4 week old singleton kitten

cmh382

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I got a cat (Dinah) that my friend took in as a stray, the vet thinks she's around 8-9 months old. I had no idea she was pregnant. The vet has suspicions, but even 2 weeks before she gave birth the vet said she couldn't feel any kittens. So what a surprise when I came home from work (exhausted because Dinah kept me up almost the whole night meowing at me) and there was a newborn kitten crying under my bed! It turns out she only had the one kitten, which works out much better for me and that means I can keep her.

Soo the kitten will be 4 weeks old on Friday. She seems to be reaching milestones early. She opened her eyes early, she's been running around for about a week and she started getting her teeth over a week ago.
I've never had a kitten before and was afraid to even look under my bed when I first heard her crying so I have some questions/concerns.


Dinah frequently pins the kitten down and bites at her, which at this point is understandable since the kitten's teeth hurt! It worries me because Dinah will hold her down, bite at her neck and kick with her back feet. The kitten doesn't cry unless Dinah does it for too long. I've seen her do this before, but it was with a tennis ball - not a kitten. Should I be worried? I'll break it up sometimes but I don't know if Dinah is teaching her kitten or if she forgets it's her baby and not a toy.

I just bought a can of the powdered KMR but last night I noticed the kitten was trying to eat Dinah's dry food. Should I continue with the KMR? The kitten is able to lap it up and Dinah enjoys it. I have a couple cans of Royal Canin Babycat (1-4 months) food, should I try this with the kitten? I'm worried she could choke on the dry kitten food since her teeth aren't fully in yet.


As far a litter box training what should I be doing? I have a box set up with Swheat litter. From what I've read the mom should teach this, but Dinah doesn't seem interested in the box and my adult cat (Kitty) sniffed it once and hasn't touched it since. The kitten is also uninterested. For Dinah and Kitty I use crystal litter, which I can't use for the kitten. Since both cats use litter boxes away from the kitten how will she learn?


Any advice/suggestions/help is appreciated.

Thanks!
 

mbjerkness

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If you are worried about choking, I would put a few peices of kitten food and soak them in the KMR, If kitty can eat it on her own I would just let her. I saw my Mama cat biting her kitties on the neck, and kicking them too. I was told she was discipling the kitten.
 

hissy

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Be careful if you are feeding KMR- there have been recent reports that the formula contains to many minerals and fiber and kittens have been dying. If you are using RC BabyKat, the kibble is made for kittens and choking shouldn't be an issue. If he is trying to eat his mom's food then he is telling you he is ready to get off the nipple and eat. Get mom spayed too as soon as possible that will stop her aggression towards her kitten.


Good luck-
 

cutekittenkat

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Originally Posted by CMH382

Soo the kitten will be 4 weeks old on Friday. She seems to be reaching milestones early. She opened her eyes early, she's been running around for about a week and she started getting her teeth over a week ago.
I've never had a kitten before and was afraid to even look under my bed when I first heard her crying so I have some questions/concerns.


Dinah frequently pins the kitten down and bites at her, which at this point is understandable since the kitten's teeth hurt! It worries me because Dinah will hold her down, bite at her neck and kick with her back feet. The kitten doesn't cry unless Dinah does it for too long. I've seen her do this before, but it was with a tennis ball - not a kitten. Should I be worried? I'll break it up sometimes but I don't know if Dinah is teaching her kitten or if she forgets it's her baby and not a toy.

I just bought a can of the powdered KMR but last night I noticed the kitten was trying to eat Dinah's dry food. Should I continue with the KMR? The kitten is able to lap it up and Dinah enjoys it. I have a couple cans of Royal Canin Babycat (1-4 months) food, should I try this with the kitten? I'm worried she could choke on the dry kitten food since her teeth aren't fully in yet.


As far a litter box training what should I be doing? I have a box set up with Swheat litter. From what I've read the mom should teach this, but Dinah doesn't seem interested in the box and my adult cat (Kitty) sniffed it once and hasn't touched it since. The kitten is also uninterested. For Dinah and Kitty I use crystal litter, which I can't use for the kitten. Since both cats use litter boxes away from the kitten how will she learn?


Any advice/suggestions/help is appreciated.

Thanks!
It doesn't sound like she's too far ahead, but there is a good chance she was born a litter later since she is the only kitten. My foster's kittens are 2 1/2 weeks and they have their teeth coming, but they were quite late themselves
.
I have no idea why, but the rough play with the kittens just seems to be a thing many mothers do...as long as the kitten isn't being hurt, I wouldn't worry that much, since it isn't too uncommon. I do have to say, when I first saw my first mommy do that, it scared me so much!
She probably shouldn't need KMR since she has mommy all to herself, but since you have it, you can mix it into the dryfood and show it to her- your mommy may be more interested, and it's fine if she has some, it's good for her, but it's good for training babies. Also try some wet food and smudge a little on her face- it's messy, but it works well. Her automatic response is to lick it, and tada! She gets her first taste!

After meals, put your baby in a little litterbox (I usually use the top of a showbox or something) and massage her paws in there to get her used to the digging motion- it won't set in right away, and she'll probably try to eat it(make sure it's NON-clumping litter), but eventually her instinct will kick in
.

Good luck!
 
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