Adopted a 5 week old kitten

meeepcosy

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My kitten was 5 weeks old when she was taken away from her mother. She was also advertised over the web as 'free to a good home'. She seems to be adjusting just fine. What problems can arise from taking them away this early? She was eating and drinking on her own when we got her. She seems fine, and happy and well-adjusted, but I am no expert lol! Any advice?
 

eb24

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My kitten was 5 weeks old when she was taken away from her mother. She was also advertised over the web as 'free to a good home'. She seems to be adjusting just fine. What problems can arise from taking them away this early? She was eating and drinking on her own when we got her. She seems fine, and happy and well-adjusted, but I am no expert lol! Any advice?
It just varies depending on the circumstances and the kitten. Same as with any kitten the most important thing is to make sure you properly vet her at the right age. This includes de-worming, vaccinations, and spaying when she's big enough (it can be as young as 8 weeks as long as she is 2 pounds and otherwise healthy but most people wait and do it between 10-12 weeks). In the US de-worming is usually done twice (more if she tests positive for worms) and vaccines are usually given in 3 rounds 4 weeks apart. Most people do the first vaccine and deworming around 8 weeks.  Also, be sure to check on your states rabies law and give that if required. It's also a good idea to have her tested for FIV/FeLV and talk to your vet about whether she should be vaccinated against those (just depends on the living situation). I mention all of this because you got her so young she likely hasn't had any vet work. Getting all this done when she is young dramatically reduces health problems later on. 

The thing to remember is that kittens learn what to do/what not to do from watching Mom. So, if taken away young there may be things that she didnt learn and you will have to step in and teach her. Since you didnt mention it I am assuming she is using the litterbox fine (as that's always the first complaint). If she is struggling with the box start a new tread and you will get a lot of tips.

The two most common problems that I see are not knowing they are aggressive play and suckling. But, these problems aren't just limited to early-weaned kittens. With play, you will need to correct her when she gets too rough (by crying out as that's what her litter mates would do to signal she is hurting them) and by redirecting her with a toy. As for suckling, she may start to nurse anything from another pet to a blanket or even on you! An easy remedy is to get some bitter apple and apply it to whatever she is suckling- she won't like the taste and it will help break the habit. Even though she was eating and drinking on her own most kittens will still nurse as long as 12-16 weeks (or until Mom gives them the boot). While it can happen with any kitten it's just more common when they are taken away younger. 

The only other thing that I would really watch for is making sure she keeps her weight up and continues to gain and that she is eating and drinking with no problems. It sounds like she is though. 


I hope that helps. If you have specific questions on her behavior start a new thread and you will get a lot more feedback. 
 
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meeepcosy

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Wow, such a mouthful! Thank you for the lovely reply, so many things to mention, where do I start..? :p

We took her to the vet right after we got her, we had her dewormed, inoculated, and because she was from a house with a LOT of animals, she had fleas gave her a good thorough bath and frontlined her too according to the instructions. She's due for her second vaccination on the 17th, and the vet said that he'd like to inoculate her against Feline Leukemia too, as we currently have an outbreak of that in the area. She's an indoor cat, but I'll feel better once that's done too.

She's using the litter box fine, had a bit of a problem where she'd be too excitable and she'd mess all the litter on the carpet (only the sand not the poo), but we bought a much bigger litter box so that's sorted out that problem. The lady told me that the mother did not have a lot of milk left, that's why Rasberry was already eating on her own. Her brother was still weaning at that stage.

She rarely does the suckling thing, I've only ever seen her do it twice. She does get a bit scratchy-bleedy though, so thanks for that tip. We usually try to ignore her then, so she would lose interest and play with another toy (that is not attached to us! Hahaha!)

But other than that, there is nothing to complain about. She eats well, and I have slowly started to increase her food intake as she's gaining weight. We also spoil her sometime with some chicken, made especially for her. And I keep a close eye on how much water she drinks, which for such a small body looks like more than enough. It gets really hot here sometimes, so that's important. :)

When time comes for her next vet appointment, I'll ask when I can have her spayed. She's about 11 weeks now, so if the vet gives the go-ahead I'll have that arranged as well. :)

Thanks for the tips hey! :)
 

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I would only consider the FeLV vaccination for a cat that goes out, or a working stud.  She doesn't go out at present and you don't intend letting her out, so I wouldn't give it to her. 

But please get her neutered as soon as the vet will do it.  Often the first thing people know about their kitten coming into call is that she gets super-sneaky about trying to get out, and if she does and isn't spayed as soon as she gets back they realise a few weeks later she's pregnant...

I would also let her eat as much as she wants.  Cats eating only wet food rarely drink water regardless of how hot it is - remember their origins which is in Egypt which is a hot desert country.  Cats are well adapted to heat.
 
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meeepcosy

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Hi there! :)

The only reason I portion her food because that is what's recommended by the brand food itself (Hills) and so I can monitor more or less how much she eats. :) She rarely finishes the whole portion, and when she does, I give her another scoop. I also give her slightly more than what is recommended, I actually use it more as a guideline. So basically, she eats as much as she wants to in any case. ;)

I'll speak to the vet again about the leukemia shots. I don't think I mentioned to him that she's an indoor cat. I must add, however, that I intend to leash-train her, to take her out to the garden once she's a bit bigger. And I have spotted some feral kitties in the neighbourhood, therefor I thought it might be a good idea, just in case she comes into contact. One never knows.

Thank you for the advice on sterilisation! :) I'm planning to speak to the vet about it on her next visit. As soon as he gives the go-ahead, it's gonna be done. It's just much safer that way. :)
 

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There are side effects to the FeLV vaccine, sometimes can be quite nasty, and FeLV isn't transmitted casually---only by a deep bite, sexual contact, or prolonged sharing of bodily fluids. And the vaccine is only about 80% effective anyway. So for most indoor cats, the risk isn't worth the limited benefit. But do ask your vet :).
 
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eb24

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 She does get a bit scratchy-bleedy though, so thanks for that tip. We usually try to ignore her then, so she would lose interest and play with another toy (that is not attached to us! Hahaha!)
But other than that, there is nothing to complain about. She eats well, and I have slowly started to increase her food intake as she's gaining weight. We also spoil her sometime with some chicken, made especially for her. And I keep a close eye on how much water she drinks, which for such a small body looks like more than enough. It gets really hot here sometimes, so that's important.

When time comes for her next vet appointment, I'll ask when I can have her spayed. She's about 11 weeks now, so if the vet gives the go-ahead I'll have that arranged as well.

Thanks for the tips hey!
Haha yeah sorry I'm notorious for long replys!

The other thing I do when kittens start playing rough is that I cry out and push my hand back into their mouth. The cry signals the play is too rough and she won't like the feeling of you pushing your hand against her. If you pull your hand away quickly it triggers the prey/predator response and will make her want to chase it. By pushing back you make your hand a very unappealing toy! 

Also, suckling can develop later on so just keep an eye out. My new resident kitten randomly started doing it when he was 13 weeks old. He only ever suckles on one blanket in particular so I just let him have at it but sometimes it can become a more serious problem. Just something to watch out for. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrientalSlave  


I would only consider the FeLV vaccination for a cat that goes out, or a working stud.  She doesn't go out at present and you don't intend letting her out, so I wouldn't give it to her. 

I agree with this. The other thing about the FIV/FeLV vaccine (in addition to the nasty side effects and it not being 100% effective) is that she will always test positive for having the disease so you will never actually know for sure if she does or not. Taking her for walks on a leash won't expose her to it. FIV is only transmitted via penetrating bites, and FeLV only through excessive saliva and feces (as WIllowly puts it: prolonged sharing of bodily fluids). If she is truly an indoor only cat her risk of exposure is non existent. 

If you do choose to give her the vaccine it is absolutely imperative that she be microchipped as well as collared. If she ever does sneak out and gets taken to a shelter she will automatically be euthanized. They won't know that she's only testing positive because of the vaccine and not because she's infected. 
The only reason I portion her food because that is what's recommended by the brand food itself (Hills) and so I can monitor more or less how much she eats. 
 She rarely finishes the whole portion, and when she does, I give her another scoop. I also give her slightly more than what is recommended, I actually use it more as a guideline. So basically, she eats as much as she wants to in any case. 

 
Yeah the feeding guidelines are good for adult cats but kittens should be given as much as they want- especially one who was weaned early. It sounds like that is essentially what you are doing and that you are just portioning it out so you can monitor how much she eats which is totally fine Just don't be tied to guidelines until you switch her over to an adult formula. She may go through a growth spurt and have an extra big appetite- let her have at it!

Are you feeding her dry or wet? Wet food is by far the best thing for her. If you can't do an all wet diet it's at least worth trying to give her a little everyday. I let my kitten free graze dry food and he gets wet food 2x day. Giving her wet food will ensure she's getting enough water and all the extra nutrients she needs! 
 

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well, when it is 14weeks or so but nothing younger you should get it spayed and if you want to get it nuetered it is a good time to do so. also when your cat is young you want to teach it right from wrong, your cat most likely does not like water so take a squirt  botlle and fill it with water and when it goes where it is not allowed or does something wrong squirt it and it will most likely not do that again.
 

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I agree 100% about wet food and giving her as much as she wants to eat. Dry to graze and wet as main meals is a fine plan.

Please, please, please do not squirt or in any way punish your kitten. She is just a baby. The best way to teach her right from wrong is through a firm NO, and behavior modification. If you have a particularly naughty kitten clicker training works wonders.

Do not squirt her. Heaven forbid you should ever have to bathe her after such antics.
 

eb24

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Please, please, please do not squirt or in any way punish your kitten. She is just a baby. The best way to teach her right from wrong is through a firm NO, and behavior modification. If you have a particularly naughty kitten clicker training works wonders.
Do not squirt her. Heaven forbid you should ever have to bathe her after such antics.
I agree with BigPerm that I am not a fan of negative reinforcement training, including squirting with water or making loud, startling noises. Positive reinforcement techniques (such as redirecting, praise, and even clicker training) are much easier and don't have the unintended side effects of making your cat fearful of other things. 

Clicker training is super easy and you don't even need a clicker to do it. Just find a treat that she loves and go from there! When she does the desired behavior (such as lays in her bed, plays nicely with her toys, jumps off the counter) praise her and treat. You will notice she starts doing those things more because of the reward so be sure to follow through! 
 
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meeepcosy

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Thank you for all the lovely advice! You guys are amazing! :)

I'm happy to report that Rasberry is doing great, she's a lovely little busy-body, so playful. Regarding the FeL shot, the vet insisted that I have that done with her normal innoculation last time we were there, since we have a severe outbreak. So we had that done.

As for the wet food, We have been feeding her dry, with wet food pouches. We have however been increasing her wet food intake now for a while. Also, I'm feeding her lots of chicken (but not raw, that idea freaks me out still lol!), as much as she wants. I've been reading up on raw feeding, and I understand that it's better for her, but I'm still getting used to the idea. For now, I'll keep on feeding her like I do, with the boiled chicken and wet food pouches until I'm comfortable enough with the raw meat idea haha!

As for the behaviour, she's better now. She used to scratch us a lot, no matter how much we 'NO!'D her and ignored her she wouldn't stop. The vet has since clipped her nails and th scratching has stopped for the most part. We try to do the positive reinforcment thing, with mixed results. But mostly I think it's our own fault (my fiancee is a Leo, ever the drama queen... I mean KING.) So ja, they end up chasing each other around the home, it turns out as a huge joke. Overall she's very well-adjusted, and she behaves well. She doesn't break stuff or throw stuff off tables to get attention or food like some of the horror stories I've read on here hahaha! She's very lovable, so we're blessed. :) I'll try to upload some photos tonight, so you guys can see how big she's grown. :D
 

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It's quite possible to clip her claws yourself.  Not difficult at all.

Keep in mind that there is an essential nutrient, taurine, that is added to cat food.  Cooking meat destroys it, so keep her intake of cooked meat to a minimum.
 
 
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meeepcosy

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I want to buy clippers to do clip her nails myself, but to be quite honest I'm afraid I might do it wrong and end up hurting her. :( I should probably just suck it up and try it though. The vet did show me how, so I don't have an excuse anymore.

I read somewhere on this site that a woman slowly weaned her cat off wet food on to raw by gradually decreasing the cooking time of the meat. She fed her cat half-raw meat before going on completely raw food. I have thought about trying that, feeding Rasberry half-cooked meat. It's still not something I'm completely comfortable with, but it'll be better for her. At least better than kibble everyday, right? Should I try that?
 

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It's so nice to hear your little one is doing so well!
 If you have new pictures we would love to see them.

I got one of my kittens when he was young too. 8 weeks. It's so much fun to watch them grow up.

I was nervous to cut my cat's nails in the beginning too. I have found it works best if I do it when they are tired. Sometimes I only do one foot and the other the next day. Try giving her a treat when you are done so she associates it with something good. If it's hard too see the pink under her nail it might be better to let the vet do it. Just clip the sharp tip. You don't need to make them super short.

If you want to ease into raw you might want to try a commercially prepared one first? Some are sterilized even though they are raw. Just in case you haven't seen it, this is a wonderful site about cat nutrition by a vet www.catinfo.org. She has some cat food recipes too.
 

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Raw lean meat isn't a complete diet.  Cats naturally eat bones, skin, fur/feathers and innards, not just the prime cuts.  If you want to feed raw you need to look into it properly, maybe in the forum here specifically for raw feeding, or you should feed her a good-quality complete cat food.
 

bigperm20

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I think someone mentioned this before, but I will again. Since your vet talked you in to the FELV Vaccine, you should really seriously consider getting her microchipped. It's basically a tiny little chip that all shelters scan to reunite owners with their pets.

The reason I suggest it, is that if I your cat ever gets lost and ends up in a shelter. The very first thing they do is test for FELV to keep fom infecting other cats. So any who test positive will immediately be put down. The bad news is thanks to the antibodies formed from that vaccine, your cat will now always test positive.

Petco has microchip clinics once a month I think and I have been told it's a lot cheaper than a vet. Good luck.
 
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meeepcosy

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It's so nice to hear your little one is doing so well!
 If you have new pictures we would love to see them.

I got one of my kittens when he was young too. 8 weeks. It's so much fun to watch them grow up.

I was nervous to cut my cat's nails in the beginning too. I have found it works best if I do it when they are tired. Sometimes I only do one foot and the other the next day. Try giving her a treat when you are done so she associates it with something good. If it's hard too see the pink under her nail it might be better to let the vet do it. Just clip the sharp tip. You don't need to make them super short.

If you want to ease into raw you might want to try a commercially prepared one first? Some are sterilized even though they are raw. Just in case you haven't seen it, this is a wonderful site about cat nutrition by a vet www.catinfo.org. She has some cat food recipes too.
Thank you for the link, I'll be sure to check it out. I think I might have stumbled upon that site a while ago, but to be honest I don't know. Guess I'll have a browse again to find out hey? hahaha! :)

Thank you bigperm20, we'll look into that. We actually have an appointment with the vet tomorrow, will ask her about microchipping then. I'll also look around in the area for this Petco, never heard of it, but why not give it a shot right? :)

Oriental Slave, thank you for the reply. I have read about the whole raw feeding/wet food/dry food debate, on this website and many others as well. I don't think I was clear enough, my English sucks sometimes hahaha! :D I don't want to feed her only lean meat (whether raw, half-cooked or cooked), because, like you said, it does not have all the nutrients she needs. I am thinking of feeding her a diet of kibble, wet food and, at times, chicken, either cooked or half-cooked. And in time, hopefully I'll get used to the idea of raw feeding and I'll adapt her diet. I'm trying hard to open up to this idea of raw feeding, since I want the best for her, but it goes against my first instincts. It is foreign to me, but I understand the science and the change will happen in time. I have heard many good things about raw feeding and I would love to see those same benefits for Rasberry. All in good time. :) I'll browse through these forums again, I love the titbits of info I get. Very helpful. :D

And now, to figure out how to post some pictures. Stay tuned. :)
 
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meeepcosy

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Some of the pics are a few weeks old already, as you can see from her size, but the last ones was taken just tonight, while I was *trying* to study. Hahaha! This is a very intellectual kitty; she loves my books. :p
 
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