Technically this stuff is ONLY for felines, but if you have a rodent in desperate need of protein, milk, or nutrients, this stuff saves lives where nothing else can. I supply it to pregnant and nursing mice, I give it to sick mice, and in the past it has made the difference for orphaned mice who had nothing else to drink. And yes, it's even helped save the lives of some orphaned kittens - it's original intent.
It's basically...magic.
When using it for cats, I mix a small bit of evaporated KMR with warm water and blend that into a small amount of wet kitten food. Part of the reason KMR is so amazing is that unlike cow's milk or infant solution, KMR is lactose-free. Kitten tummies, and most small animal tummies in fact, can't handle lactose and this can make them gassy or dehydrated (by giving them diarrhea). Another solution is to add lactase, the enzyme that breaks down lactose, in order to make different forms of milk more digestible, but I prefer mixing KMR into other foods.
KMR is also great for...say...pregnant mothers like Ghost. Pregnant cats need to eat a lot more protein - kitten food, KMR, and a fresh water supply are all vital to helping her produce milk and build up enough strength to have a successful pregnancy (not to mention she's feeding all those little ones inside of her, too!).
There's more of a difference in kinds of milk than just lactose, though. Milk from different animals (cow, sheep, goat, etc.) contain different types and amounts of fat. This fat is important to both mom and babies, as is the protein, so when possible it's important to stick to the right species. KMR is specifically formulated for cats (in fact, it's against the label to use it differently) and has exactly what they need in it. SO....if you can use KMR, that's your best bet.
Of course, never forget that kittens and any other infant animal (people included) NEED the first 24-48 hours of milk from mom. This milk is called colostrum and is full of antibodies that protect the kittens from many diseases until they are several weeks old (before which vaccines will only be destroyed by the kitten's natural immunities). If you know your cat has a disease transmissible by suckling, check with your veterinarian long before the kittens arrive for advice. It is never advisable to simply skip natural nursing for the first 1-2 days.
So yes! KMR is amazing stuff. I have some in my fridge every month of the year - when emergencies come up it's great to have on hand! :) By the way, Ghost is doing wonderfully. No signs of labor yet and she seems to be in wonderful health. She ate a ton of kitten kibble last night and has been taking regular meals of KMR in watered-down wet food. She's also quite busy rearranging her nest and, much to my dismay, dragging towels into her litter box. She is very sociable now, rolling completely over and purring when I pet her, and luckily the investigation is moving in full-swing right now and it doesn't look like anyone is going to try and move her from here. Hopefully her shocks are done with for awhile.
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| "Yeeeessss...Pet me moooorrrre. And look at my niiipppppplleesss... I am so fat and pregnaaaant..." |
-Miss Mouse
<:3 )~~
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