Kitten - blind & no sense of smell

I have a 14 week old kitten who had a bad start in life.  I think the litter was premature, then treated for URI & crusty eyes and finally a diagnosis of herpes.  I just found out that she is blind, has no sense of smell and maybe no feeling in her nose.  She continually was becoming dehydrated and I only know now that she can not smell the water. The food is always in the same place so she has no trouble finding it.  Has never used the litter box and pushes the food all over with her nose while eating.  The food then drops all over the floors.  The people at the shelter feel that I can teach her these things through habit but I am not so sure. 

I was thinking of putting her in a small cage with litter all over the bottom except for a bed & food/water.  I am hesitate to do this as she relies on her brother a lot.  This would at least get her used to the litter as she does not scratch at the litter like normal kittens.  I have tried putting her in the box every time I catch her in the act but I am usually to late. In the beginning I would line the walls in their room with litter boxes and she would go in front of the door. 

I would appreciate any help as in order to be adopted she has to at least use a litter box.  Thank you!

If you try the confinement technique (a good way to start the training process) I would put her brother in too so she has him for company. 

Is she eating wet food?  This can go a long way to keeping her hydrated and you can even add some water to it to make it more like a soup.  And you can try adding dried fish flakes to make it smellier....

I have a blind cat by the way, and if you want we could discuss this part of the issue more.....?

Thank you Stephan for your reply.  Her being blind is not the real problem.  Blind kittens and cats do well even so.  They don't know they are blind so they just make the best of things.  My real concern is the lack of smell and not being able to lap up liquid.  I have always feed her wet food with lots of water or KMR mixed in.  They both get Royal Canin Babycat.  As she would not get this expensive food at the shelter or once adopted, I tried to start moving to less expensive wet food. Even though I started slowly she stopped eating and became dehydrated.  I talked with my vet today and she felt the kitten would be not be a up for adoption due to the many problems.  She thinks she is brain damaged and may not be able to use her tongue.  She did suck on a bottle like a normal kitten, however.  This just breaks my heart!  She is a very loving little girl and does not seem to be in pain.  Plus she has fought so hard to stay alive.  I would keep her myself but her brother would need to stay as well and my condo restricts to one pet.  In addition they wold have to stay in one room most of the time due to the litter box problem and my resident cat. Is this fair to her healthy brother? People have been forced to sell, get rid of their animals or pay $250.00 per month for each animal over the one limit. 

I was hoping someone knew something about this problem and could help me.  Sadly, even if I got her to use the box, I don't think she would be able to find it consistently in a new home.  I would rather let her go now than have her be returned several times when the adopter could no longer deal with the problems.  I have asked the kennel manager to evaluate her as I am too close to this kitten to be objective.

If she needs to be put down I want her brother and I to be there until it is over so she  is not stressed or afraid.  If the shelter will not allow this I will ask if I can pay my own vet to do it.  Sorry, this is making me cry.

Again thank you for responding; no one else did.

Diane

I'm so sorry for the choices in front of you. I will look for more people to help and will be in touch Sunday. Thank you for being so caring.
Stephen

Thank you both for doing all you can for this kitten. I hope a solution can be found.

My heart goes out to both you and your brave little cat.

She has hearing, touch, her brother, her vet and most importantly, you.  It is truly remarkable what partially disabled animals can learn to live like, especially when they are fortunate enough to have dedicated care when they are young and most readily taught.

Confining both the little guys while litter training does sound smart.  She can learn from mimicking her brother.  Using her hearing and her brother might help - crystal litter in a plastic storage container litter box makes a very loud gravelly noise when used.  The first time my kitty got in it I was in the bedroom and thought it was hailing outside!  An 'echoey' room with hard surfaces would enhance the sound.  Then when her brother uses the box she will hear that strongly.  To associate pee/poop with the sound, maybe try using her sense of touch in her paws.  It's gross, but won't hurt the kitten, if you pick her up and touch her paws to the wetness of the urine in the box while using something else to rattle it around.  When she goes outside the box and you come in to discover it, try touching her paw pads to the liquid urine and even the poo (remember, she can't smell or see it, so she will know very well what it is by touch) and then move both her and the poo/pee (or some pee) into the box, touching her paws to the waste again while making the crystals rattle.  Touch her paws to the waste and then the gravel back and forth while petting and praising her.  She may go see what her brother is doing when he makes noise in the box and discover she's stepped in his pee/poo!  Keep non-drying disinfectant wipes handy to clean her paws after each time. 

Of course do all the other things you'd normally do to litter train.  It will take work, faith it can be done and tenacity, no doubt.

As far as getting moisture into her, besides wet food, maybe one of those automatic water freshening/dispensers that scoop the water up and let it run down continuously into a shallow base like a waterfall.  They are loud and some cats love to get their water that way as its always cold and clean.  That can be expensive tho - perhaps a used one in a classified ad?

My cat was not drinking at all from his dish so I switched containers, tried ice and changing it 3xday.  Nothing worked until one day I set it down next to his favorite sleeping chair on the coffee table.  The chair is right close, so all he had to do was roll over and drink.  It doesn't wind up with any bits of food in it as it is far from his food annnd  if he is thirsty, it's easier to get to than his wet food is.  A kitten won't be prone to lounging as much, but maybe try putting the water right close to her favorite sleeping spot - and away from the food.

What a puzzle.  I could think about this all day but have to get moving. 

I wish all of you the best of luck.  You're a courageous pair!

Sorry, I forgot you are forced to give her away to a new home.

Well, I would still train her as much as you can in the time you have.  A little confined time for her brother would happen anyway in order to litter train him quickly.

From the little you wrote I felt heart-sick immediately.  What about placing a very well written ad targeted at the hearts of the readers in free classified ads with some adorable pics to get her a new owner that knows the challenges she presents.  Are their any community papers that would feature an article?  What about internet ads?

There are people with big sloppy hearts like me scattered all over who would rather take the poor runt they know no one else will want - you just have to reach them.

If only I had the money to care for them all.... 

Would a very well written letter/request to a pet-owning condo board member, asking for 2 months to train her so you can more easily adopt her out, be at all helpful?

A Youtube video request for 'parents' to foster the 'Courageous Kitten who's Beating All Odds"?

Perhaps the local animal shelter uses temporary foster homes for animals that have contagious diseases (to reduce the spread in the shelter).  If so, would they be willing to have a temporary 'mummy' do the work of training her to increase her adoptability?  She is still a kitten which makes her desireable if the hard work of training is done...

If you must put her down you can't feel too guilty... they can't all be saved... At least she's known your love and warmth instead of being left with an uncaring owner from the beginning.  Best  wishes.

I have written to all the advisors to see if any can come up with more ideas for you. Hopefully you will hear from one soon.

Thank you both for your kindness!

Could you possibly post a picture of her? I'm sorry about the extra trouble, but if you do I'll feature the thread and that might get it more attention. It really is a unique situation most people never deal with, so the more eyeballs we get here, the better the chance of finding someone who might have some experience with this.

Anne said:

 
Could you possibly post a picture of her? I'm sorry about the extra trouble, but if you do I'll feature the thread and that might get it more attention. It really is a unique situation most people never deal with, so the more eyeballs we get here, the better the chance of finding someone who might have some experience with this.

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Your advice is good about the picture but I am unable to do this.  The shelter has strict rules about pictures or promoting animals on your own.  She is a very small grey kitty just at 1.15 pounds today.   i know that the picture would be for assistance only and I appreciate your help but can't do this.

Riley1 said:

 

Anne said:

 
Could you possibly post a picture of her? I'm sorry about the extra trouble, but if you do I'll feature the thread and that might get it more attention. It really is a unique situation most people never deal with, so the more eyeballs we get here, the better the chance of finding someone who might have some experience with this.

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Your advice is good about the picture but I am unable to do this.  The shelter has strict rules about pictures or promoting animals on your own.  She is a very small grey kitty just at 1.15 pounds today.   i know that the picture would be for assistance only and I appreciate your help but can't do this.

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I understand, I took some "artistic liberty" here and featured it along with a generic shelter kitten image.

I don't know if your shelter would allow for her to be transferred or if you'd have to do it on your own but I volunteer at a no-kill shelter that takes in any and all special needs cats from leukemia, FIV, herpes, and diabetes to spinal cord injuries and we even have one cat who can't control her bowels too. But they would happily take her if asked, the founder might even take her home herself to work with. Of course, I don't know where you are or if maybe there's another similar one nearer to you but its worth a shot to find one if you can't rehabilitate her yourself

skycatproject said:

I don't know if your shelter would allow for her to be transferred or if you'd have to do it on your own but I volunteer at a no-kill shelter that takes in any and all special needs cats from leukemia, FIV, herpes, and diabetes to spinal cord injuries and we even have one cat who can't control her bowels too. But they would happily take her if asked, the founder might even take her home herself to work with. Of course, I don't know where you are or if maybe there's another similar one nearer to you but its worth a shot to find one if you can't rehabilitate her yourself

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What a kind offer!  I find this amazing!  Where are you located?  I am near Milwaukee, Wi.  There is no shelter like this here.

Ooh. We're all the way near Fort Myers, Florida- I don't know if you'd have the funding or contacts to get her here but I know we've had people manage it before. Maybe you and the founder can work together to raise the funds or maybe she has some contacts near you? I know she has a friend in Canada who'll be driving back down sometime soon. But if you want, I'll give you her email and the shelters number, about nows the prime time to talk to her

skycatproject said:

Ooh. We're all the way near Fort Myers, Florida- I don't know if you'd have the funding or contacts to get her here but I know we've had people manage it before. Maybe you and the founder can work together to raise the funds or maybe she has some contacts near you? I know she has a friend in Canada who'll be driving back down sometime soon. But if you want, I'll give you her email and the shelters number, about nows the prime time to talk to her

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I would find a way to get her there if you are sure your shelter could take her.  The friend from Canada would be great as well!  Let me talk to my shelter and let me know if this would be a sure thing.  Much appreciated!!!

Riley1 said:

 
I would find a way to get her there if you are sure your shelter could take her.  The friend from Canada would be great as well!  Let me talk to my shelter and let me know if this would be a sure thing.  Much appreciated!!!

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Oh, good- not many people are willing to go so far. But They would definitely take her- the founder actually opened the shelter just for special needs cats just like her who would be unadoptable to the general public or put down elsewhere (There's still a waiting list but special needs cats usually get to jump to the top.) I'll message you the contact information.

Riley1 said:

 
I would find a way to get her there if you are sure your shelter could take her.  The friend from Canada would be great as well!  Let me talk to my shelter and let me know if this would be a sure thing.  Much appreciated!!!

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Why not create a Kickstarter or Indiegogo campaign to raise funds not only for her transport but for any medical expenses as well. Some guy started a Kickstarter campaign recently to raise $10 for ingredients to make potato salad because he had never done it before. He raised over $46,000.00 US. If people are willing to fund some guy's potato salad, they would be willing to help out a helpless little kitten for sure. She might even find a home from it. It wouldn't surprise me a bit.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/johngre...salad-kickstarter-campaign-raises-over-41000/

http://kickstarter.com

http://indiegogo.com

Thank-you all for giving ME a great big smile today.  Sometimes my faith in humanity is tested and it's truly wonderful to witness such caring hearts reaching out to help one and other.  So glad this seems to be working out!  If you get any kind of fundraising going pls let me know where to go.  I will have to check out this guy and his potato salad!  Happy Cat-Loving. ..

Thank you all for your kind thoughts and offers to help.  I have contacted SkyCat's shelter and am waiting for a reply.  Hopefully, my shelter will make a decision soon as well.  I really appreciate this because I was feeling quite alone with this problem.