Daily Kitten Chat Forum » Purrs

1. 

   "Brutus" has made it to the 6th day. But when I try to feed him, the squealing and squalling that goes on...you'd think I was torturing him, when all I'm trying to do is feed him. sigh.

   Tough nite with him last nite.
   I fed him around 11 pm. I set my clock for 3:15 am to wake him for a feeding.
   Got a little formula in him, but no poop out of him. Put him back in the box, and a few minutes later, he's mewing and crying. Gave him a little more formula, more tummy rubs, etc. Back in the box...more mewing and crying. It took three feedings before he finally went back to sleep without crying.
   Fed him again at 9 am. Tried the warm washcloth and tummy/bottom rubs, and he squalled something terrible. Can't get him to poop again. He last pooped yesterday afternoon, and it kind of squirted out a yellow mustard color.
   I really can't tell if his belly is "hard" so to speak. After he eats, it's quite round,a little firm, and I gently manipulate it, and I even massaged Vaseline onto his little bum to get him to poop again. A lot of squealing. He HATES having his bottom rubbed. I'm worried. Should I be? He's also a VERY sound sleeper, and if I wake him to feed him, he protests by crying. A few times, he "over-reacted", practically jumping from one side of the box to the other, and squalling like a stuck pig, as to say, "WTF!!! I WAS SLEEPING FOR CRYING OUT LOUD"!!! And of course, always vocal.

   How long can a kitten go without pooping before it becomes dangerous?
   Would he stop eating if he were sick? He's 6 days old today, and he did pee a little. I'm feeding him the powdered KMR formula,2 parts water to 1 part KMR and today his weight was 115.9 grams. A little over 4 ounces. After waking him this morning at 3:15, it was nearly 4:30 am before he finally settled down and went back to sleep. Then fed him again at 9, and a little more (he was crying in the box again) at around 11:30 am. Any advice would be so appreciated! Thank you!

   Posted 4 months ago by NJKatwoman #

2. 

   Bless you, NJKW for taking care of this baby. I don't know much about taking care of ones that little. I do remember that my sister had rescued a young one (we don't know how hold he was, but his eyes weren't open yet) and I remember that he slept ALOT and didn't make much noise until he was ready to eat. That seemed to go on for about 10 days and then he got more active. His tummy was always round and firm and full after eating. Good luck!

   Posted 4 months ago by Lainey #

3. 

   Thank you, Lainey! Every little bit of information that is shared with me, is such a big help! I have no basis of reference to rely on other than the things that you and the other TDK members share with me. OK...so, yes, after "Brutus" eats, his little belly is warm, full, and firm. Does your sister remember if she had any "pooping problems" with her kitten when he was still so little?

   Posted 4 months ago by NJKatwoman #

4. 

   The only thing I can recommend is you keep the vaseline on his little bum as often as possible. When I had wee ones that needed help going I took the warm,damp washloth & let it just set on their little bottom area for a few seconds. Just warming the area first before any soft rubbing seemed to help start the process.
   Wishing you lots of Prayer & Luck w/little Brutus. He sounds like a real fighter.

   Posted 4 months ago by feral #

5. 

   Click on the pink tags in the upper right hand corner of this post. Lots of people have posted regarding this same subject. You'll find a ton of advice and suggestions there.

   Posted 4 months ago by CheetahBoysmommy #

6. 

   I remember reading on a previous poo thread that kittens don't need to poo every day.

   Posted 4 months ago by Pollys_Mum_in_UK_2605 #

7. 

   I think you are right PM, especially if he is eating well. That would say to me that he is storing what he eats to put some weight on his tiny self. NJKW, if you keep up with the vaseline and rubbing him with warm cloths it will make it easier for him when he does have to poop. BTW, LOVE the name Brutus...he's a fighter for sure!

   Posted 4 months ago by Annie R #

8. 

   I found with one little orphan about a week old that i put her comfy in her cage,fed her well around 1 or so and although I woke up around 4 she was sound asleep so soon was I. Her tiny cage was close to my bed and when she was hungry she reached over and tapped my fingers at about 7am. :)
   So she went about 5 hours without eating and was fine,I think she was a little farther along than your baby. Newborns often go several days without pooing and as long as they're not in distress with a rigid abdomen they should be ok. Feeding the powder KMR although wonderful,tends to constipate them a bit.

   Posted 4 months ago by Buttercup #

9. 

   Hi NJKW... haven't caught up with my sister, yet, and as posted, there is lots of advice here. Just remember he's a baby, and babies eat, sleep and poop (and he will!). So relax and enjoy being mom to one heck of a little fighter!

   Posted 4 months ago by Lainey #

10. 

    Hi NJKatwoman(NJK), welcome to TDK. Brutus is very lucky to have you looking after him. Any advise you need just ask and there will be someone with an answer for you. Join in for a chat at any time too.

    Posted 4 months ago by Moonshadow_NZ #

11. 

    Thank you so much, everyone! It's pretty obvious I'm a first time "mom" to such a wee one, and extreeemly nervous about the whole thing. I don't know
    what's "normal" behavior in one this tiny. He's eating a little less, but today, I fed him more frequesntly, about every 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Thank you all for being so patient with me and my constant queries. I don't know how to get his picture up here, I did submit it to the "kitten of the day" link.
    I'd love to share his picture w/ y'all. I am SOOO glad that I found this site, thanks to Google. You folks are all so wonderful!

    Posted 4 months ago by NJKatwoman #

12. 

    If that is his picture in your avatar he is adorable!

    I have a pair of 2 week olds I'm rearing and they don't poop often at all, but they pee like tiny race horses! When the do poo it is yellow (which I am told is normal).

    My calico girl does the same thing with the noise when I try to feed her. I just worked at it to find a comfy position for her and gently but firmly hold her head still so I can get that nipple in there. I have found that letting them nurse on the bottle until the spit it out, making them potty again, feed, potty, etc. until they won't take the bottle anymore and purr is a working for me.

    Good luck! You are doing great so far! It is really rough the first 2 - 3 weeks and then it is fabulous! He will eventually get the hang of a rubber nipple over a real one, and see you as mom. I give my kitties plenty of crawl time on me and they like to try and nurse on my tummy, fingers, etc because they have decided I give food and help them pee/poo so I am mom.

    Posted 4 months ago by SnowFlower #

13. 

    What a sweet little darling! You are doing great work with little Brutus NJKW - patience and perseverance are key with such a tiny baby. It'll be one step forward, 2 backwards, emotionally. How is he doing now?

    Posted 4 months ago by eleniki #

14. 

    Well, I think little Brutus is on his 8th day, Eleniki. He pooped real well this morning, and a thing of beauty it was! lmao! I usually have to wake him to feed him, about every four hours. He protests loudly, he hates being awakened.
    I weighed him today, and he was approx. 130 grams, or 4.5 ounces. Is that a normal weight for an 8 day old kitten? Yes, that is Brutus' picture in my avatar. I finally figured out how to "show him off". :) I am still giving him KMR, but today, I punched it up a bit, and added an egg yolk. I hope that is OK. He doesn't eat very much, so I thought the extra richness and calories couldn't hurt. After eating, I massage and cuddle him, sometimes he poops, sometimes not. Then he goes back into the box on the heating pad for
    another four hour nap. Occasionally, he will cry for food, but not usually.
    I can't wait until he opens his little eyes up! I have fallen in love with this little baby!

    Posted 4 months ago by NJKatwoman #

15. 

    Sounds like he's doing really well NJK, and that's such a cute picture!

    Posted 4 months ago by MadcatwomanintheUK #

16. 

    NJKW I just watched your fantastic video of you feeding and washing little Brutus. It is SO special! You are an amazing woman to care for this tiny soul so well! How is he now? By my reckoning he has now reached his 2 week birthday!!!
    Bump!

    Posted 4 months ago by eleniki #

17. 

    I just watched the video too and almost cried. You are so amazing for taking care of that special little baby, and it looks like you are doing great! Update please?

    Posted 4 months ago by Seedlet #

18. 

    I am raising two little kittens and I was so worried that they weren't pooping everyday. But it is normal they might not start going normally for almost 2 weeks. Of course he should have some bowel movement but dont worry too much. With KMR formula they seemed to have a hard time going until I added almost 3 tbs. of water to 1 formula instead of just 2!

    Posted 4 months ago by laurynshep #

19. 

    NJKW how is little Brutus? Bump!! We worry when we don't hear...

    Posted 3 months ago by eleniki #

20. 

    Elenki, there was an update thread a few days ago, whch I didn't see til today - here's the link :

    http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/19235

    Posted 3 months ago by MadcatwomanintheUK #

21. 

    Oh! Thanks MCW - I didn't realise! Just watched the video - oh he is so gorgeous!

    Posted 3 months ago by eleniki #

22. 

    Brutus update:

    Hi everyone! Well, Brutus has made it to the four week mark! I believe he was born on the 2nd of July, and today is the 31st. Haven't gotten him to poop yet today...I'll keep trying. He doesn't go on his own yet, I still have to do the massage w/ a warm towel routine. I also mooshed up some wet canned kitten food w/ formula and tried to get him to eat that....but he's not ready. Still loves his "ba-ba". I let him out of the box, thinking he might like to explore the room a bit, but he just doesn't know what to do, and he'll just mew. I waggle yarn in front of him, but he doesn't know how to play. Oh, it's so difficult without siblings or a real Mommy cat to teach him all the things he needs to learn. But other than that, he seems to be in great health, and I love kissing his fat, warm little tummy after he's eaten.
    Everyday, I just thank God that he's alive. I'll try to get some updated photos of him in the next day.

    Posted 3 months ago by NJKatwoman #

23. 

    4 Weeks? Whoo Hoo!!! It sounds like you are a wonderful kitty mama!! Thanks for the update and I'll be looking forward to updated pictures as soon as you can!!! Bless you for keeping this little guy alive, without you he would not have had a chance at all.

    Posted 3 months ago by 2bpurring #

24. 

    I just watched his video!!! It brought tears to my eyes!! Bless you!!!

    Posted 3 months ago by 2bpurring #

25. 

    welcome again! and just to be sure, i'd call the vet..if he's not pooping...the vet could help!

    Posted 3 months ago by Nirmal #

26. 

    Yea! Brutus is one month old! Thats a fantastic milestone, NJKW! Happytail Purrday to little Brutus! I hope this is his best purrday ever, and each one after is better and better ;-)

    Posted 3 months ago by kittymom #

27. 

    So, how is our Brutus?? Welcome to TDK, NJK.

    Posted 3 months ago by SammyandOliversmama #

28. 

    Yes, how is Brutus? I think of him often - your videos made a big impression NJK.

    Posted 3 months ago by eleniki #

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