AboutAli Expertise I cannot offer medical advice, after all, I am not a veterinarian! I can help you introduce your resident cat to your new feline friend. I can offer suggestions on dealing with common behavioral issues. If you are wondering how to choose the best food to feed your feline friend I would recommend that you do your own research. Things aren't always as they seem when it comes to the pet food industry, and doing your own research allows you to be sure you are providing the best nutrition possible your cat. I can help you understand your cat's basic needs so that you can meet them. Cats must have interaction and stimulation. Being able to train your cat means finding out what motivates them. Cats all vary in personality, energy level and intelligence just as people do. An intelligent, high energy cat with a mischievous personality must be kept occupied or they will make their own fun even if you aren't fond of their choice of entertainment. I have fostered several cats and kittens. I have experience in dealing with some special needs cats including helping to regain the trust of abused and abandoned cats. I have rescued a number of strays and I can offer tips on how to trap, neuter, vaccinate and release cats in feral colonies and rehabilitate strays to find them loving forever homes. Currently I own 3 cats ranging in age from 3 to 9 years of age. My oldest cat has ongoing kidney issues so I`m willing to offer limited suggestions on this topic. For behavioral issues that I lack experience in I am willing to consult the staff at my family veterinary clinic, however I am unable to provide medical advice so if you have a cat that is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment administered by a qualified vet.
Experience I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed the cats that most people recommended euthanasia for. I am the proud pet guardian of three wonderful cats. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up.
Expert: Ali Date: 7/23/2008 Subject: coccidia in young kitten
Question I can not get my 6 week old kitten to eat anything. I have tried kitten food dry and canned, human baby food (meat), and kitten formula. I took her to the Vet on Monday and he gave me Nuti-Cal that I gave her with a syringe for two 2 day. On the first visit she seemed heathy except she wouldn't eat. Then she started having loose stools and throwing up today, Wed. We went back and I found out she had coccidia and he started her on Albon. I'm so worried because she will not eat. She has lost 4 OZ in the last two days - weighs 1.4 lbs. Do you have any suggestions?
Answer Leslie,
I am somewhat concerned about this kitten not being willing to eat voluntarily due to her age. I normally recommend that kittens be kept with their mother and siblings until they are at least 10-12 weeks of age to allow them to be fully weaned and well socialized. It does sound to me like your new kitten may not have been fully weaned when you brought her home which in combination with the coccidia would explain her reluctance to eat solid food. My recommendation would be to pick up a kitten weaning formula from your local pet store. I have found that KMR is generally widely available and of reasonable quality. I would recommend that you mix the weaning formula of your choice according to the package directions and then mix in pureed meat until the meat and formula are about the consistency of pudding before it sets completely. Since this kitten isn't eating voluntarily and has already lost a bit of weight I would recommend that you consider gently force feeding her for a day or two before you show her how to eat on her own. Since this kitten hasn't eaten for awhile it would be a good idea to start off slowly. The easiest and most convenient way to feed such a young kitten is with an oral syringe which you can get at your local pharmacy in the baby aisle. I would suggest that you begin feeding your kitten about a teaspoon or 5 ml of the mixture of weaning formula and baby food every hour or so for the first day and then gradually increase the amount of food that you are giving and the frequency that she is being fed. Since this kitten has been vomiting don't push too hard because you can actually cause the cycle of vomiting and weight loss all over again. It is important that you feed the kitten with all four of her paws facing the floor because if you feed her on her back like a human infant she may choke or inhale her food. It wouldn't be a bad idea to purchase a kitchen scale that measures in grams up to two pounds to keep track of your kitten's weight. The best technique for force feeding a kitten is to lay a towel on your lap (trust me, you will be glad that you did), place the kitten in your lap facing you and use one hand to hold her securely (be gentle). You will want to load your syringe before you get the kitten into your lap and begin to feed her. You will use your free hand to place the syringe gently into the corner of your kitten's mouth and slowly depress the plunger. The kitten will need time to swallow so don't rush things or all of your effort will be in vain because the kitten may choke or vomit.
My recommendation as far as the baby food goes is to make your own. It is way healthier and more cost effective to cook your own meat and puree it because you can be sure that your kitten isn't getting things that she doesn't need such as salt and citrus juices which are often used to preserve commercial baby foods. If you are unable to cook and puree your own meat then I have found a wonderful baby food called Mother Hen and it is pureed without the extra junk and packaged in convenient plastic containers. To my knowledge Mother Hen is a Canadian company, but it is worth checking your local area for similar baby foods that are cooked, pureed and sold frozen in individual containers.
I have used Nutri-Cal as a temporary supplement to provide extra vitamins and calories to orphaned kittens, but to my knowledge it isn't something meant to be fed on any kind of ongoing basis. Once the kitten's weight has stabilized and she is beginning to put weight on you can teach her how to eat from a plate or bowl on the floor. You will want to use the baby food and weaning formula mixture. I would recommend that you measure quantities before you feed this little one so that you can make decisions about the amount of food that she needs to gain weight on a consistent basis. Once you have measured the food out you will want to bring the kitten to you to where she is going to eat. Encourage your kitten to smell the food, but be prepared, little kittens that are first learning to eat on their own typically are fairly messy. You will want to gently bring the food to the kitten's nose and gently place a small amount on her nose to stimulate her interest. Your kitten will probably lick her nose and come back for more...Once your kitten has made the connection between your finger and her food she will try to get more. During the process of the kitten connecting your finger with food then you will want to encourage her to eat from the dish on her own by moving your finger with the food on it closer to the plate until she makes this connection. Since this kitten hasn't been eating on her own teaching her to eat independently will take a few tries. Caring for such a young kitten, especially one that isn't feeling so hot is a major commitment, it takes time, patience and love to keep this little one progressing in the right direction. Kittens this age need to be fed several times a day to keep up with the rapid growth that is normal for this stage in their lives.
If my suspicion is correct and your kitten wasn't weaned it is normal for you to see her sucking on things ranging from blankets to hands, ears, stuffed animals and other pets in your household. I would recommend that you try soaking a good quality kitten kibble with your weaning formula to moisten the hard food enough for your little one to eat it. A six week old kitten is able to eat kibble, but in this case because she doesn't sound like she was weaned prior to coming to live with you she may take some time to adjust to the change...The first major step is to get your little one to gain weight normally. It is also important that you try to limit her access to germs from other pets in the household or any viral/bacterial infections that you may pick up from outside your home. The best recommendation that I have to help your kitten avoid infections is to be sure that anyone who handles her washes their hands prior to doing so. The reason that infections are such a concern is because most kittens would still be nursing on their mother for at least some of their nutrition. Breast milk provides antibodies in addition to proper nutrition for the kittens. Unfortunately this little girl was taken from her mother prior to being weaned so she will be at a higher risk for infections. I would also recommend that as soon as your kitten is healthy enough that you begin regular kitten vaccinations to ensure that your kitten is protected against issues like panleukopenia (distemper) and other upper respiratory infections. It is also a good idea to have your kitten tested for feline leukemia and FIV which are both conditions that can affect the immune systems in cats sometimes to the point where tough choices have to be made. Testing for FeLV and FIV is a good step to take especially if you have other cats in your household. If your kitten tests negative for these chronic illnesses then it is worth speaking to your vet about whether or not your kitten needs to be vaccinated. I hope that you have found this advice helpful. If you have any further questions, concerns, or you would simply like to send updates or photos my way, please don't hesitate to contact me again.
