3 week old kitten!

Hello all!

I just adopted an abandoned kitten, I think she is about 3 weeks old. She walks wobbly, needs a bottle and all that. I have never had such a small pet before, but I think I have this mostly under control.

I live in Guatemala, and unfortunately cats are mostly seen as pests here, so even help from a vet is hard to find. I can't find formula so I have been giving her evaporated milk. I am curious if unpasteurized cow milk or goat milk would be better? I can find both here very cheap.

She hasn't pooped yet, but I read that's okay since I have only had her for three days and she pees fine. I put a few drops of olive oil in her last bottle so we will see how it goes.

This is Onyx
And in her snuggle-bag

Welome to the cat site!

AW her snuggle bag is perhaps the cutest I've ever seen

I have no experiene with kittens, but it looks like you are doing a very good job. Thank you, and God Bless you, for rescuing her. She is so tiny! I don't think she would have surived on her own for very long. You save her life!

These articles may be helpful: 

http://pets.webmd.com/cats/guide/newborn-kitten-care

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/fading-kitten-syndrome-11-things-you-need-to-know

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/hand-rearing-kittens-what-you-need-to-know-to-save-a-newborns-life

Also I enourage you to take look at our kitten forum: http://www.thecatsite.com/f/36/pregnant-cats-and-kitten-care

Feel free to ask any quesrions there! 

xoxo

ForNana said:

Welome to the cat site!

AW her snuggle bag is perhaps the cutest I've ever seen:love:

I have no experiene with kittens, but it looks like you are doing a very good job. Thank you, and God Bless you, for rescuing her. She is so tiny! I don't think she would have surived on her own for very long. You save her life!

These articles may be helpful: 
http://pets.webmd.com/cats/guide/newborn-kitten-care
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/fading-kitten-syndrome-11-things-you-need-to-know
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/hand-rearing-kittens-what-you-need-to-know-to-save-a-newborns-life

Also I enourage you to take look at our kitten forum: http://www.thecatsite.com/f/36/pregnant-cats-and-kitten-care
Feel free to ask any quesrions there! 

xoxo

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Thank you for your kind words, and the websites you linked!

Onyx loves her snuggle-bag! I made it as a purse for my youngest, but Onyx fits perfectly in it and it is so warm.

Someone else will chime in but goat's milk is your best bet.

At her young age she require stimulation to eliminate.

My vet swears by goats milk for baby kittens!  Keep her warm and snug.  I love your snuggle bag!  Many little feedings all day and all night.  Don't put her on cow's milk

Would fresh goats milk be alright or should I go to the market and find pasteurized goats milk?

I did fresh with my Lola--even froze some.  She was about a month older, but horribly malnourished.

She's absolutely precious!

You may also be able to find KMR online to ship to you, though I suspect goats milk could be cheaper she's also near the age kittens start eating so you may be able to start her on canned kitten food in addition to milk.

Thanks for all the replies! Onyx seems healthy and is very playful. She comes to me, still wobbly, every time she hears me speak. It's so sweet.

She still has not pooed. I called a vet who sees cats, mostly for fixing them, and he said to stop all milk and food and give her only suero (not sure what that is in English).

If she doesn't go by tomorrow he said he would see her for very cheap ($8!).

Send good vibes for little Onyx, please!

SweetOnyx said:

Thanks for all the replies! Onyx seems healthy and is very playful. She comes to me, still wobbly, every time she hears me speak. It's so sweet.

She still has not pooed. I called a vet who sees cats, mostly for fixing them, and he said to stop all milk and food and give her only suero (not sure what that is in English).

If she doesn't go by tomorrow he said he would see her for very cheap ($8!).

Send good vibes for little Onyx, please!

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Suero es serum.

S sweetonyx

Do NOT stop feeding her!

That is not appropriate. Add drops of olive oil to her milk and food instead. It will bring on a bowel movement naturally in time.

Primula said:

Suero es serum.

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AKA whey, the liquid leftover when milk is allowed to curdle as in cheese making.

You can try to stimulate the kitten to poop by genlty massaging her behind and lower abdomen with a warm damp towel to mimick a mother cat.

The suero is what we give children when they are dehydrated, there is a brand called pedialyte I think they sell in the States so you know what I am talking about. I have given her olive oil and I use a warm, damp washcloth on her often. (This is a little gross) I can see her butt is pushing and I think she farted, but no poop yet.

I love her so much already, I don't want to lose her. She is so loving and playful and seems so healthy that if I didn't know better would think this was nothing.

Veterinarians here really don't see cats often, but I am at such a loss of what else to do.

Do you think giving her the suero for one night and morning, no milk will harm her? What do I do?

Yes. She needs food. Withholding food is not the answer.

talkingpeanut said:

Yes. She needs food. Withholding food is not the answer.

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Shit. Okay, I also won't be going to that vet.

What else can I do?

How much and how often are you feeding the kitten?

You can purchase infant glycerin suppositories. You shave off a TINY sliver and insert it. It should bring on a poop.

SweetOnyx said:

The suero is what we give children when they are dehydrated, there is a brand called pedialyte I think they sell in the States so you know what I am talking about. I have given her olive oil and I use a warm, damp washcloth on her often. (This is a little gross) I can see her butt is pushing and I think she farted, but no poop yet.

 

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Oh, Pedialyte I was using Google Translate and it translated "suero" into "whey" and "serum". Use only unflavored Pedialyte or equivalent. I"m not sure what a kitten dose of Pedialyte is but someone shoudl be along with that info.

sarthur2 said:

How much and how often are you feeding the kitten?

You can purchase infant glycerin suppositories. You shave off a TINY sliver and insert it. It should bring on a poop.

Click to expand...

I am not sure where to buy that. She is farting, she was not really doing that before. Her little butt keeps pushing out though. I have been feeding her about every two hours, but she eats different amounts each time. I burp her when she is done and offer more. I stimulate her often.

If you continue adding drops of oil, she will go soon. Then she will be okay. She's adjusting to her new diet.

I walked around town for awhile and had a horrible time finding a good vet. Finally, I went to my dog groomer and asked her for some advice. Turns out, her husband is a vet! She called him and sent me to his clinic.

He really seemed to love Onyx and wasn't rude at all. He gave me a mild laxative (it's basically mineral oil) and explained a lot. He was able to get a little poop out of her. He said that Onyx seems healthy, and if she doesn't go in two days, I should bring her back in for... not sure the word in English, but they squirt water up the butt... He didn't even charge me except for the laxative!

We made an appointment for next week to get her vaccinations and dewormed.