gave birth yesterday to quintuplets.  Amazingly all gray - like her and all with white booties - like her and/or out and out stockings (To the knees or above).  She gave birth during the day - in my bedroom with four of us watching and eventually assisting (bothering) her.  Temperament was fabulous.  But now she is so needy.  She wants me to hand feed her and water her in my hand.  (I always give her water from my bottle first thing in the AM) She feels bad. She wants me to fix the problem.  She is always wanting me to massage her tummy and whines and purrs and demands attention when I am not watching or touching her.  I noticed that only 2 of her teats looked to be lactacting.  And started trying to stimulate them.  Am I off base??? Five kittens and two working teats sounds bad. Then I researched and found out that each kitten usually chooses its own teat and I KNOW I have seen these kittens fighting for the same one.  Do I wait and see?  Do I continue to try to stimulate?  Do I sound like a nut?  I am so concerned and so confused.  Help.  Please.

Answer
Hi Connie,

You don't sound like a nut. You sound like a protective cat lover. If you feel that the kittens aren't getting enough milk from the mom then you supplement the feedings. Sometimes it happens that the mom doesn't produce enough milk. I am attaching a recipe for something called Kitty Glop. Get a kitten nursing bottle to feed them with. You can feed the kittens this, (and mom too). Since you are supplementing I would feed the kits 2-3 times a day with this stuff.

Make sure that the mom is taking care of them for all other matters. She should be grooming them and taking care of their waste. And make sure that they are also feeding from the mom. This is important, as they get a lot of protection from her milk. This is a very rewarding thing to do. You will wind up with one big happy family. Good luck.

Ciao, Karen



KITTY GLOP




INGREDIENTS:
1 can evaporated milk (not sweetened condensed)
2 tbsp. plain yogurt (not low or non fat)
2 tbsp. mayonnaise (real not light or No-Fat)
1 tbs. Karo Syrup (light)
1 pkg. Knox gelatin
1 egg yolk (beaten, )
1 cup Pedialyte (unflavored)
1- 2 jars Stage One Baby food (chicken or turkey)

INSTRUCTIONS:
Mix milk, yogurt, mayonnaise, baby food, and syrup together well. Bring 1 cup pedialyte to boil and mix in Knox gelatin. Set aside. Mix egg yolk with small amount of milk mixture and beat well.

Add gelatin and pedialyte to milk mixture and beat well. Add in egg yolk mixture and beat well. Remember to not use egg substitute and keep egg white to a minimum.

Pour into bowl (with cover) and set in refrigerator. Glop will last for two weeks covered in refrigerator. Try freezing the mixture in ice cube trays and store the cubes in the freezer, thaw as many as needed.
Always warm glop to room temperature ,(milk form), or a little warmer, before feeding.