	AllExperts > Cats
	Search

About Norman 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.

You are here: Experts > Animals/Pets > Cats > Cats > Am i over feeding my week old kitten?

Cats - Am i over feeding my week old kitten?

Expert: Norman Auspitz - 11/5/2009

Question
i got a surprise package in my letter box 7 days ago, a newborn kitten still with a wet umbilical cord attached ! i know its mother didn't put him in there so i decided to raise him myself, i'm using formula that says feed 60 ml a day 4 feeds a day, but my little man wakes up screaming for a feed every 4 hours, i was giving him 10ml a feed but he drinks it down so fast and screams and sucks my hand looking for more so i upped it to 15 ml he still yells for more but i'm refusing to give it as im already over the daily recommended dosage by nearly double (gasp* i just realized that!!) i think i may be over feeding him??? His poop is a runny mustard yellow colour and very loose, iv diluted the formula with water as iv been told to do but so far no luck.
There's so many conflicting information on the net about how often how much ect... to give, is 6 hourly feeds right or not??? arrhhh!! i don't want to hurt him by trying to help :(

Answer
Gina,

OK, first of all get a digital scale to be able to weigh the kitten. Also, you would do better to cut the formula with unflavored Pedialyte rather than water.

Here are some guidelines: A feeding regimen of 7 AM, 1 PM, 7 PM and midnight is fine. The kitten should take about 0.1 oz (3 or 4 mL) for every 4 oz (100 g) of body weight at each feeding. Make sure the temerature of the formula is warm to the back of your hand. The kitten should gain about 1 oz (30 g) the first week and about 2 oz (50 g) each week thereafter.

Stools should be formed but not hard. The mustard yellow color is OK. Runny diarrhea is not OK and may be a sign that the formula is indigestible or the kitten has intestinal parasites. What are you feeding this kitten?

Please let me know how things are going.

Best regards... Norm.

Add to this Answer Ask a Question