Pet Forum / Miscellaneous / Animal Health / April 2007

Hi

How often are you feeding them?  Yes I know how hard it is to make
that hole in the nipple. I too either burn them too much or the hole was too
big also. Took many tries before I got it right.
Are they fighting the nipple? Are they refusing the nipple?
Remember one thing they're going to suck & they can suck hard so what
you might think is working too hard for it, it isn't for them.
If you see nothing in their mouths or they're getting far to frustrated to
the
point they're refusing it then I'll say stop. Then try to make the hole a
little
bigger & see what happens. Consider a different needle to see if you can
get a better hole. Can you find different nipples?
Are your nipples pointy or is the tip flat like?
Keep in mind those nipples are kinda hard not like mom's soft ones so it
takes
getting use to. Change positions in how you feed them.
Are you holding them in your hand, how are you holding them and do you wrap
them in a blanket/towel?
I feel the little one who is sucking off the other probably needs to be fed
more.
Or has a much more of a drive, more needy, to be near one of it's own kind.
Such as missing the mother, her body contact, to hear a heart beat.
Ever watch a litter with it's mother, you'll usually see one or more who
attaches,
seems hardly to leave her side? Maybe this little guy is just that.
If you see that this little one becomes stress out not being with the other
one then I would try to keep them together. Or at least give them plenty of
time to be together. Too much stress at this age isn't good.
As for them taking the nipple, we all have different ways but for the most
part
if they're hungry enough & they can sense the milk, they'll do the rest.
To get them to take that strange thing that is sort of hard put the nipple
as you
drawn it in to the roof of their mouths. This will get the mouth to open.
Squeeze it a little so some milk comes out. If too much comes out & is
choking them just turn them over & pat their back a little. Stay calm!
Another way, lean back kind of, in their wrap put them on your chest so that
they hear/feel your heart beat. This will calm them as your feeding them.
Tell me more of what they are doing & what they are not doing as far as the
feeding that has you concern? Pushing out the formula for them is fine.
You gotta keep in mind these nipples are not like moms which are soft &
easy to hold on to so it probably feels strange to them.
Just keep putting it in their mouths no matter how many times they push it
out.
Trust me I know how difficult it is to have to bottle feed such young
babies.
Not at all like feeding a human baby. You will do fine & they'll be okay.
Keep posting to let us know how your doing.

Diane

Thanks to everyone who gave me advice.  I sort of like the idea one of
you had about that "catifier" or whatever it was called, but I also
wonder if it's maybe a little cruel, like the poor kitten finally finds
a "mom" with nipples it can suck on all day but it never gets full!
Anyway this particular kitten might need something like that.  I still
have the two separated because she still tries to nurse off the little
boy.  My next question is, can the kittens eat/drink A/D until they are
weaned?  I mix KMR into it to make a slurry which they drink from a
syringe.  The little boy (he's now about 10 ounces) really hates plain
KMR but he adores A/D.  The little girl (she's almost 13 ounces) likes
both plain KMR and the A/D mixed with KMR.  I never had bottle babies
eat A/D before, they always lived on KMR until they were weaned.  I
offered the A/D out of desperation when the little boy stopped taking
KMR cold turkey and wouldn't even take my home made kitten formula.  I
don't want to feed them food that's either too rich or isn't right for
growing babies though.  Is A/D ok?