Expert: Jessica - 11/18/2009

Question
QUESTION: My daughter's 5-6 week old kitten has stopped eating the solid food he had been eating for 2 weeks. The mother doesn't want him to nurse. I advised her to stay with them a few times a day and make her be still so he can nurse. He is getting slow and is sleeping too much. Is there anyhting else she could try?

ANSWER: Hi Vicki.  I would recommend that your daughter pick up some kitten milk replacement for the kitten and see if he'll take that.  I like the brand KMR, but Just Born and some others are fine as well.  They're available at pet stores, Wal-Mart, veterinarians and at some grocery stores.  At this age, he may lap up some warm kitten formula from a saucer, or your daughter might try to nurse him with a kitten bottle.  She can also feed him stage one chicken baby food (for humans).  However, this is 90% water, so it doesn't provide as much nutrition as kitten food and should be used as a last resort.

The kitten should probably be seen by a vet.  Anytime there is a change in appetite, it usually indicates the kitty is sick.  But even if it turns out the kitten isn't sick and just isn't quite ready to wean fully, the vet can give your daughter a nice food that's good for weaning kittens, such as Hill's a/d or Royal Canin's Recovery RS.  These foods are by prescription only.  They aren't weaning foods per se, but they have a creamy consistency and a very aromatic flavor that encourages transitioning kittens to eat.  Further, they can be mixed into kitten formula and fed with a bottle, or they can be fed straight with a syringe if the kitten won't eat.  Your daughter should ask about them by name.

Best wishes.  I hope he's eating his full ration soon!

Jessica

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you! You were right on the money! The vet gave her a few cans of the recovery food and syringe to force feed him every 3-4 hours. By mid-night he was waking up, grooming himself, and using his litter box. I think the vet also gave her some deworming powder to add to the food. This is the second litter we've discovered and saved in 2 years. I learn more each time. Thank you!!!!

Answer
That's excellent!  I'm so glad the kitten came around and that you are stepping in to save homeless pets.  If everyone just put in a little extra effort like you and your daughter are, the outlook for our cats wouldn't look so bleak.  Keep up the good work!