Daily Kitten Chat Forum » Cats & Kittens

1. 

   I Picked up Our new addition to the family yesterday. Skittles is a very curious kitten that loves to climb and play, she's eating and drinking, however she's not using the bathroom.

   We Purchased a Big bag of biodegradable pine litter and have it in the bathroom. I've put her in it sevral times hoping to get a squirt of something. She is 11 weeks old and we are bringing her to the vet next week to get all her shots done and the de-worming.

   My Wife and I think that if we go buy normal litter and mix it she will go, but i'm no sure. any suggestions?

   Posted 9 months ago by Skittles #

2. 

   Hi, welcome to TDK Chat. Skittles is a great name for a kitten!

   There have been a few threads along similar lines in the last week or so - have a look at the "10 week old kitten" thread, there's a link to the other threads in one of the posts on it.

   Weekends can be a slowish time on TDK, so keep checking back for any further posts that might be of help.

   Posted 9 months ago by MadcatwomanintheUK #

3. 

   Hi Skittles Dad and welcome,I think your kitty would be better off with regular clumping litter if she's not a tiny kitten. Clumping litter can be bad for kittens under a certain age because they lick it off their feet and it can block them up. I haven't ever used the pine litter but I've found that with litter the more basic(less perfumey,etc) the better.
   I think 11 weeks is old enough for clumping litter,there will be others who log on after me so check back for more advice and again welcome!
   This is a very nice community of animal lovers. :)

   Posted 9 months ago by Buttercup #

4. 

   Hi, Skittles. This seems to be a common problem, at least from recent posts on the Daily Kitten. Welcome to TDK and congratulations on the newest addition to the family!

   Do you know what kind of litter was used in the place you got Skittles from? Are you feeding Skittles the same food she was getting at her prior home? Changes in either can disrupt elimination. So can medical issues that need to be determined by a vet. I would make sure that you haven't changed food or litter type on her. You might also want to stimulate her to eliminate by gently wiping her anus with a warm slightly wet soft cloth. This mimics the kitty mom's licking which is necessary for young kittens to eliminate until their systems do it on their own.

   Here are some links to other threads that have discussed this issue:
   http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/13443 (8 month old kitten)
   http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/13921 (10 day old kitten)
   http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/9787 (4 week old kitten)
   http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/13770 (5 month old kitten)

   Posted 9 months ago by Kitten Whisperer #

5. 

   So many kittens with this issue lately. KW's advice is right on the money. If Skittles doesn't go by tomorrow call the vet for advice.

   Posted 9 months ago by Sheba's Mom in Phoenix, AZ 10/8 #

6. 

   Hi Thanks for all your help.

   The lady that we got her from gave us a week supply of the food that she has been eating. We are going to slowly introduce EVO kitten food which is the closest to a raw food diet or natural diet we can get her.

   We don't really want to use the clumping litter or the clay litter at all. we want her to use this stuff. its much better for her and it just turns to sawdust and is completely biodegradable.

   we did just pick up the pine litter, I'm not exactly what litter she was using before but I'm almost certain its the cheap clay kind. Shes acting very normal, extremely playful, curious and loving and cuddly like a normal kitty.

   Her coat was a little ratty and she was full of dander, we gave her a nice warm bath with some flea and tick shampoo and her coat is back to being shiny and soft again.

   She doesn't appear to be under any stress at all. I'm wondering if its because of the new surroundings or maybe because we did change the litter. i don't know.

   Posted 9 months ago by Skittles #

7. 

   WOO WE HAVE POOP!

   I went to walmart and got some actual kitten litter, mixed it with the Pine Litter and she went to the bathroom. HORRAY!

   Posted 9 months ago by Skittles #

8. 

   Yay for poop!! *doing happy dance*

   Posted 9 months ago by Kitten Whisperer #

9. 

   You should be able to transition her to the litter you prefer, but you might want to keep mixing it for awhile. Same is true any time you want to transition to a new food. I'm very glad that she is doing better. :)

   Posted 9 months ago by Kitten Whisperer #

10. 

    uh oh false alarm, she had a monster pee. poop should be soon.

    Posted 9 months ago by Skittles #

11. 

    Well, at least part of the elimination system has kicked in! Keep us posted!

    Posted 9 months ago by Kitten Whisperer #

12. 

    it's been 7 hours, she had some chicken some fish and a few bits of dried food.. and finally a poop! it was dry looking so i'm mixing some water into her food to hydrate her. She meowed after she was done so i think it hurt her little bum a bit. I'm just happy. it was stinky too.

    Posted 9 months ago by Skittles #

13. 

    mixing water into the food to hydrate her is smart and will help......if you are making any changes in her diet from what she previously had, that can lead to dry or running stool issues as well as extra smell.....your attentiveness and patience will pay off in the end with things balancing out....keep up the good work.....and be sure to read up on the links in an earlier post on this thread which discuss the kitten poop problem in detail....good luck

    Posted 9 months ago by Marnet #

14. 

    I know she ate dry kitten food, but unsure of the rest. we were having trouble getting her to eat because she was to uncomfortable i think to poop, so she was holding it. I had cooked a chicken for supper and she really really liked a little taste, since she hadn't eaten much I gave her more, she ate a fair bit which made me happy. It was moist so that should be good. I have some drippings left over in the pan, i'm thinking of mixing that and some water with her dry food.

    Her coat was a bit ratty when we first got her yesterday, however it looks much better since the preventative flea bath last night. I've had Dogs all my life and cats when i was really little (like 4). i know with dogs you mix a raw egg in their food with some oil to keep their coat healthy i think cats are similar.

    We cook our own food pretty organically so their shouldn't be anything in the drippings other than some Celtic sea salt which would just help balance her electrolytes. does this sound like a good plan?

    Posted 9 months ago by Skittles #

15. 

    uhm, I'd keep away from the drippings....cats don't need salt like we do and don't do well on much of it....also, until you check w/ your vet about how much of what type of drippings, keep that to a real minimum, IMHO

    lots of water is key, whether she drinks it or gets it mixed in w/ her food....also, w/ young kittens, they often still need a little help evacuating bowels when stressed w/ change, so the trick of a warm damp cloth gently rubbed in a circular motion over the anus often helps....just be sure to be very gentle....

    Posted 9 months ago by Marnet #

16. 

    Skittles is TDK kitten of the day! Woo Woo!! Doing the happy dance! She looks so much like my Oliver. What a cutie!!!!

    Posted 9 months ago by SammyandOliversmama #

17. 

    Yay for skittles!

    Posted 9 months ago by GreatDane #

18. 

    Skittles - what a little doll you are !!! Congrats on being Kitten of the Day !!

    Posted 9 months ago by 2 Popoki #

19. 

    Skittles is adorable! Congrats on making kitten of the day! I love the tuxxie kitties but of course I do what with my having Sylvester.

    Posted 9 months ago by SylvesterMiasMomma #

20. 

    Yay for Skittles and yay for poop! :)

    Posted 9 months ago by Buttercup #

21. 

    Echoing all the Yays for Skittles!!! Such a cute doll. Love the name, how cute and descriptive.

    Posted 9 months ago by Marnet #

22. 

    Her's has got to be one of the best TDK pictures ever!

    Posted 9 months ago by MadcatwomanintheUK #

23. 

    Wooohoooo! Another TDK kitten is famous. Smooches to lovely wee Skittles!

    Posted 9 months ago by jcat #

24. 

    Yay! I'm glad Skittles is doing better (and doing her business). I'd echo Marnet and say "easy on the foods with high sodium" because she gets it from her food, most likely. If she's still dehydrated, you might try mixing a little Pedialyte (pediatric electrolyte, in the baby aisle) with her food. Helps her if she's dehydrated or if you notice diarrhea. Have fun with the new addition to your family!

    Posted 9 months ago by FosterMom #

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