Lesson 3 Feeding & weight gain

🗓 Logging schedule

☑ Log once daily minimum, every morning
☑ Log after any symptom change or concern, same day

⚖️ Weight logging rules

☑ Weigh before the first meal
☑ Use grams if under 2 lb, lbs/oz allowed if over 2 lb
☑ Always subtract container weight if using a scale bowl/tray
☑ Log gain, plateau, or loss

💬 Example log line fosters should follow:

12/2 — 430 g (+10 g) — eating 90% meals, no fleas seen, stool soft but playful, eyes clear

f the kitten is gaining

• The gut is absorbing calories, which means the current plan can continue.

• Mild stool changes after deworming may be worm die-off irritation, but hydration and weight still rule the day.

• Keep the same food — this protects the intestines more than switching proteins.

If the weight holds still for 1–2 days

• This means monitor more often, not “try a new food.”

• Mini meals are not a diet change — they are gut rest support.

• Temperature stability and hydration prevent additional calorie burn.

If the kitten loses weight at all

• This is your highest priority signal.

• Even small gram drops matter in kittens — it is the earliest illness indicator.

• Pause anything non-urgent and escalate to your foster lead or vet same day.

If the kitten stops eating

• Eating status always overrides weight trend.

• A kitten can still be hydrated and alert but not eating = immediate concern.

• Vet triage or rescue lead check comes today, not tomorrow.

If breathing looks abnormal

• Any kitten showing open-mouth or labored breathing needs emergency veterinary care immediately.

👁‍🗨 Symptom logging categories (check & note)

🐜 1. Skin & Fleas

• ☑ Fleas seen? (yes/no)

• ☑ Flea dirt confirmed? (yes/no + tested on wet towel?)

• ☑ Scratching more than normal? (describe)

🍽 2. Eating

• ☑ Full meals / Mini meals / Reduced interest / Not eating

• ☑ Food warmed? (yes/no)

• ☑ Treat or add-ins used? (which one)

💧 3. Hydration

• ☑ Drinking normally? (yes/no)

• ☑ Gums moist or tacky?

• ☑ Electrolytes added to water? (yes/no)

💩 4. Stool

• ☑ Improved / No change / Worse

• ☑ Mucus? Blood? Smell? (describe)

🫁 5. Breathing

• ☑ Normal / Congested / Cough / Wheeze / Throat clearing

• ☑ Open-mouth breathing? (emergency → vet today)

👀 6. Face, eyes, nose, mouth

• ☑ Discharge or crusts? Sores? Swelling? Gum color? (describe)

• ☑ Changed from yesterday? (yes/no)

🧠 7. Movement & Neurology

• ☑ Walking normal? Wobbly? Leg changes? More dazed? (describe)

• ☑ Shivering history returned? (yes/no)

🚦How weight + symptoms guide action

📱 Foster lead communication template

Fosters should paste/send this message to support leads or vets:

Kitten name:
Age/est. age:
Weight today (grams or lbs/oz):
Change from yesterday:
Appetite:
Hydration:
Breathing notes:
Stool notes:
Skin/flea check:
Movement/neuro notes:
Medications recently given:
Litter dumped today? yes/no

🧼 Hygiene reminder for logs

☑ Dump litter same day as medication starts or if diarrhea appears
☑ Fresh water daily
☑ Same diet through illness window