I month old kitten doesn't eat and in pain crying. I will not go to a vet. Any ideas? Thanks.

[car5car]

I tried to feed it milk, it doesn't want to swallow. It will probably die tonight or tomorrow.

Another problem, it has some small fast moving grey insects, not fleas and not lace.

Other 3 kittens don't have them.

Big cat lives on my backyard usually, I took her home to have kittens.

Thanks.

 

[talkingpeanut]

Why will you not go to a vet? This kitten needs to see a vet. At the very least you should do it the kindness of putting it to sleep.

 

[blueyedgirl5946]

Is the mother cat wit these kittens and is she nursing them.

 

[Draco]

what milk are you feeding? Kitten Replacement Milk sold at petstores is the best option.. dairy/cow's milk is very bad for them.

The mother is successfully feeding the kitten? the kitten drinking from mom?

The vet is the best option to find out exactly what's on this kitten.. I hope you can find a way to get it to the vet quickly.

 

[car5car]

Mother  cat is feeding other 3 kittens, everything is fine with them.

I got mother cat 2 years ago when she was 2 weeks old and fed it cow milk.

Sick kitten doesn't have a tail and has 6 fingers on front paws. Maybe something else is wrong internally.

I will not go to a vet, I don't want to pay.

Tomorrow morning I'll bring them all outside.

Sick kitten is probably constipated, it didn't eat for couple days but belly seems full.

 

[Sarthur2]

Why are you taking them outside tomorrow? That's not safe or healthy.

Can you post a picture of the bugs? Are they maggots?

You can massage the kitten's belly to see if it will help to dispel the gas. Just try to comfort this kitten. It can live with no tail and an extra digit, but it may have other issues, as you said. Very sad!

Can you get the mom spayed after this litter weans at a low-cost clinic? We can help you find one in your area if you tell us where you are located.

 

[LotsOfFur]

So... Sick 4 week old kitten with unspecified insects infestation, won't eat the cows milk you're offering and sounds like it's crying in pain with possible constipation and you don't want to pay a vet?

The constipation can be handled without a vet, we've had many people who have been advised and were able to turn around sick kittens. We've been able to help get kittens to eat; goats milk, KMR or homemade milk replacer and support willing caregivers through a crisis.

I'm not sure what you are asking for in terms of support & advice...
You say the kitten will probably die tonight or tomorrow and sounds like it's in pain but refuse to take it to the vet for a peaceful euthanasia...

I'm not sure how we can help.

 

[Norachan]

@car5car  If you are not able to take care of this mother cat and her kittens properly the best thing would be to hand them over to a shelter. It's inhumane to allow a sick animal to suffer and die like this, the very least you should do is allow it to be put to sleep.

The mother will need to be spayed so that she doesn't keep having kittens and the rest of the litter will need to be rehomed. If they have been surviving outside they will all need to be treated for parasites and possibly need ongoing medical care.

Taking care of a cat is a big responsibility and it can be expensive. If you are not able or willing to do this please contact a no-kill shelter in your area so the family can get the help they need.

 

[car5car]

I expected to find out about a few possible reasons, how to diagnose them  and what to do.

I would deal with insects but it seems like kittens should not be treated like adult cats.

 

[Norachan]

Kittens born outside have a very small chance of survival I'm afraid. They'll do much better in a shelter if you can't take them in yourself.

 

[Sarthur2]

I think Norachan 's idea to take the mom and kittens to a no-kill shelter is a good solution. Certainly better than just putting them outside and letting whatever happen to them.

I think you joined the site because you care and are concerned, but one-month-old kittens do not belong outside. It was very nice of you to bring the family in when they were born. Having no funds for a vet is frustrating, and vets can be expensive. Mom needs to be spayed to halt the breeding, and the kittens need care and spays/neuters and homes as well.

 

[talkingpeanut]

Kittens do absolutely need to be treated like adult cats. They need care, which can be expensive, and they need to not suffer. Please hand them all over to a no kill shelter. They need more than you wish to provide, and they are all likely to suffer if put outside. Please. They need treatment and compassion.

Lastly, cow milk is contributing to the problem. Cats cannot digest it and need kmr.

 

[Draco]

 
I expected to find out about a few possible reasons, how to diagnose them  and what to do.

I would deal with insects but it seems like kittens should not be treated like adult cats.

Unfortunately, we are not vets, and we cannot diagnose or treat your kitten- however, we can help with advice based on experiences we have. If you want them to survive, then they do need a real vet who can properly diagnose and treat. Kittens, especially ones so young, need great care to ensure survival.

Please take photos of the sick kitten in question.. it will help us figure out how to help you, based on our experiences here. considering they were born outside, it could be fleas, maggots or it could be ringworms.. who knows- please post a photo.

We're advising as best as we can here.. however, it seems you can't afford a vet- or just don't want to pay- then yes, take them ALL to a no-kill shelter, including the momma cat. They will be taken care of there, better than being placed outside where they will certainly suffer. If you want to keep them, see if you can work out a payment plan with the vet.

Good luck.. keep us posted on what's going on. we'll do what we can.

 

[car5car]

So now they are out and I need to treat them all to prevent/kill fleas and worms. What should I use and how often?

I advertised kittens on craigslist for $25 but it can take a few weeks to sell them.

Thanks.

 

[catpack]

I do not advise having these baby kittens outside. Their immune systems are still immature and they are more likely to become prey to a larger animal (owls, hawks, eagles, coyotes, etc...)

All kittens need a vet visit to get weights and their first round of vaccines. The vet can also do fecals on the kittens to know what kind of dewormer they need and in what dose. I am not one that encourages any pet cat to be outdoors unsupervised; but, if you are going to do so, they need to be fully vaccinated and spayed/neutered before hand (typically around 4-5 months of age.)

If mom is not spayed, she will become pregnant again.

 

[car5car]

no vet, no vaccination, no tests, no spaying!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What I am thinking about is to buy some medicine from Walmart and use a few drops on food from time to time.

 

[catpack]

Do you mean you have no intention on the cats receiving proper veterinary care or that they just have not received it yet?

I'll be honest, most of the over the counter dewormers just do not do the trick. The concentration isn't the same and, in some cases, can do more harm than good.

For flea meds, Advantage II makes a topical flea medication that is for small kittens; but, again you need accurate weights or the medication can be toxic. Do not use Hartz or Seargents products at all.

 

[Sarthur2]

This is a shame. They are too young to be outside. Have you called shelters to see about placing them?

 

[newkitties]

Most types of medication for animals from a store are known for not working and often causing animals (especially kittens/puppies) to get very ill. Any decent store bought medication would be near the same price as taking them to a low cost clinic. Please reconsider, these animals need medical care to thrive, and mama will get pregnant again without a spay, which is hard on her body.
If you can't care for them, I would look into a low cost clinic, or surrendering them to a no kill shelter or rescue where they will be cared for and given responsible homes.

 

[talkingpeanut]

These animals really do need a better shot at a healthy life. If you can't have them fixed and vaccinated, please consider rehoming them. Otherwise you are going to have A LOT of unhealthy cats in the very near future.

These kittens and mom are also much too young to be outside. I really beg you to reconsider. Let us know what we can do to help.

Why are you opposed to spaying?