Hello friends,

I'm having a problem with a female kitten roughly 12 weeks old. She has been
hand fed from a bottle KMR since the very day she was born as she was abandoned
by her mother with the semi-dry placenta still attached. She was weaned from
the bottle late at around 8 weeks old and moved to dry IAMS kitten food on her
own. About 3 days ago we noticed that she was urinating very frequently and in
a very small amount and that there was blood in it giving it a pink color. She
also urinates just about everywhere, including her box which she had once used
exclusively. She doesn't seem to be straining but who knows if she's straining
or not. She is housed indoors and is alone only when my girlfriend and I
leaving for roughly 6 hours at the most to attend school 3 days a week. We are
at a loss to explain why a kitten, who incidentally shows no outward signs of
being ill, would have such a problem. At first we figured it was a UTI of some
sort but have come across articles about a build up of crystals due to a diet
lacking in acid.

This is why we are turning to you. Clearly we should take her to a vet but at
the present time that is not possible due to not being able to afford it. I am
curious as to what you think is causing our kitten's problem and what we can do
about it. Is there a special food to buy? Are antibiotics in order and which
ones would be best? Thank you for all your help in advance.

DJP