How can i make my kitten eat?

I noticed she doesn't eat as much since 3 days ago so I got her new food and she ate ok for the first time. Now she eats but very very small amounts I tried feeding her the food I normally give her and still nothing she is also getting skinny. I do not have money to take her to the vet and I feel horrible. I do not want to feed her raw or cooked food because I can barely buy her food and I don't want her to get used to something I won't be able to afford. If she needs vet attention I guess I will have to rehome her ): but she plays and goes to the litter box all normal.

This site is helpful http://www.assistfeed.com/

The truth is though, your kitten needs vet attention. Kittens go down quickly, and the situation can go VERY bad rapidly.
She will need vet attention now and throughout her life. Make sure she has all her vaccinations and that you get her spayed also.

If you can't afford vet care, I am sorry to say, yes, rehoming her might be the right and responsible thing to do.

For you and your little girl :rub:

Carolina said:

This site is helpful http://www.assistfeed.com/

The truth is though, your kitten needs vet attention. Kittens go down quickly, and the situation can go VERY bad rapidly.
She will need vet attention now and throughout her life. Make sure she has all her vaccinations and that you get her spayed also.

If you can't afford vet care, I am sorry to say, yes, rehoming her might be the right and responsible thing to do.

For you and your little girl :rub:

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Ok thanks I'll look into it. She has all her shots and getting spayed at six months. We barely finished this semester and at the moment looking for a job hopefully (fingers crossed) I get a job soon so I won't have to rehome her.

I'd definitely take her to the vet. In the meantime, you might want to tempt her into eating with some meat baby food. Plain chicken or turkey works well. Kitties love it and it's cheap, but not a long term solution. Also, some cats are super picky and will stop eating their regular food for no apparent reason. Lots of owners have to rotate brands and flavors on a regular basis. Try some different flavors of canned cat foods and hopefully one will get her appetite working.

Could she be eating anything else-another cats/dogs food?

If you got a premium food she will need less.  Use the bag as a rough guide to her weight and age/amount needed.

It is really a bad spot to not be eating much.  Can be start of a highly contagious disease or just a uri.

Also if she is not spayed she could be in a light heat or about to go in. 
 

thank u guys! I am so worried. She is 4 months and a half could she go into heat so soon? Of so, What would be signs she is or might be going into heat?

Oh, yeah, she could go into heat at that age! Look for excessive meowing or louder, strange meowing, lots of affection like rubbing on your legs more than usual and presenting (putting her hind end up in the air). The sooner you can get her fixed, the better. Not only is it much healthier for her, but cats in heat can honestly be very annoying! Plus they go into heat every few weeks once they start and that's if your lucky enough that she doesn't get pregnant. It may seem expensive to have the surgery done but in the long run it's much cheaper than having to care for a pregnant cat and her litter. That's a load of stress you certainly don't need!
In many areas, the local animal shelter and the SPCA will offer monthly low cost spay and neuter programs. If they don't offer it, they will have recommendations to others who do. Often they have reduced price vaccines available at the same time.

Yup they can go pretty early.  Also if she was to get pregnant being so small and skinny it very well could kill her.

Either way start looking for low cost clinics in area at least to know what is offered.  Some have wait lists of few weeks to a month or more depending. 
 

I actually have a vet but she said to wait until 6 months. Besides there is no way she could get pregnant since she is an inside kitty only   I am more concerned about her not eating. Thank you both for your comments, advice, and knowledge. 

Well, it could be related because if she's going into heat it could affect her appetite. A lot of vets do like to wait until 6 months to spay but you have to be prepared for the annoyance of her going into heat, possibly multiple times. BUT. . .even if she is in heat and that's why she's not eating as much, if she's losing weight it's getting serious. Cats can get liver failure from not eating . A vet visit would be best. . .maybe your vet will take payments. If you want to try a few things before a vet visit, try giving her chicken, tuna, anything tasty and preferable smelly. Don't worry about getting her hooked on something---it's just very important that she eat something. If it keeps up for much longer she will definitely need to see the vet.

Try giving the vet a call---calls are free and they might have some good suggestions.

Also sub q fluids do wonders for cats at times.  That would be done in office exam and take only a few minutes.  A inside cat will get out at some point or a male will rip a screen or find a way in from basement/crawl space.  They get creative.

Are you sure she is not getting some dog/cat food somewhere else?

Have you tried some fast food chicken(kfc is good.  She needs SOMETHING in her.  If you could find something you could add it to reg food just to get her by.

Have you looked into shelters in your area for low cost vet care?  Some will be half the reg office exam or no office exam charge just meds/tests.

Did you recently switch types of food (dry to more wet or all wet) or brands?

Did she get a vaccine in last week or so?

Any pets come over for a visit or did she go anywhere(petsmart or vet)

Measure out what she is eating! 

catsallaround said:

Did you recently switch types of food (dry to more wet or all wet) or brands?

Did she get a vaccine in last week or so?

Any pets come over for a visit or did she go anywhere(petsmart or vet)

Measure out what she is eating! 

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Yes I switched her because she wasnt eating her old food much which i assumed was because she got bored of it. I did keep the same brand though except for the wet food and i took it away and only gave her dry like i usually do and still nothing she will eat few but then leave. Today was weird though because my sister left her schanuzer for a little bit and as i was making his food well mixing it she seemed interested in it.

She got her rabies last week.

my sister schanuzer did and they always play/tackle each other.

and she doesnt eat other pets food because she is my only pet, however I've seen her jump on the table and sometimes people leave their food there but once in a blue moon.