While I was at the clinic today, Rani showed me three kittens....
These kittens had been rescued recently (pretty much like Rex, Fox and Honeybear), and Rani was feeding them milk.
Then, a nursing mother-cat came in and Rani decided to put them with the mother-cat so that they could get mother's milk.
After one day, all three had diarrhoea.
They are unwell now. Poor things....
Scary, isn't it?
We're often told that the best thing for kittens is to be with a mother-cat, but as our other panel vet often said, based on his wealth of experience, "sometimes they may be better off with a human".
This is due to many factors, some of which may be: incompatibility, the mother-cat being sick, the mother-cat rejecting the kittens, the mother-cat becoming hostile, etc.
The only baby kitten I had ever matched with a nursing mother-cat was Babykit. Babykit did not make it.
Then, our vet told me another case which just happened.
Apparently, someone had been hand-nursing some kittens who were still on milk. In her excitement to upgrade to solid food, she started giving the kittens packeted wet food. The kittens ate heartily. After about 4 days, there was diarrhoea. Then, all died. The vet said it was indigestion.
Scary, isn't it?
Again, our other vet has always cautioned me about changing foods for very young kittens. Don't do it, he always said.
After hearing these stories, I don't even know when I should introduce solids to Rex, Fox and Honeybear.
The recommended age is 5 weeks, I was told.
I guess every kitten is different as it also depends on the maturity of their digestive system.
Disclaimer: The above is not meant as advice for any caregiver of young kittens. Please consult your vet for proper and professional advice.
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