Hand-Rearing Kittens: Kitten Glop Feed Mixture

Ingredients

• 1 envelope unflavored gelatin
• Water per gelatin package directions (approx 12 oz)
• 1 12 oz can whole evaporated milk (not skimmed): If you have canned goat’s milk available, use this instead as it reduces the likelihood of lactose intolerance problems. Sheep’s milk is even higher in fat but not generally available in cans.
• 3 tablespoons plain yogurt (not low fat)
• 3 teaspoons clear corn syrup: Some recipes use 2 tablespoons mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons plain yogurt and omit the corn syrup entirely. Clear corn syrup (e.g. "Karo" brand in the US) is a concentrated glucose solution. It contains 15% – 20% dextrose (glucose), a mixture of other types of sugar and may be flavored with vanilla. Dark corn syrup is made with molasses and is more strongly flavored.
• 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1 or 2 raw egg yolks (optional): Raw eggs can be a source of salmonella. Do not use any egg white in the mixture, it can prevent other nutrients from being digested.

Kitty vitamins and/or acidophilus are sometimes added. Only add vitamins if the diet is deficient in them – vitamins can be dangerous in too high quantities (hypervitaminosis) and vitamin imbalances affect development.

Method

Boil the water and mix in gelatin powder. Add the other ingredients in the following order, mixing well after each addition: half of the canned milk, corn syrup (if used), mayonnaise + yogurt, egg yolk (if used), remainder of the canned milk. Use either an egg beater or a blender set to low speed. Serve the glop at room temperature or slightly warmed since the kittens will be used to warm milk. Warming the mixture makes it more pungent and therefore more appetizing. Do not pour back unused portions into the stored mix as it may introduce contaminants.

Glop sets into a jelly when refrigerated. It can either be stored in the fridge in a covered container for up to 2 weeks or frozen into individual portions in ice cube trays and defrosted as needed. Freezing it is very convenient, but it must be properly thawed before serving as cold food will cause stomach upsets in young kittens.