Expert: Karen Craft - 4/30/2009

Question
i took in 6 1wk old kittens that had no mother. the other 5 are doing great, but the little one has stopped eating, drinking, and moves around some..the other kittens would lick her behind alot, and i believe she was constipated, but she passed some tonight,she is lethargic, and only eats when i squirt some food into her mouth(not a lot) but some. and she has whitish/clear sleep in her eyes. could she have a cold? and what can i do to help her?

Answer
Hi Lisa,

She could have some sort of virus. You need to get her to the vet. Try to keep her hydrated. I'm attaching my recipe for Kitty Glop. Try to feed her this. It helps. If she won't eat on her own you might have to tube feed her. Your vet will help you with this. Try smearing a bit of Karo syrup on her muzzle to stimulate her appetite.

Keep her warm. I would use a heating pad for this. Put it under a towel and keep it on low. Make sure there is an area that is clear of the heating pad so she can get off it if she gets too warm.

Try to keep the other ones away from her. Hopefully she hasn't passed the virus onto the others. Your vet needs to check her out. Get her there. 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.