Hi, I'm fairly new to this forum, but I've posted in another category. The question I've got is has anyone used a homemade formula to feed kittens? And could I find out what it is made of? I have a litter of 7 kittens almost 6 weeks old that I'm trying to get onto solid food. I'm supplemented with a powdered formula, but it's expensive. Mama cat is now snapping at the babies not wanting them to nurse and they still want milk. I don't want to give them regular milk. I would appreciate any help with this. Susan from southern Kentucky

-- Susan from KY (slkolb34@yahoo.com), November 26, 2001

Answers

Hi, it's me again. I didn't read through this category enough before posting. I've found what I needed to know. I'll let you know how the kittens do. Susan from southern Kentucky.

-- Susan from KY (slkolb34@yahoo.com), November 26, 2001.

Lots of info on this site about orphaned kittens: http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/kittens3.html

They give this recipe: A commercial kitten milk replacer which can be purchased at pet supplies stores, or for short-term emergencies, you can make up a diet:

l cup of milk l tablespoon corn oil l pinch of salt egg yolks (no whites)

Blend mixture uniformly.

-- Renee at Briar Creek (fakeaddy@nomail.com), November 26, 2001.

I've used plain ol' goat milk with good success.

-- ellie (eagle-quest@juno.com), November 26, 2001.

Yep, me too. Raised dozens o' kitties on plain goat milk.

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), November 26, 2001.

How do you get the homemade kittens to grow? Expandable fur? What function do they serve? Does it make you paws? Wouldn't it be a recipe instead of a formula? Or is it fur-mula....

-- Gailann Schrader (gtschrader@aol.com), November 26, 2001.

My first cat came to me as a kitten of six weeks. I don't think she was really weaned. I fed her some cow's milk (this was 24 years ago, and I was ignorant!), but mostly I got her baby food meat. She didn't know how to lap the milk nor eat the food. I fed her first by dipping a clean finger into the milk and touching her lips so that she would lick it off. Same procedure with the baby food. It really didn't take her more than a couple of days to learn to lick either out of dishes. You might try mixing some of the milk or formula with some of the pureed baby meat, to make a rather soupy mixture to start with. I think you'll be surprised how fast they catch on. Food that's too stiff or thick doesn't work as well, I think.

-- Joy F [in So. Wisconsin] (CatFlunky@excite.com), November 26, 2001.

Gailann, honey, time to get out of the house for a bit!

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), November 26, 2001.

Another suggestion on this topic: Put the kittens (raccoons, what- have-you) in the bathtub for the "how to eat" lessons. You can then put the shallow dish of mush in there with them. Then, when they walk in it and roll in it and try to absorb it through their skin, just hold 'em under the running water (leave the head part of the kitten out!) and then rinse the tub.

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), November 26, 2001.

I have raised a few kittens from day one with a home made recipie. They started out with KMR but when I started them on this one they really liked it better.

One can of evaporated milk And equal amount of water (same to the milk, I think it is 13 oz? something close to that) one package of knox unflavored geletain one tablespoon light corn syrup 1/4 cup unflavored yogurt one egg

Mix the water and the geletain bring to boil. Stir in the corn syrup. Remove from heat pour in the evaporated milk, yogurt and egg.

This was recommended by a certified veterinarian. And has been used for years. I have raised an entire litter of kittens on this recipie and all are very strong and healthy.

You can store it in the fridge for about three to four days and you can also freeze it and keep it for about three months. In the fridge it will become "jello" like. But when warmed it will become a desirable consistancy. My kittens really love this recipie.

-- (ITzMEjeC@cs.com), November 26, 2001.

Thanks for all the help. I also enjoyed the humor about the homemade kittens. I mixed evaporated milk with equal amount of water and a tsp. of corn syrup. I then mix it with canned cat food to make a mush. They love it. The part about the bathtub sounds like a good idea. Now, any ideas on how to get them to use a litter box? I've trained others, but these guys don't seem to be catching on. Susan from southern Kentucky

-- Susan from Ky (slkolb34@yahoo.com), November 27, 2001.

Good luck, KY kittens!!!

-- k (squeakywheel2001@aol.com), November 27, 2001.

Re: The comment about litter training kittens. We have had a few litters in the past that absolutely refused to use a litter box in spite of our best efforts to train them. They would mess under or behind furniture, etc. Finally had to make them stay outside the house. [There is a horse barn they can get shelter in.] Good luck!

-- volksdriver OH (volksdriver@copper.net), November 30, 2001.