Need some help..new kitten..asap...please!!

[Nurse_Jamie]

Readers -

I just got a new kitten from a man just giving them away. SHe is solid black, he said she was 6 wks old...she's lilttle, but appears to be healthy. She runs around and is playful..doesn't act sick. She cries a lot but stops when I call to her or when I am within sight of her.

My problem is...she won't eat. I got her at about 7:30 pm qne it's midnight now and she hasn't eaten anything! The man I got her from said that she was nursing as well as eating dry food. But she won't touch her food I gave her or drink water. So I tried a little warmed cows milk and she drank just a little and then walked away. And she hasn't pooped/peed at all since she's been here.

Does anyone know why she may not be eating? And if so, what can I do about it?

Your responses would really help, I have never had a kitten this young before.

Thanks

[kate & kobi]

Congratulations on your new kid (er... kitten)! I wouldn't worry too much about her not eating if it's only been 4 and a half hours. She has a lot to take in, with the stress of moving to a new place and meeting new people, and especially if the food you're feeding her is different from what she's used to.

You can measure how much is in her bowl when you go to bed tonight, and measure again in the morning to see if she has eaten anything. Make sure she knows where her litter box is; just put her in it once or twice to show her where it is.

6 weeks is pretty young to have her taken from her mother. If she was still nursing, she probably won't take well to being weaned so suddenly. Maybe the others on the board will tell you about KMR or another replacement for cat's milk (since I don't have any experience with it) - but cow's milk isn't a good long-term solution and can cause indigestion in many cats.

Out of curiousity, what type of dry food are you feeding her? You could also get some IAMS canned kitten food, which might work for the time when she's adjusting to only solid food.

You'll also want to take her in to the vet soon, too, so call your vet and ask when you should make an appointment. She mostly likely has worms and other nasties.

I hope this isn't too much info. Good luck and keep us posted!

[Nurse_Jamie]

Thanks for the help. Pay day is a few days away, so would it be ok to wait a few days to take her to the vet? The man I got her from said he feeded his cats "Special Kitty" brand food and I didn't want to switch her food the first night, so that's what I got her, but she isn't interested in it. I just got done feeding her a little cows milk through a dropper and then I gave her some water through the dropper. i am afraid of her dehydrating. But maybe she will eat tonight. She still hasnt peed/pooped. So we'll see.

Thanks again.

[Nurse_Jamie]

Good News! Just wanted to let you all know that I was fixing to go to bed, so I put my little kitty in the laundry room with her litter box and food/water and closed the door. About 30 minutes or so later, I went to check on her and she had peed in her litter box!!! I was so proud of her!!

She still won't eat, though. I will keep yall posted.

Also...anyone got any cute kitty names? i don't kow what to call her!!! She's solid black....I don't want midnight, blackie, or ebony. Any others....something unique and cute. I can't think of anything.

Thanks

[Mona]

Your kitten is too young for dry food. Get some canned like Iams or Nutro and mix some formula (KMR liquid) in it so she can lap it up.

I am still feeding my kitten canned at 12 weeks.

She must have the moisture and nutrition, do not delay.

Also, have her checked by the vet to ensure she is well and is not dehydrated, kittens can fade fast.

Good luck to you.

Mona, Honeybun and Chloe

[Mona]

I saw our post about her using the litterbox. Congratulations. Here is a link about names: http://www.bowwow.com.au/top20/cat_female.asp

[Traci]

The previous owner stated she was still nursing as well as being weaned onto solid food. This is the problem, you need to supplement her with KMR Kitten Formula until she is completely weaned onto solid food.

Absoltuely, NO COW'S MILK! Whole milk and milk products can cause a great amount of gas in the intestines, and can also cause diarrhea and/or constipation in any kitten or adult cat. Please, go to your vet's NOW and pick up the dry form of KMR Kitten Formula and a kitten nurser bottle (you will need to pierce the nipples, they don't come pierced). Mix the formula according to the package directions and according to her weight.

Special Kitty is generic cat food and not one I would recommend to anyone. Generic cat foods are NOT sufficient in quality ingredients, vitamins and minerals. Your kitten needs a high quality kitten food that is complete and balanced for her growth and development. Try Iams canned kitten food, I've never met a kitten yet who didn't like Iams and weaned well on it.

As Mona said, feed her the Iams canned kitten food, and drizzle the mixed KMR over it so that she has the choice and will feel more apt to wean onto solid food. You may have to bottle-nurse in the meantime until she has shown direct interest in solid food alone.

Waiting a FEW days may be ok for the exam, but if she doesn't eat by late tonite, I wouldn't wait at all, get her to a vet first thing in the morning for a complete exam. If she's dehydrated, this can become serious in a matter of hours, and she could develop diarrhea as a result, which can also be life-threatening in young kittens. She also should be properly dewormed by your vet, many kittens have parasites unbeknownst to you. (Never deworm her yourself, over-the-counter products are worthless and some are toxic to cats, let only your vet treat your kitten)

[Nurse_Jamie]

Thanks everyone, for the help. Just wanted to let you all know that my kitten (whom I now call Sasha) is doing much better. She is eating well and drinking water and going to her litter box to pee just like a good little kitty.

She is also letting her personality shine bright today! She has been running around and playing so much. She's too cute.

But anyway, yes, she is doing great and I am no longer worried. Thanks again for the advice, everyone.