Kitten Problems, I think?
Kitten Problems, I think?
I just adopted a kitten yesterday. The kitten is 7-8 weeks old, and came from a private home in my area. When I brought the kitten home I gave it a flea bath, removed all dead fleas and put a flea collar on him. After the bath he went to bed for a few hours, and we played a bit when he woke up. After we played it ate about half a cup of dry kitten food, and 3 teaspoons of canned kitten food. However, the kitten will not drink any water, or go to the bathroom When I try to put it in it's litter box it gets scared and jumps out (this all happened yesterday and there has been no improvement today). The kitten also will not move freely about my apartment. If I leave the room it cries, or if I just walk away from it, he cries. Also, it seems to be afraid of the dark. When I turn off the lights to go to bed (the kitten sleeps in a small bed beside mine. I tried to let it sleep in the bed with me, but it gets scared and jumps down) the kitten cries endlessly. Lastly my kitten seems to be walking funny, I checked its legs for injuries, but it has none. Thought I think it might be because I have carpet. I'm very worried about my kitten, and any help or advice would be appreciated. Thank you.
Re: Kitten Problems, I think?
Get your kitten to your vet immediately. He needs a thorough exam to determine his overall health status.
First, never use over-the-counter flea products on kittens or cats, EVER. They are ineffective, and worse, they are dangerous, many of them toxic/lethal to cats. Use only Advantage or Frontline recommended by your vet for the safest products, and of course, according to age and weight. For more information, please see here, Just Say No
Next, don't use flea collars, same as above, totally ineffective and dangerous.
Also, NEVER apply a flea bath, flea control product or flea collar in any combination to a kitten or cat, EVER. Since you have done two of these in succession, it's important your vet determine if it was too much, or if the brand/type you used may have been toxic. This may also have something to do with the walking problem, but it could be any other number of things as well, don't wait to find out, get him seen by your vet immediately.
As for the not wanting to use the litterbox, maybe change the litter type, or use simply a few paper towels in the box temporarily in the event he is sensitive to certain textures. Keep the litterbox in an area away from his food/water dishes, and make sure it's in a private area.
Since you only brought him home yesterday, he is extremely stressed and shy, he needs time to adjust to his new environment, and is therfore attempting to bond with you, you are all he knows now, he will be demanding of your attention and affection. Leave a nite lite on for him in your room at night.
All newly adopted kittens and cats should receive a new vet exam immediately after you aquire them.
First, never use over-the-counter flea products on kittens or cats, EVER. They are ineffective, and worse, they are dangerous, many of them toxic/lethal to cats. Use only Advantage or Frontline recommended by your vet for the safest products, and of course, according to age and weight. For more information, please see here, Just Say No
Next, don't use flea collars, same as above, totally ineffective and dangerous.
Also, NEVER apply a flea bath, flea control product or flea collar in any combination to a kitten or cat, EVER. Since you have done two of these in succession, it's important your vet determine if it was too much, or if the brand/type you used may have been toxic. This may also have something to do with the walking problem, but it could be any other number of things as well, don't wait to find out, get him seen by your vet immediately.
As for the not wanting to use the litterbox, maybe change the litter type, or use simply a few paper towels in the box temporarily in the event he is sensitive to certain textures. Keep the litterbox in an area away from his food/water dishes, and make sure it's in a private area.
Since you only brought him home yesterday, he is extremely stressed and shy, he needs time to adjust to his new environment, and is therfore attempting to bond with you, you are all he knows now, he will be demanding of your attention and affection. Leave a nite lite on for him in your room at night.
All newly adopted kittens and cats should receive a new vet exam immediately after you aquire them.
..........Traci
Re: Kitten Problems, I think?
Our kitten acted funny when we brought her home too. She would not leave my daughters bed. Andshe was scared of the litter box too.I would keep putting her in the box several times a day but she would just jump back out.
It took two days to figure out where she was going .I looked everywhere ,I finally found it in my daughters window sill {very nasty} anyway I took one small piece and put it in the litter box and put her in the litter box and she only uses it now.It just took one time.
And after about three days it started coming farther and farther out of her room .
The vet told us not to use any flea med on her till she was 12 weeks.
Just give her a little time she will be ruling your house like ours does.
It took two days to figure out where she was going .I looked everywhere ,I finally found it in my daughters window sill {very nasty} anyway I took one small piece and put it in the litter box and put her in the litter box and she only uses it now.It just took one time.
And after about three days it started coming farther and farther out of her room .
The vet told us not to use any flea med on her till she was 12 weeks.
Just give her a little time she will be ruling your house like ours does.