New kitten rescue

bfguru

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Hi all, after losing my 17 year old baby to a stroke and watching my 4 year old baby wander around lost, I finally caved when my friend asked me to take one of her rescues .

They think the litter is about ten weeks old. Mama weaned them already and they have spayed and neutered everyone as well as first round of shots .

We brought her home last night .I've kept her away from my boy until I find out if a leukemia test was done or not .They've been in the same room because he's very curious about her and shoves his way into the room we have her in but not close enough to sniff each other . So far only one brief bout of hissing . So that's good.

My concern is, she has been eating and voiding/defecating at the rescue and hadn't done anything at all since last night. In fact, she seems to think the litter box is a bed and not a potty.

I called the vet who said give it a day, and the foster mom to find out what food she was eating .Then went out tonight to try and figure out how to get her to eat and drink .

Couldn't find the same brand of dry food but picked up some soft and some kitten milk and , a syringe and a bottle .Soft mixed with dry got her to eat a wee bit. Dripping milk on her nose got her to finally take in about two ounces.

I know the formula can constipated, so I diluted some with a syringe and she won't take it .I still cannot get her to drink water. It's been over 24 hours .

I tried the newborn trick of rubbing her anus/meatus with a warm cloth .All I succeeded in was clawed hands .

I am scouring the room for any signs of accidents to no avail.

I'm really worried about her kidneys if she doesn't go soon.Does anyone have any thoughts as to what I can do from here? I've always done rescues and never had them do this before.
 
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handsome kitty

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Some thoughts.  If the kitten is weaned, you do not need the syringe.  Put the kitten formula in a small bowl or a small plate so the kitten can lap it up. 

The dry food may be too hard and can be softened w/water or kmr.   That being said you cannot just change the dry food.  You need to slowly switch over a week by slowly adding more of the new food mixed with the old.  The kitten will be okay with just wet food for now.

If you are worried about constipation you can add a few drops of olive oil into the kmr (formula).

Do get all worried about peeing and pooping.  Give the kitten a day or so to acclimate.  It's a new place w/new people.  Some litter questions:  How big is the litter box? Can the kitten get in and out easily?  You can use a pie tin or disposable cookie sheet until the kitten is bigger.  How many litter boxes are there and will they be close enough for the kitten to get to in time.  Remember small bladder.

the cats can pick up on your stress so you need to go with the flow a little and have some fun with her.

BTW you cannot edit until you have been here a while. I don't understand it myself.
 
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bfguru

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The foster momma gave us her litter pan .It's tiny and low .She also gave us a wee bit of her food and I mixed that in with the new food day one. That mixture was added to the wet food today which was when we finally got her to eat.
I think the lack of drinking and peeling has me most stressed out .My 17 year old that stroked had her kidneys shut down. It's been so soon I'm flashing back to those last days. I know this baby is young and it shouldn't be an issue. But I'd be happy if she would just drink more and urinate .

Also, I did quickly move to the bowl for the formula. The bottle was just to introduce liquid as she hadn't touched any for over 24 hours.
 

handsome kitty

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She is getting liquid from the wet food as well.

I can understand the flashbacks and your current worry.  Just try not to transmit it to either cat.
 
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So how long should I go before panicking about toileting and water? And should I try to get her to drink every so often or leave her to it?
 

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You can certainly keep offering it.  You can also mix it with the wet food.  The mush might be easier for the kitten to eat.  The kitten will need to eat 6-8 times a day at this age. 
 
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Fourth run with kittens and this wee princess makes me feel like I know nothing .My other ones I never had to worry about how often they ate .Now I'm scared to go to work Friday night lest no one be here to make her eat every few hours. I work for 13 hours straight. M others just ate and drank easily without prodding.

I was going out of town for two days this weekend too. Can't afford a hotel so we changed it to a day trip. I'm tempted only to drive out for the event now and come straight back just to make sure she is eating.

And here I thought I was an old pro at this. She is going to be like my youngest child and break me of everything I thought I knew lol.
 

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Yeah, 10 weeks is pretty young.  Eclipse was about 10 weeks old when we adopted him  Luckily someone was almost always here.

Is there someone who can check on him while you're gone?  Perhaps the friend who asked you to take a kitten? 

I assume you know all about kitten proofing your home.  Start looking for spots to close off.  Eclipse found every nook and cranny and was covered in dust and cobwebs the first month we had him.  My only concerns were the gas fireplace, under the dishwasher (missing one of the slats underneath) and the laundry room (still off limits).  Move cleaning supplies out of reach.  I know you are keeping her in one room for now.
 
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Yeah I told the kids until we get the place kitten proof she can't come out .I was thinking of asking my friend to check on her the day we go, and when I go to work taking lunch half way through to check on her since I live ten minutes from work. That's my plan for the moment anyway...

She can't get close to my boy anyway until she's been screened for leukemia and FIV but Tue place who vaccinated her may have done it already so I'm waiting to hear from them. I'm hoping to stave off the first official vet visit until she's been here a month since its check up time for big boy and I can't afford both at the same time. If not, I will just switch out his appointment for hers, I guess.
 
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And Iloved your baby's name. The kids and I have been fighting over the name and they insist on calling her Sassy.(she's anything but) and its too close to Sissy which is my late cats name. I finally said, if you insist it will only be her Nick name and her official name will be Sassenach, which is a literary reference. She's a black forties though and Eclipse would have been awesome.
 

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Eclipse is the black cat in my Avatar.  My daughter named him after a computer program she was working on at the time.

I use a vet discount card called Pet Assure.  I get 25% off vet visits, regular and emergencies, surgeries (none yet) and meds administered at the office.  I paid $160 for the 2-4 pet plan and was able to sign up on the internet an hour before the visit and use it then.  I will have earned that back and a little more after Eclipse's dental visit.  Not all vets accept it but you can check their website and see if your vet is a member.

I like Sassenach.  That's what I call my 6'2" son w/the size 14 feet!
 

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I think your kitten will be fine in a few days' time. She is frightened, missing her litter mates, and needs to get comfortable. Once she settles in she'll eat like a champ. Is she staying in your room with you?
 
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She's staying in my daughter's room, which is smaller and as messy as mine. LOL.My room is a major gathering spotin my home so I have some kitten proofing to do. But her room is also quieter as a result too.

She's 14 and quite the mother hen.
 
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So, we have perked up since I've gotten her to eat twice. No pottying, but she is exploring the room now. THe new problem...She's got herself worked up in a tizzie and is crying non stop and running from me lol.

First might home not a peep. Give her some food and she's suddenly a singer. Poor dear. I think she just realized mamma is not comming for her.

It's going to be a long night between worrying over pee and baby mews.
 

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How has your night been with the kitten? She will pee when she needs to - though it might be in a corner!

Poor dear mewing for her mommy. All of this will pass as she slowly adjusts and "forgets". It's always hard to watch a kitten go through this stage of separation. Depending on their personality, it's harder on some than others. It's actually easier if you had also adopted one of her litter mates along with her. Any chance of taking another one? You would be amazed at the change in her if she had a sibling with her.

Will she let your daughter hold her?
 
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She finally settled around 4 a.m.

She did have a bowel movement, but as of yet, no urine. I may call the vet again if she doesn't pee soon.

She normally let's any of us hold her. Like I said, her first night she slept in my daughter's arms content as can be.

Last night she would cuddle if it was her idea for a few minutes and purr real loud, but always climbed back down to cry again. I may try a hot water bottle tonight in the hideout she likes to hide in.

As for her litter mate...one was taken already, the other the foster family cries over the idea of him going so I think they are keeping him. My landlord will only allow two cats anyway and as soon as we can I introduce them officially, she has a new brother here.

I went in the room last night because my daughter was begging for sleep so we switched beds last night. She back to snuggling again and being a sleepy girl.

She will learn humans don't like to play at night soon enough. Now to work her through voiding and missing mamma.
 

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You can also put a small stuffed animal in the hide out and I read that putting a ticking clock under a blanket will mimic mom's heartbeat.

Glad to hear she is coming along.  Our kitten was rescued from a dumpster so we didn't have the separation issues.
 
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We have pee! Lots and lots of pee! Almost 48 hours later, I can finally start to relax. She still isn't drinking water, but lapped another 2 ounces of kittenformula and I've upped the water in her food to compensate.

She purrs so loud lol.

Here she is.
 
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