WHY WEANING KITTENS MUST ONLY BE FED VERY SOFT, HIGH QUALITY WET FOOD
Last night at bedtime I gave my mostly-weaned kittens chunky food for the first time, thinking they could handle it. It was all I had, so I used it. They've been eating on their own for a week and a half already, so I though they had learned well enough. But...I was very wrong. When I woke up in the morning, one of them was dying from hypoglycemia because she hadn't been able to chew the chunks. Luckily, I had my emergency kit ready and was able to bring her back very easily, but if I'd been 10 minutes later, I would have lost her because of something so stupid and simple. ONLY feed kittens wet food that is called "mousse" or "pate". Anything else, including kitten foods that are "shredded" or "natural chunks", can be impossible for them to eat. Little kittens need a constant supply of energy and water in order to function, and a few too many hours without can be fatal.
This is what I fed them last night (BAD!!!!!!!!) The chunks were too big for them and they didn't eat well.
And this is my emergency kit and instructions for reviving a kitten. DO NOT try to use this equipment or procedure without first asking your vet to train you!! I have many years of experience and know what to do.
HOW TO REVIVE A FADING/HYPOGLYCEMIC KITTEN:
(AGAIN....do not try this without training. This is "advanced rescue". The non-expert, minimal technique is at the bottom)
1. Put water in the electric kettle and start it boiling.
2. Pull fluids for subcutaneous injection (about 1ml per 100g body weight).
3. Warm the fluids by pouring hot water over the syringe. Test a drop to make sure the fluids are warm but not hot. Never, ever give cold fluids!
4. Fill the hot water bottle, cover with a towel, and put baby on it to warm up. Leave the baby there for the whole procedure--heat is essential.
5. Make a tiny cup of warm water with glucose. Doctors use a prepared 10% solution--I just throw a chunk in and mix it up, since there's no time to measure stuff out in an emergency. Pull some into a syringe (no needle!)
6. Start raising blood glucose levels by dropping the glucose solution onto the gums. Be absolutely sure that the kitten is on its side and that the liquid will not drip down into its throat. You can aspirate the baby if it is not fully conscious! The solution must drip out the side of the mouth, if at all. The glucose is absorbed into the gums. Make sure to only give a drop at a time. Too much sugar at once can cause a different set of problems.
7. Inject the subcutaneous fluids. I put them just below the scruff area, but my vet injects kittens in the hind quarters to avoid accidentally hitting a nerve in the neck (which I saw happen once!)
8. Drip more glucose solution onto the gums.
9. Massage the baby vigorously to get everything moving and encourage consciousness.
10. If the baby starts to become more alert, offer the a/d food. If it eats, you are almost home free and can take a deep breath. If not, continue with the glucose and massage routine every 2-3 minutes until it wants to eat. Once the baby eats, you will see it magically pop back to life! This is when you cry from relief!
11. When baby has eaten well, it will then want to sleep and regain its energy stores. Close it in a box with the hot water bottle, blanket, and the can of food and monitor for the next few hours to make sure there is no repeat of the crash.
If you do not have access to emergency supplies, use any kind of sugar or honey and put it on the baby's gums between the lips and teeth. NEVER give any liquids or solids to a kitten who is not fully conscious and holding its head up on its own! Even a single drop can choke it! Sugars ONLY go on the gums, under the lip. Any kind of bottle or jar can at least temporarily hold hot water. If there is no container whatsoever, put the baby under your arm--the warmest part of your body. You WILL need a vet! Get blood sugar and body heat up, and run!