Taking care of a new kitten

StefanZ

Advisor
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
26,068
Purraise
10,764
Location
Sweden
Some probiotic may be useful. the BeneBac, made by PetAt is probably best for kittens.  But there are other brands too who are OK...

So it depends in much on what you can get.

Ah, if nobody mentioned it. its good if you can weigh her on a scale every day.  Its the easiest way to see, if she gains every day, or not.  She shall gaint 10+ grammes, ie at least 1/3OZ.   If she gains, you KNOW she is going forward. If not - you have your alert on.
 

StefanZ

Advisor
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
26,068
Purraise
10,764
Location
Sweden
I see you are in Beirut. Still, Beirut is a big, modern city - I suppose you can find almost everything there, even raw goat milk

(Im not ironic here - in Sweden its not easy to find cartooned goat milk, and raw goat milk is virtually impossible to find.  thus I dont have any personal experience of raw goat milk - my recommendations here are based on pure logic - and on others witnessing.  But its somewhat easier in the USA)
 
Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #23

pb007

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Feb 27, 2016
Messages
18
Purraise
2
Location
Beirut
Well... she is now with me and in need. I will call the vet tomorrow since in here is already 12 am. I have a kitty milk brand beaphar. And the kitty food royal canin baaby cat and mother,thats the one. She really loves the dry food. I no longer give her milk since I thought it was the cause of the diarreah. I just fed her some of the dry food and she seems to want more. What do u think about the diarreah. If it is because of the worms, and she is too weak to be medicated, should I keep on feeding her?I really do not want to give her anything else that can upset her stomach even more. I will not be able to get the goat milk...at least not until tomorrow afternoon. :(
 

catapault

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 5, 2010
Messages
3,629
Purraise
9,408
She is a baby. Babies have very small stomachs. She needs frequent small meals to help her grow and recover from any time spent on the streets.

She needs fluid to help her stay hydrated. If she has diarrhea and is losing fluid in that way then yes, she needs to replace the fluid loss. She also needs fluid to help digest dry food. And KMR is more nutritious than water.

So frequent small meals of royal canin mother and baby cat, perhaps moistened with KMR. And offer some KMR in a shallow saucer to drink too.

It is work to care for a little one but such a good feeling to know you are saving a life.

Does she have a name? I'd rather use a name than just say "she" all the time.
 
Last edited:

talkingpeanut

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 12, 2015
Messages
11,793
Purraise
3,600
Well... she is now with me and in need. I will call the vet tomorrow since in here is already 12 am. I have a kitty milk brand beaphar. And the kitty food royal canin baaby cat and mother,thats the one. She really loves the dry food. I no longer give her milk since I thought it was the cause of the diarreah. I just fed her some of the dry food and she seems to want more. What do u think about the diarreah. If it is because of the worms, and she is too weak to be medicated, should I keep on feeding her?I really do not want to give her anything else that can upset her stomach even more. I will not be able to get the goat milk...at least not until tomorrow afternoon.
Yes, you need to keep feeding her.  You can leave the dry food down for her all the time to munch on.  She should also have dishes of kmr.  She needs to eat as much and as often as she can.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #26

pb007

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Feb 27, 2016
Messages
18
Purraise
2
Location
Beirut
Even with the diarrhea?she is drinking plenty of water.
I just want her to be better :(
Im too worried.
 

talkingpeanut

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 12, 2015
Messages
11,793
Purraise
3,600
She has to eat and you don't know what's causing the diarrhea.  She won't make it if she isn't eating.
 

StefanZ

Advisor
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
26,068
Purraise
10,764
Location
Sweden
Well... she is now with me and in need. I will call the vet tomorrow since in here is already 12 am. I have a kitty milk brand beaphar. And the kitty food royal canin baaby cat and mother,thats the one. She really loves the dry food. I no longer give her milk since I thought it was the cause of the diarreah. I just fed her some of the dry food and she seems to want more. What do u think about the diarreah. If it is because of the worms, and she is too weak to be medicated, should I keep on feeding her?I really do not want to give her anything else that can upset her stomach even more. I will not be able to get the goat milk...at least not until tomorrow afternoon.
that brand should be OK, but if you can get hold of goat milk, do so.  As the others said, continue to feed her, her having worms is not cause not to.   Its if she had a bullet hole through stomach, you should witheld food...
 

StefanZ

Advisor
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
26,068
Purraise
10,764
Location
Sweden
Last edited:

ellag

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Apr 22, 2015
Messages
424
Purraise
227
the diarrhea could be from parasites too such as coccidia. has her stool been checked for parasites by a vet?
 

handsome kitty

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 10, 2014
Messages
6,193
Purraise
1,062
Location
Newark CA
If your kitten milk is a powder, you can mix it with the pedialyte instead of water or half water, half pedialyte.

The food could be causing the diarrhea if she isn't used to it.  This is common, however diarrhea is not good.  Make sure she is getting plenty of fluids.  Do not stop feeding the kitten.  If she eats all the food and still looks hungry, give her more.  You cannot over feed a kitten.
 

StefanZ

Advisor
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
26,068
Purraise
10,764
Location
Sweden
Well... she is now with me and in need. I will call the vet tomorrow since in here is already 12 am. I have a kitty milk brand beaphar. And the kitty food royal canin baaby cat and mother,thats the one. She really loves the dry food. I no longer give her milk since I thought it was the cause of the diarreah. I just fed her some of the dry food and she seems to want more. What do u think about the diarreah. If it is because of the worms, and she is too weak to be medicated, should I keep on feeding her?I really do not want to give her anything else that can upset her stomach even more. I will not be able to get the goat milk...at least not until tomorrow afternoon.
Sorry,  first NOW  it dawned on me what you really asked about.   There is a technique of  stopping a diarrhea, by stopping giving food, minimum 12  preferably  24 hours, and then starting over by some especial mild food...  it was THIS you thought on, no?

First, she is too weak and emaciated to even try this. She must be stabilized at first.

Second, we must  be sure we have suitable, mild foods.   When you have got raw goat milk, we can begin to think on such alternatives.  As raw goat milk is such mild food we are also sure she will manage nicely.  And which is also helping and curing by itself.

Also, having a good pedialyte at hand as fluid and electrolyte source.

Third, we must know what the diarrhea is caused by.  If its caused by the stomach upset because of food change, yes that trick is useful.

But if its diarrhea caused by parasites, she must have her  food intake to have a sporting chance.
 
that brand should be OK, but if you can get hold of goat milk, do so.  As the others said, continue to feed her, her having worms is not cause not to.   Its if she had a bullet hole through stomach, you should witheld food...
 
Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #33

pb007

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Feb 27, 2016
Messages
18
Purraise
2
Location
Beirut
I think you guys were right about the vet that gave Cotton away, btw thats her name. He doesnt appear to want to help me since I called him and he didnt give much importance to the matter. He said to give her some boiled chicken breast smashed to almost a liquid and feed her with that. Since it has been difficult for me to find the raw goat milk (I KNOW RIGHT) we called another vet that also recommended the chicken option.
I have missed work today omg, I just couldnt leave Cotton alone while she is like that. Now she is extremely hungry.
I will give her the chicken and examine her response. Oh by the way she doesnt really know how to use the sand box and her butt and legs and tail are....well you can imagine. Im afraid to clean her up with water since its a bit cold here.
What kind of pedialyte do u suggest? I remember I gave Milo one that was for babies...wht do you think?
I must say that I am so grateful for you support and advice. Im glad I found this site since I couldnt have done this alone. Thank you!
 

StefanZ

Advisor
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
26,068
Purraise
10,764
Location
Sweden
I think you guys were right about the vet that gave Cotton away, btw thats her name. He doesnt appear to want to help me since I called him and he didnt give much importance to the matter. He said to give her some boiled chicken breast smashed to almost a liquid and feed her with that. Since it has been difficult for me to find the raw goat milk (I KNOW RIGHT) we called another vet that also recommended the chicken option.
I have missed work today omg, I just couldnt leave Cotton alone while she is like that. Now she is extremely hungry.
I will give her the chicken and examine her response. Oh by the way she doesnt really know how to use the sand box and her butt and legs and tail are....well you can imagine. Im afraid to clean her up with water since its a bit cold here.
What kind of pedialyte do u suggest? I remember I gave Milo one that was for babies...wht do you think?
I must say that I am so grateful for you support and advice. Im glad I found this site since I couldnt have done this alone. Thank you!
Smashed boiled chicken breast is a classic, you can surely use that.   Pidgeon is another classic, if you can ge that.

The vet didnt tell much, I think in part because he though what the kittens need most now is good home care and love, not flashy veterinary deeds.

Pedialyte for babies is surely OK, take a non flavored brand.    Otherwise, easiest to make is perhaps this from heavily overcooked rice with added mineral salts in...  Overcooked rice water contains naturally much glucose.

As overcooked rice is in itself a stopping home remedy.

The easiest way is otherwise, you take a bottle of some nice mineral water - they typically contain lotsa of different good salts, you let the gas out, and add quite a some glucose sugar (or honey if you dont have glucose proper).  Two  tea spoons in a 330 ml bottle, so you almost feel the sweetness, but it doesnt need to BE sweet.

The same receipts are useful for humans too, btw..
 

StefanZ

Advisor
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
26,068
Purraise
10,764
Location
Sweden
Cotton not using her litter MAY be because she is a stray, and dont really know what the litter is for.  But most probably, she soils herself because she has diarrhea.  Its common cats with diarrhea dont use their litter properly.  Thus, its not a behavior problem, but a diarrhea symptom.

You can wash off with warm water and some mild liquid soap if you must, but be sure its warm and draugh free.  Dry off her.

She shall not be chilled afterwards either.   so extra sure its warm and nice - but not too hot!
 

talkingpeanut

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 12, 2015
Messages
11,793
Purraise
3,600
It's so, so important that she eats. Please be sure that she is getting food every hour, even through the night. If you have to leave her she must have dry food left out. She should never be hungry because that gives her an opportunity to get weaker.

What and how much is she eating?
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #37

pb007

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Feb 27, 2016
Messages
18
Purraise
2
Location
Beirut
Well i gave her the chicken and she loved it. The diarrhea is less liquid but I saw a small amount of blood in the last one she had. Im giving her the pedialyte for babies as suggested. She seems a bit more energetic that yesterday...i will consult the vet on my way to work today. It breaks my heart to leave her, but I already missed one of my jobs today!
Also she started to clean herself, Im happy about that. And I notices that yesterday when she was eating the dry food she drank way more water than she is drinking today with the chicken...
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #38

pb007

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Feb 27, 2016
Messages
18
Purraise
2
Location
Beirut
She is eating a loooooot, Im actually worried because she is really thin and her belly is a balloon now...hehe.
 

talkingpeanut

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 12, 2015
Messages
11,793
Purraise
3,600
Ok, so you need to keep giving her chicken and whatever she will eat until she is stronger. Plain chicken or turnkey baby food (no onion or garlic) might work too. Again, if you are leaving her, leave her with lots of food options and in a small area.

The blood could be from irritation or a parasite. Both are likely. She will need to see a new vet soon for deworming.

Cats ideally get most of their water from their food, so it makes sense that she's drinking more with dry food.
 

hatchytt

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Jan 14, 2016
Messages
569
Purraise
59
Location
Tucson, Arizona
The "eating a lot" is a kitten thing and a stray thing. They feel like they have to eat it all now, because who knows when there will be more?
 
Top