Expert: Karen Craft - 3/5/2011

Question
Hello Karen, I am currently fostering a momma cat and her 6 day-old kittens. Momma has the flu (and the little ones are starting to develop it, too), and although she feeds the kittens she won't groom them at all. I have never seen her lick them (and I watch over them a lot), not even when they were born. Is there a way to teach her to clean them? I am stimulating them with a warm cloth to make them go, but all is does is make them pee, so far I have not managed to make them poo. How long should I have to rub them for? They get hysterical when I do and it just doesn't seem to be working... Many thanks

Answer
Hi Catherine,

Here are a couple of good links about taking care of kits. Sometimes you get a cat who makes a lousy mom.

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

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

When you rub them make sure you use enough force. Think f how hard a mother cat licks her kits. Then try to match that. Use cotton balls. They work better. And make sure that the water you use is warm. Also I am attaching my recipe for Kitty Glop. You can feed it to the kits if Mom gives up on them. Don't worry about them raising a ruckus when you try to clean them. You're not hurting them. Good luck and take care.

Ciao, Karen

KITTY GLOP

INGREDIENTS:
1 can goat milk or evaporated milk, (not sweetened condensed)
2 tbsp. plain yogurt (not low or non fat) Greek yogurt is good.
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)
2 jars Stage One Meat Baby food (chicken,turkey, or beef)
1 can cat food, (same flavor as baby food)

INSTRUCTIONS:
Mix milk, yogurt, mayonnaise, baby food, cat food, and syrup together well. Hand blender works well for this. 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.
Feed a couple of tablespoons to cat 3-4 times a day. If he wants more let him have it.

Always warm glop to room temperature ,(milk form), or a little warmer, before feeding.