How NOT to Bottlefeed a Baby
Date: Fri, 4 Jun 1999 14:38:53 -0700 Subject: FEL-L: Bobcat help
I've been monitoring your email for a few weeks now trying to learn as much as possible before purchsaing a baby bobcat. Six days ago, I drove to a neighboring state and got a boy about 3 weeks old. The seller warned me they were susceptible to aspiration pneumonia when they drank for a bottle. Is this normal?
Anyway, today he seemd to be exceptionally sick and I called the seller who suggested I give him a shot of penicillin (which I did). I think that was too late because he vomited about 30 minutes later and died in my arms. After mouth to mouth, I rushed him to the vet who intubated him but to no avail.
What did I do wrong? He ate every six hours or so (bottle fed) and had normal urination and bowel movements. In retrospect, he seemed listless for the past couple of days but did not show the normal signs of a sick cat. He had some tremors and shaking chills. It's breaking my heart that I may have done something to this poor kitten that caused his death.
If anyone has advice on baby bobacts or aspiration pneumonia, I'd sure appreciate it. I don't want to go through this again or put another baby kitten in jeopardy because I'm an idiot. Thanks for listening. Today has been rough.
Date: Fri, 4 Jun 1999 18:24:04 EDT Subject: Re: FEL-L: Bobcat help
How where you feeding the baby bobcat? Did you turn it onto its back? Any kitten should be fed in a position that is like when it is on its mother. They should be kept belly down or can be in a partly upraised position BUT never on their. If held in that position they can get milk into their lungs and develope problems, which can or will kill them. Purrs . Jan ---------I know just how you must feel. I have raised hunderds of these cats and it takes a lot out of you.
Date: Fri, 04 Jun 1999 19:03:06 -0400 Subject: Re: FEL-L: Bobcat help
I am sorry to hear about your loss, I'm sure it's devistating. One suggestion that our original breeder told us when bottle feeding is to make sure baby sucks the formula out of the bottle, do not squeeze the bottle to help it. Also, you should provide some sort of heat in it's cage to help supplement. We use something called a snugglesoft which you heat in the microwave and it's good for hours and hours of gentle heat (you have to wrap it in some towels, you don't want to cook baby, just keep him warm).
Date: Fri, 4 Jun 1999 22:54:44 EDT Subject: Re: FEL-L: Bobcat help
I am so so sorry you lost your baby. I lost two before I was successful in raising one. Let me share some things that may or may not have helped, that I learned the hardest way.
Line up a vet before you get another baby. This is a hard one because most vets are anti exotic ownership and they don't know a darned thing about them anyway.
Know what the normal respiratory rate for a kitten is, as well as what is normal temp. This is important because if the breathing is too fast, you have a problem, and it is easy to say, well it is hot or, well he is just scared. At first sign of problems take it to the vet. They can get critical in an hour. remember that aspiration happens usually because you are feeding them on their backs. If you hold them right side up it rarely happens.
Know what a normal bob kitten acts like. I have a 3 week old little girl and she eats, poops, sleeps a lot. plays a little and only cries briefly while bottle is being warmed. Any agitation is usually sign of belly problems. We keep ours on kerafate to alleviate belly cramps.
Never let anyone but a vet give antibiotic shots to babies less than a year. They are very apt to have an allergic reaction, which is what I think may have happened with your sweet baby.
Please do not take any of this as criticism, because it is not meant to be. I think a lot of problems could be solved if there were printed materials about the care and raising of these babies and everyone knew where to get a copy. All of us do things that are detrimental to each other and to our loved ones, animal and people types not because we are stupid or mean, but because help is not there when we need it. Ill be thinking of you. Leona
Date: Sat, 5 Jun 1999 08:35:14 -0400 Subject: FEL-L: felines-l-digest V2 #210
If fed properly kittens usually don't get fluid in their lungs causing pneumonia. There's no way to tell what may have been the problem - - your vet is your best bet to tell you what killed the kitten. However, this is precisely why I advise folks to wait until a kitten is at least 6-8 weeks old before they buy it. Babies can be incredibly tricky - you don't have much time when symptoms occur and at times they are very subtle. A novice doesn't have the experience many times to even know the kitten isn't "right". Just changing homes is very stressful to the little guys. Also, they don't at this age have much immunity - had this guy nursed, do you know? Are there any other felines in your home? without an active immune system it's possible that he contracted something.