5-8 week old stray I want to care for properly

cierra17

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First off I wanted to start of saying Hello!!  I'm not only new to this site but new to cats in general Iv'e always been a dog owner never a cat owner but this lil boy I now call Smokey has curled his way in my life and heart...So this little kitten was a mess when we found him under the car while I was about to leave for work... flea infestation like crazy!!! and poor little bald spots from itching on a couple of his toes and back hind leg...So I did what I thought safest and best being dawn and apple cider vinegar. After many dawn baths and apple cider vinegar treatments I think he is finally ok. Now that I have the lil guy feeling better, I tried to take him into the vet for vaccines but he isn't old enough/didn't weigh enough (only 1.5lbs) so I was told....

So now my next question is what do I feed him??? I know there are kitten foods at the stores but are there any preferences or stay away from foods? like I know most dog foods are actually unhealthy but I'm not sure about cat food. What is truly the best thing for a kitten this age, im guessing 5-8weeks??Also any tips, tricks, or preferences on kitty litter, grooming for med-long hair, toys,beds, etc are always welcomed as well I swear he chose me and I'm in love with this lil guy and want to give him the very best of everything!!!  Please help me! Thank you(:
 
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ginny

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Hi and welcome!  It's very sweet you've decided to take care of this little one!  Have you taken him to the vet yet?  The vet can estimate how old he is and check him out too.  I think at 5 weeks he still needs Kitten Milk Replacer or KMR at the petstore.  You probably don't need to bottle feed him at this point but you can try that if he won't drink it out of a bowl.  He also needs wet food especially for kittens.  Canned food gives him more protein and moisture than dry.  He also needs to have a good quality dry food available too.  Kittens are growing like weeds and they need food!  Several times a day.  They say you cannot overfeed a kitten because they are growing so fast.  So don't worry him getting too fat right now.  Get a scale to weigh him every day to make sure he isn't losing weight.  

I'm sure some of the advisors will be by soon to fill in the gaps.  

Good luck!  Does this help?
 

ginny

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Also, I 'd get regular sand litter - the kind that does NOT clump!  He might eat some of it - sometimes kittens do because they don't know what to do in a litter box just yet.  So that's why the unclumping litter is best for him right now until he gets bigger.  He needs a baby sized litter box that is easy for him to get into.  

Sorry I just now saw where you did take him to the vet.  I'm not sure when kittens' vaccines are due but ask for the non-adjuvanted kind because there is less risk associated with them.  

I use a steel wire comb for my kitties, the kind that has a wide tooth and one side and a small tooth on the other.  Be careful not to pull his skin though.  

Send pictures of your little one!!  We'd love to see him!
 

handsome kitty

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Get ready to make a shopping list

You should give the kitten KMR (kitten milk replacer) he probably isn't fully weaned yet. We recommend powdered not pre-mixed and Pet AG, Royal Canin and GNC are good, avoid Hartz and sergeants brands.  He should be able to lap it up from a shallow dish so a bottle may not be necessary.

Fancy Feast Pate is good, most have meat as the first ingredient.  Royal Canin also has a good kitten pate and a very good (pricey) dry called Mama and Baby Cat.  Sheba is also good.  The kitten will need both wet and dry food, small servings of wet 3-6 times a day and dry down 24/7.  He will eat a lot.

A scratcher and/or a cat tree.  Start with a scratcher at least so he doesn't start using your furniture.  There are even cute kitten sized ones for around $30 but are out grown in a couple of months.

Non-clumping kitty litter.  Kittens taste everything and the clumping litter can cause blockage.  You can use a small box, like the one 12 cans of kitten food come in.  Something low to the ground and you want more than one.  Kittens have small bladders and when they need to go may not have the time to find it.  Some people place Puppy training pads around the litter boxes for accidents.

Toys!  Look for a variety pack, and at least one wand toy.

I wouldn't buy a cat bed just yet.  Not all cats use them.  Put some soft fabric in a box for now.

Claw trimmers will come in handy, they will be sharp soon if not already.  Brush, flea comb,  topical flea treatment.

He will need to be wormed and vaccinated at 8 weeks if the vet hasn't done it already.  And he can be neutered any time after he weighs 2 lbs.
 
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cierra17

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@Handsome Kitty   Thank you so much i am taking a pic of this to take with me on my next shopping trip!!! Sooo very helpful, I can't thank you enough! ya he is only 1.5lbs right now and doc woundnt do any vaccines told me to come back in two weeks. Also his tail is like scabbing? i almsot am worried he has a fungi of some sorts but im hoping it was just him over itching from the fleas.
 

handsome kitty

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I got to add a cat carrier, and if you are planning to walk him on a leash and harness it's best to start him young, maybe about 4 months.
 

Sarthur2

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If the tail is scabbing over, then let's hope that means that it's healing. At 1.5 pounds it sounds like your kitten is about 6 weeks old.

If his sores get worse, call the vet. Kittens are not vaccinated until they are 8 weeks or 2 pounds, so your vet is correct.

What are you feeding the kitten now?
 
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cierra17

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@Ginny  Thank you!!!! very helpful im taking notes lol!!! why are those types of vaccines better? and yes they told me to bring him back in two weeks for the shots to be safe. 
 
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cierra17

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@sarthur2  Thank you!! and for now just my roomates dry cat food he has a cat but Im about to go to the store to get some wet food and the Replacement milk 

@Handsome Kitty  Thank you i wouldnt of thought of that so soon!! 
 

Sarthur2

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Yes, please do. The kitten needs wet food and KMR as soon as possible. Thank you for caring for this baby!
 

angelsmom1988

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Cierra:

Thank you for giving a loving home to a homeless kitty.  I have given homes to two strays and they gave me more love than I could have imagined.  Your new companion is extremely lucky to have a wonderful, gentle person like you in his life.

Just a couple of pointers: do not give your cat cow's milk or table food. If you feed your little guy a reputable brand of age-appropriate food formulated for cats, he should thrive. 

Gook luck to both of you.
 
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ondine

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Do not use clumping litter- babies sometimes eat their litter and that can cause tummy troubles.  They have a product called Dr. Elsey's which makes a litter just for kittens.

Wet food is best for kittens - as long as it doesn't have a lot of grains, it should be fine.  You may want to add a little water to it to make a sort of slurry.  Messy but easier for him to eat.

You can also still give him some kitten milk replacement or goat's milk.  (No cow's milk, though - again, can cause tummy troubles)

One tip - do not play with him with your hands.  Its cute and tempting but it teaches them that hands are toys.  Once they get bigger and attack your hand, you will know what I mean.

Thank you for rescuing him.  It sounds like he needed you!
 
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cierra17

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@Ondine  Thank you so much for the advice!! I just want the cutie to have his best shot in life and be happy and healthy finally! He just got another dawn bath dried off and just got done puting some coconut oil on his dry irritated bald areas on his feet and he is purring for the first time in the week we found him (: I think he finally has no more fleas and is just so happy to not be itchy anymore.. the poor thing used to cry all day and was fidgity all the time but now he is finally a happy flea free kitty curled up sleeping like a baby. Makes me heart melt(:
 

Sarthur2

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Be sure his bedding has been washed in hot water to kill any flea eggs or larvae. Vacuum as well where he has played. Otherwise you may see tiny hatchlings, and the cycle begins anew.

When he is fully 2 pounds, you can put a tube of Advantage for kittens on the back of his neck.

So glad to hear he is purring and happy! [emoji]128522[/emoji]
 
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cierra17

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@sarthur2  I actually just  bought advantage2 last night since shipping will take a week anyway and it was cheaper online(: Thank you!!!

@Ginny  Thanks for the links
 

lavishsqualor

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You are so awesome for taking care of this kitten!  My oldest cat was brought to me only hours old, her umbilical cord still attached, and that was over a year ago.  I work in property management and one of my maintenance guys found her in the trash can! 

I just can't imagine my life without her and you're going to feel the same way.

Once again, thank you for taking care of this lost little soul.
 

grooverite

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Vacuum and wipe the floors in case there are flea eggs and/or larvae. Once you get the frontline/advantage, put it on him and have some peace of mind. Good luck and all the best with your new best buddy!
 
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