Crying Kitten

Hi, 

I adopted an 8 week old kitten yesterday and he is always crying. I know he is confused and missing his mother and siblings but is there any way I can ease him into his new life? His crying is really upsetting and he doesn't seem to want to be held when he's upset. 

He has a bed, hot water bottle, fluffy teddy, ticking watch, food and water as well as his litter tray. 

Can anybody give me some pointers? Is there anything else I can do to help him settle in?

Have you seen him eat? How does he act when he is crying? Is he looking at you and trying to follow you around?

I have seen him eating yes. He has a fine appetite but think he is missing milk (I won't give him cow milk as I know it upsets cats stomachs). 

He doesnt follow me around at all and has no interest in playing. He usually looks out the window or sometimes just walks around crying or sitting in his bed. I've tried to cuddle him at night as that worked for a kitten we rescued a few years ago but he doesn't seem keen on it, only when he's already sleepy/asleep will he snuggle. 

B basilcat

He's missing his mom and litter mates and feeling forlorn and searching for them.

Is it possible to also adopt one of his litter mates? Having a buddy to snuggle with, play with, and grow up with would help. We always recommend adopting in pairs for this reason.

If not, he will eventually get over it, but it takes time. This is a hard time for him. Have you tried distracting him with a toy on a string?

I can't get another kitten sadly, although I would love one. 

I have tried playing with that and it would work for about a minute only. 

How long roughly do you think it will take?

If you want to give him milk goats milk is a healthy option. If you are feeding him dry food you could also add in canned food instead of the milk...

I asked about the eating because I've had a kitten come to me because he "wouldn't eat and was constantly crying". I tried giving him a goats milk formula, canned food and finally my then 7 year old daughter put him in front of a bowl of dry cat food and he started munching away. This obviously isn't the same thing.

If he is eating and using the litter box, you are probably correct that he's just having a hard time without his kitty family. Is it possible for you to adopt one of his litter mates? (I know not everyone can get two at a time but kittens really do seem to do better in pairs)

I would continue to try to play with the kitten and see what things interest him. I have a cat that goes crazy for crumpled up paper... One that loves chasing shoe strings...

You are providing what he needs. Just keeping hanging out with him and petting him and talking to him, he will settle in.

His sadness should begin to lift over the next few days. He will begin to forget.

He would probably enjoy kitten formula in a dish. You might want to pick up a can of the powdered KMR by PetAg and mix some for him. The nutrients are great for growing kittens, and mimic mom's milk. It's at pet stores.

His crying is so sad and desperate and gets really really loud. Its so upsetting

I have kitten formula but he's not that pushed with it.

I'll bet it's sad. He's homesick. All you can do is try to comfort him and wait it out since you can't get a litter mate for him. Hang in there.

Thank you so much for all your suggestions. I had to put him in the utility room as he will keep the whole house awake and we all work. I turned on a radio for him though and it seemed to really sooth him.

BasilCat said:

 
Hi, 

I adopted an 8 week old kitten yesterday and he is always crying. I know he is confused and missing his mother and siblings but is there any way I can ease him into his new life? His crying is really upsetting and he doesn't seem to want to be held when he's upset. 

He has a bed, hot water bottle, fluffy teddy, ticking watch, food and water as well as his litter tray. 

Can anybody give me some pointers? Is there anything else I can do to help him settle in?

Click to expand...

My cat cried a lot when he came to our home when he was a kitten, but it just took a couple of weeks for him to adapt, then all was ok. However, the same thing happened when we moved a couple of years later. So my guess is that it had to do with the change of environment most of all.

Is your kitten doing any better? I'm hoping that once he settles down he won't have to stay in the utility room by himself anymore .

He is better, although when my mum came to visit she noticed that he was very small for his age and quite thin so she took him home to bring to our vet (as he is the only one I would trust with our pets). We're taking him on saturday as we suspect he may have worms, possibly causing much of the crying.