AboutNorman Auspitz Expertise I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.
Experience I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.
Organizations Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.
Publications Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook
Education/Credentials I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.
Awards and Honors We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.
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Cats - mother cat pushes away two kittens that are only over a week old
Question What should be done for a kitten that is just over a week old with the mother not wanting to feed it besides had feeding is there anything else that we should do or proper car that should be done?
Answer Erica,
You can try bottle or tube feeding the kitten. Your vet can help you get started doing either. The kitten will need about 8-10 ml per day of formula (I like Newborn, cut with a little bit of unflavored Pedialyte) for every 4 oz (100 g) of kitten body weight. You can feed the kitten 4 times a day (7:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 7:00 PM, midnight).
This information can also be found in a book, "Hand-Raising the Orphan Kitten" by Milton Papurt, DVM; Barron's Education Series, Hauppage, NY; 1999.
However, my experience has been that when the mama rejects a kitten, there is usually something wrong with it. We have not had great deals of luck (only a few survivors of the kittens we have tried to save). Although, given our pretty poor track record, we still try to save such kittens, even though we know it is probably a lost cause.
When you tube or bottle feed a kitten, you must burp it and also make sure to potty it (just stimulate the back end with a soft cloth or tissue).
The other thing you must do is to make sure that the kitten stays warm.
