Daily Kitten Chat Forum » Cats & Kittens

1. 

   Hey guys,

   I have a quick query regarding a stray kitten. I am guessing that he is roughly 6 weeks old and quite traumatised and malnourished. He feel off the roof and we've had him for 2 days now. The guards at our compound are trying to find the mother, but she hasn't been seen in a few days. I have been reading on other posts about how to feed him, and spend as much time as possible with him and to make him feel safe. We've been following those and think that the kitten is slowly settling in, though he stills meows alot at night. Still he no longer hides from us all the time, though he still spends a lot of time under the couch. The good sign is that he has started exploring the apartment and is quite affectionate.

   I have some question regarding shots, worms and fleas. I am working in a country where there isn't a vet and I am uncertain if I can get access to medications for cats. Is there anyone that has any suggestions of how best to deflea and deworm the kitten? I realise that he would requite his vaccinations soon, but am uncertain as how to get access to those. In addition, what can i use for kitty litter? I have tried looking for commercially available litter, but there isn't any here. I have tried shredding newspaper and toilet paper but the kitten isn't using it. Any advice would be much appreciated.

   thanks

   Posted 6 months ago by jman #

2. 

   Hi, Jman, welcome to TDK and thank you so much for taking care of this little mite. Unfortunately I've got something cooking on the stove (!) so have to type quickly for now but please keep checking back, a lot of TDKers in Europe and the US are asleep now but they'll be logging back on soon, and I'm sure will be eager to help.

   In terms of fleas, I would use a flea comb (or any very fine animal comb) and get rid of them that way (drop them in hot water, yuck). You can also bathe kitties as long as you dry them very very quickly or they may get sick. You can also treat your apartment with diatomaceous earth (food-grade, not swimming pool grade) as Ann, one of our many very knowledgeable TDKers recommends, and you can get that through the internet. Not sure what to do about the meds. Ringworm can be killed with betadine, which is an iodine solution, you can also treat it with an anti-fungicide cream which you may be able to get from a chemist, as long as it is safe for kitties.

   I've added some tags to your post (pink, in the top right-hand corner); if you click on those, you'll come across previous threads on the same subjects and those might well help. Good luck and you're a champion for looking after this little guy!

   Just an afterthought, and I don't know your circumstances, but most countries do have vets and/or a national veterinary service/dept of some kind, even if hugely under-resourced and with not much English, for their livestock. Can you get advice from a local on how to find out about this? Good luck!

   Posted 6 months ago by jcat #

3. 

   Jman, thanks for taking care of the kitten.

   For litter, is there sand available? If so, that would work well as litter.

   If you want to wash the kitten, baby shampoo, if available, works well for that. Be sure to rinse well so kitty doesn't get sick when licking its fur afterwards. Like Jcat says, be sure to dry the kitten immediately to keep it from getting chilled.

   Hopefully others on the list will be able to give you better and more extensive advice than I can offer when they are online in a few hours later.

   Good luck.

   Posted 6 months ago by Marnet #

4. 

   Jman, if you are anything to do with the serving forces in the Middle East, apparently there is or was a veterinary section with the US 72nd Medical Detachment (Veterinary Services) in Iraq. Don't know if that helps any!

   Posted 6 months ago by jcat #

5. 

   Hey guys,

   Thanks for all the advice. I am currently in East Timor and have asked around if there is some national veterinarian or agricultural department and sadly there isn't anything, though there is a vet from australia that supposedly visits every 6 tp 8 months or thereabouts so will book the kitten in for a visit when he is next here.

   I did give the little fella a bath this afternoon with baby shampoo and he seemed to be ok, though he did pee on the couch after when i was drying him. I think he isn't too sure where to pee and has been using the bathroom sink! Will head to the beach tomorrow to get some sand to give it a go......

   Posted 6 months ago by jman #

6. 

   Jman! You are wonderful for taking care of this little one. Def go with the sand but make sure you show him how to use it. Def a comb and some hot water to kill them. There will be more TDKers on later good luck :)

   Posted 6 months ago by Binx.baby #

7. 

   Hi, Jman, gosh, East Timor, that's a lot closer to home than I was expecting, I am in New Zealand. Yep, sounds like visiting Australian vet is your best bet -- better get him ready to neuter, vaccinate and check out baby all on his next visit. Hopefully he will also be available by email to help with emergency advice and meds etc if ever necessary.

   Since your new boy won't have his vaccinations for a while, it would probably be sensible to keep him inside and away from other (unvaccinated) cats until he can get them. You could probably order Revolution from Australia -- it's over-the-counter here in NZ -- when baby's a bit older, to take care of the fleas and ear mites and I think it covers worming as well, but you don't want to give it to them when they're very young kittens (instrux on packet). You could ask the vet about that as well. You are so cool for taking care of him, I'm sure in no time he will be one of the family!

   Posted 6 months ago by jcat #

8. 

   jman - Sounds like the visiting vet is your best bet.. Whne the baby is old enug, you can get lots of meds off the web from reputable sources. what are you feeding the baby? When I was in Peace Corps in Thailand and adopted a kitten of unknown age, he thrived on grilled fish (little ones - 3-4 inches long)crumbled into rice. He started off with it at gruel consistency when he was young and moved to drier conbos as he grew up... He was the biggest cat my Thai colleagues had ever seen, since he got regular meals! Good luck and update us when you can!

   Posted 6 months ago by nawlins catmom #

9. 

   My vet OK'd Revolution for Patches when she was only 6 weeks old---it's the only brand approved for young kittens, and it does take care of some worms. I get it shipped from Australia so I don't need a prescription, it's half the price that the vet charges.

   Posted 6 months ago by Sheba's Mom in Phoenix, AZ 10/8 #

10. 

    Hey everyone,

    Well I have a friend who is visiting from Australia in a couple of weeks and have asked her to bring some revolution for me. So that's the first step i guess. Will have a look on the instruction packet to see when I can start using it on him.

    The update is that the little fella is now eating with great gusto. Am feeding him a mixture of canned cat food and some dried cat food that I managed to scrounge from one my neighbours who gets it shipped in with the UN. Sadly it's all adult food, but the kitten is eating well and has become quite the hyperactive guy. He seems to be settling in really well and is no longer shy. He is exploring the whole apartment and even does well when other people come to the apartment. He has also started using the sand as a kitty litter so that's a relief for the bathroom sink!

    Will take some photos and post them up here. Thanks heaps for all the advice.....it has really helped!

    cheers

    Posted 6 months ago by jman #

11. 

    Yay for your little guy. Does he have a name yet? He is doing so well!

    Don't worry about using adult food. They only brought in special kitten food in NZ a few years ago, until then everyone ate the same food! As far as I know, kitten food is simply blander, for little tummies, and with more water added. Most of the kittens I know would rather be eating adult food anyway, since it is tastier. Some of the kittens at the shelter I work at are also doing well on mince and of course you can always feed a little raw meat as well. Probably the more things you get him used to eating now, the less fussy he will be later on (which can help when supplies of any one thing in particular are limited). Just make sure he always has access to fresh water as well, especially since he's eating some dry food.

    We can't wait to see pix!

    Posted 6 months ago by jcat #

12. 

    Sounds like the little fella recognises he's fallen on his feet with a good kind human to look after him :o) I'm looking forward to pictures too! Please keep posting on TDK, we love to follow rescue kittens progress, and you certainly make this an even more international site!

    Posted 6 months ago by MadcatwomanintheUK #

13. 

    Welcome, JMan, and how kind you are to care for this little mite! We'd love to see pics :) I hope all goes well!

    Posted 6 months ago by katthays #

14. 

    Any news, Jman?

    Posted 6 months ago by nawlins catmom #

15. 

    Pictures, please! You are doing a great job with your little one.

    Posted 6 months ago by Sheba's Mom in Phoenix, AZ 10/8 #

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