Syringe feeding cat - how much and how often?

Question

My cat is 8 months old and weighs about three pounds. I am syringe feeding her at the advice of the vet after she hasn't eaten for almost five days. I'm using the Prescription Diet A/D, watered down just enough so I can pull it into the syringe.

But I'm not really sure the full amount she should be getting each day, how much her little tummy can hold in one feeding, and how frequently I should be feeding her.

She's not thrilled about the syringe, but she's accepting it pretty well, so I want to get as many calories in her as I can each day.

Answer 1

I would ask your vet, as soon as possible. I'm sure there's only a certain amount the stomach will hold and a certain rate of digestion. Ask about both. Good Luck with your kitty!!!

Answer 2

Get a feeding syringe from the vets (or a pharmacist), it has no needle, that's a plastic syringe which you suck watered down catfood into. The vet has an A/D nutrition that combines with water to a gentle consistency that may not clog the syringe. A 'feeding' (two times an afternoon) is two tablespoons of nutrition plus the water, which interprets to approximately 14 syringe fulls consistent with feeding. The A/D fees ab out $2.25, the only substitute i've got found that works an identical way is dealer Joe's canned nutrition (no longer the tuna, merely the different 3 varieties). that is gentle, has no lumps, and is sweet high quality nutrition. i've got used that for the time of a pinch. toddler nutrition is sweet too, combination it with somewhat heat water. a million/2 a jar at a time is a 'easy' meal. basically use the beef flavors that don't contain onion in them. You tip the top returned, squirt it to the returned of the throat (they won't choke). communicate on an identical time to help distract them, save your voice calm and don't stress them out. Have somebody carry the cat in case you're able to desire to. If no longer something works, have the vet put in a short-term feeding tube in the component of his neck. that is accurately bumped off at a later date. I had to syringe feed my 20 300 and sixty 5 days previous cat for 2 weeks using tooth subject concerns after he had surgical technique, and approximately 8 days of syringe feeding of a sparkling cat whilst we've been given one with a extensive larger respiration an infection. A cat who won't be ready to smell nutrition is a cat who stops eating.

Answer 3

There is a feeding guide on the side of cans of a/d. Follow that. I usually give fully grown cats about 20mls at a time - an 8 month old cat I would give about 10ml at a time.

The feeding guide is quite vague because this is a convalescence diet rather than a long-term diet. It will prob say something like 1-2 cans per day for a 2kg cat, have a look at it.

Please ring the vet if you have any further questions about your cat, or if she is not getting any better.

Chalice

EDIT: For God's sake 'Cat' a/d IS high calorie. Why do people answer if they haven't actually got a clue what they're talking about?!

Answer 4

poor little thing. I'd call and ask your vet. Some vets like to feed them smaller portions but alot more often and some like it the other way around.

You shouldn't need to put any water in the A/D just mix it with a spoon or something. I'ts pretty easy to draw up in the syringe.

I hope your kitten feels better soon.

Answer 5

8 months only 3 lbs? what is wrong with your cat? Follow the Vets advice. Good Luck!

Answer 6

This is really a question for your vet.

Have you asked your vet about adding a high-calorie supplement to the A/D? (something like "PetGold Super-cal", if you're unable to get enough of the food into her.) Have you asked your vet about using appetite stimulants?

I hope you are able to jump-start her appetite so she'll eat on her own soon. Good luck with her.