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The cat should feed the little kittens with its milk. But there are situations that it is simply not next to the calf. In this case, the task is shifted to the host’s shoulders. The most convenient way is syringe feeding.
What need a syringe?
Sometimes it is possible to feed not only a little kitten from a syringe, but also an adult pet during an illness. A syringe designed specifically for feeding can be purchased at a veterinary pharmacy. But you can use and simple medical.
Kitten preparation
If the kitten is tiny or very calm, it is not necessary to fix it. To create him a comfortable environment that will remind the cat, use a ditch.It is covered with soft material.
Feeding
In order for the kitten to feel the taste of food, and then continue to eat from the syringe on its own, it is necessary to make him take one sip. The syringe is brought to the nose of the animal, it senses the flavor of the food, and must open its mouth. At this point, you need to drop him a small amount of food on the tongue, raise his head a little and stroke him down the neck. This will lead to swallowing.
If an animal does not want to eat food for any reason, it will be necessary to feed it with force. Do not be afraid to give him discomfort. After all, if a small pet does not eat, it will weaken, start to hurt.
What needs to be done to feed a small pet out of a syringe?
- Open his mouth.
- Then insert the syringe, pointing it towards the sky or cheeks.
- A little food is squeezed out of the syringe, not more than a teaspoon.
- Before the next batch, the animal should swallow the previous one.
During such feeding, it is important to ensure that food does not get into the respiratory system. The head should not be thrown back too much. If the animal will burst out, do not begin to regret it, it is important not to forget that food is simply necessary for it to live.
What to feed
The ideal option for the nutrition of very young kittens will be a special mixture with milk content. It can be purchased at a veterinary pharmacy. Eating such a mixture, a small pet will receive all that he needs. After all, the mixture is an analogue of cat's milk. It will not cause indigestion.
If you buy a special mixture is not possible, it can be replaced with cow's milk. You need to add some protein to it. Another suitable food option is a mixture for newborns.
Feed amount
The portion is determined depending on how much the pet weighs and how old it is. For every 100 g of weight, a kitten aged 1-4 days should consume about 30 ml of the mixture. Every 9-10 days the amount of food should be increased by 8-9 ml.
Feeding consists of 2 parts, as during a meal a small pet usually wants to go to the toilet. After that, you will need to continue feeding.
During the first stage, the kitten is eating quite actively. And in the second stage, he will eat much less. When he gorges, he begins to suck less and less a syringe, and then begins to fall asleep.
If the kitten is quite healthy and usually eats normally, then the remnants of food should not be poured into it by force. If he no longer wants to eat, he must be left behind.
Food temperature
When feeding kittens it is very important to monitor the temperature of the food. After all, the digestive organs of such babies are not yet fully strengthened. Before each feeding, control the temperature of the food.
During the first week of life, the kittens are fed around 39 ° C, when the pet is over 2 weeks old - the food is heated to 30 ° C, and the 3 and 4 week old kittens should be given food, the temperature of which is 29 and 25 ° C, respectively.
To understand that food for a kitten has a normal temperature is easy. The syringe must be attached to the crook of the elbow. It should not appear cold or hot.
Feeding frequency
Monthly kitten should eat every 4 hours.Kittens that are more than a month old can eat twice a day. At the same time in the diet you can add a special food for kittens of this age.
When you decide to take such a small kitten into the house, it is important to remember that it is a big responsibility. After all, this is a helpless living creature that requires constant attention. To grow a healthy bred cat out of it will have to put a lot of effort into it. Think about whether you have time for this.
Video: feeding orphaned kittens from a syringe
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