Help! 6 Week Old Kitten Not Eating Food (Mom Isn't Around Either)

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crossbones3129

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Alright, I'll try to remember that.

I want to give him a bath but I don't have cat shampoo. He has kitty litter stuck to the bottom of his feet, that I assume has feces or urine on it, that won't come off. How can I give him a bath safely and, for now, without cat/kitten shampoo?
 

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Baths are really not needed for cats usually but you could get pet wipes at the pet store or even a warm wash cloth to wipe his feet down.
 
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crossbones3129

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Baths are really not needed for cats usually but you could get pet wipes at the pet store or even a warm wash cloth to wipe his feet down.
Yeah, I put some water in a tub. He walked in it then I wiped his feet off. It was so hard to take off when it was dry. I never knew cats don't need baths lol. I knew they don't like water but that's it.

Any clue when he'll stop this sleep, eat, sleep, eat, sleep, eat cycle lol? I don't want him getting too fat! I know he's a baby and that's what he's gonna do but I just like to hear all of your advice.
 
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franksmom

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Yeah, I put some water in a tub. He walked in it then I wiped his feet off. It was so hard to take off when it was dry. I never knew cats don't need baths lol. I knew they don't like water but that's it.

Any clue when he'll stop this sleep, eat, sleep, eat, sleep, eat cycle lol? I don't want him getting too fat! I know he's a baby and that's what he's gonna do but I just like to hear all of your advice.
Sleeping and eating is pretty much what they do at that age and it is important he eats all he wants right now because he is still growing.

Most cats are very clean and will do a good job keeping themselves neat and tidy.
 
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Sleeping and eating is pretty much what they do at that age and it is important he eats all he wants right now because he is still growing.

Most cats are very clean and will do a good job keeping themselves neat and tidy.
He just did something really gross! He poo-ed and got out the litter box and rubbed his but on the floor and left a bunch of streaks of poo! He's got it all on the back of his legs and butt! How do I clean and how do I stop that from happening!?

He's been sleeping with me in my bed and I really don't want him to with all that on him and plus if he does that while I'm sleeping my family won't be happy campers!
 
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Such happens now and then with all cats, if they get one "sausage" hanging on a hair.  The hair was perhaps inside the bowels....

HERE I suspect he got some loose poo, as it was so much which fastened on his fur.

So it wasnt really his fault.   Even humans with diarrhea cant always controll what they do. Be happy he tried to get it into the litter.

Your problem is to look out if the loose poo continues.

When they change food, they often get some loose poo. But if it goes into diarrhea, or is loose very long, you must perhaps avoid this particular brand.

So, look out.

Now you know how to bath him a little.  You can use Dawn dish cleaning soap as cat shampoo (useful also for washing off fleas!).  Take it easy, be sure you rinse well with nicely warm water, and be sure to dry afterwards.  If they are wet, they get easily cold.

FranksMom gave you a serie of excellent advices.  Hers advantage over me is she is living in USA, and thus, she knows the common food brands in USA, while for me they are just hearseys.  

Good luck!
 

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Agree Stefan soft stool just sometimes happen with kittens. I just use pet wipes with my kitten if it is a small amount or I wash her bum in the sink if it is really messy (only had to do this once). I use a natural pet shampoo which is meant to be gentile on the skin.

I am actually in Canada but we mostly have the same food brands up here.
 
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Yeah, I'm gonna try to get some of those pet wipes asap! I'll try to get a pic of him later so you can all see what little guy you're helping ;)
 
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crossbones3129

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Ok so more questions lol.

He's alway biting my fingers and either on here or another site I read that I'm not supposed to play with him using my fingers because he'll play too rough. He constantly is scratching and biting my hands and feet lol. I holler ouch when it's kinda hard bc I read that's what you're supposed to do since he's so young.
 

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For sure stop playing with your hand with him and if he does bite hiss or growl at him like a mother cat. Get him some toys to play with him instead of your hands, wands work really well to distract them from doing destructive things. You should also get some cat nail clippers and start cutting his claws so he gets used to it. 
 
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crossbones3129

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For sure stop playing with your hand with him and if he does bite hiss or growl at him like a mother cat. Get him some toys to play with him instead of your hands, wands work really well to distract them from doing destructive things. You should also get some cat nail clippers and start cutting his claws so he gets used to it. 
I've got a little mouse toy for him but he plays with it every now and then but stays playing with me lol. When I go to rub his head or under his mouth he sometimes attacks my hand and can't help that. So when he bites on wires and other objects, what should I do?

I hiss and growl but he just ignores it...
 
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Such happens now and then with all cats, if they get one "sausage" hanging on a hair.  The hair was perhaps inside the bowels....

HERE I suspect he got some loose poo, as it was so much which fastened on his fur.

So it wasnt really his fault.   Even humans with diarrhea cant always controll what they do. Be happy he tried to get it into the litter.

Your problem is to look out if the loose poo continues.

When they change food, they often get some loose poo. But if it goes into diarrhea, or is loose very long, you must perhaps avoid this particular brand.

So, look out.

Now you know how to bath him a little.  You can use Dawn dish cleaning soap as cat shampoo (useful also for washing off fleas!).  Take it easy, be sure you rinse well with nicely warm water, and be sure to dry afterwards.  If they are wet, they get easily cold.

FranksMom gave you a serie of excellent advices.  Hers advantage over me is she is living in USA, and thus, she knows the common food brands in USA, while for me they are just hearseys.  

Good luck!
He's been scratching a lot and I think i seen a flea run through his hair so I need to get rid of that! Should I avoid the Dawn with bleach in it?
 
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franksmom

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I've got a little mouse toy for him but he plays with it every now and then but stays playing with me lol. When I go to rub his head or under his mouth he sometimes attacks my hand and can't help that. So when he bites on wires and other objects, what should I do?

I hiss and growl but he just ignores it...
I have wand toys for my cat and I just wave them when she starts chewing or playing with something she shouldn't. I am pretty sure they would have wand toys at the dollar store so you could get one cheaply. 
 
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crossbones3129

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I wasnt even aware there are different Dawn.  Use the mildest of them, so no bleach no.   :)
Ya there are a bunch of different colors/types.
I have wand toys for my cat and I just wave them when she starts chewing or playing with something she shouldn't. I am pretty sure they would have wand toys at the dollar store so you could get one cheaply. 
Ya I'll try to get one tomorrow!
 

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I honestly would pick up some pet shampoo instead of using dawn, but many people do use the original dawn on kittens who have fleas (none of the ones with additives). It has to be the original one or it would be very dangerous because cats are very easily poisoned if they come in contact with bleach. If you are certain he has fleas I always advise people to ask your vet about using revolution or advantage because these are the easiest products to get rid of fleas. Do not get a flea collar or flea shampoo because they have been shown to be very dangerous and have killed cats and kittens. 
 
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crossbones3129

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I honestly would pick up some pet shampoo instead of using dawn, but many people do use the original dawn on kittens who have fleas (none of the ones with additives). It has to be the original one or it would be very dangerous because cats are very easily poisoned if they come in contact with bleach. If you are certain he has fleas I always advise people to ask your vet about using revolution or advantage because these are the easiest products to get rid of fleas. Do not get a flea collar or flea shampoo because they have been shown to be very dangerous and have killed cats and kittens. 
Wow I never knew that! I've put a flea collar on a previous cat I had. I'll never use one again!

By the way, I live in Louisiana and we really don't take our pets to the vet. Financially, I can't right now but I will if I need to. Since he is so little what things do I need to do that I don't need a vet to see about?
 

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Wow I never knew that! I've put a flea collar on a previous cat I had. I'll never use one again!

By the way, I live in Louisiana and we really don't take our pets to the vet. Financially, I can't right now but I will if I need to. Since he is so little what things do I need to do that I don't need a vet to see about?
Yes a lot of cats have gotten sick from the build up of pesticides on their skin from flea collars. They also will die if they chew on them. Really great you have decided not to use them. If he does get fleas like I said you can get advantage or revolution from the vet, but if he is inside only you shouldn't have to worry too much about fleas. 

From my understanding there are actually a lot of very reasonably priced vets in the States, especially in the South. Where I live in Canada you can not even see a vet for less than $100! If you feed your cat a good diet and keep a carful eye on him generally you do not have to take them to the vet too often after the first year. Unfortunately, you will have to take him a few times the first year to get vaccines and fix him. If he is indoor you do not need to get all the vaccines for him and will not have to vaccinate every year. Here is a good article on the vaccines you should and shouldn't give (http://catinfo.org/?link=vaccines). I did the kitten series and rabies for my kitten and I personally will not give more than one vaccine at a time or get a kitten fixed at the same time as the vaccines because I think it puts undue stress on their immune system.  For emergencies it is a good idea to set aside some money every month so you will be able to bring him to the vet without having to worry about the money. 
 
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Yes a lot of cats have gotten sick from the build up of pesticides on their skin from flea collars. They also will die if they chew on them. Really great you have decided not to use them. If he does get fleas like I said you can get advantage or revolution from the vet, but if he is inside only you shouldn't have to worry too much about fleas. 

From my understanding there are actually a lot of very reasonably priced vets in the States, especially in the South. Where I live in Canada you can not even see a vet for less than $100! If you feed your cat a good diet and keep a carful eye on him generally you do not have to take them to the vet too often after the first year. Unfortunately, you will have to take him a few times the first year to get vaccines and fix him. If he is indoor you do not need to get all the vaccines for him and will not have to vaccinate every year. Here is a good article on the vaccines you should and shouldn't give (http://catinfo.org/?link=vaccines). I did the kitten series and rabies for my kitten and I personally will not give more than one vaccine at a time or get a kitten fixed at the same time as the vaccines because I think it puts undue stress on their immune system.  For emergencies it is a good idea to set aside some money every month so you will be able to bring him to the vet without having to worry about the money. 
Yeah, he's gonna stay inside with me. Is it possible for those fleas to die off on their own? He scratches every now and then and I'm positive I seen one run through his hair when I first got him.
 

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No they wont go away on their own. You can treat fleas at home with original dawn soap and a flea/lice comb or you could bring him to the vet to see if he is old enough for advantage or revolution and get a dose of that. 
 
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