Hi,
I am a California native living overseas in China. A few days ago I "rescued" a very small kitten (maybe 4-5 weeks old) that looked near to death in a market stall. My thinking in taking him home was that at least he would die warm and fed in my home.
Well, he didn't die. After I fed him and gave him water he went to sleep, but then woke up a few hours later all perky and full of kitten energy, which was great, but now I have a serious problem and need help. The kitten is obviously riddled with illness and God only knows what else. In my town there is ONE vet and he is closed until next week so I have to find a way to keep the kitten alive until then, and also - ideally - keep from infecting my kids with some kind of crazy worms or something (yes, I realize now I should have thought this through better, but I seriously did not think he would live the night).
Okay, so here are Xiao Mao's (small cat) issues:
1) he has developed loose stools and is obviously dehydrated but is drinking lots of water
2) he sneezes often
3) his eyes look kind of glassy and a little bit crusty
4) the skin between his whiskers and on the sides of his mouth is crusty. This could be food, but I am sure I noticed one little bit of crust when I first got him becuase I tried to get it off and it seemed stuck
On the up-side, he has a lot of energy, seems to be eating and drinking well, plays with the toys I got him, and generally seems alert. I am giving him some imported dry kitten food mixed with bits of tuna to soften it up. I looked for soy milk, thinking that might be an option, but couldn't find any so he is only drinking water. I am mostly worried he has an illness that could be transferred to the kids...but I also don't want him to die and he does seem to be getting worse-looking by the hour. For example, his stools are more watery and his bottom area is a mess (he is so little he is still wobbly and steps in and falls in his poops and food, so I do not think, in and of itself, a sign of illness)
I do have a supply of broad spectrum people antibiotics.
Any advise is hugely appreciated. I can't believe I took this on, over a holiday no less!
Thanks,
Kim
I am a California native living overseas in China. A few days ago I "rescued" a very small kitten (maybe 4-5 weeks old) that looked near to death in a market stall. My thinking in taking him home was that at least he would die warm and fed in my home.
Well, he didn't die. After I fed him and gave him water he went to sleep, but then woke up a few hours later all perky and full of kitten energy, which was great, but now I have a serious problem and need help. The kitten is obviously riddled with illness and God only knows what else. In my town there is ONE vet and he is closed until next week so I have to find a way to keep the kitten alive until then, and also - ideally - keep from infecting my kids with some kind of crazy worms or something (yes, I realize now I should have thought this through better, but I seriously did not think he would live the night).
Okay, so here are Xiao Mao's (small cat) issues:
1) he has developed loose stools and is obviously dehydrated but is drinking lots of water
2) he sneezes often
3) his eyes look kind of glassy and a little bit crusty
4) the skin between his whiskers and on the sides of his mouth is crusty. This could be food, but I am sure I noticed one little bit of crust when I first got him becuase I tried to get it off and it seemed stuck
On the up-side, he has a lot of energy, seems to be eating and drinking well, plays with the toys I got him, and generally seems alert. I am giving him some imported dry kitten food mixed with bits of tuna to soften it up. I looked for soy milk, thinking that might be an option, but couldn't find any so he is only drinking water. I am mostly worried he has an illness that could be transferred to the kids...but I also don't want him to die and he does seem to be getting worse-looking by the hour. For example, his stools are more watery and his bottom area is a mess (he is so little he is still wobbly and steps in and falls in his poops and food, so I do not think, in and of itself, a sign of illness)
I do have a supply of broad spectrum people antibiotics.
Any advise is hugely appreciated. I can't believe I took this on, over a holiday no less!
Thanks,
Kim