Need to know if some things are “normal”

Thanks for your response! =)

I was growing more concerned tonight after I posted this because he was sucking and sucking on the bottle tonight and eating so very little but sucking in a lot of air. It made me wonder if maybe the hole was a bit too small so I enlarged it slightly and he seemed quite surprised when he tried the bottle again to find it was giving up milk much more easily. He actually drank quite a bit and then found a way to latch on to slow it down and use it as more of a paci again which wasn’t a big deal… but once he got that milk in him he actually let go this time and settled down and actually slept on my stomach. That’s the first time he’s really done that. Seemed less stressful for the both of us instead of of him suckling at the bottle for a half hour, barely taking in any milk, screaming at it, and then repeating the procedure. I definitely don’t want to take away any source of comfort from him but I hope to prevent him from eating too little and swallowing too much air.

Thanks! I am so paranoid with this guy, I really want him to make it.

He has hit a lot of ‘milestones’ that certain sites say shouldn’t happen until 3-4 weeks but we are quite sure of his age. He’s been eating a lot and now I’m paranoid about overfeeding him. I always stop feeding him when he starts to make little milk bubbles with his mouth and spit out the nipple. Enlarging the hole has worked better for getting him to feed more efficiently but I don’t know if he could get too much too fast or if he will still monitor himself like he has been and stop when he is full… His poops are confusing to me because some places i have read that they should be well formed and other places says no, they are a little messier like toothpaste or jam. His are definitely on the toothpaste/jam side… messier but no diarrhea. I sometimes hear (and smell) him pass gas as well.

He throws such a fit when I stimulate him to pee or poo that I can’t figure out if he just really hates it or if something is bothering him. He absolutely hates it but as soon as you put him down he’s fine. I think part of it is I hold him on his back to do it and he hates that position.

Thanks so much for talking to me about my little guy. He’s been such a little fighter. I am a natural born worrier so this has been a challenge for me lol He is teaching me a lot about just trying to live in the moment and not think “what if this goes wrong or that”… I suppose it is mostly so nerve wracking because I have never done this before.

I’m feeling better about his eating now. He’s seemed to have moved back towards his pattern of being a little piggy, but he eating what is expected at his age. He’s really good at controlling the flow so I don’t really worry about him aspirating any fluids. He will be a full 3 weeks in a couple of days, I think we might celebrate it by picking out a name for him. I’ve been reluctant to get too attached because I have always heard how hard it can be to rear orphaned kittens. (although admittedly I am attached enough the way it is lol)

I think I’ve been reading too much about orphaned kitties too and that is making me perhaps worry more. Should I just assume if he is eating normal amounts, gaining weight, and pooing (even very small amounts at times) that things are going okay? (It seems like if I’m not worrying about his eating I’m worried about his pooping lol)

I’ve started to teach him more about cuddle times and liking pettings and he is starting to LOVE getting his little head rubbed after eating. It’s so cute =) He purrs often, walks really well, ears are erect…just hitting that really adorable stage.

I will try to get a pic up in the next day or so!

I’ve moved past worrying about him eating tonight to his poop and I’ve tried searching but I can’t seem to find the answers I’m looking for. I think I’m most frustrated b/c when we first found him the first couple days he was having formed poops and after we introduced the formula they became more runny and messier. I don’t know if it is because he intake has increased but they seem to be getting a little more runny. Sometimes he’ll just let out a little bit, enough to make a mess on his tail or something and then nothing. And then tonight I was cuddling with him and he had a big screaming fit, checked and sure enough he had pooped and this time I noticed little white bits in it o_0 that almost looked like seeds. I am completely stumped as it to if it is a parasite issue or possibly undigested milk/over feeding? This is the first time I have witnessed that.

After tonight I kind of feel like I’m going crazy with the whole pooping thing b/c it is constantly changing and I don’t feel certain that what is “normal” for this guy.

Where is the line drawn between diarrhea and just looser poops?

Also, assuming every thing ends up working out with this little guy… when should he be treated for parasites and what is the schedule for that?

I am feeding him the canned KMR. I started diluting a tiny bit with water when his pooping started getting a little chaotic and also because he still seemed a little bit dehydrated… his pee was yellower and now it is much more pale to clear. I made some homemade pedialyte(sp) just in case we needed it (keeping in fridge and remaking every 24 hrs)… would that be okay to dilute the formula with instead of straight water?

How much pumpkin should be added if that is tried?

He seems to control his poops so it is just loose then, not uncontrollable squirts or anything.

Combined with his gas and tendency to bloat up some I’m also guessing worms.

When we first found him he was actually having some bowel movements on his own although rubbing against the fabric as he crawled around may have been what was stimulating him. The same thing happens now at times, sometimes when he moving around his bedding or when I have him all wrapped up to snuggle or to contain him a little when it is time to feed him but he’s squirming he will end up having one without direct stimulation. Same with peeing although I think he can actually pee on his own now.

We are not sure yet if we are going to keep him or try to find him a new forever home if he continues to thrive. But regardless he will definitely be wormed, be treated for fleas (luckily none have been found on him at this point), have all his shots, and be neutered! =)

Kitty is making me stress out again! Just when I was starting to feel more positive about everything too!

Today I noticed a tiny bit of cloudy discharge from his urethra. Never seen it before haven’t seen it since. He’s been peeing normally, normal color, doesn’t seem to be in any pain or anything when peeing. Sooo I’m back to freaking out a little.. I don’t know if this warrants a vet visit at all or just something I should keep an eye on… ??? I’m worried about uti or some other infection now. Especially with the messes he’s made on his bottom from loose stools. Grr.

Pooping is apparently a stressful event for both of us when it comes to him. A few days ago he started throwing an absolute fit when he poops. He’s started pooping after almost every meal and he’s very dramatic about it. I’m usually still holding him when he starts so I try to wipe some away but he usually ends up flailing and gets it all over his tail or something and then earns himself a butt bath under the bathroom sink. His squealing, flailing and getting poop everywhere all over himself every time is trying my nerves so much that I am beyond the point of dreading this kitten pooping. I’m bummed b/c yesterday his poop seemed less loose and then today we are back to the looser ones but that might be my fault since I haven’t used as much water I was the other day in his formula.

I’m committed to doing all I can for this guy but after him, if I never see another kitten butt again it will be too soon!

So far his only appetite changing is he is turning into a pig! He put his bottle away within minutes tonight!! I couldn’t even believe it.

I am going to the store so I am going to pick up the canned pumpkin to try. =)

Definitely keeping an eye on the discharge thing, if I notice it again I will call the vet.

His teeth are coming in… they still seem to be a bit under the skin. I took a tiny bit of kitten pate with KMR tonight and put some on his lips and tried to get a little in his mouth. Absolutely no interest yet. He looked at me like I was insane.

I ended up calling the emergency vet tonight b/c little dude peed and there was some of that cloudy discharge. They told me I could keep an eye on him and wait until our vet opened on Monday but if anything changes with him he should be seen immediately. I wanted so bad to just take him there tonight but they charge an outrageous sum for just the visit alone, let alone any diagnostics.

I just hope everything else stays okay until Monday. =/

He is doing really well so unless something dramatic happens in the next 24 hours he should be okay until I can call our regular vet. He is definitely well hydrated and his eating habits are A+… the way he sucks down his bottles lately you would think he is starving but his fat little tummy says otherwise lol

I haven’t seen anymore discharge or anything. He’s still peeing well and it isn’t oddly colored or anything.

Our vet shall be called first thing tomorrow morning however just to see what they think and if they want to see him.

I’ve been doing the pumpkin in his food and I think it may already be working, perhaps a little too well. He’s let out a little poo but hasn’t done his predictable after dinner poops after eating. We’ll see how it goes, perhaps every other feeding with the pumpkin would be better if it proves to be a little too binding?

I wrapped him up and cuddled him earlier and he nuzzled my neck and purred and fell asleep for a little bit <3 I think I’m falling for this guy lol

Your little Cloud sounds so adorable by the way! How old is he now?