have no idea what to do now...

katreynolds31

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i like animals, but never wanted to be a pet owner, always thought them too expensive and too fragile.

my boyfriend really likes cats, and so with his last being gone about five years now(before we were together) i commited to one for his birthday last week.

i was told the litter i had picked from were well over 6 weeks old, being weaned but ate softened dry food as well. i chose the little black one.

since getting her home 3 days ago we have realized she is well under six weeks old, probably closer to 3 or 4, and badly under nourished cuz we can actually feel the space between her little tiny ribs.

i found a homemade recipe for kmr which she hasnt taken to well, and used a dropper which she doesnt like too much either so i feel she is still underfed. she wont drink water from a bowl and has no interest or knowledge of what to do with wet food from a bowl either. she does clean herself and had used the litter box successfully a few times. what do i do with this baby? i already love her.

can anyone suggest a good high calorie milk replacement? preferably homemade so i can be sure of the quality of its ingredients...

should i try a bottle instead of a dropper to increase her desire to eat?

how often to feed and how much?

when do i introduce wet/solid foods? what kind?

do i need to stimulate her bowels?

does she need a electrolyte replacement?

how do i teach her to eat/drink from a bowl or is that a natural instinct?

how can i be sure of her age?

i dont want to return her to the liars but will if taking her back to her mom is best, except that i dont feel she was recieving proper nutrition from her mom either

all help and advice is thanked for and appreciated in advance

kate
 

hobo08

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My first stop with her would be the vets office. They can give you a guess on her age and tell you what you need to do. Sorry this has happened to you and your bf. What rotten people.
 

levi68

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Let's try and get this little girl better!

KMR - is the a reason, beside the high price that you can't just go buy some? If you get the powder, it lasts alot longer..the liquid expires quickly.

I'm not familiar with homemade KMR.

It sounds like she should be old enough to lap up  fluid. You just need to teach her. Make sure the liquid is in a low bowl, like 1  or 2 inches high. Dip her muzzle in the liquid, it will stick to her fur and she lick it off. Repeat if necessary. She should catch on.

To help her increase her fluid intake, go buy some high quality kitten wet food. Your vet might carry Medi-cal Recovery which is perfect for a little one that needs lots of calories and it smells so good..they can't resist. Stick with chicken or turkey. It easier for them to digest.

If she walks away, put a pea size dab on your finger and gently open her mouth (not too far) and stick the food on the roof of her mouth. Offer her another pea size but see if she tries to lick it. It may take a few attempts but she needs to learn about biting and chewing to get food.

Royal Canin makes a Baby Kitten dry food that is teeny tiny..perfect for this size of kitten.

Free feed the dry and give her a tablespoon of wet three to four times a day. Dipping her muzzle each time to encourage her to drink.

If she has used her litter box, you probably don't have to stimulate. If she hasn't gone and your worried, use a damp paper towel and gently massage her back area and release. Do they over the litter box. Smelling her pee in the sand will trigger her to use it on her own.

Again, bowls are foreign so keep them low so it's easier to eat/drink. \

Post a pic and we might be able to give you a better estimate on age. Does she still have a "bee stinger" tail? Is she running and climbing or just walking about. Is her gait wobbly?

A vet visit is a must. Get her dewormed and have him check her for fleas and mites. Keep an eye on her poops...if they get runny or discoloured she have Coccydia or Guardia.

Good luck with your little one!
 

StefanZ

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Excellent post, Levi68.  Just for me to second.   :)

As you say, think plate, not bowl...

A useful link may be a site for orphaned kittens, www.kittenrescue.com

KatReynolds, I do agree with you, theoretically returning her to mom and siblings would be best, you got her too early.  But it is clear she will have it better with you than there.

Good luck!   *vibes*

Ps. Welcome to the TCS site and our Forums!
 

orientalslave

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KatReynolds, I do agree with you, theoretically returning her to mom and siblings would be best, you got her too early.  But it is clear she will have it better with you than there.
Yes.  Anyone who would knowingly offload her on you when she is far, far too young will simply offload her again as soon as they can.
 

mrblanche

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You are in a precarious place, because an undernourished kitten can take a turn for the worst very quickly.

The fact that she's using the litter box indicates she is about 5 weeks old, probably. 

Will she lap up the KMR if you put it on a shallow saucer? 
 
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