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Worried about the little girl  

post #1 of 44
10/5/09 at 7:48pm
Thread Starter 
Pink was born bigger then Mango but she's now SIGNIFICANTLY smaller then her brother (like almost half the size :S). She's maturing properly but just doesn't seem to have the mass. With only two kittens there is no way she's not getting enough food from mom.

They do have dry food all the time now too & she got wet today too but I think mom ate most of it.

Any suggestions?
Ideas?

She seems healthy if not a little quieter then Mango.
post #2 of 44
10/5/09 at 9:42pm
I suppose you do weigh them now and then (preferably every day). Does she gain weigh?
If she gains weigh it is probably OK after all. She will perhaps be a rather small she-cat, like many she-cats are.
post #3 of 44
10/5/09 at 10:13pm
Of my 4 kittens, the 1 boy is practically double the size of the 3 girls. Don't know how normal that is, but they all seem to be fine so I haven't worried about it.
post #4 of 44
10/6/09 at 1:01am
old kittens, Fetty and Bubblelicious (Bubble for short) are so different in size. Fetty the male is almost twice the size of Bub. She is well proportioned, just a dainty female. I wouldn't worry as long as she is eating and acting normal. Girls are smaller than boys in may instances.
post #5 of 44
10/6/09 at 3:49am
Thread Starter 
That's probably what it is!

She's just a little fur-ball too so she doesn't look so small until you wet her down! I think she's going to be a medium-long hair.

Thanks guys, I'll weigh her to make sure she's gaining but that really settles my fears she wasn't doing well
post #6 of 44
10/7/09 at 9:15am
Thread Starter 
Nope there is something wrong. She's definitely getting lighter. I know you can normally feel kitten's ribs, but hers are protruding too much.

What can I give her? They got wet food last night but she wasn't interested (which is funny because she was the one chowing down on it at 2/3 weeks!!). KMR?? Is there any point she's getting milk from mom?

What else can I give her that is nice and fattening?

She is NOT dehydrated or she'd be on her way to the vet. Both kittens are certainly producing enough yellow-ish poop .

I'd like to deworm her, what about dio-earth because that will be gentle on her system? How young can I use that? They are almost 5 weeks now.
post #7 of 44
10/7/09 at 9:23am
I don't really know, but if she was eating well, and now she is not interested, I would take her in to the vet. At that age, they can't afford to loose too much weight. I don't know much about worming or diamaceous (sp?) earth. But to put my mind at rest I would consider taking her in. for all.
post #8 of 44
10/7/09 at 11:36am
Thread Starter 
Yeah I'm a bit of a worry wart though

I went upstairs right after I wrote that and she's got Mango pinned .

I just need to get her eating something & I won't have to worry!
post #9 of 44
10/7/09 at 1:02pm
I don't know - I think I'd still call the vet - maybe they could suggest both some food and some de-worming options. But, hope she's actually started chowing down like wild by now.
post #10 of 44
10/7/09 at 1:36pm
I agree. If you do afford, do go to the vet with her. Or at least, do phone. Asap.
post #11 of 44
10/7/09 at 3:34pm
Hi,

if she's loosing weight go to a vet asap, little kittens don't have the reserves and if somethings wrong you have no time to loose at all. By time she's showing signs of weakness in addition to the weight loss it may be too late to do much against it.

She could be harbouring an infection, in which case she would need antibiotics asap.

regards,

christine
post #12 of 44
10/7/09 at 4:40pm
If she's actually losing weight I'd deff, at least, call the vet. Could be worms or a few other things. Hopefully it's nothing serious but better safe than sorry, at least they could direct you in the right path. Good luck!
post #13 of 44
10/7/09 at 5:19pm
Thread Starter 
You guys are right.

I'm going to weigh her tonight (bought a new kitchen scale) and I got some really tasty treats at the grocery store (like those pouches of wet food I swore I'd never buy!!!).

If I can't get her to eat or she weighs even a gram less tomorrow she's going to vet! She's definitely alert & happy she's been wrestling with Mango all day .
post #14 of 44
10/8/09 at 5:19am
Thread Starter 
She's 200 little grams. She was 202 this morning. I'll weigh her again tonight.

I couldn't possibly tell you how big Mango is, it's hard enough just weighing Pink and she'll actually sit still .

I didn't see her eat any of the wet food at all (I tried to hand-feed it to her but no interest), although she certainly got lots of milk from mom. Where as her brother is now chowing down on dry food. I know every kitten is different but originally it was pink that was eating all the real food and Mango that wouldn't try it. I guess it's just like human babies, sometimes they try new food then decide they like mom's milk better.

I'm probably worrying about nothing at all!
Just the size difference is UNBELIVABLE. If there were more kittens and they were all different sizes I think it would be easier to accept, but there are only 2 and one is giant and one is tiny!

On another note... hubby asked me last night how young we should get Mango fixed .
post #15 of 44
10/8/09 at 5:53am
Kittens can't usually have a pediatric spay until they are at least 2 lbs. (i don't know what the conversion in to grams) The weight may go up or down a little just by when they last ate and whether or not they've had a bowel movement. If you suspect worms, most vets will allow you to come in without the kitten to pick up some Strongid wormer. It clears up most roundworms and whipworms and is safe to use in kittens. It's easy to give in liquid form. If nothing else, it won't hurt, and might even help.
post #16 of 44
10/8/09 at 6:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nes View Post
She's 200 little grams. She was 202 this morning. I'll weigh her again tonight.

I couldn't possibly tell you how big Mango is, it's hard enough just weighing Pink and she'll actually sit still .

I didn't see her eat any of the wet food at all (I tried to hand-feed it to her but no interest), although she certainly got lots of milk from mom. Where as her brother is now chowing down on dry food. I know every kitten is different but originally it was pink that was eating all the real food and Mango that wouldn't try it. I guess it's just like human babies, sometimes they try new food then decide they like mom's milk better.

I'm probably worrying about nothing at all!
Just the size difference is UNBELIVABLE. If there were more kittens and they were all different sizes I think it would be easier to accept, but there are only 2 and one is giant and one is tiny!
Um,

200 grams? Really? You haven't made a mistake weighing her?

A kitten should weigh between 80 and 120 g at birth and then gain circa 10 g per day, if your other kittens are trying out solid food they must be at least 3-4 weeks old. Was she much smaller at birth or did she not keep up with her growth (in comparison to her siblings?)

How do you know she's getting enough milk from mom? You should seriously consider bottle feeding her in addition if she doesn't gain weight.



Quote:
Originally Posted by SamhainBorn View Post
Kittens can't usually have a pediatric spay until they are at least 2 lbs. (i don't know what the conversion in to grams) The weight may go up or down a little just by when they last ate and whether or not they've had a bowel movement. If you suspect worms, most vets will allow you to come in without the kitten to pick up some Strongid wormer. It clears up most roundworms and whipworms and is safe to use in kittens. It's easy to give in liquid form. If nothing else, it won't hurt, and might even help.
Quite frankly with such an underweight kitty I wouldn't deworm her without the vet checking her out first.

regards,

christine
post #17 of 44
10/8/09 at 6:32am
I have a mother (a rescue) cat who is nursing kittens, they are 3 weeks old today. There were 9 kittens total, 2 have died, and I am bottle feeding one ( These ones were much smaller than the others, and listless) The vet gave me an antibiotic, some immunity booster (a vitamin) and told me to watch for them being dehydrated, or lethargic. As of now they all seem to be doing well. The one I am bottle feeding, is slowly catching up. He was on the brink of death. So we named him Warrior, because he is a fighter. I will post pics when I get the chance.
post #18 of 44
10/8/09 at 6:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by proudmamiof4 View Post
I have a mother (a rescue) cat who is nursing kittens, they are 3 weeks old today. There were 9 kittens total, 2 have died, and I am bottle feeding one ( These ones were much smaller than the others, and listless) The vet gave me an antibiotic, some immunity booster (a vitamin) and told me to watch for them being dehydrated, or lethargic. As of now they all seem to be doing well. The one I am bottle feeding, is slowly catching up. He was on the brink of death. So we named him Warrior, because he is a fighter. I will post pics when I get the chance.

... you seem to have a good vet who's given antibiotics strait away to try to save them.

Good luck with your little fighter

regards,

christine
post #19 of 44
10/8/09 at 6:45am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by cjh27 View Post
Um,

200 grams? Really? You haven't made a mistake weighing her?

Yes it's quite possible I made a mistake weighing her! I had to put her on a pie plate on a small digital scale. If that seems so off I can try again (maybe I read it wrong and it's not set to grams??)

I will try again!!
I don't suspect worms at all, I haven't seen any, just if your cat isn't gaining weight, you worm.

I'm POSITIVE she's getting milk, she little nose is all dirty and I've seen her feeding off mom & clearly getting something in her belly.
post #20 of 44
10/8/09 at 6:52am
At nearly 4-5 weeks old she SHOULD weigh about 368-453grams (13ozs-1lb) so she's deffinately WAY under weight (weighing about what a 2 week old kitten would weigh) and I'd call the vet right away. Could be something simple as worms but, as I said before, better safe than sorry.

Here's some sites I used to do the conversions and a table of what they "should" weigh
http://www.metric-conversions.org/do...calculator.htm (at the bottom where it says weight)

and here's the weight chart
http://www.kitten-rescue.com/bottle_feeding_kitten.html


Good luck and I hope that everything is ok with Pink.
post #21 of 44
10/8/09 at 7:29am
Thread Starter 
It's not like she's hasn't been growing and thriving She's sitting on my shoulder right now she's certainly not weak or anything.

Maybe she's just really small but I definitely weighed her properly, 200g.

I just wish I didn't have so many things going on right now!! The difference in size really wasn't noticable until a few days ago .

Now I have to figure out what to do. This may mean pink has to go to the local cat rescue .

I've got cat milk for her today, I will try to find KMR tonight, then it's a question of whether my sister can look after her for us this weekend.

Crap, crap, crap, crap, CRRRRAAAAAAPPPPP!!!!! (sorry)
post #22 of 44
10/8/09 at 7:43am
Why would she have to go to a rescue? Hopefully everything will be ok and it wont be anything serious, sometimes even if it looks like they're getting decently fed from mom, they're really not, so bottle feeding her may help.
post #23 of 44
10/8/09 at 7:52am
Thread Starter 
We have to go away this weekend & hubbys brother is dealthy allergic & hubby's mom is deathly afraid. She can't stay with either of my parents because they are too busy, so my sister will have to take her if she can.

We can't financially afford to give Pink the proper care if there is something medically wrong with her. Hopefully it's just that she hasn't been getting enough food from mom, that I can deal with.

What is Karo Syrup?

It's the only thing I don't have in my cupboard right now for KMR. Can I substitute corn syrup or something??

I gave her a tummy full of cat milk (I know not the best option but the only thing I have right now) and she's happily sleeping in my shirt.

Now to find Tasha...
post #24 of 44
10/8/09 at 7:55am
Why rescue? For resources? Or do you have a vet you work with who could check her out for you?
post #25 of 44
10/8/09 at 8:05am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nes View Post
We can't financially afford to give Pink the proper care if there is something medically wrong with her.
I can't take her with me this weekend, she's going to need care. If I can't find someone in my family...

If it's JUST that she hasn't been getting enough food then I can deal with that. I don't know why Mango would be thriving where she wasn't.
post #26 of 44
10/8/09 at 8:14am
Thread Starter 
Aha! Karo syrup IS corn syrup!!

Well aren't I just susie home-maker... I don't even have to go shopping...
post #27 of 44
10/8/09 at 8:36am
I'd talk to the vet and see if they can work something out with you, payments or whatever the case may be.
post #28 of 44
10/8/09 at 9:01am
Thread Starter 
I promise I will try EVERYTHING before we send her to the rescue. However (I think it's called "cat cottage" or something silly) they are a cat-only rescue & I know they'd do a REALLY good job caring for her if it comes to that . I just want to get moving on this before she gets any worse. I have a feeling Hubby's mom will catch on if there is something tiny, fuzzy & mewing in my shirt all weekend whom I keep passing bits of turkey too .

"really! I'm feeding the baby... I got a special umbilical extension installed... ..."

Although, like I said, she's very happy & spunky if not tiny. So perhaps there really is nothing wrong other then just not enough food.
post #29 of 44
10/8/09 at 9:02am
Hi Nes,

I can see that this must be difficult for you but on the other hand you can't just do nothing and hope all will be well in the end. This kitten is severely under weight and doesn't seem to be gainig weight either- so something is clearly wrong and you should have a vet take a look at her and start additionally bottle feeding the kitten.

I agree with P&R, try to talk with your vet and see if you can work something out. Maybe you could leave the mother cat and her kittens with the vets while you are away?

regards,

Christine
post #30 of 44
10/8/09 at 9:15am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by cjh27 View Post
Maybe you could leave the mother cat and her kittens with the vets while you are away?
do you know how much that would cost me?

I did think of it, but it's just not going to be possible.

I JUST talked to my sister, she's taking Pink for the weekend. We are going to have to take her away from mom, but at this point that seems like the best thing to do. I couldn't possibly ask my mom to take in all 3 cats as she has cats & dogs and MY cats have fleas. That wouldn't be fair.

Pink will go back with Peaches & Mango on Monday, but she'll be weaned from mom.

It's quite probably pink is not gaining weight because Peaches is only 5/6 months old now (her mom) and isn't producing enough milk. I should have kept more on top of this but things have been so crazy around here lately .

I'm not saying I won't take her to the vet or at least talk to a vet about what is going on, I just have to talk to my husband first about what the best thing to do is. If she starts to put on weight with the supplement food then obviously that was the issue.

This day is getting easier & easier... My gelatin is majorly expired, can I use jello? Otherwise I'm just going to have to keep giving her the cat milk until I can go shopping this evening.
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