Daily Kitten Chat Forum » Cats & Kittens

1. 

   Dear all,

   I'm new to this forum I've found it while googling trying to find a solution for my kitten. I've raised cats all my life and recently lost one to diabetes and it was a very sad experience, but I just got a week ago a kitten from my boyfriend who we affectionately call her Clumsy due to her very stupid yet incredibly cute antiques.First day I got her she was very active and acting like a normal kitten but during the night she was meowing loudly and very restless and acting very dizzy trying to sleep over the ceramic tiles face down which terrified me and she seemed very disoriented I thought maybe she is missing her mother and her brothers so I made her like little safe corner with pillows which she hid inside and slept peacefully through the night.
   I took her to the vet the next day to deflee her and he said she is a healthy 10 weeks old kitten just with some flees problem and she isn't fully weaned
   She still insist on eating skimmed milk with bread crumbs only, I've tried every kitten food whiskers and everything but she isn't a bit interested in anything else currently.

   The problem is last night she was biting me all over I understand she is teething and this is absolutely normal then she kept on snoozing a bit in my arms then waking up to bite me again this morning she woke me up with very loud meows I thought she is hungry so I gave her a plate of food and refreshed the water but she was just standing there dizzy and disoriented trying to go around in circles and sleep face down on the floor I've done what I've done before and placed her between pillows and she fell to sleep I checked her temperature and it's normal she isn't cold or feverish, now I'm worried because I was informed by the guy who we got it from that her brother just died he said he was the weak one of the litter and he just died.
   I left to work where I'm currently and I'm very scared something happen to her while I'm away! Is there's something even like kitten's anxiety when they are sleepy ??
   Anyone experienced the same?

   Another thing she didn't use her litter box yet she pees over the bathroom floor and I'm yet to see her poop and I'm so worried about digestion problems her vet says she is fine and mostly she is pooping somewhere I didn't discover yet! Any advice??

   Thank you so much in advance for any tip or advice you can offer you will make an overworked sleepless employee spend her day bit more relaxed :)

   Posted 2 years ago by Nancy #

2. 

   You're kitten is 10 months old and not weened? You know by that age she could be having kittens of her own.

   Posted 2 years ago by TheKnittingNinja #

3. 

   I'm so sorry I have to correct that it is 10 weeks not 10 month, obviously didn't sleep in days :)

   Posted 2 years ago by Nancy #

4. 

   First of all, cats are lactose intolerant and cannot tolerate cow's milk unless it is Lactose free milk such as the Lactaid or Dairy Ease brands of milk. For a small kitten that isn't weaned yet, you should be using KMR kitten replacement formula.

   You also should ask what ailment the littermate who died had that caused its death.

   And I'd be inclined to take your kitten to a different veterinarian for a second opinion regarding the strange dizzy behavior.

   Make a point of writing down EXACTLY what you have been feeding the kitten, how much it is consuming, how much water it is drinking, and ALL symptoms you've noticed that concern you so that you don't forget to give any of that info to the vet when your kitten is being examined.

   In a few hours there will be other more folks check in here who have more experience and knowledge dealing with small kitten health issues. So be sure to check back then. If this thread has dropped down far enough it isn't being noticed and replied to, make a post to bump it up in queue so it is seen.

   Good luck.

   Posted 2 years ago by Marnet #

5. 

   Thank you Marnet for your reply, well I've taken the vet opinion about the lactose thing he said it's alright to give her regular milk since she should be already weaned by now but the person who bred them delayed their weaning longer than it should be.
   I don't have all brands available where I'm neither the best health case, I guess I have to add I'm currently located in Egypt so there's not much of vet health care facilities here neither much of specialized pet food or supplements.
   About the littermate from what I understood he was just too weak to survive he didn't have as much of milk as his brothers and sisters did and he was smaller than them which normally happen with a large litter I guess.
   The first time she displayed this behavior my vet said it is because it was overfed and anxiety, and when it didn't occur again for six days I thought it was just the kitten adapting to my place. but with it re-occurring I'm a bit concerned more than usual even because I've recently lost a cat from three weeks to diabetes (Though he was an adoption situation where I've adopted him already with diabetes,but still it was very painful).

   Thank you again and indeed I'm looking forward to see if anyone else got any opinion about what is going on.

   Posted 2 years ago by Nancy #

6. 

   Ah, being in Egypt would rather complicate your situation, I'm sure!

   I wonder if goat's milk would work better than cow's milk. I know that cats simply do not do well on cow's milk. And, given where you are, maybe try camel's milk???

   As to the kitten's behavior, I have to wonder if it has a neurological issue. All you can do is give it the best care you can in your circumstances along with lots of love.

   Sorry to hear about your recent loss of a kitty. I have one that has become diabetic and I'm doing my best to get that under control with her diet and twice daily insulin shots. I just hope I'm able to keep her going for a long time yet.

   Again, hopefully some others with more experience dealing with small kitten health issues will have some ideas.

   Posted 2 years ago by Marnet #

7. 

   I kept mine for two years before he gave up on me and considering that you have access to better health care for your kitty you can keep him even for longer :)

   Camel milk, well you will be amazed to know I guess Egypt doesn't have something called camel milk for the sheer reason that people use cars here for transportation!

   Thank you again and yeah I'm hopping someone out there had a similar experience and can advice me on that.

   Posted 2 years ago by Nancy #

8. 

   Nancy, I wish I could help, but I haven't had any similar experiences.
   I am sure that Marnet is right and goats milk would be much better than cows milk for her and I don't think she can be getting all she needs from skim milk and breadcrumbs, maybe that might be part of the problem? As for the tiles and the circling, some cats like a cool surface to sleep on, especially if the weather's hot, and most cats do circle before they plop down. Incessant circling could be neurological or a behavioural problem but it sounds like she's fine in other ways -- no seizures, she doesn't wobble her head, she doesn't appear dizzy all the time, her eyes look normal? I'm sorry, I'm not helping much, I hope one of our knowledgeable members can help you so please keep checking back!

   If kitty was wobbly all the time, could it possibly be this: http://www.catcustomer.com/veterinary/cerebellar_hypoplasia.htm
   One of our members, Ann, fostered two kittens with this problem. She will hopefully be on later.

   Posted 2 years ago by jcat #

9. 

   Thank you Jcat for the reply, well other than those two separate episodes she is perfectly normal very active, curious and over all happy kitten and I've personally doubted neurological problem but I ruled it out because I spent long time playing with her and her eye and movement coordination is perfect for her age and she respond normally to sounds and her surroundings and there is no seizure symptoms what-so-ever...
   I'm hoping it be something really minor like anxiety or behavioral non physical problem this I will be able to handle much better or even better that she be all around healthy,
   Thank you again and I'm checking for replies every while and reading old posts, I'm really glad that I've found this forum :)

   Posted 2 years ago by Nancy #

10. 

    Nancy, those are all good signs. Hopefully your vet is right and she is just fine, and just adjusting to her new home with you. Just keep an eye on her and take her back to the vet if anything happens that really worries you, but as long as she keeps on eating and playing, she sounds good to me!

    We would love to see pix of her and welcome to the site, this is a lovely site and there are lots of great, knowledgeable kitty-loving people here! We chat on the night shift and morning cafe threads and are always happy to welcome new members!

    Posted 2 years ago by jcat #

11. 

    http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/926/dsc00605v.jpg

    I've tried to include the picture in my post here but it seems like HTML doesn't work here so here is a direct link :)

    Yes I'm wishing really my vet is right and anyway I will take her to the vet next week to make sure all the flees are gone and get the all clear from him !!

    Posted 2 years ago by Nancy #

12. 

    Nancy is there any possibility that prior to both episodes that Clumsy had flea treatments? If so it could be that the flea treatments could be a little strong for a young kitten. Welcome to the site.

    Posted 2 years ago by BoogerMercurysMama #

13. 

    Aw, what a pretty kitty!

    Yes, BMM's question about flea treatment is important. Small kittens usually react badly to the toxic effects of flea treatments such as Frontline. That might explain the symptoms!

    Posted 2 years ago by Marnet #

14. 

    Welcome Nancy....what a beautiful kitty!!!!! I can't be of help to you and your problem...I do hope you will find out, I agree it could be the flea treatment because of it's toxicity!! Good luck to you!!!!!!

    Posted 2 years ago by katthays #

15. 

    Welcome to TDK! It sounds like your kitten may have Cerebellar hypoplasia. It's a neurological disorder . If he does he can still live a long healthy, happy life. Google it for links .. Jcat already posted one... Good luck!

    Posted 2 years ago by caroline #

16. 

    My first reaction was an inner ear infection--that would cause dizzyness (I know from first-hand experience). Since your vet thinks it's OK to give him cow's milk (NO NO NO!)I wonder about his skills--he might have missed an ear infection. The Cerebellar hypoplasia is possible also, but I would take him to another vet first. Flea treatments also can be toxic to a young kitten. He might also be malnourished and just weak---he should have been eating on his own for over a month.

    Posted 2 years ago by Sheba's Mom in Phoenix, AZ 10/8 #

17. 

    Oh, Clumsy is sooooooo beautiful! I hope you manage to get to the bottom of the problem, nd that it's nothing serious. Welcome to TDK Chat by the way, look forward to following Climsy's progress :o) Whereabouts in Egypt are you? Been there three times on holiday, lovely country.

    Posted 2 years ago by MadcatwomanintheUK #

18. 

    Thank you all for the warm welcome, I'm happy to be here :)Well when I came back home I found Clumsy fully alert and after a small meal she was bouncing everywhere and happy to report till now she is one very happy kitten and enjoying the new toy mommy got her a laser pointer :D
    BoogerMercurysMama, BoogerMercurysMama,katthays : Well I was apprehensive about giving her the flea treatment but it is a must since like it was already mentioned she isn't fully weaned yet and I'm so afraid that the flea weaken her even more so I be so cautious with it and hope for the best.
    caroline : I will certainly look further in this possibility but I don't think so because the cat is mostly alert and very active but will take it into consideration.
    Sheba's Mom in Phoenix: I'm searching for another vet and actually no it isn't ear infection since I had cats and dogs most of my life I can spot ear infections easily. Yes the malnourishment is an issue due to her eating only milk and refusing to eat solids or fibers till now and I seriously don't know how to wean her she refuse it totally and I don't want to stress her till I make sure she is totally alright and secondly because of the fleas as well. Hopefully it be all fine.
    MadcatwomanintheUK : Thank you and I hope that too :) I'm in Cairo residing in Maadi, yes it's a very beautiful country and very interesting, you should consider visiting again though with all the swine flu thing I don't now if it will be safe to travel anywhere anytime soon :(

    Posted 2 years ago by Nancy #

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