Kitten with bloated tummy - I need help

Hi there! Sorry for bothering you before reading all the way trough the thread but I am pretty scared: I received a kitten about 28 hours ago, she's a little ball of fluffiness, being about 3-4 weeks old, sadly she was taken from her mommy sooner than it should and now she has quite a swollen tummy. She drinks regular grocery store milk 1.5% fat [skimmest I could find] and some random boiled/ snitzel (with the crust taken away) chicken breast and she didn't poo yet, any advice? Either on her diet or taking care of her? Currently she has her own box with a cloth bed, milk/ meat nearby and a chicken heat lamp because I keep her in a cold-ish storage room. Can she sleep with that light on? I am a bit clueless on cats, since it wasn't really my decision to get it so I didn't get to research beforehand .-.

Alexandra Rose said:

 
Hi there! Sorry for bothering you before reading all the way trough the thread but I am pretty scared: I received a kitten about 28 hours ago, she's a little ball of fluffiness, being about 3-4 weeks old, sadly she was taken from her mommy sooner than it should and now she has quite a swollen tummy. She drinks regular grocery store milk 1.5% fat [skimmest I could find] and some random boiled/ snitzel (with the crust taken away) chicken breast and she didn't poo yet, any advice? Either on her diet or taking care of her? Currently she has her own box with a cloth bed, milk/ meat nearby and a chicken heat lamp because I keep her in a cold-ish storage room. Can she sleep with that light on? I am a bit clueless on cats, since it wasn't really my decision to get it so I didn't get to research beforehand .-.

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Hi, first of all, thank you for taking on raising a kitten. But by no means is it good for a kitten to drink normal milk, especially skim! they cannot digest it properly and it can cause more damage than good! The kitten needs KMR (kitten milk replacer) in powdered form, mixed with wet kitten chow to create a sort of sludge that she can lap up. She is around the age to begin weening. So give her mixtures of KMR, and the sludge I described. She needs to be fed very often, but you can leave kitten food out for her. And she may still need to be stimulated to go to the bathroom. To do this, after feeding, take a warm damp cloth and wipe her genital area until she goes.

She can sleep with the light on, but make sure that she can move away if she gets too hot. I'm not sure how hot those get but by 3-4 weeks the kitten can regulate temperature somewhat, though a cold room isn't good. So I'd suggest keeping the lamp on a fraction of her cage/box. You could also try a rice sock heated in the microwave for her to cuddle.

The kitten is probably swollen due to being fed grocery store milk. If you are unable to get wet canned kitten food or KMR, WHOLE goats milk will do fine. Give goats milk sometimes, and goats milk mixed with dry kitten food if you can. boiled chicken in small small pieces can be given sometimes.

Another possibilty is round worms, take the kitten to the vet asap if you suspect roundworms. They can cause a swollen belly.

Kittens bellies do swell though, when full. But if she is being fed grocery store cow milk, and isn't going potty, you need to switch to kitten food, either wet or dry and KMR or goats milk. To make dry food more edible if kitty has an issue chewing, and make it moist by mixing it with the kmr or goats milk as described above

Sarthur2 imput please. And maybe an admin can make this its own thread.

I'll start by saying a kitten can not have cow's milk! Or shnitzel! The kitten needs kmr (kitten milk replacer) through a bottle round the clock. You need to feed her like her momma would, on her stomach and head slightly elevated. Hopefully someone else can give a better explanation. You also need to keep kitty warm and warm up her food before you feed her.

Kitty may not be able to go to the bathroom yet on her own and needs to be stimulated after every feeding. To do this, take a damp cloth and gently rub her belly and genitals.

Hopefully someone with more experience will be along soon to help a bit more!

Alexandra Rose said:

Hi there! Sorry for bothering you before reading all the way trough the thread but I am pretty scared: I received a kitten about 28 hours ago, she's a little ball of fluffiness, being about 3-4 weeks old, sadly she was taken from her mommy sooner than it should and now she has quite a swollen tummy. She drinks regular grocery store milk 1.5% fat [skimmest I could find] and some random boiled/ snitzel (with the crust taken away) chicken breast and she didn't poo yet, any advice? Either on her diet or taking care of her? Currently she has her own box with a cloth bed, milk/ meat nearby and a chicken heat lamp because I keep her in a cold-ish storage room. Can she sleep with that light on? I am a bit clueless on cats, since it wasn't really my decision to get it so I didn't get to research beforehand .-.

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Yes, this kitten needs kmr or goat milk ASAP. She also should not eat random meat, especially sausage. Onion and garlic are toxic to cats.

Can you go get some supplies immediately and then check back in? You should also get a needleless syringe or a bottle.

You have received excellent advice already. Is there a reason why the kitten cannot be in the house with you? It's not good for the kitten to be alone in a cold storage room. She needs to socialize with you!

Another thought, could this kitten go back to its mom for a few more weeks? I'm concerned.

Indeed, I am really grateful for all the advice I got and tomorrow morning I'll try to get some kmr. About being in the house, my mom said she can't be in the house because of the hair, but in the rest of the time I try my best to spend time with her and keep her under observation while wondering in the yard. I tried to find a kitten bottle at a couple of vet shops and I didn't find any, so thanks for the syringe idea ^^

Can someone give her a recipe for homemade kitten slop for the day? I feel like it would be better than cow milk.

@talkingpeanut  @sarthur2  either of you know of one?

Alexandra Rose said:

Indeed, I am really grateful for all the advice I got and tomorrow morning I'll try to get some kmr. About being in the house, my mom said she can't be in the house because of the hair, but in the rest of the time I try my best to spend time with her and keep her under observation while wondering in the yard. I tried to find a kitten bottle at a couple of vet shops and I didn't find any, so thanks for the syringe idea ^^

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Wait, will the kitten ever be allowed inside? She is VERY young to be allowed outside at all, let alone to be by herself. Can she stay in your room for the time being? I am very concerned!

newkitties said:

Can someone give her a recipe for homemade kitten slop for the day? I feel like it would be better than cow milk.
@talkingpeanut
 @sarthur2
 either of you know of one?

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Kitten glop:
1 lg. can evaporated milk (not Milnot)
2 tbsp. plain yogurt (not diet)
2 tbsp. mayonnaise (real)
1 tbs. Karo Syrup (light)
1 pkg. Knox gelatin
1 egg yolk (beaten)
1 cup of liquid unflavored Pedialyte

Do you have any or all of these ingredients?

Who brought this kitten home? Can you consider bringing it back to its mother? A 3 week old can't even maintain its own body temperature.

Unfortunately the owner of the mommy said she didn't want any more cats, so she gave the 3 kittens away. I will do my best to save this kitty! I have friends with cats..but none of them had tem from such a young age so they can't really help me ;;

Here you go:


You can do without the yogurt and gelatin if you don't have it on hand.

Alexandra Rose said:

Unfortunately the owner of the mommy said she didn't want any more cats, so she gave the 3 kittens away. I will do my best to save this kitty! I have friends with cats..but none of them had tem from such a young age so they can't really help me ;;

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Thank you for rescuing the kitten. I hope you can have the original owner spay the mama cat. This is cruel.

The kitten does really need to come inside because it needs constant care - feeding and pottying every 2-3 hours. Do you want to consider finding a foster to help?

Would your mom allow the kitten in your bedroom for now while it's still tiny?

Yea, I think she will, especially after explaining her all your concerns...and the fact SHE brought it home...

That's great. Baby needs a warm nest and you need to monitor and access her constantly.

She also should not be allowed outside at all until she is fully vaccinated and spayed.

alexandra rose

That would be excellent!

Can you make the kitten glop and feed her several mLs right away?

And can you post a picture of the kitten?

Sorry for not replying swiftly it was a bit late here, but as a good news: mom said she will try to get the kitty back to her mom for a couple of weeks more, at least until she gets more independent, and I think that her mommy love and milk and warmth is better than anything I could provide her ^^ I'll tell the owner we get it back when she's older :3

That's great news.  Have you been feeding the kitten and helping it to potty in the meantime?