Cubs should stay with their mother for nearly six weeks,
after which they can be separated. When cubs and kittens are
separated they still need to be supplied with calcium enriched
diet to help the healthy growth of bones, teeth, gums and
joints. Bottle-feeding is also done so as to make a strong bond
between the owner and the animal. Experts say that guests and
strangers who visit the owner’s house frequently should also
bottle feed the animal so as to help the animal overcome initial
hesitation.
There are many compositions which be used to make a perfect
bottle-feed. A cup of unflavored pedialyte or distilled water
can be mixed with a quarter cup of zoologics milk powder and one
ml of poli vi sol liquid baby vitamin. A teaspoon of calcium
powder can also be added, along with half a teaspoon of taurine
powder. Half a cup of fat free plain yogurt can also be added to
make the formula concentrated. The bacterium also helps to
digest the food properly, but no sugar should be used as that
can lead to diarrhea. After few weeks, very small amount of
plain puree chicken baby food can be added to the formula, which
can be increased over time. All the ingredients can be mixed in
a blender and then the mixture should be used within a day. If
not used within twenty-four hours it should be discarded. Before
feeding, the mixture, which has been refrigerated, can be warmed
and then used. The mixture shouldn’t be stored back into the
refrigerator once it has been warmed.
Care also must be taken while heating up the formula. It should
never be heated up in a microwave, instead heat some water and
place the bottle in the cup of water for some time. The formula
temperature should be checked before feeding, otherwise if the
formula is more than warm, it can hurt the animal internally.
Also the animals have the habit of drinking the formula very
fast, so it will be too late before realizing that the milk is
really hot. The bottle should have a special nipple called the
vet nipple, which is small and not round at the end. The cub
should be not be laid on it’s back like how the human babies are
fed as that would make the formula enter it’s lung and cause
pneumonia. They should be fed in upright position or while
sitting on the stomach.
When introducing the cub to a new formula, give him time to
adjust to it. Start by giving diluted mixture and then increase
the concentration gradually. If the animal suffers from
diarrhea, decrease the concentration immediately. It could take
weeks for the animal to start feeding on actual concentrated
formula. A log can be maintained about the concentration of the
formula, the status of stool and its weight. It helps to
determine the cause of diarrhea and also helps to improve the
diet of the cat. Also if the animal is taking lesser formula as
well as its weight is decreasing, this could be an indication of
some disease. If the diarrhea isn’t treated promptly, the cub
can die out of dehydration pretty soon.
They should be fed with meals, which are five percent of their
body weight until they become mature. This principle must always
be kept in mind, as there is always a chance of over feeding.
Instead of giving less often, large doses of formula, give
frequent small doses. Also the animal should be encouraged to go
to the bathroom before the mealtime, when it has crossed four
weeks. The cubs pass a lot of urine and the owners should be
ready for that. The animal will refuse to feed on normal times;
it might be because its bladder is full. But if the animal
refuses to have anything for twenty-four hours, it should be
taken to the vet. Exception is when the cub has been separated
from its mother, as it will take about forty-eight to start
bottle-feeding.