Limping Rescue Kitten

Ten or twelve weeks ago I noticed in of my ferals was 'in the family way'. She's been on my spay list ever since I first saw her, but she never got close enough to catch.

I found her kittens in my basement three weeks ago. They were five weeks old. That night the mother came close enough to catchy and they've been living in my spare room. They are now eight weeks old. Mama cat is getting friendlier by the day, but she's going to return to her outside life once these kittens are weaned and she is altered. This post isn't really about these kittens though.

An hour ago, my moms boyfriend called and said he had a baby. We asked what kind of baby. He told us it was a kitten.
A pregnant lady handed it to him, and told him it was being abused and she'd taken it, but couldn't take it home, because her apartment didn't allow pets. I'm not sure I believe her story. He brought the kitten home.

He took formula immediately, but he ate, I think, a little too much. He was very hungry. I determined his sex and rubbed his tummy. He appears to be about five weeks old, but I didn't know for sure. He's very friendly with people, and I believe he was raised until this point in a house. Perhaps the lady's cat had a litter and she couldn't keep them..?

But this kitten is limping. His right hind leg is injured somehow, although it's not swollen, and he's able to stretch his toes. I would guess he was stepped upon, and he is bruised. He seems very content otherwise.

I don't have the money to take him to the veterinarian if I don't have to. I literally have fifty five dollars. I spent most of my money today on other pet supplies before the kitten was found. (I have a lot of other animals to care for.)

This is him:
I have several questions.

What should I look for if this is a severe injury? It seems quite mild at the moment, mostly a basic limp.

How much wet food or air formula (in tablespoons) should I allow at once? He seems to eat very quickly.

The other kittens have ringworm quite badly, and my mother and I have it now too. We've been treating everyone with clotrimazole 1%, including ourselves. Any other suggestions?

Hi,

Hard to tell about the injury.  The first thing you said is that it was being abused, maybe this is a result.  If he is stretching and using it I would not worry too much.  Maybe a sprain or old injury.  Ringworm, must be the season.  Don't know if the current use of the particular ringworm anti-fungal treatment is good for kitties because they lick.  Its great for you.  Washing clothes, towels and bedding frequently in hot water, Clorox for a disinfectant (not on kitties) every place possible, clean, clean, clean, vacuum, vacuum, vacuum, (fungus is found on hair follicles). I currently have it on my face (one spot).  Guess that teaches me about keeping my hands off of my face.  None of my pets have it, just me and I have no idea where it came from.  I use Nizoral as a shampoo (my doctor recommended) but not on pets.  Some people have had luck with Tea Tree Oil a natural antiseptic.  When food has not been readily available they eat like little pigs because of hunger and fear it may be taken away before they can eat it.  he'll clam down when he figures out food will come regularly and no will take it away.  He looks a little older than 5 weeks - maybe 6 or 7 weeks and out of the danger area.  Feed often, 4-5 times daily 2-3 tablespoons (not heaping).  As he becomes more secure feed wet a coupe of time a day and leave dry food out for snacks.  You said you have other animals so your housing of them is rather vague.  Separation or isolation of healthy and ringworm contaminated animals is recommended, so is housing your new friend in a constrained area so as not to spread the fungus.

In regards to the ringworm - all humans and animals in contact should be treated. Wash everything that may contain the fungus, especially moist things like towels, face washers, clothes etc.

For humans, best to start on a antifungal cream. Ask your pharmacist for the most effective one for treating ringworm.

Unfortunately kittens are so small and fragile that many vets do not want to give them systemic antifungal medication or even creams. It's vest to ask the vet for advice but a kitten shampoo may help in the meantime but you will probably need a cream of some sort that will be at a solution okay for the kittens. Definitely need vet advice on this or that of our experienced rescuers on this forum if you absoutely cannot get to the vet. This kitten looks very young.

Never never give cats human creams or medications, as they can be extremely toxic to the liver.

I had over 100 lesions from ringworm last year from the one cat, it was truly insane. We still waited a long time before putting the kitten and I on Grisiofulvin (anti-fungal meds) and this was a last resort. I had liver troubles taking it and recommend it as a last resort.

Thanks guys.

I have the kitten away from any of my other animals, in the bathroom. The others are in my room. I have five cats excluding the mama and all her kittens and the new kitten, and currently we're practicing strict biosecurity. I'll have to do more research on how to treat cats, especially kittens, for ringworm topically.

Does anyone know if a vet will prescribe for the whole litter if I bring in just the mama or one of the kittens? Or if a litter counts as one cat?

Here he is as if this morning: