How old is my rescue??

keats1 · Oct 4, 2015

I adopted a young kitten about 2 weeks ago, but she seems very small for the age I estimated for her. According to her behavior and other signs like change in eye color she should turn 6 weeks old today.

How old do you think she is? I took her to a vet around 5 days ago and she weighed 350 grams.
The vet is a very neglectful one, as he barely even looked at her and the whole visit took 2 minutes. My kitty has ringworm.

Please, any information would help as to how old she is and if her size is abnormal.

image.jpg

keats1
Oct 4, 2015
1

ginny · Oct 4, 2015

First of all, what a cute kitten!! She's very pretty with her soft buff and white color! She looks very young, I'd say 5 or 6 weeks old at the most. She looks like she needs to gain a little bit of weight. Where did you get her?

I'm glad you noticed the vet was neglectful and I would NOT take her or any other pet back to him! I just got finished posting in another thread about how I wish I had more carefully chosen my vet. I am certain that if the vet does not like cats it will have a negative effect on the outcome of any treatment plan, especially for serious conditions.

I've learned the hard way that many people, vets and staff included, do not like cats. If they don't, they have NO business treating them, in my opinion. They won't try hard enough (like you noticed) and will possibly miss many clues about their general health that might be noticed otherwise. Plus, it will make for miserable vet visits if they have no clue how to handle a scared kitty. Sometimes I wish I lived in England where it is culturally acceptable to love cats. Here in the US it doesn't seem to be that way.

ginny · Oct 4, 2015

One more thing. I don't know what you plan to feed your little kitten, but I know that vet Dr. Lisa Pierson recommends wet food. She actually abhors dry food for several reasons which she goes into detail on her website catinfo.org. There is exhaustive information about diet there. She actually says it's better to feed cheaper wet food than the most expensive dry food. She loves cats, has many pet cats herself. I so wish she was my vet! She would be my first choice.

There is also plenty of good info on this site as well as reviews of certain canned and dry foods.

StefanZ · Oct 4, 2015

5 weeks perhaps, 6 at most.

keats1 · Oct 4, 2015

Ginny said:
First of all, what a cute kitten!! She's very pretty with her soft buff and color! She looks very young, I'd say 5 or 6 weeks old at the most. She looks like she needs to gain a little bit of weight. Where did you get her?

I'm glad you noticed the vet was neglectful and I would NOT take her or any other pet back to him! I just got finished posting in another thread about how I wish I had more carefully chosen my vet. I am certain that if the vet does not like cats it will have a negative effect on the outcome of any treatment plan, especially for serious conditions.

I've learned the hard way that many people, vets and staff included, do not like cats. If they don't, they have NO business treating them, in my opinion. They won't try hard enough (like you noticed) and will possibly miss many clues about their general health that might be noticed otherwise. Plus, it will make for miserable vet visits if they have no clue how to handle a scared kitty. Sometimes I wish I lived in England where it is culturally acceptable to love cats. Here in the US it doesn't seem to be that way.

Thank you! Yes, she is a little cutie!
Thanks for noticing her size, I've been checking the international religiously to see if she might be too thin or not. I took her from a girl who was taking care of her and her three siblings, and although the girl cared for them, she did not give the kitten proper kitten milk! She gave her formula intended for babies that was soy based and cooked chicken bits. I feel terrible that the little one did not get the proper nutrition at such a vital age

The vet is bad, but the vet I used to go to is even worse. I really don't want to talk about it because it reminds me of my cat who has recently died, but anyway I realize the vet is not good but I'm reluctant to try any new vets. Meanwhile I'm making sure kitty gets checked by the assistant who also is not very observant as she missed my kitty's scratched eye! The whole looking for a new vet thing stirs some deep feelings I suppose.

Anyway, I'm glad my guess was accurate in your opinion, but she seems very small in general for her age. Why is that?

keats1 · Oct 4, 2015

Ginny said:
One more thing. I don't know what you plan to feed your little kitten, but I know that vet Dr. Lisa Pierson recommends wet food. She actually abhors dry food for several reasons which she goes into detail on her website catinfo.org. There is exhaustive information about diet there. She actually says it's better to feed cheaper wet food than the most expensive dry food. She loves cats, has many pet cats herself. I so wish she was my vet! She would be my first choice.

There is also plenty of good info on this site as well as reviews of certain canned and dry foods.

I'm new to this website, and actually this is my first post, but I'm sure I'll have alot to say and ask!
Thanks for the info, I will check it out.

Well, I'm feeding her canned kitten food and between feedings I give her some milk that is especially for adult cats and kittens.
How much should I be feeding her? I honestly don't know how much is appropriate for her since she seems to be so small for her age. Any advice?

keats1 · Oct 4, 2015

StefanZ said:
5 weeks perhaps, 6 at most.

Thanks for the feedback. Does she seem small for her age in your opinion? She fits in one hand(and I have feminine hands that aren't big)

ginny · Oct 4, 2015

keats1 said:
The vet is bad, but the vet I used to go to is even worse. I really don't want to talk about it because it reminds me of my cat who has recently died, but anyway I realize the vet is not good but I'm reluctant to try any new vets. Meanwhile I'm making sure kitty gets checked by the assistant who also is not very observant as she missed my kitty's scratched eye! The whole looking for a new vet thing stirs some deep feelings I suppose.

ginny · Oct 4, 2015

keats1 said:
I'm new to this website, and actually this is my first post, but I'm sure I'll have alot to say and ask!
Thanks for the info, I will check it out.

Well, I'm feeding her canned kitten food and between feedings I give her some milk that is especially for adult cats and kittens.
How much should I be feeding her? I honestly don't know how much is appropriate for her since she seems to be so small for her age. Any advice?

That I do not know. I believe you can find recommendations by Vets (rather than the food manufacturer) that go by the weight of the kitty which tells how much to feed if you want them to maintain their weight or to gain weight. I have found that food that contains grain encourages overeating/overweight, allergies, and skin problems in my own kitties.

Welcome to the site!

keats1 · Oct 4, 2015

I'm sorry

But I guess it really isn't our fault. Afterall, we aren't medical professionals, we're just people who care about our babies. It's upsetting that we don't get the support we need sometimes though.

And yes, she might have been. I have a picture of her with her siblings, I'm going to add it here, although it isn't very clear:

image.jpg

keats1
Oct 4, 2015

image.jpg

keats1
Oct 4, 2015

keats1 · Oct 4, 2015

Ginny said:
That I do not know. I believe you can find recommendations by Vets (rather than the food manufacturer) that go by the weight of the kitty which tells how much to feed if you want them to maintain their weight or to gain weight. I have found that food that contains grain encourages overeating/overweight, allergies, and skin problems in my own kitties.

Welcome to the site!

Thank you

I will do some research and consult my vet. Also, I sent you a reply on your other comment but I don't know whether not adding a quote would still notify you! It includes some pictures.

ginny · Oct 4, 2015

OMG they are so cute and fuzzy!!! You are right it's hard to tell, but it looks like all of them are pretty small. Perhaps their parents were small too.

I'm so sorry about your other kitty. I wish I had a crystal ball sometimes. I hate to say it but around here where I live, there doesn't seem to be any reliable vets who love cats. I'm sure there must be one I have not found yet, though. Hopefully.

StefanZ · Oct 4, 2015

keats1 said:
Thanks for the feedback. Does she seem small for her age in your opinion? She fits in one hand(and I have feminine hands that aren't big)

Yes, she seems petite. Also the weight from 5 days ago, 350 g on a 5 weeks, is little. If its abnormal, I wouldnt say, but its definitely in the lowest segment.

But she doesnt seems noticealby smaller than the littermates, so she isnt a given miniature cat. But the whole litter may be petite. If they are somewhat inbred - which is common with barn cats - they get smaller, but may still be decently healthy.

I dont know the exact rule of thumb when feeding with wet food. Probably because its a free feeding... So to speak. But if we, for making it easier, compare wet food as roughly alike a kmr or goat milk, the rule of thumb there is 8ml /oz a day. 350g is about 12 oz, thus, about 96 ml kmr or goat milk or its eqivalent a day.

So, as you notice, it helps much to have a scale. Weigh her in a bowl, it is easier at this age.

What is exactly the name of this milk for adults and kittens? is it treat milk alike Whiskas kitten milk, or is it some sort of kmr?

As said, goat milk is always OK, both as emergency kmr for small kittens, and as supplement for older kittens and adult cats.

Raw is best - fresh or frozen, but bottled is OK too...

Yes, when you quote somebody, that person gets noted.

ondine · Oct 4, 2015

They have good canned kitten food. At her age, I would make a slurry with some kitten milk (you can get both in PetSmart or Petco). She'll be sloppy but the more nutrients you get into her now the better. If she'll take a kitten bottle, let her have the kitten milk (you can also use goat's milk).

Thank you for helping her. She should really still be nursing, so she needs some good nutrition now.

Many vets aren't trained well about cats. Unfortunately, the prevailing attitude is still that they can take care of themselves, which is why people don't seem to attend to ther health properly.

keats1 · Oct 4, 2015

I'm worried about her size, but yes, she isn't smaller than her siblings, but that makes me wonder if it is because the entire litter wasn't properly fed.
Goat's milk isn't very accessible where I live.
The milk I'm giving her is a treat milk I think since it's meant for adults and kittens, but it is enriched with vitamins and minerals and I thought that would be better than just plain lactose free milk. It's a french brand and my french isn't that great, so that's all the information I could gather from reading the label.

Also, what if you don't quote somebody, do they still get notified about the reply?

keats1 · Oct 4, 2015

Ginny said:
OMG they are so cute and fuzzy!!! You are right it's hard to tell, but it looks like all of them are pretty small. Perhaps their parents were small too.

I'm so sorry about your other kitty. I wish I had a crystal ball sometimes. I hate to say it but around here where I live, there doesn't seem to be any reliable vets who love cats. I'm sure there must be one I have not found yet, though. Hopefully.

Lol yes, aren't they adorable?? I wish I could take them all in.
I agree, she doesn't look that different when it comes to size, but I still worry.

And thanks, I also don't know of any genuine, caring vets anywhere. That's why I make sure to educate myself as a precaution. I think every pet owner should.

keats1 · Oct 4, 2015

Ondine said:
They have good canned kitten food. At her age, I would make a slurry with some kitten milk (you can get both in PetSmart or Petco). She'll be sloppy but the more nutrients you get into her now the better. If she'll take a kitten bottle, let her have the kitten milk (you can also use goat's milk).

Thank you for helping her. She should really still be nursing, so she needs some good nutrition now.

Many vets aren't trained well about cats. Unfortunately, the prevailing attitude is still that they can take care of themselves, which is why people don't seem to attend to ther health properly.

I did do that at first but she seemed to enjoy the food better when she could taste the wet food on it's own and the milk separately so I'm doing that now.
Is there anything I can add that would increase the vitamin and mineral intake?

And thanks, I'm aware of the responsibility so I want to do all I can!

StefanZ · Oct 4, 2015

keats1 said:
I'm worried about her size, but yes, she isn't smaller than her siblings, but that makes me wonder if it is because the entire litter wasn't properly fed.
Goat's milk isn't very accessible where I live.
The milk I'm giving her is a treat milk I think since it's meant for adults and kittens, but it is enriched with vitamins and minerals and I thought that would be better than just plain lactose free milk. It's a french brand and my french isn't that great, so that's all the information I could gather from reading the label.

Also, what if you don't quote somebody, do they still get notified about the reply?

Usually not. Its possible to be noticed if you wish, there are settings where you can manipulate it, but I dont think most people bother about it. I do not, while I know some of the others advisors do.

Yes, that threat milk is surely better than a common low lactose cow milk, cost more but is somewhat better.

But if you get a real kmr, it would be best. She is still young enough for kmr, and also, she is very smallish. Use stage I, not stage II if there is a choice. Not all brands are good, but suprising many are OK.

If you dont have kmr in your local pet shop, you can get it by online shops.

Also there are OK dry powder goat milk. One of our forumists told recently she has good success of feeding orphans o such a dry powder. I dont remember the brand name at the moment... But there are probably many brands.

keats1 · Oct 4, 2015

StefanZ said:
Usually not. Its possible to be noticed if you wish, there are settings where you can manipulate it, but I dont think most people bother about it. I do not, while I know some of the others advisors do.

Yes, that threat milk is surely better than a common low lactose cow milk, cost more but is somewhat better.
But if you get a real kmr, it would be best. She is still young enough for kmr, and also, she is very smallish. Use stage I, not stage II if there is a choice. Not all brands are good, but suprising many are OK.

If you dont have kmr in your local pet shop, you can get it by online shops.

Also there are OK dry powder goat milk. One of our forumists told recently she has good success of feeding orphans o such a dry powder. I dont remember the brand name at the moment... But there are probably many brands.

Alright, that's good. I will check for goat's milk at the places I know of. Thanks!

StefanZ · Oct 4, 2015

keats1 said:
I did do that at first but she seemed to enjoy the food better when she could taste the wet food on it's own and the milk separately so I'm doing that now.
Is there anything I can add that would increase the vitamin and mineral intake?

And thanks, I'm aware of the responsibility so I want to do all I can!

Yes, you can. You can give her Nutri-cal, or a similiar paste with vitamines and minerales. There are surely many brands, and my guess is, most are more or less equivalent.

If you dont have problems with salomonella in eggs in your place, so raw egg yolk is very good and nourishing. Add this to some fluid food she gets, goat milk, kmr, wet food, or this treat milk...

Raw egg white isnt good, but boiled egg white is good - much proteins.

How old is my rescue??

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member

TCS Member

Advisor

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member

Advisor

TCS Member

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member

Thread starter

Advisor

TCS Member

Thread starter

Advisor