Expert: Jessica - 6/27/2010

Question
We found 2 feral kittens 2 1/2 weeks ago.  They did pretty well- we bottle-feed them and the only problem was constipation.  My husband had a job intervire and we had to board them at the vet's for 3 days.  We picked them up today and they both have diarreah.  One was weaned and the other refused.  The vets are closed and we can't afford a $360 vet bill because it's the weekend.  We did that with our other rescue cat last October.  Please help us get these kittens through the weekend.  Thanks, Debra

Answer
Hi Debra,

It sounds like their diets may have been uspet while they were boarding.  I'm not sure how old the kittens are, so the best I can suggest is to keep the diets consistent for the most part.  For the kitten who refused to wean, keep his formula steady, and try to feed him smaller meals, more frequently.  Smaller meals fed frequently will be much less work on his sensitive belly.  A feeding every two hours is ideal.  As the diarrhea resolves, you can go back to your regular feeding schedule.

For the little one who's eating solid food now, I would recommend mixing in some pea baby food or some baby rice cereal.  Mix a teaspoon of either one into half a cup of canned food, assuming you're feeding canned food.  If the baby is eating dry food, I would use the baby rice cereal.  I would soak the dry food in warm water and then mix the baby rice cereal in.  The fiber in either of these supplements will help to bulk up his stools.

If the diarrhea isn't resolving, then certainly, get the kittens to the vet when they open on Monday.

Best of luck!

Jessica