Her name is Abbie and she is between 6 months old to a year! My issues are: 1) she is throwing up at least once a day...is there something I'm doing wrong? Should I take her to a vet even though she was given a clean bill of health a couple of weeks ago? 2) She is constanly whining, is this a kitten thing, or is there something wrong with her?
We give her kitten dry food and water 2 times a day (1/2 cup), and she gets lots of attention! We don"t know if she has been dewormed yet, as her previous owners were the ones to take her to the vet. She is clear for all the major issues, but I still fear we are doing something wrong. Help!!
New stray kitten in my life! Help..so many qustions!
Re: New stray kitten in my life! Help..so many qustions!
I'm assuming you've had her for two weeks?
Did you get copies of kitten's previous health records? If not, you can't rely on a previous owner for their word. Is she spayed (and if so, when?) Has she received her kitten booster vaccines? (if so, when?) Was she tested for FELV/FIV? (if so, when?)
When adopting a new kitten or cat, it is crucial that you take to your own vet immediately (especially if you have no record of health) - this assures the cat gets an exam, and establishes a new health record in your name. It is also peace of mind to know if your kitten is truly healthy.
What exactly is she vomiting? Does she gulp her food because she's hungry? If she does, she may be regurgitating and not fully chewing her food, which won't allow proper digestion.
Is she vomiting hairballs? Or bile? Or watery mucous?
Anytime a young kitten is vomiting, demands a vet visit promptly. It could be anything from worms, to a gastric problem, to inappropriate diet, etc. Vomiting is not normal for a young healthy kitten!
Do you mean you only feed her half a cup of dry food twice a day? Do you actually mix it with water? (if so, please don't). What is the brand of kitten food you're feeding? It's possible the brand isn't agreeing with her. (your vet can recommend a high quality kitten food for her based on her exam and overall health)
Typically, kittens should be free-fed at this age because they expend a lot of energy, and need to replenish their calories - as she enters adulthood (around one year of age), you can slowly incorporate twice a day feeding if you feel it's necessary (otherwise, for adults in good health and optimal weight, measure out total daily food amount and offer it to her a few times a day).
She might be hungry because she's expending a lot of energy and you're only feeding her twice a day. Your vet can weigh her and determine the weight that is right for her age at this point and recommend exactly how much to be feeding her.
If you don't know if she's been dewormed, then your vet will recommend doing it (at the exam).
Either way, YES, make an appointment for TODAY, be sure to tell him any history you have on her, and/or any health records you might have. Try calling the previous owner and asking permission to access kitten's health records from their vet (or ask the owner to ask their vet to fax the records to YOUR vet). Inform him she has been vomiting on a daily basis, and what the contents of the vomitus are.
Please understand that constant vomiting will cause dehydration, which can become serious, it can affect the liver and kidneys, and that's the last thing your little kitten needs.
Make that appointment today, do not wait on this and make sure you discuss deworming, FELV/FIV testing and vaccinations (and spaying if she is not already spayed).
Did you get copies of kitten's previous health records? If not, you can't rely on a previous owner for their word. Is she spayed (and if so, when?) Has she received her kitten booster vaccines? (if so, when?) Was she tested for FELV/FIV? (if so, when?)
When adopting a new kitten or cat, it is crucial that you take to your own vet immediately (especially if you have no record of health) - this assures the cat gets an exam, and establishes a new health record in your name. It is also peace of mind to know if your kitten is truly healthy.
What exactly is she vomiting? Does she gulp her food because she's hungry? If she does, she may be regurgitating and not fully chewing her food, which won't allow proper digestion.
Is she vomiting hairballs? Or bile? Or watery mucous?
Anytime a young kitten is vomiting, demands a vet visit promptly. It could be anything from worms, to a gastric problem, to inappropriate diet, etc. Vomiting is not normal for a young healthy kitten!
Do you mean you only feed her half a cup of dry food twice a day? Do you actually mix it with water? (if so, please don't). What is the brand of kitten food you're feeding? It's possible the brand isn't agreeing with her. (your vet can recommend a high quality kitten food for her based on her exam and overall health)
Typically, kittens should be free-fed at this age because they expend a lot of energy, and need to replenish their calories - as she enters adulthood (around one year of age), you can slowly incorporate twice a day feeding if you feel it's necessary (otherwise, for adults in good health and optimal weight, measure out total daily food amount and offer it to her a few times a day).
She might be hungry because she's expending a lot of energy and you're only feeding her twice a day. Your vet can weigh her and determine the weight that is right for her age at this point and recommend exactly how much to be feeding her.
If you don't know if she's been dewormed, then your vet will recommend doing it (at the exam).
Either way, YES, make an appointment for TODAY, be sure to tell him any history you have on her, and/or any health records you might have. Try calling the previous owner and asking permission to access kitten's health records from their vet (or ask the owner to ask their vet to fax the records to YOUR vet). Inform him she has been vomiting on a daily basis, and what the contents of the vomitus are.
Please understand that constant vomiting will cause dehydration, which can become serious, it can affect the liver and kidneys, and that's the last thing your little kitten needs.
Make that appointment today, do not wait on this and make sure you discuss deworming, FELV/FIV testing and vaccinations (and spaying if she is not already spayed).
..........Traci