Expert: Karen Craft - 4/14/2007

Question
Hi! My cat had kittens 5 weeks ago, and has been doing fine with them. However this past week she has been denying milk to the kittens, and we have tried to mix in store bought cat's milk with tuna, and one of the kittens has taken to it, yet the other one will go no where near it. Do you have any suggestions? Also, we have started to try and litter train the kittens but they both would rather do it on our couch. Is there something we can do? Is it ok that the mother isn't helping at all? Thanks!

Answer
Hi Lauren,

It sounds like the mom is done with the kittens. It's time for you to do what she won't. It's not hard and you won't have to do it for long. I will give you a recipe for something called kitty glop. This will supply most of the kittens nutritional needs. The milk and tuna mixture is not good for them. You will be able to wean the kittens at about 8-10 weeks old.
Now on to litter training the little ones. You need to get something like the cardboard flat that a case of soda or vegetables come in. This will be the kittens litter pan. It's low enough that they can get into it. Keep them off the couch and confine them to a small area. The less area to roam, the less trouble they can get into. Fill it with a scoopable litter. After they eat put them in the box. They should start using it. Cats are pretty clean. Praise them when they use the box. Once they have the routine down of using the box you can let let free in the house. Make sure there are a few boxes around for them. Clean the area they were using on the couch with an enzymatic cleaner. Cats have a very sensitive nose and can smell what we can't. If it isn't cleaned properly they will go back to that spot. Good luck and let me know what happens.

Ciao, Karen

INGREDIENTS:
1 lg. can evaporated milk
2 tbsp. plain yogurt (not diet)
2 tbsp. mayonaise (real not light or No-Fat)
1 tbs. Karo Syrup (light)
1 pkg. Knox gelatin
2 egg yolks (beaten,no whites )
1 cup Unflavoered Pedialyte
2 jars Stage One Baby food ( chicken or turkey)

INSTRUCTIONS:
Mix milk, yogurt,egg yolk, mayonaise and syrup together well. Bring 1 cup Pedialyte to boil and mix in Knox gelatin. Set aside.
Add gelatin and water to milk mixture and beat well.
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.

You can also add Vitamins. These additives merely add to the overall benefit and nutritious value of this mixture.
When they are ready to be weaned add crushed up dry kitten food to the mixture. Gradually switch them over to all dry food.

To feed them get a kitten nursing bottle from the pet store or WalMart. Feed them 4-5 times a day split up.