Unfortunately, many caregivers to FIP kitties find themselves in the position where assisted feeding is needed, whether it is to supplement the little they DO eat, or to get them to eat anything at all, during this process.

Cats need 200-250 calories per day and a kitty sick with FIP really needs those calories to fight the disease.

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Here are some helpful tips:

• Do a little at a time - it's better to have a kitty get small amounts many times a day than large amounts few times a day

• 10mL syringes are often the easiest to use - they fit in your hand well enough to use one-handed, leaving the other hand free to hold kitty and still get a substantial amount of food in

• Allow time for kitty to swallow - if you don't, they WILL spit out anything else you put in their mouth

• If cat is spitting out anything you give - slow down and take a breaks. Try again after 15-30 minutes.

• If cat will not open their mouth - insert the syringe in the SIDE of the mouth. Most cats will eventually open for the syringe.

• Break daily feedings into AT LEAST 3-4 feedings - depending on how willing kitty is to accept the feedings will likely determine how many you are able to do. Remember, the daily goal is 200-250 calories total.

• Try to get in at least 10 mL at every feeding - but no more than 30mL, ESPECIALLY for the younger ones. A 4 lb kitty may generally tolerate about 15-20mLs.

• Warming the food a little can be helpful - make sure it is NOT too hot by placing a drop on the inside of your wrist, similar to heating baby food/formula. If it feels hot at all - whether it burns you or not - it will burn their mouth so let it cool down before feeding

• Make sure kitty is sitting up while you are feeding -it might SEEM like it would make sense to hold them like a baby, but that is actually dangerous because it can cause them to aspirate (where food goes down the wrong tube and they inhale it into their lungs). That can then turn into aspiration pneumonia if left untreated.

• It can be helpful to "burrito-wrap" kitty while force-feeding, regardless of temperament - It keeps them restrained AND helps to keep them clean. You can make a kitty burrito using a towel or blanket. Wrap kitty up like you are swaddling a baby. Regardless of technique, remember to make sure they are clean after, as food left on can cause skin irritation.

Here is a recipe for what can be syringed, with nutritional information included:

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