Kitten Care

[ennna]

Can anyone offer some practical advise regarding kitten care. We have just brought home a lovely little kitten, Nikitti. He is 7 weeks old, & has been vet checked.
I am trying to find a good source of information about kitten care. I am really stressing because Nikitti hasn't had a poop since coming home. THis is night 2. Is this normal? How often do kittens poop? I even bought the very expensive food from the store where he was bought, so it can't be diet. Is it normal for them to go a couple of days? We keep popping him in the kitty litter tray and he has produced a couple of wees, and a vomit but nothing else. Around about how many wees and poops do kittens do a day???! I am going to work tomorrow and I don't know whether to leave him in the bathroom or lounge room, as if he is poop trained the lounge gives him more space, but has carpet to clean if he isn't and I'm not too keen on that idea.

Should I be buying a kitten milk to feed him? He is just having water,and I wounder if he is looking for milk.

How much will kittens sleep. He has slept almost all day.

He is also a little warm to the touch. Is this normal or should I have him checked out.

Any suggestions on a good book/web site with a how to manual that would be wonderful.
ennna

 

[rosiemac]

I'll move this to the Pregnant cats and Kittens forum for the others to see

You've said he's vomitted?. 2 days seems a long time because i know my two could have 2-3 poops per day when they were kittens, and i would just give him water instead of milk.

As for sleeping, kittens are known to sleep a lot once they've had a good play about but not all day.

Does your kitten seem lethargic?, if so it might be an idea to take him back to the vets to get checked over along with his bowels

 

[StefanZ]

A little too much of everything, so I understand you are worried.

But as rule.

It isnt unusual for new coming kittens or cats not to pop 24 hours or even somewhat longer. 48 is rather long...

Normal temperature in cats is a little 38-39 degrees in Celsius, Ie a little more then humans normal temperature. Thus cats usually feels as rather warm to human hands.

They sleep much yes. But almost whole time?

Best is not to change food too quickly, ie if possible have same food as home.

Low-lactose milk is OK, but not necessary.

I would not recommend taking a kitten from domestic mom already as 7 weeks, I would recommend 10 or even 12. /Edit. Although I know in USA kittens are quite often taken younger then 10 weeks. Sometimes even very young./
Exception may be feral mom as domestication is easier when still young kitten...

Is he perhaps simply longing for mom and siblings and therefore depresing? Not impossible, but more usual are they are meowing a lot and seeking...

Home remedy for hard stomache?? butter from goat-milk is excellent.

But consider a new veterinary check up yes, do at least phone one.

 

[ennna]

Thanks for this. I wish I'd done something today now. He has become increasingly lethargic and will only engage in play for a very short time. It's off to vet tomorrow!!Thanks for the reply. I wish I'd trusted my instincts!

 

[jane_vernon]

Cats in Australia are generally sold at 8 weeks of age. This is because they are usually fully weaned, potty trained and are no longer fully reliable on their mothers. Yes, it would be better to keep kittens with the mother until they reach puberty but this rarely happens in Australia.


I hope your little guy is feeling better after the trip to the vet!

 

[StefanZ]

One more tip. Kittens that age can do theirs themselves. But you may still try to use the reflex they have from beginning to stimulate the "bowels": the mother licking them on the behind and down on stomach.

Use a cloth - preferably terry towel, soak / wet it a little with warm water - and rub around the behind och down on the stomache.

With a little luck will the bowels get going!

 

[hissy]

Originally Posted by Ennna

Can anyone offer some practical advise regarding kitten care. We have just brought home a lovely little kitten, Nikitti. He is 7 weeks old, & has been vet checked.


Did they do a fecal on him? Young kittens typically have worms
I am trying to find a good source of information about kitten care.Kittens for Dummies by Dusty Rainbolt or the Complete Book of Kitten Care by Amy Shojai. Actually both are excellent to have.

I am really stressing because Nikitti hasn't had a poop since coming home. THis is night 2. Is this normal? Kittens do not always poop right after their meals. You can try rubbing the stomach lightly prior to feeding, but he is past the age where full stimulation is necessary. It is also possible the kitten is going "elsewhere" and you have yet to find it. If this kitten were a female, she could even be eating her stool before you located it.



How often do kittens poop? I even bought the very expensive food from the store where he was bought, so it can't be diet. Buying the most expensive food isn't always the wisest choice. Price does not make a good food, content does. IAMS Kitten food wet, and Royal Canin Babycat34 is what I feed all my bottle babies when they are being weaned. Those two have never let me down yet.


Is it normal for them to go a couple of days? We keep popping him in the kitty litter tray and he has produced a couple of wees, and a vomit but nothing else. Vomiting is not good on such a young kitten. I would get him in to see if he is wormy or not or has another intestinal problem. For now, try giving him a tiny bit of plain yogurt with active cultures.


Around about how many wees and poops do kittens do a day???! I am going to work tomorrow and I don't know whether to leave him in the bathroom or lounge room, as if he is poop trained the lounge gives him more space, but has carpet to clean if he isn't and I'm not too keen on that idea. Put him in the bathroom while you are at work. Leave a radio playing low on classical music if you can find it- give him several warm bed spots, keep his food and water far away from the litter pan

Should I be buying a kitten milk to feed him? He is just having water,and I wounder if he is looking for milk. At 7 weeks old, he has been weaned off of milk. You can buy some KMR already made up and add that to his dry food, let it soak for a bit and give him that. But the fact that he is drinking water is a good sign,

How much will kittens sleep. He has slept almost all day. Kittens sleep a lot during the day- especially if they are solo kitties. If you want him more active, give him time, he is young, he is confused- missing his mom and brothers. He will be active in the early morning hours when you are trying to sleep. If you want him really active, go and adopt a second 7 week old, hopefully from the same litter-

He is also a little warm to the touch. Is this normal or should I have him checked out. The only TRUE way to tell if a kitten has a fever is to take his temperature. If you do not see his third eyelid, if he is active (in spurts) eating, drinking, and moving around then it is probably fine. Sounds like this is your first kitten this young, and though it is a bit worrisome at first, if you know the history of the kitten and the mom is healthy as are the siblings, if the kitten has been vet checked, then just try and relax. You can give the little one a bit of canned pumpkin to see if you can help move his bowels, but at this age, I am inclined to think he either has some hard stool he can't quite move inside, or he is wormy.

Any suggestions on a good book/web site with a how to manual that would be wonderful.
ennna

The two books I previously mentioned are wonderful resources