I found a 3 or 4 week old female kitten who had been dropped off on the bank of the Ohio river, if you can believe that. I have raised several orphaned kittens before, some from much younger ages, so I know what Im doing in this department. Since I found her, she has been struggling with a respiratory infection, with lots of mucus and congestion. She has been to the vet and is on the proper antibiotics, and is definately improving. Understandibly, when I first got her she did not want to eat and I know she didn't like having the nipple and syring shoved into her mouth because she could hardley breath out of her nose. The first couple days after starting the antibiotic she felt a lot better, and tried to suckle properly some (which she had been doing NONE of.) Well now, a week later, she is acting up all over again. She doesn't want to suckle or hardley eat anything, she cries in discomfort from teething constantly. SHe is pooping and peeing normally but is underweight since she has been such a fighter against being fed since day one. I have never had such a difficult kitten to raise, And I have done this now several times with orphaned kittens that have come about. She is in obvious discomfort, the teething is killing her she chews on everything she can, but she fights the feedings so hard that is what really is getting to me. She won't pay any attention to any kinds of solids, even though by now she should be more then willing to start sampling them. The teeth are coming in normally. This kitten will simply walk a few paces away and scream her head off. I will comfort her, then she will do the same thing. I will offer her formula, she will all but spit it back at me. This process over, and over, and over. Scratching and biting and protesting all the while. To say the least, my patience are stretching, and I have a whole world of patience. What else may be going on with this kitten that I must be missing?
I have entertained ideas such as brain damage, intestininal gasses on top of the discomfort of teething. I am really out of things to think of and try. I don't want to have to tube feed her, that is traumatizing and tough on them. What do you think?
I have entertained ideas such as brain damage, intestininal gasses on top of the discomfort of teething. I am really out of things to think of and try. I don't want to have to tube feed her, that is traumatizing and tough on them. What do you think?