Expert: Jessica - 8/20/2009

Question
My cat who is just over a year old had two kittens. One kitten was a still born. The other one is just as tiny no hair on the feet or stomach. Whenever he gets close to feeding its as if he gives up and has no strength and practically tips over. My mom is refusing to let me feed the kitten with the bottle and monthers milk replacement. is this wrong get back to me before its too late!!!

Answer
Hi Emily.  I certainly don't think it's morally wrong to try.  If you try giving the kitten formula with an eye dropper and he takes it, then this is good!  He is very likely not going to be quite ready to take it from a bottle just yet.

However, you definitely have to enter the situation knowing there is no telling what lies ahead.  Premature kittens often face their biggest challenges about 7-10 days into their lives.  This is about the time when you will find out if their organs were developed enough to have supported them.  This is also about the time when many of them succumb to infections.  So you will have to remain very guarded even if the baby makes it through the first several days.

Nevertheless, if you are up to the challenge, I see nothing wrong at all with seeing if the baby will take some kitten formula.  Heat it to 102 degrees F and feed it one drop at a time with an eye dropper or syringe.  As long as he swallows it and it doesn't come out his nose, then it would appear feeding is going fine.  He should probably eat around 2 cc's (a little less than 1/2 teaspoon) every 2 hours.  I would return him to mom for warmth and pottying as long as she's interested in caring for him.  And hopefully if he gets the strength up in a day or two, he'll be able to nurse from her to receive some antibody rich colostrum (pre-milk), which will help protect him against germs.

Good luck!

Jessica