Karenluvs6
11-16-2000, 09:30 AM
Another myth about milk and feeding kittens - For newborns
that may have lost their momma kitty regular milk is pretty
much a sure way to lose them. They cannot thrive on regular
whole milk, or any other form of cow's milk that is sold at
the grocery store. It will definitely give them diarrhea
and dehydrate them quickly. They need to drink a special
formula - you can get it in powdered form or liquid, most
vets carry it, and so do most pet stores. Unfortunately, it
is pricey - ask the vet for a sample, explain your situation
(vet's have compassion), and as soon as the kittens' teeth
come in get them on kitten food (not grown-up cat food if
you can help it).
What the motherless kittens really need is another cat to
nurse them, and in the first 3 days of their life they need
the colustrum that their mommy has in her milk, as do human
babies (in their human mommy milk). Of course, human babies
can survive without this as seen in many hospitals where
human mothers can't or choose not to nurse, but it is best
for both species to get this wonderful nutrition for a good
healthy start in life (for human mommies, contact any La
Leche League for more information).
One more myth - Tuna is not necessarily good for cats!
What? Well, kittens should not be given tuna because at
their young age they are susceptible to making kidney
stones, which tuna has a tendency to cause (stimulates over
production of uric acid which accumulates as kidney stones
was the vet's explanation to me). So, for kittens keep them
off the tuna until (my suggestion) well over a year old (two
would be even better). By then, their little urinary
systems will have matured to a large enough size to handle
passing uric acid crystals.
that may have lost their momma kitty regular milk is pretty
much a sure way to lose them. They cannot thrive on regular
whole milk, or any other form of cow's milk that is sold at
the grocery store. It will definitely give them diarrhea
and dehydrate them quickly. They need to drink a special
formula - you can get it in powdered form or liquid, most
vets carry it, and so do most pet stores. Unfortunately, it
is pricey - ask the vet for a sample, explain your situation
(vet's have compassion), and as soon as the kittens' teeth
come in get them on kitten food (not grown-up cat food if
you can help it).
What the motherless kittens really need is another cat to
nurse them, and in the first 3 days of their life they need
the colustrum that their mommy has in her milk, as do human
babies (in their human mommy milk). Of course, human babies
can survive without this as seen in many hospitals where
human mothers can't or choose not to nurse, but it is best
for both species to get this wonderful nutrition for a good
healthy start in life (for human mommies, contact any La
Leche League for more information).
One more myth - Tuna is not necessarily good for cats!
What? Well, kittens should not be given tuna because at
their young age they are susceptible to making kidney
stones, which tuna has a tendency to cause (stimulates over
production of uric acid which accumulates as kidney stones
was the vet's explanation to me). So, for kittens keep them
off the tuna until (my suggestion) well over a year old (two
would be even better). By then, their little urinary
systems will have matured to a large enough size to handle
passing uric acid crystals.