Jamie & Jupiter
Member Since 2013
Jupe ate 2 tsp meow mix wet cup of food on his own so going to wait til morning to try syringe feeding. will ask again in tomorrows condo
9/16 & 9/17 - Jupiter
- Thread starter Jamie & Jupiter
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Doreen and PeePee
Member Since 2009
Hi
Jamie, I use a syringe a little smaller than the one in the video and cut the end off so the opening was the same size as the barrel. That way I didn't have to puree or add to much water to the food and it syringed up a lot easier. I would put a poddy pad under him and around his chest and feet. So messy. I sure hope he eats a lot better on his own. My kids all loose there appy on AB's except the most recent one we have been using called Veraflox.
Please try to get some rest!
Jamie, I use a syringe a little smaller than the one in the video and cut the end off so the opening was the same size as the barrel. That way I didn't have to puree or add to much water to the food and it syringed up a lot easier. I would put a poddy pad under him and around his chest and feet. So messy. I sure hope he eats a lot better on his own. My kids all loose there appy on AB's except the most recent one we have been using called Veraflox.
Please try to get some rest!
carfurby (GA)
Member Since 2012
Jamie, sending prayers to you that you'll feel better today and Jupiter will eat. :YMHUG: :YMHUG:
BorisV
Member Since 2013
Jamie, unfortunately, I HAD to become the Queen of syringe feeding. I will try to guide you through as simply as possible. It may sound complicated - it's not! I just want to be through.
YOU WILL NEED:
HOME MADE CHICKEN BROTH *** I have never found a store bought chicken broth that didn't have soy / onions / garlic so make your own:
1 bone in, skin on chicken breast, 1 chicken thigh
2 quarts water
Boil the above then turn down to MEDIUM LOW and continue to simmer for a hour or two - do NOT put top on pan, it will make broth "sour"
When the meat is done, remove from pan, put the broth in a bowl and put into fridge, the FAT will settle on the top easier. Remove fat. If you have a strainer tool, strain the rest so all the fat is gone. At this point you can pour into small containers (such as baby food jars) and keep one for use and freeze the rest. I always had one in the fridge ready to use. ***pull the meat off the bones and you have chicken breast treats all ready to go!
TO MAKE FOOD:
Use a small blender, I have a tiny Black & Decker one that was perfect - If you don't have a blender, use elbow grease and a fork or spoon. Take the cat food (a pate type) warm some of the chicken broth (this makes it mix better) add small amounts of the broth & mix with the food - you are trying to get a thick soup consistency - it needs to be SMOOTH.
SYRINGE - you need a few of the Monojects (?) syringes from your vet - 3ml - 5ml. You want the one that have a smaller opening at the bottom as this is what will be going into his mouth.
Put the soupy food mixture into a SMALL, deep bowl. Suck the food up with the syringe. I always did 3 in advance - just to have them all ready but you can just keep refilling.
HOW TO SYRINGE FEED:
I would suggest the "burrito" method for Jupiter as you DO NOT want him to struggle and hurt himself. Also, this will keep YOU calmer. Gently wrap Jupe in a large towel, make sure all of his legs are in the towel and that the towel is up to his neck so basically he is immobilized. Hold him securely - you could have Dane do this for you. If he's wrapped enough, he can't squirm as much and it's easier for all.
Open the SIDE of his mouth *where the fold is* and gently poke the syringe into that spot - there is a little opening, it WILL go in. Keep calm. once you have the syringe in place, just pop a LITTLE food in there - do not do the whole syringe at first as you may gag him - you want him to realize that this is a GOOD thing ....yum, yum. Once he's swallowed that first bit, do the rest. As you bet more comfortable with this, you will be able to get more food in at one tome but NEVER try to do the whole syringe as he may gag - do 1/2, keep the syringe in place, let him swallow and then inject the rest.
***If you find you are getting it all over him at first, take a paper towel, make a slit in it and pop it over his head - it will catch the extra food. ***The Bounty half sheets are great for this - get a whole sheet and just open the perforated part just enough to get over his head.
Jamie, this may sound like a lot - it isn't! If I can do it, so can YOU! Trust me! The more you do it, the better you'll get. Let me know if you have any questions!
Bern
YOU WILL NEED:
HOME MADE CHICKEN BROTH *** I have never found a store bought chicken broth that didn't have soy / onions / garlic so make your own:
1 bone in, skin on chicken breast, 1 chicken thigh
2 quarts water
Boil the above then turn down to MEDIUM LOW and continue to simmer for a hour or two - do NOT put top on pan, it will make broth "sour"
When the meat is done, remove from pan, put the broth in a bowl and put into fridge, the FAT will settle on the top easier. Remove fat. If you have a strainer tool, strain the rest so all the fat is gone. At this point you can pour into small containers (such as baby food jars) and keep one for use and freeze the rest. I always had one in the fridge ready to use. ***pull the meat off the bones and you have chicken breast treats all ready to go!
TO MAKE FOOD:
Use a small blender, I have a tiny Black & Decker one that was perfect - If you don't have a blender, use elbow grease and a fork or spoon. Take the cat food (a pate type) warm some of the chicken broth (this makes it mix better) add small amounts of the broth & mix with the food - you are trying to get a thick soup consistency - it needs to be SMOOTH.
SYRINGE - you need a few of the Monojects (?) syringes from your vet - 3ml - 5ml. You want the one that have a smaller opening at the bottom as this is what will be going into his mouth.
Put the soupy food mixture into a SMALL, deep bowl. Suck the food up with the syringe. I always did 3 in advance - just to have them all ready but you can just keep refilling.
HOW TO SYRINGE FEED:
I would suggest the "burrito" method for Jupiter as you DO NOT want him to struggle and hurt himself. Also, this will keep YOU calmer. Gently wrap Jupe in a large towel, make sure all of his legs are in the towel and that the towel is up to his neck so basically he is immobilized. Hold him securely - you could have Dane do this for you. If he's wrapped enough, he can't squirm as much and it's easier for all.
Open the SIDE of his mouth *where the fold is* and gently poke the syringe into that spot - there is a little opening, it WILL go in. Keep calm. once you have the syringe in place, just pop a LITTLE food in there - do not do the whole syringe at first as you may gag him - you want him to realize that this is a GOOD thing ....yum, yum. Once he's swallowed that first bit, do the rest. As you bet more comfortable with this, you will be able to get more food in at one tome but NEVER try to do the whole syringe as he may gag - do 1/2, keep the syringe in place, let him swallow and then inject the rest.
***If you find you are getting it all over him at first, take a paper towel, make a slit in it and pop it over his head - it will catch the extra food. ***The Bounty half sheets are great for this - get a whole sheet and just open the perforated part just enough to get over his head.
Jamie, this may sound like a lot - it isn't! If I can do it, so can YOU! Trust me! The more you do it, the better you'll get. Let me know if you have any questions!
Bern
Hillary & Maui (GA)
Member Since 2009
I love this tip! Wish I had known or thought of this when I was teaching Maui to eat wet food all those years ago. Oh the mess we made!
BorisV
Member Since 2013
Hilary, because Nataschia was a Himalayan with quite a coat, the mess in the beginning was worse than the feeding! Actually, I took TWO paper towels and slit them, popped them over her little head - it made a perfect "halo" and any mess got on the paper towels - then, I just ripped them off - no need to even pull them over her head. I hope I didn't make the syringe feeding sound too complicated - it so isn't! You just need the right tools to make it go smoothly 
carolyn & jesse (GA) & spock
Member Since 2009
Sending eating vines to Jupe! Eat Jupe, eat!
It's great that Bern goes to all of that trouble. Most people will use a variety of food that is NOT your cat's favorite. (Food aversion can develop from syringe feeding. In other words, you don't want Jupe so pissed off at being fed by syringe that he associates the feeding with the flavor of food you're using, even if it's his favorite.) You can blend the food, put it through a strainer or mash it sufficiently well that it will go through the syringe.
Jamie & Jupiter
Member Since 2013
This morning he was hungry and eager to eat some food. He ate some LC FF. I am not going to try syringe feeding just yet, since he ate a decent amount. Will try feeding again in 2 hours. If at any point he stops eating again, I will try the syringe feeding.
Thank you very much for the thorough explanation. That will help me so much if I need to syringe feed today/tonight or in the next few days. Will save that and print it out. Thanks!
Thank you very much for the thorough explanation. That will help me so much if I need to syringe feed today/tonight or in the next few days. Will save that and print it out. Thanks!
Squeaky and KT (GA)
Member Since 2011
When I had to syringe feed KT, after a few bites, he decided he wanted the bowl of liquid mush food himself. Seems it just took a 'jump start' to get him eating.
BIG HUGS! You're all doing SO well!!!
BIG HUGS! You're all doing SO well!!!
donaleen and Ozy
Member Since 2013
So glad he is eating. I know it all must be exhausting but it does sound like he is doing pretty well. Hang in there.
donaleen
donaleen
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