Underweight Kitten

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Jeff O - 11 Jul 2005 18:27 GMT

My wife and I just recently adopted a sweet little Callico kitten that is
estimated at 6 weeks old. We think that she is very boney and we are trying
to help her gain weight. I weighed her this morning and found that she is
1LB. and 3 OZ. I am very concerned about her weight. She will eat the wet
food and when I mix the gravy and the dry food she will eat that also.
However, she is not eating on her own. We have to pick her up and place the
food in our hands and she will eat it then. She also is throwing up her food
and her fecal material is more liquid then solid. I would just like some
suggestions on some foods that could help her gain weight and also get her
eating dry food. I have also tried to feed her some Milk replacment formula
and she did not like that. I'm guessing that we may need to get some
pedialite and try to hydrate her since she may be dehydrated. Any
suggestions would be helpful.

I'm also concerned that she is not drinking any to enough water. I'm just
concerned so please send me some helpful tips and some good dry and wet food
to feed our little girl.

Jeff O

Reply to this Message

Wendy - 11 Jul 2005 19:44 GMT

6 weeks is a little young for the kitty to be away from Mom.

Have you had her checked by the vet yet? The diarrhea and vomiting are
worrisome because of the possibility of dehydration. I would really have her
seen and take a stool specimen so they can check for parasites.

In the mean time you could try picking up some nutri-cal. You just take a
glob of that on your finger and smear it on the roof of her mouth. They
usually don't object to the taste and it's calorie dense and will get more
nutrients into her without the volume to upset her tummy. This can also be
mixed in food once she starts eating. You could also try making up a little
KMR and mixing it with canned kitten food to make a gruel. Dip your finger
in it and see if she'll start licking your finger. Then gradually lower the
finger to the bowl and see if she'll lap some of it up. You may want to warm
any food you give her as it makes it stinkier and more appealing to the cat.

Good luck with your kitty and please have her seen my a vet. They can
dehydrate very quickly at that age.

W

> My wife and I just recently adopted a sweet little Callico kitten that is
> estimated at 6 weeks old. We think that she is very boney and we are
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
>
> Jeff O

Reply to this Message

KellyH - 11 Jul 2005 22:54 GMT

>6 weeks is a little young for the kitty to be away from Mom.
>
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
> W

Nothing new to add, just seconding Wendy's advice. Please take her to the
vet ASAP. Kittens can go downhill very quickly. If she was born outside,
it's likely she has some sort of worms or parasites.
Do try the KMR/food mixture. Most of the kittens I've had love it.

-Kelly

Reply to this Message

Jeff O - 12 Jul 2005 16:50 GMT

Wendy,

Thank you for the responce. We took our kitten to the Vet yesterday and
found that she had ringworm from the being in the animal shelter. We rescued
her on July 10th and she did not have a mother so she might be a little
nervous still. We were given some dry kitten food to try and also the Vet
sugested that we soak the dry food in some KMR to make is softer and more
appealing.

I will also try your suggestions. She will drink water when we place a
suringe by her mouth at her teeth and then she will drink . She is refusing
just KMR but will eat a little of the food that the Vet let us sample. Thank
you again.

Jeff O

Reply to this Message

KellyH - 12 Jul 2005 17:35 GMT

> Wendy,
>
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> Jeff O

Awwww... poor little thing! Ringworm sucks :( What type of treatment is
she getting? I hope she pulls through. Keep a close eye on her and monitor
her food and water intake. It sounds like she is at a critical time. Good
luck!

-Kelly

Reply to this Message

Wendy - 12 Jul 2005 20:08 GMT

> Wendy,
>
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> Jeff O

Glad to hear she saw the vet. Hope all goes well and she starts eating for
you soon.

W

Reply to this Message