hand feeding sick new kitten, but she won't urinate

[Molli]

Three days ago I adopted a 6 month old kitten from the Humane Society. Took her to my vet, and she has a URI - stuffed nose, sneezing, lethargy, slight fever. All she wants to do is curl up on the couch in a blanket and sleep. She doesn't like to stand up, but she seems strong enough. I wonder if she has pain in her joints. She won't eat unless I coax her. My vet gave me some special food that apparently tastes really good to cats, but she can't smell it. I have also been feeding her synthetic cat milk by dropper. I have had some success with feeding her, but as far as I can tell she hasn't used the little box since I brought her home - three days! This really worries me. I am also worried about the fact that she doesn't like to stand up. She seems alert when I walk into the room - lifts her head and looks at me with big eyes. I know she is under a lot of stress: taken away from her mother, lived in a shelter with other cats and barking dogs, was spayed, got the URI, got put into a new home. I am also giving her Clavamox. Am I just being impatient, or should I be worried? I can't tell if her condition has improved or not. How long will she be sick?

[Cleo]

If you're sure she hasn't used the box, I would put a call into the vet immediately. Hopefully Traci will be along soon with some better medical advice.

((crappy advice deleted))

[Traci]

Have you seen her attempt to use her box, is she straining in the litterbox, and actually trying to go? If so, get her to your vet immediately. (could be constipated or urinary tract infection, only your vet can determine this upon exam)

What was the food he sent home with you? Call and ask your vet for a couple cans of Hill's Rx A/D or P/D....both are palatable for kittens and ill cats. You might try warming up her food slightly. Don't feed any milk products, these contain lactose which most cats cannot tolerate, and may cause excess gas and/or constipation.

When in doubt, call your vet right away for direction. She could still have a high fever that may be elevating and would demand fluids or other antibiotics by your vet. Call him (or an ER vet) and tell them you are concerned that after three days on clavamox, she still has not eliminated and is anorexic. Call NOW.

[Molli]

I have not seen her even try to get off the couch. I know she can walk because if I place her on the floor she will move under the couch and sit and look at me. She was spayed recently, and her belly is still shaved, but her stitches have dissolved. I wonder if she is still feeling pain from the surgery, and that's the reason she doesn't want to move. When I pick her up very gently she tries to curl into a ball to hide her tummy. My vet examined her stitches and said they felt OK, but I am seeing a lump to one side of the line of stitches. I know the surgery didn't help her URI. She went to the vet yesterday, and I was instructed to keep feeding her as much as she would tolerate. She is slightly underweight, but not anorexic. I am beginning to wonder if she has managed to crawl over to another part of the blanket and urinate when I wasn't there. I have just come off a cold myself and am having a hard time smelling. I am not feeding her cows milk, but Whiskas Cat Milk+, and the food is the Hills you recommended. Since she can't smell I have to open her mouth and drop a little on her tongue. That is usually enough for her to start eating on her own, but she won't eat much. Also, I have installed a humidifier in the room which I hope will help with her congestion. I am going to call my vet again tomorrow morning. Thanks for your help - I will keep you posted.

[Molli]

Just a followup on our kitty. I woke up early this morning and went in to check on her. She was not on the couch. I looked around and found her sitting under the coffee table watching me. Then I went over to the litter box and lo and behold I saw a nice big poop just buried under some litter. I am so relieved - I think we have turned the corner.

[Cleo]

Good news on the poop but how about the peeps? I would put in a call to the vet anyway just to update on the events over the weekend.

All paws are crossed here for kitty to make a quick and full recovery. Bless you for taking her away from the shelter and giving her a loving home.

[Traci]

Just because she eliminated doesn't mean she isn't still suffering an infection or elevated fever.

The fever could be a result of infection, whether that be the spay, the upper respiratory infection or a combination of both, your vet needs to rule both of them out and ensure it is treated the most appropriately. If she has an elevated temperature, this can cause dehydration, and since she isn't eating much, you certainly can't risk dehydration.

Again, call your vet back and explain to him you are not comfortable with kitty's symptoms, that she had a hard time producing a stool, that you're not sure if she has urinated or has a fever and that her appetite has not increased. It is best to play this safe and make absolutely sure infection and fever are treated immediately and appropriately.

[Molli]

I did call my vet this morning and discussed the elimination issues and asked for advice. She told me the combination of cat milk and the Hills Rx food, in the quantities I have been giving, should provide enough fluid to get her to urinate. She suggested that my kitten might be urinating elsewhere - I will make a thorough check of the room. She also said I should bring her back in to have her temp taken again, that the temp might be making her feel too achy to move much, and that I will also do. Kitty has been on Clavamox for 2 days, and will continue until the bottle is gone - may even need another. I have noticed she has more energy, but I suspect that is due to the feeding more than the medicine. She managed to jump up on the TV stand this morning and hide behind the TV. She is also sneezing less, but they are still rather explosive when she does. She is breathing through her nose, but it bubbles a bit. Are there nose drops available that would be safe for a kitten her age? Thanks again

[Traci]

No nose drops unless specifically advised by your vet.

You can try steaming up your shower in your bathroom and allowing her in the bathroom for a few minutes at a time to help clear congestion, but only your vet knows the extent of the URI, so please heed your vet's direction.