Expert: Karen Craft - 5/24/2011

Question
We just adopted 2 7-week old kittens 3 days ago.  They were rescued by a no kill rescue from a high kill shelter at just 1 week old.  They were bottle fed by a "foster mom" and lived at her house until we adopted them.  They are siblings but the boy is much bigger than the little girl. He is also much more playful - jumping, chasing and attacking anything that moves.  She is curious but prefers to sit on the sidelines and watch his antics or find a lap to sit or or arms to hold her.  I am not sure but thinking that maybe she is the runt of the litter.  She is very sweet and wants lots of attention - just not as wild and playful as her brother.  Would this be "normal" for the runt and IS there a runt in a litter that is bottle fed?  If so, do you think she will will come around once she gains a little more?  They both seem to go in spurts as far as either being ravenous or completely uninterested when presented with canned food.  The have kitten kibble available at all times per the instructions given.  She seems healthy - just shy and stand-offish to play, but certainly not to people.

Answer
Hi Kelly,

You can try to keep on feeding by the bottle. If she is the runt it would help her. I am attaching my recipe for Kitty Glop. This works great for putting weight on runts. She is a female so she will be smaller than her brother. I have two siblings here and Sonny,(the male), is about 3 times bigger than his sister Cher. And she wasn't the runt. What type of food are you giving them? If you cannot afford a high end cat food I recommend Purina One dry kitten food. And make sure you are feeding them canned kitten food. They need it.

Your female sounds like she needs a bit more extra care. She will be fine. Good luck and take care.

Ciao, Karen

KITTY GLOP

INGREDIENTS:
1 can goat milk or evaporated milk(not sweetened condensed). Walmart carries canned goat milk by the evaporated milk
2 tbsp. plain yogurt (not low or non fat) Plain Greek Yogurt is best.
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)
1 can Kitten food, same flavor as baby food

INSTRUCTIONS:
Mix milk, yogurt, mayonnaise, baby food, kitten 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 mix 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.