I am fostering a kitten which is suspected to be about 14 days old. It has been with me 8 days now. It feeds fine from a bottle and wees every time it's stimulated. I have a formulated kitten milk but at first I had to give condensed milk/yoghurt/water/glucose mix. The trouble seems to be when I changed to kitten formula milk and now there are no poos. The first poo was a bit hard but the subsequent one was something like toothpaste and yellow in colour, but now no poos are coming and it has been 3 days. I live on a small Greek island and the only vet we had left last week.
Kitty seems quite happy and content and is still eating well, weighs 10 oz and on about 80 - 90 cc feed per day, but surely it must poo ? I stimulate after every feed and it wees enough to float away, but nothing else - not even a kitty fart !!!
HELP !!!!!!
Kitten Constipation
Re: Kitten Constipation
What is the formula, is it Kitten KMR or something else? Are you mixing it according to package directions per kitten's weight?
Are you dividing feeding times properly? A two-week kitten generally will have ABOUT 40 or so cc's per feeding (slightly more if he's really hungry or feeding times are too far apart, and depending on growth rate).....feeding times should be at least 3 -4 times a day, about 4-6 hours apart. Or refer to a chart Here. this chart is an estimate.
Have you tried burping him after each feeding? If not, sit down and gently lay kitty over your thigh or leg, his stomach facing down, and gently rub or gently pat his back (GENTLE is the key word). Then stimulate his anal area with a moist, warm cotton ball for a few seconds. You can also try GENTLY massaging his abdomen for a few seconds at a time. Try stimulating his anal area with the cotton ball after massaging a few times, but don't overdo this because his bottom will then get raw and sore!
Do you have any hairball remedy? (like Petromalt or Laxatone) If so, you can give a 1/4 to 1/2 inch strip on your finger and gently place inside his mouth (tiny amount at a time so he swallows), this can help aid in getting digested formula through his intestine and colon. Only give hairball remedy for a few days or until he produces a stool. If he hasn't produced a stool on the 4th day, I'm afraid it's imperative you get him to a vet for a kitten enema (do NOT ever attempt to do this on your own, NEVER use over-the-counter enema products on cats, they're toxic!). Kitten enemas should only consist of warm water, sometimes a tiny amount of a soapy solution (like novalsan from your vet), and the enema tube must be tiny and appropriate for kittens. Constipation in tiny young kittens can be fatal, so again, it's imperative your kitten sees a vet if he isn't producing a stool within 4 days. If his abdomen is hard and distended, chances are he is gassy and constipated, chances are he will require a kitten enema.
The yellowish stool with toothpaste consistency would be normal for a kitten on formula of this age.
Are you dividing feeding times properly? A two-week kitten generally will have ABOUT 40 or so cc's per feeding (slightly more if he's really hungry or feeding times are too far apart, and depending on growth rate).....feeding times should be at least 3 -4 times a day, about 4-6 hours apart. Or refer to a chart Here. this chart is an estimate.
Have you tried burping him after each feeding? If not, sit down and gently lay kitty over your thigh or leg, his stomach facing down, and gently rub or gently pat his back (GENTLE is the key word). Then stimulate his anal area with a moist, warm cotton ball for a few seconds. You can also try GENTLY massaging his abdomen for a few seconds at a time. Try stimulating his anal area with the cotton ball after massaging a few times, but don't overdo this because his bottom will then get raw and sore!
Do you have any hairball remedy? (like Petromalt or Laxatone) If so, you can give a 1/4 to 1/2 inch strip on your finger and gently place inside his mouth (tiny amount at a time so he swallows), this can help aid in getting digested formula through his intestine and colon. Only give hairball remedy for a few days or until he produces a stool. If he hasn't produced a stool on the 4th day, I'm afraid it's imperative you get him to a vet for a kitten enema (do NOT ever attempt to do this on your own, NEVER use over-the-counter enema products on cats, they're toxic!). Kitten enemas should only consist of warm water, sometimes a tiny amount of a soapy solution (like novalsan from your vet), and the enema tube must be tiny and appropriate for kittens. Constipation in tiny young kittens can be fatal, so again, it's imperative your kitten sees a vet if he isn't producing a stool within 4 days. If his abdomen is hard and distended, chances are he is gassy and constipated, chances are he will require a kitten enema.
The yellowish stool with toothpaste consistency would be normal for a kitten on formula of this age.
..........Traci
Re: Kitten Constipation
Thanks for the reply.
I am only guessing as to the age of this kitty. He was heard crying and the mother was found dead. He has his eyes open but ears are not yet standing up. He has very strong front legs but the back legs are only just beginning to hold his weight (yesterday).
The formula is Royal Canin Vital Kitten 0 - Weaning
He weighs nearly 10 ounces (280 grams) and feeds every 2-3 hours taking on average 20 cc's. He sleep through the night from about 11.30pm.
I burp him after every feed, massage and stimulate his anal area with warm water cotton wool and he wees extremely well - virtually clear wee.
His abdomen is not swollen or hard but he makes no attempt now to poo since I changed him to the kitten formula.
I am only guessing as to the age of this kitty. He was heard crying and the mother was found dead. He has his eyes open but ears are not yet standing up. He has very strong front legs but the back legs are only just beginning to hold his weight (yesterday).
The formula is Royal Canin Vital Kitten 0 - Weaning
He weighs nearly 10 ounces (280 grams) and feeds every 2-3 hours taking on average 20 cc's. He sleep through the night from about 11.30pm.
I burp him after every feed, massage and stimulate his anal area with warm water cotton wool and he wees extremely well - virtually clear wee.
His abdomen is not swollen or hard but he makes no attempt now to poo since I changed him to the kitten formula.
The trouble might be the direct transistion from the homemade formula, one should not mix milk and water for tiny kittens. Also, milk products are tough on a kitten's developing system, and because they are lactose intolerant, it usually causes gas and/or constipation. Not that I am opposed to condensed milk in a homemade kitten recipe, but they should only be used as emergency formulas until a commercial formula can be used. That was probably your intention.
I would recommend using Petromalt or Laxatone hairball remedy first, can you get this? If not, do you have vaseline? (or white petroleum jelly) You can try to place a tiny amount (just small drop on the tip of your pinky finger) gently at the inside of the anus, this can act as a suppository (and will also soothe irritated tissue from straining).....be careful here, be gentle and slow and gently rub the drop of vaseline into the anus...the vaseline can be slightly warmed first.
The good news is that there was soft stool after a hard stool and the abdomen doesn't seem to be distended. But if the abdomen gets distended, or there is hard stool, this means that feces is hardening in the colon and more water is absorbed, making the stool hard and causing constipation. If constipation causes straining, then the straining can lead to a prolapsed rectum which is an emergency and requires immediate veterinary care!
Please try the hairball remedy first, accompany it with a warm drop (tiny dollop) of vaseline just inside the anus. Continue massaging, burping, simulating to defecate and encourage him to be active if you can, if he's walking or at least attempting to be active, exercise can also help with gas and constipation. Ideally, he really needs a vet if he hasn't produced by tomorrow.
Please let us know how this ensues, ok?
I would recommend using Petromalt or Laxatone hairball remedy first, can you get this? If not, do you have vaseline? (or white petroleum jelly) You can try to place a tiny amount (just small drop on the tip of your pinky finger) gently at the inside of the anus, this can act as a suppository (and will also soothe irritated tissue from straining).....be careful here, be gentle and slow and gently rub the drop of vaseline into the anus...the vaseline can be slightly warmed first.
The good news is that there was soft stool after a hard stool and the abdomen doesn't seem to be distended. But if the abdomen gets distended, or there is hard stool, this means that feces is hardening in the colon and more water is absorbed, making the stool hard and causing constipation. If constipation causes straining, then the straining can lead to a prolapsed rectum which is an emergency and requires immediate veterinary care!
Please try the hairball remedy first, accompany it with a warm drop (tiny dollop) of vaseline just inside the anus. Continue massaging, burping, simulating to defecate and encourage him to be active if you can, if he's walking or at least attempting to be active, exercise can also help with gas and constipation. Ideally, he really needs a vet if he hasn't produced by tomorrow.
Please let us know how this ensues, ok?
..........Traci
Re: Kitten Constipation
Thank you very much for your prompt reply.
At last feed I continued to massage gentle,stroke,stimulate and let him wobble about on the table close to me for about 3/4 of an hour and eventualy he poo'd. There didn't appear to be any straining and he didn't get upset. It was toothpaste like consistency and yellow and probably about 2 teaspoons full (if you fancy measuring it !
)
I guess he wasn't quite ready, but it does seem like an awful long time NOT to poo. Could it have been that my feeds were too thin ?
I now have a commercial kitten formula which says for his size it should be 10ml powder formula to 20ml previously boiled, warm water.
I hope now that he will be ok and not get a toilet complex with all my fiddling about.!
At last feed I continued to massage gentle,stroke,stimulate and let him wobble about on the table close to me for about 3/4 of an hour and eventualy he poo'd. There didn't appear to be any straining and he didn't get upset. It was toothpaste like consistency and yellow and probably about 2 teaspoons full (if you fancy measuring it !
)I guess he wasn't quite ready, but it does seem like an awful long time NOT to poo. Could it have been that my feeds were too thin ?
I now have a commercial kitten formula which says for his size it should be 10ml powder formula to 20ml previously boiled, warm water.
I hope now that he will be ok and not get a toilet complex with all my fiddling about.!
Re: Kitten Constipation
It's not unusual for this to occur when a homemade kitten formula has been fed, then a commercial formula. The same can occur with any kitten or cat of any age when too many different types of food are fed or switched frequently. In kittens however, this is dangerous because they aren't developed enough to handle the insult. Their kidneys are also not fully developed so proper nutrients and ingredients in a formula are crucial. The nutrient contents are so different, the water content is different. Homemade kitten formulas should never contain water, there are two recipes on the link I gave you, but they are only intended to be used temporarily. It is ALWAYS best to use a commercial kitten formula because they are formulated to mimic the mother's milk and contain the necessary nutritients, homemade formulas do not.
It is also crucial to not overfeed or underfeed. Commercial formulas state approximate mixing and feeding directions per weight and age, that's why it's important to weigh kittens weekly, from birth to around 12 weeks of age. Some kittens need more than others, and likewise, some kittens need slightly less than others, use the directions on the package and compare them with the chart I gave you for an approximate measure/approximate feeding times, and how they're spaced apart.
Most kittens will alert you when they are either full or still hungry. When they are full, they will fight the bottle and try to push it away. When they are still hungry they will reach for it if you take it away, or they will cry, and seem agitated. That's why the feedings should be spaced apart properly so that within a 24 hour period, the kitten has had a sufficient amount of formula. Stimulating after each feeding helps to keep kitten regulated.
Typically, with commercial formulas, they state to add more formula to the mixture, and less water, this is encouraged usually each week, or, per weight of the kitten.
Since he has had a stool now, and if you follow the formula's mixing directions carefully, space his feedings apart as stated, and weigh him weekly, he should start being more regular. I would encourage you however, to pick up some Petromalt or Laxatone to have on hand.
It is also crucial to not overfeed or underfeed. Commercial formulas state approximate mixing and feeding directions per weight and age, that's why it's important to weigh kittens weekly, from birth to around 12 weeks of age. Some kittens need more than others, and likewise, some kittens need slightly less than others, use the directions on the package and compare them with the chart I gave you for an approximate measure/approximate feeding times, and how they're spaced apart.
Most kittens will alert you when they are either full or still hungry. When they are full, they will fight the bottle and try to push it away. When they are still hungry they will reach for it if you take it away, or they will cry, and seem agitated. That's why the feedings should be spaced apart properly so that within a 24 hour period, the kitten has had a sufficient amount of formula. Stimulating after each feeding helps to keep kitten regulated.
Typically, with commercial formulas, they state to add more formula to the mixture, and less water, this is encouraged usually each week, or, per weight of the kitten.
Since he has had a stool now, and if you follow the formula's mixing directions carefully, space his feedings apart as stated, and weigh him weekly, he should start being more regular. I would encourage you however, to pick up some Petromalt or Laxatone to have on hand.
..........Traci