Ratio of water to powdered goat milk

Lets say my mother cat stopped or isn't producing enough milk for her kittens. The only type of goat milk I can find is powdered goat milk (whole or regular) as KMR is too expensive. What is the ratio for water to milk powder I should use for my 11 day old kittens?

ILuvKitties said:

 
Lets say my mother cat stopped or isn't producing enough milk for her kittens. The only type of goat milk I can find is powdered goat milk (whole or regular) as KMR is too expensive. What is the ratio for water to milk powder I should use for my 11 day old kittens?

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It is probably written on the package.    

I bough a couple of packages of dry goat milk while I was visiting Poland.  I use it sometimes in coffe...   And have in reserve, IF goat milk will be necessary for cats or humans.

OK, what stands on this package:

To get  a glas of milk, 200 ml (200 cc),

5-6 small spoons powder = 23 grammes of powder.  Fill up with and Let very warm but not hot nor boiling water on - 45-60 degrees Celsius.

Move out with a spoon.

This goat milk solution will contain 3,2% of fat.   Comment:  Ie  equivalent a full fat bottled milk.   Which I think kittens should have.  If you think they tend to get constipation, you can have a little more water in.  (or here, a little less powder in the glas)

They also warn this powder milk isnt supposed for children under 12 months age.

Comment:  I dont know if they are overcautious, or if the content is  really worse than bottled goat milk.   My spontaneous guess is, while human mother milk is surely best for small human babies, goat milk should be as good as many powdered  baby replacement milks.  And decisively better than cow milk - which some babies gets as  Human babies manages cow milk better than kittens.

They call goats for the poor mans cow.   I think its a little unfortune and unlucky saying - the goat milk is really better.

.

I don't want to end up using anything bad for my kittens. Our runt doesn't seem to be doing well. 

After an hour away from her kittens, mother cat's mammary sacks are still small. I was able to squeeze a tiny drop from one teat.

My boyfriend is at the grocery store now picking up either kitten milk replacer, or evaporated goat's milk. Our nearest store doesn't carry regular goat's milk, and we don't have a car.

A quick response would be greatly appreciated.

We can't afford the kitten formula.. So he's getting evaporated goat's milk. Will I need to add water to it, or give it as it is? Will I need to warm it? Give me some tips. The kittens are 11 days old today.

ILuvKitties said:

 
A quick response would be greatly appreciated.

We can't afford the kitten formula.. So he's getting evaporated goat's milk. Will I need to add water to it, or give it as it is? Will I need to warm it? Give me some tips. The kittens are 11 days old today.

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Im looking this up on Internet, hold on.

I personally dont have any experience on evaporated milk.  I though it was some sort of dried milk, but it is apparently some sort of condensed milk, ie less water and higher temp pasteurisation..

So, the exact amout of adding water should be on the package, precisely alike the powdered goat milk.

But it seems the usual amount here is 50-60%.    Ie say you have made ready 5ml / 5 cc (about a big soup spoon), so add   as much water.   Shake well. Give body tempered.

On tummy, head up. slowly if necessary.   If the kitten wont have bottle, use a syringe or a dropper.  It may take time!  Burp afterwards.

Good luck!

Two of the kittens took to the dropper very well. I introduced it drop by drop into the corner of their mouths and only gave them more when they swallowed it. I have a small dropper for them. Two kittens ate about 1.5 droppers full of the milk mixture. I heated it so its just warm to the touch. I had the kittens on their belly with their heads up. One of the weaker kittens completely rejected it. I pulled the other kittens away from mom so that the weaker kitten could suckle all he could from mom and the ONE producing teat. Since last night, I have given the kittens a few feedings, and the big kitten just falls asleep with his belly full each time. 

The two kittens that enjoyed the goat milk REALLY enjoyed the goat milk. They were trying to eat the dropper, and it made feeding them difficult. Mother cat spilled goat milk all over our floor when she stuck her head in the cup though. I'm hoping she will start producing more milk again. I started to give her just a little of the goat milk with her wet food with a little water added to help keep her hydrated, and she loves it. I weighed the kittens, and in the last 24 hours they have gained no significant weight, except for the runt who gained about 10-12 grams. She drank the most goat milk. I fed them a little this morning, but they are happy trying to get milk out of mom. Her teats are red from the kittens sucking so much and not getting much.

Should I be doing anything different, or does this sound good?

You seem to handle it like a pro.  The kittens not really gaining as yet, I think you  in any case broke the downward spirale, and after a while, they will raise them too.

Re the mom.  Good you give also her of this goat milk.  If  salomonella in eggs is no big problem in your place, so raw egg yolk, with this goat milk, or minced meat, is splendid.

Also, vitamine E addition cant hurt.  Whatever source of vitamine E she likes and you have access too...  For example olive oil of high quality.

The same olive oil can be put on the teats, cant hurt, may help...

Good luck!  @ILuvKitties