Sorry for the lack of updates over the past few months; I picked up a bunch of new volunteer responsibilites at the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter and have been working with them on their Offsite Adoption Team. I've also been designated as the Lead Volunteer on the Ringworm team, on top of my fostering and other volunteer duties. Top that off with the Holidays and it's been a crazy season!
But enough of that, let's get to why you're here: Cats and Kittens!
Introducing two of our first babies this kitten season, Pip and Squeak
These two tiny babes are less than a week old; their eyes are still shut tight and they still have tiny bits of their cords stuck to their bellies.
After a brief adjustment period they're both eating like champs! It took them a little while to get used to the bottles and the taste of the formula, so their meal-times for the first day and a half were a little difficult.
Since these kittens are so young they are being fed every 2-3 hours. The kitten formula has to be reheated at every meal so their bodies can digest it more easily. Every feeding follows the same pattern:
1. Weigh the kitten and record the pre-feeding weight
2. Feed the kitten at least 5% of its body weight (so for these aprox 100 gram kittens, that's 5 grams per feeding)
3. Weigh the kitten again to make sure the kitten has eaten the proper ammount.
4. Stimulate the kittens genitals so that it can pee/poop (the most glamourous part of bottle-baby fostering)
5. Make sure no traces of milk are left on the kitten. The formula dried HARD and will have to be cut out of the fur if it is not cleaned off early.
I also like to make sure that my kittens stay nice and warm during their feedings, so I have a heating pad (on low) placed on the table with a blanket on it. The number one reason kittens won't eat is because they're too cold!
Last little note here, just to clear up a very common (and dangerous) mistake.
If you are going to feed kittens, you need to feed them a milk replacement supplement. Whiskas Cat Milk is NOT safe for kittens, nor is any other commecially available milk. I can't tell you the number of times kittens have been brought in and have only been fed with this stuff or with cow's milk; most of the time, they don't make it. Cow's milk is NEVER acceptable to give to a cat, and the Whiskas milk is a TREAT MEANT FOR ADULT CATS!
Luckily most pet stores (and even some grocery stores) sell actual kitten formula now, even if they don't carry the best stuff. Here's what you want to look for:
The GNC, KMR and Breeders Edge powdered formula all have comparable nutritional benefits and seem to be of equal quality. While the Breeders Edge formula is a little harder to find, KMR and GNC formula are carried by lots of stores (including WalMart). DO NOT buy the Hartz kitten formula: it is NOT a good substitute, and if you look closely at their find print it is stated that it's meant as a supplement only and NOT as a nutritionally complete meal-replacement. The better formulas are a bit more expensive, but they are WORTH IT!!!! I would definitely reccomend getting the powdered formula instead of the pre-mixed liquid but the liquid stuff can work in a pinch.
Regardless of what kind of formula you choose make sure you read ALL of the instructions and follow them to the letter. Once you've started with a formula, stick with it. Changing from one to the other can cause massive digestive upset for the kittens and can be very traumatic.
But enough of that, let's get to why you're here: Cats and Kittens!
Introducing two of our first babies this kitten season, Pip and Squeak
These two tiny babes are less than a week old; their eyes are still shut tight and they still have tiny bits of their cords stuck to their bellies.
After a brief adjustment period they're both eating like champs! It took them a little while to get used to the bottles and the taste of the formula, so their meal-times for the first day and a half were a little difficult.
Since these kittens are so young they are being fed every 2-3 hours. The kitten formula has to be reheated at every meal so their bodies can digest it more easily. Every feeding follows the same pattern:
1. Weigh the kitten and record the pre-feeding weight
2. Feed the kitten at least 5% of its body weight (so for these aprox 100 gram kittens, that's 5 grams per feeding)
3. Weigh the kitten again to make sure the kitten has eaten the proper ammount.
4. Stimulate the kittens genitals so that it can pee/poop (the most glamourous part of bottle-baby fostering)
5. Make sure no traces of milk are left on the kitten. The formula dried HARD and will have to be cut out of the fur if it is not cleaned off early.
I also like to make sure that my kittens stay nice and warm during their feedings, so I have a heating pad (on low) placed on the table with a blanket on it. The number one reason kittens won't eat is because they're too cold!
Last little note here, just to clear up a very common (and dangerous) mistake.
This stuff is NOT milk for kittens! This is NOT formula! Do NOT give this to kittens!!!!!
If you are going to feed kittens, you need to feed them a milk replacement supplement. Whiskas Cat Milk is NOT safe for kittens, nor is any other commecially available milk. I can't tell you the number of times kittens have been brought in and have only been fed with this stuff or with cow's milk; most of the time, they don't make it. Cow's milk is NEVER acceptable to give to a cat, and the Whiskas milk is a TREAT MEANT FOR ADULT CATS!
Luckily most pet stores (and even some grocery stores) sell actual kitten formula now, even if they don't carry the best stuff. Here's what you want to look for:
Regardless of what kind of formula you choose make sure you read ALL of the instructions and follow them to the letter. Once you've started with a formula, stick with it. Changing from one to the other can cause massive digestive upset for the kittens and can be very traumatic.
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