Supplies

There are basically 3 types of plungers on syringes:

 

Depending on the consistency of the food, you can either draw the food up into the syringe or load from the top.

Small - Some people like to use 2ml up to 6ml syringes because of the shape and feel, and the ability to better control squirts. These small syringes require multiple reloadings or you will need to prepare several syringes to get enough food for one feeding. Drug stores and pharmacies have 5ml oral medicine syringes for children's medicine. Some stores will just give one to you if you ask. They will either be the rubber plunger type or if you are lucky, the silicone O-ring which will last longer.

Medium - The vet will probably give you a 12ml syringe. A nice alternative is a 14ml syringe that you can by at PetSmart. This syringe is made of all plastic with no rubber parts to get gummy.

Large - 35mm are even available.

Tapered Tips - If you find that food gets clogged in the tapered tip syringe, you may need to cut the tip to make the opening bigger. Use a sharp knife and cut on a cutting board. Then rub the edges of the freshly cut tip on the board to smooth out any sharp places (a very fine fingernail file works, too). Make sure there are no sharp edges by rotating the tip on your cheek or on the soft skin inside your elbow... gotta be sure! :-) Be sure to cut just a little at a time and try it out before cutting too much off! Also, you want to maintain enough of the tip so that the tip still fits into the side of your cat's mouth easily.

Four Paws Easy Feeder Hand Feeding Syringe
for Small Animals Syringes from Petco $4.99

Kitten Mothering Kit
These washable reusable hand feeding syringes hold up to 1/2 ounce (0 22 mm) each. PetSmart carries them in the Cat section with the supplements and milk replacement products or you can order them online through this link. Buy 2 kits. Notice that the tips are different. The tapered tip on the right will be used for assist feeding. You can cut the left one off at the first notch and preload your food then transfer to the tapered one during feeding.

NOTE: If you can't find these syringes locally, I've been told that they can be ordered directly from the supplier: PetAg, Inc, http://www.petag.com,
1-800-323-0877 or 1-800-323-6878.

 

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