New Cat - First Timer - Panicking

miskinsincap said:

 
I've just come across this thread, and wanted to thank you for taking care of the lttle one. 

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Same here- thank you so much for all you are doing for him!

You have gotten some fantastic advice and hopefully it is helping you to feel more comfortable about what you are doing. I agree with those who have recommended keeping him on a grain free food if at all possible. Even if you can't use it all the time, RC has a fantastic kitten formula packed full of nutrients and extra calories. You may also want to look for other brands that have a specific kitten formula wet food as they are more calorie dense and higher in the nutrients they specifically need. 

I too am also very surprised by your vets aversion to adding some KMR to his diet. I agree he needs to be on solids at this point, but I don't see the harm in giving him KMR as well. Since he has teeth I wouldn't bottle feed him but I would probably offer him some in a saucer and let him lap it up. It increases his calories and his fluid intake so I see nothing wrong with that and, like others, have done it many times before! 

As for dry food- no, he doesn't need it if you are going to feed him an all wet diet. But, if you plan to incorporate dry then you do want to start leaving it out so he gets used to it. It may take him a little while to figure it out but he will get there when he is ready. Be careful about watering it down though as it will breed bacteria very quickly. Keep the wet watered down and the dry as is!

Finally is the question of his vision. And, I totally agree with you that something isn't right. Just because his pupils are dilating doesn't mean there isn't something else going on, and everything you have described sounds like he may not be seeing very well if at all. Be sure to watch him closely and have your vet take another look. It could be a potential inner ear problem but to me it sounds like it's visual in nature. If it is I also agree with the others- he can go on to live a fully normal life if you give him the chance! One of my cats is visually impaired and so I incorporate a lot more sound to help him. He's skittish because of it but otherwise functions very well!

Keep  the questions coming and keep up the good work! 

The kitten is doing better than before.

this was kind of a quick recovery so far.

4 Meals a day (sometimes 5 in case he keeps circling).

Each meal includes around 6-7CC of water, and 1 CC of VitaminB Complex & Vitamin C.

tomorrow is his appointment with the VET.

i`ll keep everyone updated.. and big thanks to all of you who contributed and helped me out with your helpful advise and pointers.

here is a pic (you can see he has a tummy now
(He needs a bath!!)

This is great. This kitty is so lucky to have found you!
You have had great advice so far, yet one thing I'd like to add is to watch out for the sun. I lost a kitten once because of the sun! Please make surr he always has a hide out and shade.
At this age and in his condition it could be fatale to leave your kitty laying in the sun. And at this age kittens' body balance is not fully developed so even if they can walk and jump it doesn't mean they land safely. Some kittens eyes develop slow slow if he is still developing his vision he might be able to tell how high he is and can have severe injuries - bones or organs.

I don't mean to scare yo - yiu have obviously been doing a great job. Just watch out.
Good luck at the vet!

Oh my!  He must have just eaten, because he does have a big belly .  How is he doing otherwise?  Is he more active?  More kitten like?  Or is he still spending most of the time just lying around?   I must say, he looks pretty comfy there in that picture .  Has he got a name yet?   I'll be anxious to hear what the Vet says tomorrow

Came back from the VET today...

Sadly "SiSo" that is what he was given as a name, turned out to be blind. 

that is why he was not acting like a normal kitten playing & jumping.

that explained why he has been going in circles and bumping into stuff.

in addition he had ear mits as well, so the VET cleaned them up (still needs some cleaning inside but not now, he had enough struggle with the vet for one day) and gave him a pill to de-worm him (since i asked if we need to do something related to worms).

other than that, he is doing fine, he enjoys being rubbed on his belly. 

i am taking a look @ a couple of articles stating how to take care of a blind cat, so mainly and foremost, this should be an indoor cat and should not be exposed to places he does not know.

i need to give him a bath, yet still since he had his ears done today, i`ll wait for a couple of days just to make sure they are ok and then go for it.

thank you everyone for such a great experience here in this forum and the tons of advice given. 

it is really a kind gesture to have people (you gentlemen & ladies ) helping me out, and eventually helping SiSo out to have a second chance.

btw, the issue related to being blind is a bit confusing, no haziness in the eyes, nor the pupil is always dialated... so i am assuming he has an issue with behind the eye & the pupil...

i concluded 2 things, this was either since birth, or someone did this to the kitty by a slap on the head.

I'm sorry to learn that he is indeed blind, but as mentioned earlier, cats can get along very well with disabilities.  Just don't rearrange the furniture  too often .  Our friends' cat went blind at age 15 due to high blood pressure, and he did fine unless they forgot to close the dishwasher door...then he's sometimes bump into it, which would just startle him a little.  But he remained the same lovebug as always.

So, did your Vet think Siso's chances of survival are pretty good now?  All in all is he happy with how he is coming along? 

Oh poor lil siso!im glad he is doing well health wise. His weight and all?

Hr is lucky to have found you, keep up the good work, and don't feel so bad that he is blind. Did the vet say if it is reversible? Are you planning to get a blood test?

A friend of mine had a blind cat (had infection that killed her eyes when she was stray. They managed well after sometime and they developed their own way to communicate.
He made sure he introduced everyone and everything that is new. She used to recognise the sound of his engine and wait for him at the door! She didn't do well with toys and loved to be cuddled.

Good luck to you two!
big cuddle to siso!

I'm so sorry to hear the news about his vision. And, you are probably right that it is a birth defect or from some level of abuse. It's sad either way. 

As others have mentioned, he will learn to function very normally if you go slow in introducing him to things. Also, play up his other senses by buying toys with strong smells or sounds so he can find and interact with them. 

I am also learning to live with a visually impaired feline (He is not fully blind yet but is getting there). I noticed that anytime I would come home he would run and hide and finally figured out it's because he didn't know who was coming through the door and it scared him. So, I put a bell on my keychain so he always knows it's me and that has helped a lot. I also always announce myself when I come into a room and make others do the same. I make sure no one sneaks up on him without speaking aloud first and that they always offer a hand to his nose before petting him so he can identify who it is. Cats are incredibly intelligent and his sense of smell and hearing will make up for his lack of vision!

I know this is your first cat and it has been overwhelming but I would really urge you to consider adopting a second. Honestly, having a second is really no more work than having one, especially if you have two kittens who bond young and easily share space. Not only will this help him with his play but will help him figure out the world from a feline perspective. There are also tons of stories of 'seeing' cats becoming helpers for their 'non seeing' companions. I can even attest to this myself, as after Diego's vision started to go I noticed my other cat Ella was spending a lot more time around him. Whenever he gets confused and cries she will fly to be by his side and will groom and comfort him. I also see them walking side by side a lot, as if she is guiding him to where he needs to be. In a lot of ways I think she provides him with a lot more comfort than I do as they communicate on a different level and he knows if Ella is somewhere it's a safe place for him as well. 

If by any chance this becomes too overwhelming and you don't want to keep him be sure you check out no kill shelters. It seems counterintuitive but cats with disabilities are often the first to be adopted! I don't think this is the case here as you two seemed to have bonded but if you need it know it is an option for you. Otherwise, check out the no kill shelters for a companion for SiSo! 

And, keep coming back here with your questions and concerns. Our advice and support is ongoing for as long as you may need and want it. I also know that those facing similar challenges are more than happy to talk in depth if you need it so don't hesitate to PM one of us! Hang in there!        

EDIT: 

Boull said:

 
btw, the issue related to being blind is a bit confusing, no haziness in the eyes, nor the pupil is always dialated... so i am assuming he has an issue with behind the eye & the pupil...

i concluded 2 things, this was either since birth, or someone did this to the kitty by a slap on the head.

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This is the same with Diego. His pupils dilate normally and he has no cloudiness or haze to his eyes. I know he wasn't abused as a young kitten (as I've had him since birth) but he is still very young (just turned year) so the vet thinks it's a neurological birth defect that is degenerative in nature. We are working with a specialist and I'll let you know if they come up with anything super informative as to the 'why'. 

I don't have any advice but I wanted to say, I'm very thankful you toke in little Siso.

You saved his life, you should feel really proud of yourself.

  You're doing a fantastic job taking care of little Siso, keep it up,  and don't hesitate to ask us if you have more questions

hi Everyone,

well i am having trouble estimating how much food i should be putting for him.

normally he goes through 1 whole pate can (100gr total).. so each meal is 25gr of Pate.

he is having around 5 meals per 24 hours (8 AM/12PM/4PM/8PM/12AM)

the idea is that yesterday my family kind of thought he was hungry so they gave him some food (pasta with tuna & some friskies dry food!).. his belly was rock solid and i felt that was really something wrong to do.

i need some advice here .

thank you in advance for everyone's help

When you say pasta and tuna, are you talking about a CAT food, or people food.  If people food, that's a no-no.  First off, it probably had seasonings (onions, garlic, salt, etc.) that cats don't need (and can be harmful), and Pasta, which cats definitely don't need.  Now I know there is a cat food out there, I think it's Purina One canned that has little bits of pasta in it (heaven only knows WHY), and if that's what it was, then that's ok, but I wouldn't feed him people food, unless it is raw meat or eggs, or a tiny bit of tuna, packed in water, only as a special treat. 

So....as far as how much to feed him, basically feed him as much as he'll eat.  He's a growing boy!  But you can use the general guidelines on the can of food.  You're feeding kitten food, right?  Doesn't it say on the can approx how much to feed based on the weight of the kitten?  He was just weighed at his last Vet visit I'm guessing.  So you can start with that, but figure he'll gain almost daily at this age .

His stomach was probably rock hard because he may have indulged himself a little too much all at once on those Friskies.  Did he poop okay afterwards?

Greenjeena covered all I could think of. Just make sure he is also drinking enough (the same water you drink, not tap water, unless potable).

Sometimes its good to give him home made food (made for cats not human) for a change from stores cat food. I did that for the orphans im fostering now when they had post-weaning diarrhea -I highly recommend it once a week.


how is siso doing otherwise? Is he playing ok? Is he happy and well?
And how are you adapting?

Greetings

Hello, I haven't posted to you before but you are amazing for taking in this little kitten, and you have made such a difference to his life. He was amazingly lucky that you found him when you did, especially with the eyesight problems that he has.  I previously had 2 cats who went blind in their later years.

Cats are very adaptable and, as others have said, make great use of their other senses to compensate.  Because Siso has had ear issues this will have made it very challenging for him find his way in the world but as his balance and hearing settle you should hopefully see a big change in what he can manage, especially as he gets bigger and stronger. He looks very comfortable and relaxed in your pictures and you have done such a wonderful job to achieve this for him as his world so far must have been a very scary place for him.  And what a difference in the size of his tummy between your two photograph postings!  

I hope his hard tummy has settled and that he is well in himself now.  I can only second the advice not to give any human food. So many things can be harmful to cats and we are not always aware when they are in the foods we eat.  

With regard to his sight, take care with your home, some simple precautions can help your cat learn and find a safe way to be an active and happy cat who just happens to love being in contact with you: 

1. As others have said, do not move things around often, and keep floors/surfaces he is on clear so he does not bump in to / get lost when walking in to things.

2. Guide him with sound and voice, he will use your voices and sounds of movement to reassure him and guide him to where you are.

3. Keep him on safe, low surfaces and do not leave him unattended at all if you have him on a raised surface while he is little.  Until he knows his home very well he will have no idea where the risks are, when he reaches the edges of anything what he should do next,  if he is going to fall and if he falls how far it is to keep him self safe like other cats do. 

4. Remember to keep windows safe so he can not climb out esp. as he will not know what is outside and how far away the ground is.

5. He will also not know if he is going to walk in to, jump at, or fall on anything that might hurt him.This could include glass items he could knock over, or things like candles he could knock over and burn himself / set things on fire.   I first realized my first cat was blind when she walked on to a table and straight in to a lit dinner candle - knocking it over and leaving red wax dripping down my wall and all over the table (but thankfully nothing set alight). 

6.The issue of burning things is particularly important as cats do not feel heat and burning like people (I think they only sense it on their mouth and paws). You might think your cat can tell it is walking towards something hot like a candle, fire, or cooker flame but it will not know if it can not see it and doesn't know what the smell means (even if it the smell of its own burning fur).  

7. Toys with smells and sounds that do not frighten your kitten will hopefully be of most interest, and encourage him to touch and experience as many textures as you can introduce so that he can get used to how things feel, smell and sound together - this will help him start to make sense of his world. Once he feels safe with some familiar things he will hopefully feel brave enough to start to explore with you. Once he is strong and feeling safe you will have an active little kitten ready to take on your home, whether you are ready for him to do this or not (the joys of parenthood)!   

8. Like children, kittens learn through play and as hard as it may seem, and how many times your heart may jump in  to your mouth as he starts to explore and play, this is how he will master everything he needs to learn. All you can do is try to keep him reasonably safe while he does this, but sometimes he might get hurt, this happens. As long as you do what you can to keep any injury or fright to the safest level you can then you are a wonderful parent, and the very best parent he could ever hope to have.   

Please do not be put off by this, if you manage to bring this kitten in to good health you have done an amazing job, and once he has learned about his environment he should start to play and have just as full and happy life as any other cat who knows it is master of his own home! And rest assured he will know how to find his food and his cuddles! Please give Siso a cuddle from me. 

Thank you again for the great advice, noted for people food   didn't know that at all... had a bit of seasoning and as said, he indulged himself a bit more than he can handle. 

the nice thing in the past day till now is that he is starting to take in solid food.. yet they are being soaked in water with a bit of pate which i am retracting the portion bit by bit. i`ll check the boxes for feeding instructions on how many times a day.

the new thing i discovered and hopefully i am not correct about it, is that he might have a hearing loss in one of his ears.. he tends to twist to his right always with no regards to where the sound is coming from.

other than that, sadly the doc didn't get his weight but i do notice that his belly is becoming more and more big with the passing day. i`ll see if i can take his weight soon to compare with his age.

thank you again for all your help 

Aw, I hope the rest of him grows in to his big belly!     He must be a very determined little guy so thank you for keeping him safe.  

With the hearing, could it still be some loss due to the infection/fleas he had? Sometimes things can take a while to settle, a bit like when humans get an ear infection or cold and the ear canal feels blocked for a couple of weeks after everything else has cleared away, and things can sound funny or be hard to tell where they come from. You are sure he's just twisting round to that side to check out what he's hearing and it's not easier or more comfortable / feels safer for him to balance if he turns that way?

It sounds like he's alert and figuring about the world around him what ever is happening and that is a great sign.   

Hi again, sorry for tumbling all my questions but i don't have any other place to ask them and i feel there is tons of help here more than Google itself.

i came today to find out that he has a part of his belly stiff not like the other part. the other part is kind of soft ....

tried to touch him to check if that is something where pain resides, yet he didnt show any type of pain.

the vet is not until the coming Saturday morning, but the bloat seems unusual for a kitten.. i know he should have a belly but it should be soft yet his left side is stiff.

he is pooping and peeing.. eating (with a huge appetite)... and started drinking water....

so that is kind of weird....

possible that this is due to worms? the vet gave him a de-wormer pill on Saturday.. might that kicked in that way?

any advice is appreciated ..

thank you.

if a picture helps, then i`ll post one.

It is definitely unusual and I too would be worried.  Try starting a a new thread, with a picture,  not sure if it would be best here or may be in the health forum.  Give the thread a new title which tells people what you are worried about - like what you have said in your lasts post here about how the belly feels, and asking for advice. Kittens are so vulnerable even when they are in good health and I feel you need urgent advice on this for your little guy.   

Normally I would have thought constipation or intestinal blockage due to eating some toy,  fabric etc.  but if he has been having normal bowel movements ( normal size and not watery) after you have seen the swollen belly and felt this hardness on the side,   I don't see how it could  really be that. 

It could be related to the worms.   and he might have more than one kind of intestinal parasite and I don't know if the pill he got works for all of them.

  What about colic ?    the stomach may be distended with gas maybe due to  eating too much rich food too quickly after  starving ?      You didnt notice any pain there,  though.    and I think normally that would be painful.   ( Of course cats are good at hiding pain) .  or could he have swallowed some foreign body that has stayed in the stomach?

Under the stomach is the spleen and  pancreas.  and left kidney.   Pancreatitis could call swelling 

Oh.........  This poor little guy was found on the road .... it's possible he had some internal injuries  and the organs have since then become more displaced.  but if so,  not to the point of causing him distress .  I hope it is not that.

And I  hope it's not FIP. 

 If he seems pretty comfortable and is eating, drinking, peeing and pooping normally,  not vomiting,   that is a good sign.  but do see the vet as soon as you can  and get an exam and if needed ,   radiograph or ultrasound. 

 If you can't get hold of your vet now,  you could try asking on this site .http://www.justanswer.com/        Just select Vets,  then select Cat

More vibes to little Siso