Expert: Karen Craft - 7/26/2009

Question
i have been bottle feeding two orphaned kittens for a week now. they are about 8 or 9 days old. they have been eating and urinating like they should but havent had a bowel movement in three days now. ive tried stimulating their bottoms. massaging the belly. adding mineral oil to their formula and still nothing. im getting concerned for their bowel health. any other suggestions

Answer
Hi Ayme,

Three days is about the max for a kitten not to go. They should have at least one bowel movement every two days. There are a few things you can do but if they do not work you need to take the little ones to a vet. Try a dab a warm Vasoline and gently rub it into the rectum of the kit. This will act as a suppository. If that doesn't work you might want to try giving them a small dose of a feline laxative like Laxatone.

When you stimulate the kitten to go I would run warm water and have a stream run on his bottom. Then use th cotton ball in th water. It isn't too rough against them. If this doesn't work they need the vet for an enema. DO NOT GIVE THEM ONE YOURSELF! Human enemas have high dosages of phosphorous which can kill them.

Once they are going again dilute the formula. It is too rich. Or use my recipe for Kitty Glop. This stuff is great for raisng orphans on. 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 unflavored 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.