New kitten- fleas and a few other questions

mildew

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We took in a little kitten two days ago who was terrified and crawling with fleas- I don't think she had a good start in life.
She seems to have settled down quite well, and is a real cuddle bug with me (not so much with other people yet).
I do have a few questions though:
We immediately took her to the vet for a flea treatment (I do NOT want those awful bugs in my house) and they all appear to be dead now, however she is now covered in tons of dead fleas and flea dirt. I've tried combing her, but the comb seems to really bother her (even though I'm being gentle). She's very itchy from all this stuff in her coat, and I'm not sure how to get it all out so she can feel better.
Also, I'm not sure if this is normal or not, but she makes some pretty weird noises while she's running around and playing and is always walking around crying (unless you are holding her). She doesn't seem to be in pain as she's running all over the place- is it normal for certain cats to be so vocal?

One more quick question (sorry for so many), but she also hasn't gone to the bathroom since I brought her home. There is no pee or poo in the litterpan, and I've checked all through the house to see if maybe she found another 'better spot', but I havn't been able to find anything. She's currently eating Go wet and dry food and has access to plenty of clean water.
 

stephenq

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We took in a little kitten two days ago who was terrified and crawling with fleas- I don't think she had a good start in life.
She seems to have settled down quite well, and is a real cuddle bug with me (not so much with other people yet).
I do have a few questions though:
We immediately took her to the vet for a flea treatment (I do NOT want those awful bugs in my house) and they all appear to be dead now, however she is now covered in tons of dead fleas and flea dirt. I've tried combing her, but the comb seems to really bother her (even though I'm being gentle). She's very itchy from all this stuff in her coat, and I'm not sure how to get it all out so she can feel better.
Also, I'm not sure if this is normal or not, but she makes some pretty weird noises while she's running around and playing and is always walking around crying (unless you are holding her). She doesn't seem to be in pain as she's running all over the place- is it normal for certain cats to be so vocal?

One more quick question (sorry for so many), but she also hasn't gone to the bathroom since I brought her home. There is no pee or poo in the litterpan, and I've checked all through the house to see if maybe she found another 'better spot', but I havn't been able to find anything. She's currently eating Go wet and dry food and has access to plenty of clean water.
It is highly unlikely that she isn't peeing and pooping.  I would put her in a small room like a bathroom with food litter and water and see what happens.  You'll know if she's going very quickly.  And she may need litterbox training which I can explain if you need that.

You could shampoo the dead fleas out with a mild solution of water and Joy dishwashing soap, and as far as the comb, is it a flea comb?
 
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mildew

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Thank you for the reply :).

She finally started going to the bathroom yesterday- I think she was holding it in. Two poos and five pees! Using the litterbox like a champ now.

The comb is a flea comb, and I'm able to get a pass or two through her fur here and there, which seems  to be helping and it comes out loaded with flea dirt (no live fleas though). Will shampooing her effect the flea treatment that's currently on her (advantage)? She doesn't seem as itchy now- will she eventually get all the flea feces out if I leave her be?

Also, why does she hiss, but then immediately start purring and rub up against us? She'll walk up to us, hiss, then start purring like a mad man and want cuddles and attention...
 

Margret

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She's still getting used to being a house cat. As previously mentioned, she did not have a good start in life -- hissing is probably an ingrained first response for her. The purrs and solicitation of cuddles and petting are what she's really saying.

And, yes, it is quite narmal for some cats to be extremely vocal. As time goes on and she becomes more accustomed to the way humans interact, you may find her meowing in the middle of a conversation, when she's not playing. This appears to be a feline attempt to join in the conversation. The humans take turns speaking, so it's only polite for the furry person to take her turn as well.

You may be able to get a large part of the dirt off using a simple brush. Less traumatic than a bath, and it may be more tolerable to her than a flea comb.

Margret
 
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mildew

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I will pick up a brush then and see how that works :). We introduced the harness to her today for a few minutes and she didn't seem too bothered, so that's good (I don't like the idea of putting a collar on her because I'm scared she'll hang herself).  

She already likes to 'talk' to everyone, and will have a 'meow' conversation with you :).

Here's a photo of the cutie pie :). We've named her Sweetie Bell.

 

kittymomma1122

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When our oldest cat showed up on our doorstep, he purred even when he ate.  He meowed non-stop. His name is Sweetie also! He is 8 now, he purrs every time we touch him, but he only meows when he wants something. e was about 9 months old in this pic. I do not know where you are from, but I use Tropiclean Shampoo for white cats. In a pinch I have used Dawn dish soap, the original blue.
 

Margret

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She's adorable.

She won't hang herself on any collar commercially available in the U.S. They all have some form of breakaway clasp. Much more likely that she'll figure out how to catch it on something and get rid of it. :lol3: If she's an escape artist like my Jasmine, she needs a collar. It should have both her rabies tag and an I.D. tag with her name, your name, your home phone number, your cell phone number, and your work number. And if you've gotten a chip for her, there will be a tag that the chip company sends, as well. (If nothing else, the chip tag will tell people that she is a very loved cat, so they're more likely to call you if they find her.)

If you want to keep her from slipping the collar, get her a Beastie Bands collar. It's made of stretchy neoprene, with a velcro catch. Because it fits tighter, it's harder for it to get caught, and therefore harder for her to get rid of it. Cut it a bit long, because she's still such a tiny cutie that you'll need to lengthen it pretty soon.

My Sweet Thing (long gone :rbheart:) had one litter before I found out how to get her spayed on the cheap. She was lying on my lap, purring and, apparently, hiccupping. I eventually figured out that those weren't hiccups, they were contractions, so I took her to the nest (in a dresser drawer, of course) that I'd already prepared for her, and left her there while I went to empty my bladder. She followed me all the way to the bathroom, crying because I was leaving her, and then purred all through labor as long as I kept my hand on her (except for when she was pushing too hard). Then, within the week, she moved the kittens into bed with me so she could sleep in her accustomed spot, curled up against my tummy. I had to put a kitten box next to the bed so I could sleep with one hand on her but keep the kittens out of the bed so I wouldn't roll over on them. I still miss her.

Margret
 
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mildew

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The harness that we got her is one that she steps into and buckles above her shoulders. I figured it would be comfortable, and less likely for her to get it off or become hung up in it (my friend had a cat who hung himself with his collar while she was at work, so the thought of putting a collar on her sends chills up my spine- even though I know the likelihood of it happening is very slim).
Around here, unless the cat has a collar on people assume it's a feral or someone's outdoor cat and leave them alone. Most people though will readily pick up a cat which is wearing a collar and phone the owner.
Going to get her tag made up today and I'll probably get her chipped when she's at the vets next. What age can they be spayed at? I would prefer to get her done as soon as possible.

Sorry for so many questions, but is it important to get her tested for FeLV and FIV if she's an indoor only cat? We have no other furred animals (just two lizards) so there is no risk of her spreading any disease that she could potentially have.
 

catpack

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Most vets will do a spay at around 12 weeks of age. I prefer to wait until they are 5 lbs.

As far as testing for FIV/Leukemia...
There is certainly no harm in doing so. If she were to test positive for either, you will know how to medically treat her should she become ill in the future and if you need to monitor her more closely. She also would not need to receive the leukemia vaccine should she be positive for leukemia.
 

Margret

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My vet prefers not to give the leukemia vaccine at all for an indoor only cat. Accidents can happen that result in exposure, but the vaccine itself is dangerous enough that that consideration outweighs the danger of the cat getting out.

Margret
 
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