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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxn!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!uiucdcs!convex!ctvax!kerry
From: kerry@ctvax
Newsgroups: net.pets
Subject: Re: sick kitty
Message-ID: <51700008@ctvax>
Date: Wed, 12-Mar-86 10:48:00 EST
Article-I.D.: ctvax.51700008
Posted: Wed Mar 12 10:48:00 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 15-Mar-86 03:41:41 EST
References: <115@nvuxb.UUCP>
Lines: 23
Nf-ID: #R:nvuxb.UUCP:115:ctvax:51700008:000:1305
Nf-From: ctvax!kerry    Mar 12 09:48:00 1986


Cats when not already emaciated from a disease can live a long time without 
food, the same way we humans can live for long periods on just water. However,
this is not good for the animal of course, especially one that is fighting an
illness.

Watch the cat closely and if it refuses to eat after a couple of more days, I
suggest that you resort to hand feeding the animal. I don't know how old the 
cat is, but if it is a small kitten, a turkey baster (or similar) filled with
"queens" milk will do the trick. Just be careful and don't choke the cat. If
it is an older cat, some really tasty cat food or fish can be inserted into 
the cat's mouth. Then hold the cat's mouth shut and massage its throat. Be
careful; if the cat cannot breathe through its nose, (due to nasal congestion)
it might get choked on the food if its mouth is held shut too long. Kitty 
will usually give in and swallow the food or milk when this method is used.

I don't know how much experience you have with our feline friends, but I will
warn you anyway: cats do not like to be forced to do ANYTHING. You may want to
wrap kitty in a nice big fluffy towel if you decide to try the above hand-feed-
ing method. This will help control kitty, keep the mess to a minimum and maybe
help you to keep from being scratched.

Good Luck!