Expert: Jessica - 5/11/2010

Question
I know this is a common question for you... I read some older answers, but still feel I must ask again about my specific case.

My boyfriend and I are currently fostering a kitten we presume to be 18 days/2 weeks 4 days old. We obtained him at what we presumed was 2 days old. We have a bit of experience with bottling (we raised our current two adult cats), but have not had a case of constipation like this!

It has only just recently hit the 48 hour mark since his last bowel movement (which my boyfriend described as looking like a rat dropping in shape/size, "normal" brown color), but he has become SO swollen and tight in the belly, I'm afraid to continue feeding him normally. [Which, for us, is approx. 14 mL of KMR every 4 hours.]
We believe that the cause for constipation is that his nest box is too warm. We have a ceramic heat emitter over a large Rubbermaid tote, with a hot side and a cold side like a reptile enclosure. The hot side routinely gets to 85 degrees during the day- now that he's bigger and more stable, we've just begun to turn it off during the day and leave it on only at night. Since turning it off during the day, his nest box maintains about 75 degrees. Is it logical that the heater has sort of "dried him out"?

We mixed a small amount (approx 1 mL) of olive oil into his 50 mL bottle, which should go for either 3 or 4 feeds. We also slightly increased the ratio of water to KMR powder in an attempt to rehydrate him. (1 tbsp powder to 2.5 tbsp water, instead of 1:2...)
When stimulating him to potty, he cries a lot and seems to strain, but there is not yet any luck. When should I consider the use of an enema? Can I easily make one at home? (I do have unscented Dawn.)

Answer
Hi Teneisha.  I don't think that the heat emitter should have too much to do with his constipation if he’s had a way to move out of the direct heat.  Outdoor kittens are exposed to high temperatures during the summer, and 85 degrees is actually about the environmental temperature required to maintain his body temperature at this age.  I personally prefer a constant, even heat source such as a heating pad, rather than turning a heat source on and off, but I think this probably has little to do with his constipation problem.  

You may want to try feeding every three hours instead of every four to see if this will help.  The more often young babies are fed, the fewer belly problems they have, I have found.  This way, they eat smaller meals, and their bellies are better able to digest them.  In another week, you can try bumping him back up to every four hours.

Also, I’ve found that strengthening the formula, rather than diluting it, is sometimes the way to go with constipated kittens.  This increases the concentration of fat, and we all know what a greasy meal does.  It usually encourages a bowel movement.  If diluting the formula doesn’t help, consider concentrating it slightly, and you may give him tiny amounts of water between meals to encourage hydration.

If I am reading your question correctly, you mention that you are mixing 50 mls of formula at a time?  If this is so, try to avoid this.  Try to mix only what the kitten will eat.  Left-overs should only be heated once, and only by soaking the bottle in a cup of hot water.  Microwaving formula can evaporate all the water out of the it, and this may be what’s causing the constipation if you’re microwaving any formula.

For treating constipation, enemas are easy to make, but you should have a vet show you how much to administer and the proper way to administer it before giving one at home.  I would schedule an appointment for the little one to be seen tomorrow if he’s produced no stool.  One of my poor orphans had to have stool removed with forceps when he became very constipated, and that was no fun for any of us!  

There are also some lubricant laxatives that may be more effective than olive oil to help him stay constipation-free, but they can cause diarrhea if not used carefully.  You should talk to a vet about the use of these in a young kitten.

Best of luck with your little one!

Jessica