Need help with new kitten

Went to the store yesterday and purchased kitty litter. As I was leaving, a girl asked if I would take a kitten. Seems the mama cat was hit by a car and they were trying to find people to take the kittens. She had two and another person was taking one of them, which left the one lone little black kitten all alone. She was going to take it to the pound this morning. I knew the kitten was young and the pound will NOT bottle feed them, so knew this one had no chance if she took him there. Needless to say, I have a kitten and am bottle feeding it.

She said the kitten was 4 weeks old, but I am thinking more like 3. He (assuming 'he') walks a little, but wobbles. He does try to climb out of his box. I weighed him this morning at work on the postage scale and he's 10.5 oz. He seems a good weight for his size. Not scrawny. I have an appt to take him to the vet in the morning, but just realized my daughter has an ortho appt, so I will have to reschedule the vet until Friday.

Here's my concern. I've had him for 18 hours. To the best of my knowledge, he has not peed. I know he has not pooped. The blanket in his box was wet this morning, but I think the water bottle I put in there with him leaked. Was too much to be kitten pee (plus, it smelled like chlorine. Yes, I did the sniff test. Oh, what we mothers will do for our children.) I have tried the warm washcloth trick. I have tried "tickling" with tissue. So far, nothing. He took 1/2 tablespoon of formula last night. Another 1/2 tablespoon this morning. And, a tablespoon about an hour ago. He's had no problems feeding. I have not tried any wet/moist food with him yet simply because I haven't been able to get to the store to get him any. I had to take him in with me to TSC last night to get kitten formula, but they had no kitten food, just cat food.

Any idea on how to make him pee? Not real concerned with the poop yet. Will worry about that tomorrow. I have an adult female cat who will raise him, although she's never had kittens herself, she has raised others. However, until I get him to the vet, he's on isolation from the other cats in the house, so it's just me. 8 weeks old is the youngest I've had before. So, this is all new.

Welcome to the Forums!

Tx a lot for helping this little brother of ours!

Do you know the site of our veteran Hissy, www.kitten-rescue.com?

Lotsa of good info for rescuers and small kitten raisers...



Good luck!


ps. What was smelling chlorine? They say cCats arent fond of chlorine smell, So if you do have some other good soap to make clean with - use this instead. Or if you must use clorine - wash out with this mild soap afterwards.
(not chlorine, and not citron)

Oh, the chlorine smell is just in the water supply at the house. We've had a lot of rain lately and they always add extra chlorine to the water after a lot of rain. So, that's why I figured the wet area on the blanket was water that leaked from the hot water bottle that I had put in there.

Kitty is doing well. He was vetted on Friday. He's gained 6 ounces in the past week. Pees like Niagra falls. The vet said he was 3 weeks old, so he is now 4 weeks. Has little interest in baby chow even when mixed with milk, but loves that bottle. He may be a hard one to wean. I think he just likes the attention, though. He's walking well and beginning to run. Starting to climb out of his box, too. Cute as can be.

We estimated his birthday to be May 1, so guess we'll have to throw a little party tonight for him.

So glad to hear that he is doing well! Does he have a name? Share pictures of him when you can!

We have named him Salem, but I call him Piglet.


No, I didn't normally feed him his bottle this way. I usually held him on my chest. But I couldn't get any clear, in-focus shots of him while holding him, the bottle, and the camera. Well, not any that weren't shots of down my shirt.

Oh my!!! He is absolutely adorableeeeeeeeeee!!!! Thanks for helping this baby! So gorgeous!!!

I see lots of pure love in these pictures...

Not only this furry Teddy as his own surrogat pal.
But what I got touched by is this gold bed overcast (sorry for my english!). You are not hesitating to use this beatiful piece of work where he is...
Gold overcasts are not necessary for good kitten care, and yet - you are giving it to him.

I remember when my son was little, I was holding him and he was on his way to throw up. I didnt bothered. If my holding him was to any comfort for him, then I didnt cared my whole back, including the new shirt, become wet...
Apparently it is the same for you.


Tx a lot!

Good luck to both of you!