Daily Kitten Chat Forum » Cats & Kittens

1. 

   Hi! I am new to this forum. I have two new fosters- about 10 and 12 weeks. They are being treated for URIs and conjunctivitis. I also found out they have Giardia and I am picking up meds for that and ear mites tomorrow.

   Their energy is good and they play, but they are only grazing on both wet and dry food. I have tried a few kinds of wet food and on advice from the place I am fostering with replaced the quality food with cheap, stinky food as their noses may be clogged. I did not see a difference doing this. I tried putting some tuna water in the food too. Not much more interest. One of the cats did steal the actual tuna I was planning on eating for dinner and ate some of that- I was just happy she at something!

   I am worried they are going to get weak and sicker than they already are. They barely are eating anything. Should I try baby food? Lysine? Any other suggestions? Syringe feeding is not an option because they are big squirmers and fight me when I am giving them medication. Thanks! I love them already and am so worried!

   Posted 2 years ago by pucca #

2. 

   Welcome! God bless you for fostering.
   500mg lysine capsules once a day mixed with food should really help boost their immune system.
   More important that they drink and remain hydrated. I think you are on the right track offering them anything they will eat. Chicken or turkey baby food (make sure there is no onion) is good to try as a temporary measure.
   You could also try wiping their little noses with a wet cloth and/or a cool mist humidifies in a small room so that it is nice and humid may help loosen their secretions.
   Best wishes and keep us posted.

   Posted 2 years ago by Tigerlilly #

3. 

   Pucca this is rough. It looks like force feeding is your only real option. Instead of a syringe, try mixing their food to a peanut butter consistency and take small globs and finger feed them like pilling. Place the glob on the back of the tongue and blow gently on their noses to encourage swallowing. Also mix some up to a broth consistency and see if they will drink it like water. Also use pedialyte for watering to keep their electrolytes balanced.
   You might also offer KMR or other "kitty milk" for calories.

   Posted 2 years ago by ailuromaniac #

4. 

   BTW, will they have a return vet visit?, maybe it would be good to have them checked out again. If they are becoming dehydrated, they can offer subcutaneus fliuds (something you can learn to do at home) to help get them through this rough time.

   Posted 2 years ago by Tigerlilly #

5. 

   Thank you! I will try the baby food and lysine first tomorrow and then go from there. I have to keep the organization updated and hopefully they will send me to their vet soon if they do not start eating. I just may have to try KMR. I did try handfeeding but it only worked with one of the kittens with tuna. Then she just went right for the can! :) I will try the force feed option if I have to but I hope it does not come to that. Thanks and please keep my girls in your prayers. They have had a rough start!

   Posted 2 years ago by pucca #

6. 

   The KMS is a good idea. Try it alone, or mixing it with something yummy, whatever works.

   Posted 2 years ago by Tigerlilly #

7. 

   You have advice from the best and I really don't have anything more to offer. I can pray that they will take to food and start getting healthy for you! Prayers to you are you guide them and watch them grow!

   Posted 2 years ago by SoxsMom #

8. 

   How are your foster babies today?

   Posted 2 years ago by Tigerlilly #

9. 

   Thanks for the concern everyone. They ate a little better today when I tried baby food, but not as much as I'd like.

   One cat ate a whole jar over the course of a couple of hours- but I later found out that it is not the kind I am supposed to get. It was stage 2, with gravy, and I read stage 1 with broth is better. Do you guys know if that is true? The ingredients did not list onion or garlic.

   The other princess ate some of the broth baby food when I put t on the bed next to her and petted her- princess!

   Both seem to graze on dry food throughout the day, so while they are not eating much, they will at least hold out until I can get a vet visit in because.....

   my bigger concern now is that it looks like one of them may have mange or something similarly yucky and possibly contagious... To be continued!

   Posted 2 years ago by pucca #

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