Expert: Karen Craft - 5/11/2007

Question
Hello. I got a 7 week old kitten yesterday and, of course, she was a bit stressed about her new home.

I was worried that she wasn't doing anything like eating or drinking or even going to the washroom. Last night I noticed her pee in her litter box. So that's covered. But I have yet to see her drink water. Mom says she may have drunk water. She notices her nose in the dish with ripples but wasn't sure if she actually took any in.

Besides that, she has yet to eat anything. We have tries wet food and some dry food. She just sniffs it then leaves it alone. The previous owner told us to give her some carnation milk mixed with hot water. The first time we tried she ignored it. Today we tried and she drank a small plate of it. But I'm sure it's not the best thing for her D: I also have her a pinch(with my nails) of cheese and she ate that out of my hand. I know that's also not the best for her. But she ignores all the other food(even if I tried from my hand).

I know it's only been her second day here but I want to get her to eat as soon as possible. She's just making me worry this way. And she's so small and young. I don't want anything happening to her.

Answer
Hi Sam,

If you see her nose and ripples in the water she is drinking. Kittens and cats don't take big gulps of water. At 7 weeks old she is still a baby. I am giving you a recipe for something called kitty glop. This stuff is great for young kittens and sick cats. It will put weight on her and supply her nutritional needs. You can start adding dry hard food to it when she is about 10 weeks old. Good luck and let me know how she does.

Ciao, Karen

INGREDIENTS:
1 can evaporated milk
2 tbsp. plain yogurt (not flavored or no fat)
2 tbsp. mayonnaise (real not light or No-Fat)
1 tbs. Karo Syrup (light)
1 pkg. Knox gelatin
1 egg yolk (beaten, )
1 cup Pedialyte (unflavored)
1 jar 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 water 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 or over a month frozen.
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) before feeding.