I'm new here, and this is the best place I could find to get advice, a storm went through my town last Tuesday and left massive damage throughout, the day after the storm I was walking past my shed and heard a kitten litterally what sounded like screaming, I pulled him out from underneath and he was freezing cold, the only cat that has littered lately around my house hasn't been seen since the storm, we're guessing that she either vacated the area or was killed. I've had him for nearly a week now, I have been hand feeding him kitten formula every 2-3 hours, and afterward using a warm washcloth from his head to his nether regions, and massaging lightly to try to get him to go to the bathroom, he urinates just fine, but he doesn't poo very much at all, sometimes two days between, he's extremely bloated and I'm afraid something will rupture, after having house damage from the storm I'm somewhat short on money for a vet, I was wondering if there is anything I can do to help him..
Daily Kitten Chat Forum » Purrs
Newborn kitten after storm
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Hi, PJ, you're a star for looking after this baby! Check out the pink tags 'poop' and 'constipation', top right, for lots of previous advice on this subject. It's okay for babies on formula not to poop every day, every couple of days is fine. Also, sometimes their poop is hard to see/find as they're just on formula. Powdered KMR also does seem to have a slightly constipating effect. Kittens' tummies are rounded after a feed, and he probably also has worms, which give a bulging tummy. If his tummy remains soft, and everything else seems fine, he's probably fine. If his tummy gets hard and bulging, that's when you need to start worrying and thinking about a vet. You could add a drop or two of vegetable oil (soya bean or canola) to his formula if you're really concerned but he sounds okay. Are you feeding him on his tummy, his feet to the floor, and are you burping him after every feed? Best of luck with your little one.
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Most of the time I have to hold him up and still to feed him, he's a squirmy little thing and normally only headbutts the dropper if I leave him on his feet, so he's normally in a position like we stand, his stomach is soft, but very large, I'm not totally sure if he's constipated or just fat.. I'm running out of options to figure out what's wrong, I've tried so many different things, all the way to mixing his formula with goat milk instead of water, which only caused the runs (boy was THAT fun). I've tried the warm rag, dipping his bum in warm water to soak, told to do a water enema and said no way, warm cotton ball.. He's starting to look like a frog, I'll post a pic as soon as I figure out how to..
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Yes I burp him after every time, he doesn't act sick really, other than sneezing fits after I feed him, not sure why that is. He acts kinda funny when he sleeps though, he has little muscle jerks and his breathing varies. This is totally new to me, I've never taken care of a kitten this young and I really have no idea what I'm to expect.. I've already gotten very attached to the little guy, so has my 7 year old son.
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The reason you feed kittens with their tummies down is to keep them from getting formula in their lungs or up their noses. He may just be eating too fast. He may also have worms; sometimes they are born with parasites. Since you know the goat's milk makes him poop, try adding a little bit to his formula.
You might also try calling the local animal shelter and asking them if they can give you a referral to a low-cost vet. Since they are probably have their hands full dealing with pets lost in the storm they will probably appreciate the fact that you are taking care of this one.
Posted 1 year ago by CheetahBoysmommy #
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Goats milk AND formula was probably way too rich a mixture and that's what gave him the runs. You could bring him up on formula OR on goats milk. I'll add a tag for kitten glop (home-made formulas); if you look up the threads you'll find many different recipes, including those made with goats milk.
Here: http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/31099And these sites may help:
http://feral-kitten-rescue.blogspot.com/2008/10/feral-kitten-how-to-story.html
http://www.messybeast.com/handrear.htm
http://www.kittenrescue.org/pages.php?pageid=15
http://www.fanciers.com/cat-faqs/orphans.shtml
http://www.feralcat.com/raising.htmlBest of luck!
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Well the kitty's doubled in size over the past week, and has both of his eyes mostly open. On the town side he's gotten MUCH louder, and his pitch has gone up a few octaves, which leaves his cries challenging that of nails on a chalkboard...
His stomach is still very large, though he is pooing now, hopefully the de-wormer from the vet will help.. -
It sounds like he is pretty much on track. Did the vet verify he is a he? Did the vet say something was wrong and he just didn't know what it was? Or did he say that the little one is doing what all little ones do?
Posted 1 year ago by CheetahBoysmommy #
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This is sounding more positive than your earlier posts PJ. What a saint, to rescue this baby and give it a home! (I assume you're keeping the little tyke).
Kitty may be lonely for mom and siblings, you might think about adding a toy (like a beanie baby) to the kittys' bedding area for comfort. If you can put a heating pad (ON LOWEST SETTING) under a soft towel or fleece or blankie, that will also keep the baby warm, and the toy will help with him/her feeling more secure. For a tiny orphan, alone and afraid, the world is a big, scary place, even though Kind Hands and a Gentle Voice are taking care of him.
DO handle him, touch him, talk to him. You are the mommy now! This little baby will worship the ground you walk on, and the bond you are forging will be incredibly strong.
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The vet said he wasn't sure if anything was wrong or not, the vet was also calling him a he, so I'm guessing that he is, the vet said to call him back if anything seemed to be wrong.
He has a stuffed bunny in the crate with him, I'd like to not have to put him in the crate at all but I worry about sleeping with him for how small he still is and the other cats that I'm "babysitting" until their owner can get the money up to come back and get them. They don't like the kitten at all, and even hiss at me when I try to pet them and haven't washed my hands well. Yes, I'm keeping him, much to the dismay of my dog I'm sure, she gets along with cats, it's cats that don't get along with her. lol
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What did the vet say when you gave him the update? The dewormer might well have given him diarrhoea but you don't want him to get dehydrated. Is he eating well? Keep him warm and comfy, if he's not eating or drinking, test him for dehydration and give him pedialyte (I'll give you the link), and take him back to the vet if he doesn't improve.
Tent test and home-made pedialyte: http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/31106 -
Oh how old is little kitty now? I think I just went through that with my kitten. Flip him over and check his mouth, he might be teething. Which is why is his only happy biting you. What I am doing for my kitten is what I did for my human son. Get a wash cloth, dip it in cold water and ring it out. Then let him chew on that.I know it sounds weird but really check the mouth I bet he has teeth coming through.
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Jcat: The vet said nothing, I didn't even get to talk to him, only the nurse, and she said as long as he eats and poops he's ok, which he does plenty of both (lost more than one shirt due to it being all over it and unable to get the smell out). He eats like a pig, I'm afraid he might be eating too much, so I try to limit him, but when I do he screams and cries until I give him as much as he wants. I've done the tent tests every day, but everything seems ok, it goes right back to how it was pretty quick
Rea5: He's getting teeth, he actually bit me yesterday while he was chewing on me, thankfully the teeth aren't big enough to cut through skin. I didn't know that kittens cried when they teethed, of course all the other kittens I've been around always had their mom..
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He's doing MUCH better now, though we have a new set of problems, the good news is he's crying less, more active and curious, and he likes to chew on his front paws for some reason. He's climbing and wandering around, and though he's still a bloated and has been sneezing and shaking his head, he's acting like an all around healthy kitten, thanks to everyone who helped so far, I have a long way to go yet to know for sure he's going to make it.
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He's probably chewing/sucking on his paws because he's missing suckling on his mama. Try getting him something he can substitute like a little stuffed animal or even a baby pacifier.
Posted 1 year ago by CheetahBoysmommy #
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Just after I found him, the day after or so.
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii30/MaryamMoore/GEDC0011.jpg
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii30/MaryamMoore/Kit2.jpg2 weeks, he's getting big.. http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii30/MaryamMoore/Kitty1.jpg
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii30/MaryamMoore/Kitty2.jpgHe doesn't have fleas, I've checked several times to make sure, he's doing ok now, other than I wish he would get his claws under control, those things are true weapons lol. He's still sneezing pretty badly, every time he does he shakes his head like he has water up his nose.
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What a sweet wee one. Bless you for rescuing this little guy. I think you should call him Stormy.
Posted 1 year ago by HuddysMama #
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Thank you for taking in this tiny kitten! I love the pictures..he is so tiny! If he continues to sneeze, I would have a vet check him out for an upper respiratory infection. He has been sneezing for two days now and may need some sort of treatment.
Posted 1 year ago by SylMiaFelixsMomma #
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