Expert: Karen Craft - 8/23/2008

Question
Hi, my name is Christina. My cat just had kittens a little over 2 weeks ago. She had them outside under our front porch. About 4-5 days ago we think the cat moved the kittens. My step dad heard the kitten crying outside, so he picked him up and brought him inside to my mom. We put him back outside for almost an hour to see if she would come back and get him. She didnt, we figured she lost his scent? So we brought him. Soon after the mother of the kitten came in and completely ignored him! We tried putting the kitten to her and everything. So one of our other older mothers (who also just had kittens,and is pregnant and) started..to take to him. We hand fed it every 4 hours for almost 2 days. Then we seen she was taking to the other cat so we only fed him 8 times or more a day. He is normally whinny, and plays with the old (9 wk)kittens. I woke up around 3am and he pooped all over him self and he was very quite, and was moving very slowly. Im pretty worried. We've lost alot of kittens and from hand feeding him ive gotten attached to him. Do you think i should be concerned?

Answer
Hi Christina,

Yes you should be very concerned. A kitten being lethargic like that should be checked by the vet. Kittens are very frail and are very susceptible to a lot of things that can kill them. The biggest thing is not being warm enough. If the kitten defecated on itself could mean a few things. It could have diarrhea which is very serious in a kitten. Try to get him to a vet to be checked out. I am also attaching a great link on info on hand raising an orphan kitten. http://www.kittenrescue.org/pages.php?pageid=15
It has quite a lot of good info for you. I am also attaching my recipe for Kitty Glop to feed it. I have raised a lot of orphan kittens on this. 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.