Expert: Karen Craft - 4/8/2010

Question
Thank you for helping me. I had a stray cat that was pregnant that kept hanging around and I could not help myself because I love all animals so I let the pregnant ca come in. She had 4 kittens this afternoon and she had them under my bed. She had 4 of them and 2 of them are in one place under the bed and 2 in another but she is not staying with them-she is laying on my bed or she is laying on the kitchen floor but she does not go under the bed. Is this normal? Is she just taking a break and will return to take care of them or is she abandoning them? Thank you again. God bless.

Answer
Hi Tammy,

Some cats don't make good moms. You may have one of those. Keep a close eye out on them. If she stays away from them more than 2 hours you may have to pick up the slack and become "Mom". The biggest thing that you need to do is make sure they are kept warm. Getting chilled is the number one killer of kits. Here's a few links that explain what you need to do for the kittens. I am attaching my recipe for Kitty Glop. It's what I feed abandoned kits.

http://www.feralcat.com/raising.html

http://www.2ndchance.info/orphankitten.htm

http://www.kittenrescue.org/pages.php?pageid=15

Your mom cat may start to take care of the kits in a little bit. If this is her first litter she may be a little slow in doing what she needs to. Don't keep her from the kits if she wants to be near them while you are taking care of them. She may pick up the slack at some point. Raising kits by hand is a lot of work but well worth the result. 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.