WARNING: Verify feeding requirements with your veterinarian. This page contains suggestions only. It was not written by a veterinarian.

These feeding instructions were found during my research when my cat contracted oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. I do not know the date of this info. I adapted it for the Feline SCC page.

See the Syringe Feeding paragraph for instructions

Potential dangers of syringe feeding

  My note: This page has had some minor changes to better suit a feline cancer patient.  
  Clinicare food is mentioned.  I do not know what type of Clinicare food is
  best suited for cancer inflicted cats.  This text was written with a Chronic Renal
  Failure cat patient in mind.  My changes are labeled:  [My note:...]

  Original text  (with my notes added) begins here.
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------
  By: Doug Biggs and Angel Fleece, with thanks to fellow CRF list members
  Karen K., (the other) Doug, Pam N., Donald M., Kerry S., MJ, and those
  whom I've no doubt forgotten to include.  

  The following is a paper I've been working on and updating as people
  have written back to me. It is not really finished yet, and is still
  in fragments. Sorry.
 
  I'm going to paste in some some new information I've received
  about the possible dangers involved with syringe feeding. While I
  believe these dangers are minimal, you should keep them in mind.
 
  I've used this method not only to feed all the necessary calories
  required, but also frequently to make up for any shortfalls in
  Fleece's eating. I think the extra fluids actually seem to help too.
 
  Doug Biggs and Fleece
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
  My informal survey suggest that about 75% of cats will tolerate
  this type of feeding being done, but some experience is required.
  Don't give up too quickly if the first few times you try this things
  are a little messy. Both you and the cat will (probably) learn, and
  this can become a breeze to do.
 
  A few additions that I should include with the following are, (1)
  to be wary of syringe feeding formula to a cat with a heart condition
  (talk to your vet first and then note your pets stress level when
  feeding). (2) The phone number for locating a distributor of
  Clinicare in your area.
 
  [My note: Liquified Science Diet A/D and/or Nutri-Cal, both available from 
  your vet, are good choices when needing to syringe-feed an ailing feline. The 
  details for creating the A/D slurry are found via the link at the top of this page.]
 
  A cat should receive around 20-30 Kcal (more commonly referred
  to as calories or, Cal with a capitol C) per pound of body
  weight per day (sources vary). If you know the calorie content
  of the food you are using, then you should be able to calculate
  the necessary volume. Just don't forget to adjust for any
  water that was added to a puree.
 
  (3) One last thing I should mention is the fact that some cats seem
  to resent being put on a counter top. But doing so can provide you
  with clearer access and help steady your aim.
 
  Doug & Fleece
  ________________________________________________________________
 

 
  After much trial and error, this is the method I have had the most
  success with for syringe feeding. I believe it is humane (this is
  not tube down the throat force feeding), and because the food is
  nutritionally balanced, it is probably more suitable (unlike sugar
  paste products) for use during a long period of time.
 
  This method may also help avoid the use of dangerous (or simply
  ineffective) appetite stimulants, and in certain cases it has been
  known to tide a severely anorexic cat over a bad period without a
  surgically implanted feeding tube having to be placed.
 
  But while syringe feeding will probably work with all but the most
  determined of resisters or with a critically ill cat, it is crucial to
  realize the importance of an adequate dietary intake. A percutaneously
  emplanted (implanted) gastric feeding tube (PEG) should seriously be
  considered by those who have exhausted all other measures (and there
  are many), and before weight loss becomes severe. I am told that
  inserting a PEG is a relatively safe procedure, and that the tube is
  well tolerated by most cats. Naso-gastric feeding tubes, on the other
  hand, are only used on a short term basis. Also, many cats seem to be
  very adept at ripping them out within a matter of hours.
 
  So here we go: (and good luck!)
 
  1.) Obtain a highly concentrated liquid diet from your vet like Feline
  Clinicare RF or a similar product. [My note:  I used Science Diet A/D 
  mixed with water into a slurry.  Also, Nutri-Cal, a high-calorie, nutritional
  paste can be used.  Follow the directions on the tube for the amount
  of Nutri-Cal to use.  Much less Nutri-Cal is required than Science Diet A/D.]
  [My note:  I used a 10cc syringe available from the vet.]  Also get a number 
  of 3cc and 6cc syringes from your vet. If you don't have a high quality pill 
  gun or pill popper, get one.  These can really make life a lot easier.
 
  2.) Prepare all the pills you will be giving, because this will be a
  great time to administer them. The cat will be restrained anyway,
  and following up with the formula might help outfox a holdout artist.
 
  3.) Try starting off by pouring 1/3 of the daily calorie requirement
  into a dixie cup and heating in the microwave until the fluid is at
  room temperature (a very short blast). Stir the formula with your
  syringe tip and double check to make sure it is not too hot.
 
  When my 7lb cat is eating nothing, she gets about 2oz per feeding
  (roughly 14-17  3cc syringes full), or 6oz total a day. This is very
  close to her stomach capacity per feeding and accidents have happened.
  [My note: I used a 10cc syringe and the minimum for a non-eating 10lb cat 
  I was told should be 6 syringes, two times per day.]
  If your cat vomits, note the point at which this occurred and adjust
  your next feeding accordingly. Also, try to estimate what your cat has
  eaten or drank in the last 1 1/2 hours to project its current stomach
  capacity.
 
  An unfortunate fact, is, that the ability of your cat to hold down
  food may vary widely on any given day. The most common manifestation
  of this problem is vomiting by a cat that has not had any food in its
  stomach for many hours (i.e. in the morning). In this circumstance, it
  can often be wise to administer only about 2 to 4 (3cc) syringes full
  of food and then wait for about 1/2 hour before completing a full
  feeding. But sometimes, especially with a very ill cat, more than three
  feedings a day are going to required to get in the needed calories
  without inducing vomiting.
 
  To estimate the total that will be required to be syringe fed in a
  day, try to judge what your cat has eaten on its own. For example:
  your cat is eating around 1/2 of a 5.5 can of low density store bought
  wet food per day. You know that this food is providing only 1/3 of the
  daily calories required for maintenance. Therefore, you would need to
  syringe feed 2/3 of a daily dose of the liquid diet per day to
  compensate (the Clinicare label will give you a daily requirement per
  pound chart). Note that you can obtain the calorie value for any given
  food by calling the companies 800 number.
 
  4.) Place the cat in a SITTING position (rump down, front legs
  extended) on a counter top so you can be comfortable, and then wrap
  a towel around its front. Secure the towel closed on the back of the
  cats neck with a sturdy spring loaded clip (you can find these at an
  office supply store). Although it ends up working like one, the towels
  primary purpose is not to act as a bib. It is to restrain your cats
  front legs and allow you to get this job done by yourself.
 
  5.) Approach your cat facing its side (so your left side is nearest
  the cats back end) and with your left hand form a U over the nose by
  placing your thumb and forefinger on the cats two upper lips. As gently
  as possible, pull its head back to open the mouth. Make sure to pull the
  nose back far enough so that the line of lower lip goes slightly beyond
  horizontal (a very slight tilt up), but try to avoid raising the cats
  head back any farther vertically than this. The Merck manual suggests
  that doing so can increase the chances of the cat aspirating the food.
  When both you and the cat become more experienced, just placing your
  finger tip or the syringe tip at the cats lip corner may be all that
  is required to signal the cat to open its mouth.
 
  6.) The 3cc syringe seems to approximate roughly a mouthful, and I
  believe it is the most useful tool for this job (I get used ones for
  free from my vet). I will mention, however, that a 6cc syringe filled
  with 4cc's of fluid might be a more appropriate choice for some very
  large cats.
 
  Avoid using the huge syringes that many vets will provide. A smaller
  syringe will fit inside the cats mouth better, and even more
  importantly, it enables you to make a single, smooth push. This
  technique of the "smooth push" in itself can eliminate some of the
  dangers involved with the cat aspirating the food. The smooth push
  will also greatly facilitate the cats ability to swallow the food more
  efficiently. Try to find the type of syringe where the tip is not
  sheathed in any way (Luer "slip" tip, NOT "luer lock" tip)
 
  Draw a full syringe full (or the desired amount) from the dixie cup
  and administer by opening the cats mouth as just described above.
 
  7.) You'll most likely have to discover a technique for injection
  that works with your own cat, but I'll attempt to describe how I do
  it.
 
  a) I open the mouth just enough to allow the syringe to enter and
  smoothly but quickly insert it just a fraction of an inch perpen-
  dicularly at the mouth corner. I then quickly rotate it toward the back
  of the throat. Ideally, the syringe tip will now be just past the lip
  corner and resting directly on the row of lower teeth nearest to you.
  Angling the tip slightly downward may help, and having the fluid strike
  the joint where the upper and lower jaw/teeth meet is the area I
  ideally try to hit. Perhaps this causes a division of the fluid between
  the cheek pouch and the throat and allows the cat to swallow more
  easily?
 
  b) Smoothly inject the whole load taking about 1 second (but just
  don't go so fast as to spray the food) and then quickly withdraw the
  syringe.
 
  c) In what would basically be all one motion, I then ever so
  slightly pull the cats nose just a little higher with my left hand as
  I'm actually in the process of releasing my grip on the snout. This
  seems to help prevent spills.
 
  I have given liquid medicine to another cat daily for three years,
  and syringe fed Fleece many, many times now. I have only induced
  coughing (aspiration) once before. The biggest problem really seems to
  be the cat spitting out, or drooling if you will, some of the food.
  Have a damp washcloth ready for cleanups.
 
  8.) Give the cat a chance to swallow and lick its lips before
  repeating. This is a good time for a little pet and words of
  encouragement. Also, check to make sure the towel isn't falling down
  its back and tightening around the throat.
 
  9.) Try to be observant of your cats particular behavior before
  vomiting. If its growing uncomfortable, it is probably best to back
  off for an hour or so. Just make sure it is getting the food it needs
  during the course of a day.
 
  Other] Don't hesitate to throw out syringes when they get sticky
  (they seem to last about 6 feedings and hot water rinses/washes per
  syringe). If you later have dried food on the cats fur even after
  using a washcloth, a brushing after the food has dried seems to take
  this out. Expect the cat to be a little down for a few minutes after a
  large volume syringe feeding.
 
  I was paying $6 per 8oz can for Clinicare; this food isn't cheap.
  But hopefully your cat will start eating on its own again like mine
  did. The actual feeding seems to take about five or six minutes, but
  be ready to spend around fifteen minutes per feeding because of
  preparation and cleanup time. Don't be too alarmed that the liquid
  diet can says on it "for intermittent or supplemental feeding only".
  This is a standard disclaimer found on many special diets (those that
  have not undergone AAFCO testing yet, or those that will never meet
  this standard set for regular feeds because of their reduced protein
  content).
 
  

 
  I have received several letters describing the dangers involved
  with aspiration pneumonia, and I been informed of one case where this
  proved to be fatal for a syringe fed cat. As I mentioned before, I have
  never had a problem with my cats aspirating liquid medicines or food.
  But if you do, you must find an injection technique that works
  (experimentation will be risky in this event), or you should
  DISCONTINUE SYRINGE FEEDING.
 
  Another potential problem syringe feeding presents is the
  transmission of viral disease (stomatitis in particular). Many CRF
  cats have severe oral ulcerations that I assume can provide a
  convenient route for the introduction of pathogens into the blood-
  stream. My advice is to take the warnings found on the cans of liquid
  diets to maintain cleanliness very seriously. And never pour any
  excess liquid diet that has contacted a syringe tip (in a dixie cup)
  back into the can. You should also note that Clinicare only has a
  (refrigerated) shelf life of 48 hrs after opening.
  
 
  Doug Biggs and Angel Fleece, with thanks to fellow CRF list members
  Karen K., (the other) Doug, Pam N., Donald M., Kerry S., MJ, and those
  whom I've no doubt forgotten to include.