Daily Kitten Chat Forum » Cats & Kittens

1. 

   Hey everyone! I'm new here, just looking for some advice...

   I just got a kitten on Wed at the animal shelter in my area. I've never gotten a cat there before but when I picked her up they were like "Oh, she's a girl, let me get her fixed for you." Supposedly she's only 10 weeks old, I thought the youngest you could fix a cat at was 12 weeks?

   Anyway, she woke up fine, I waited the twelve hours recommended before giving her some water, and in the middle of the night she woke me up mewing and I gave her a few pieces of hard cat food, which she ate and threw up. I thought that was normal because of the anesthesia, but since then she hasn't really been eating. I caught her trying some of the dog food, and after a while she threw that up, too. And the thing is that she meows, especially when I'm eating, but she won't even sniff anything I put in front of her. I even mixed some hard cat food with a little milk for pets and warmed it up, but she had a few bites and that was it. She pooed after that, and it looked normal, not loose or too hard. My bf told me that when I left for work, he got her to eat a little out of his hand.

   She's been drinking plenty of water, thank goodness.

   Another thing is that she's so CLINGY, and a bit lethargic. She doesn't play almost at all, just walks around or lays down on the couch or on my lap. If I leave her in my bedroom by herself or if she suddenly finds herself alone, she'll start meowing at the top of her little lungs, and it's getting kind of irritating on the rest of the family.

   We have two dogs, a Chihuahua and a German Shepherd. I thought it might be the stress of meeting the dogs, but besides a few hissing fits with the German Shepherd it's been okay. In fact, she actually likes hanging out with the Chihuahua.

   So what do you think might be wrong? She won't eat, and she's so skinny, and she doesn't really play... could it be the operation at such a young age, or something more serious?

   Thanks!

   Posted 3 months ago by Niki #

2. 

   Poor little darling. How long has it been since she had the op (it's late Sunday night here in NZ and I'm not very good at working out time differences) and how long is it since she's eaten? And have you tried her on soft canned kitten food? You could try mixing it with some KMR, to make it quite sloppy, and put it all on a saucer or plate, not too deep, so she can easily get to it. Warming her food gently in the microwave will make it more appealing to her, and it will also intensify the smell, which also helps. Try giving her some stinky food, for the same reason, like fish catfood. You could also try a good brand of chicken baby food -- just pure chicken, not mixed with onion or any additives -- and again, warm that gently. (Gerber is recommended by many TDKers) However, the lethargy is not a good sign either and, together with the not eating, I think I would want to take her to a good vet for a once-over.

   Kittens are clingy at this age and do cry -- she is lonely, she is in a new place with strangers, she is missing her mum and littermates, since they would usually be all curled up and sleeping and playing together, and she has just had a major op at a very young age. I would be crying too! She is just a baby and all babies cry. Does she have a nice warm bed, doesn't have to be anything fancy, just a box with one of your unwashed sweaters in it (so it smells of you), or a sheepskin, or a couple of towels or nice blanket, perhaps with a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel to keep her warm and comfort her, since she would normally be with the warmth of her brothers and sisters. (Leave enough room in the box so she can move off it if she gets too hot.) Or could she sleep beside you on your pillow? A soft stuffed toy in her bed can also help and one TDKer used to recommend a ticking clock wrapped in something soft, like her mum's heartbeat.

   You say she doesn't play -- well, she wouldn't want to right after the op and does she have anything to play with? A little stuffed toy or mouse, ping pong balls, a bunch of feathers hanging from a rod she can jump at? Normally she would be playing chase etc with her brothers and sisters but now she is on her own. (Probably why she likes being with the chihuahua.) Also, if she was feral before she came into the shelter, she might not really know how to play. Cat dancers and laser pointers seem to be loved by all cats. But yes, I would expect her to be being more active.

   So yes, if she were mine, I would be taking her to the vet, just to make sure everything's all right. If it's been some days since her op, then she shouldn't be lethargic and she should have started eating again. She sounds like a darling, have you got any pix? We would love to see her and please let us know what happens, we worry about cats and kittens on this site. Best of luck with your new little girl.

   Posted 3 months ago by jcat #

3. 

   Thank you for your quick response! No pics yet, but I'll post some ASAP! She does have a bed but she prefers curling up on my bed or the couch, yesterday I actually found her with my Chihuahua (Chilly Willy) wrapped up in his bed. She seems content, she's allways purring, she sits by herself in the rocking chair out on the front porch and watches cars go by... She just doesn't seem that interested in playing. I've tried with several different ones and she bats at them once or twice and walks away. In fact, it's very much the bored "I'm too good fo this" attitude of an older cat. I do think she was feral before going to the shelter, or maybe from a feral mommy, because she's very small and skinny and definetly a mutt. It may be very possible that she doesn't know how to play.

   Anyway, I have to take her to the vet in a few days to get her stitches out anyway, but I'll keep you posted! Thanks =o)

   Posted 3 months ago by Niki #

4. 

   No worries, well cats are just like people, all different, some kittens give up playing early, my beloved Max did, he became as sober as a little judge at a very early age. She might start playing with Chilly Willy, you never know. Look forward to hearing more about your little girl, does she have a name? If you click on my avatar, you can see my two cats, Jasper and Libs.

   Posted 3 months ago by jcat #

5. 

   Hi Niki and welcome to TDK! I know you will get alot of good advice here....I am not experienced with little ones, I adopt older cats....wishing you the best of luck with your baby! I am glad she has taken to your chihuahua, she might think it's her Mom :))

   Posted 3 months ago by katthays #

6. 

   Good news! When I got home this morning my bf told me that he had gotten the kitten to eat a little chicken by giving some first to Chilly Willy, and when she saw him eat it she started to eat, too. All day today I've been able to get her to eat little bits now and then, she was a lot less clingy, staying out on the rocking chair by herself for hours, and she played a little, too! I think she was probably just nervous... what a relief!

   @ JCAT, Yep, her name is Lina! Both of your cats are adorable! =o3

   @ Katthays, thanks for the welcome! Hehe, I'm not really sure what she thinks of Chilly, but Chilly apparently thought that she was a hot new doggy, because he tried to mount her! She would have none of that and quickly sent him on his way, since then they've gotten along just fine. =o)

   Posted 3 months ago by Niki #

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