Sick Kitten?

I'll be bringing home a 10 week old kitten tonight that appears to be in poor health. My sister got her for my niece a few days ago, but the kitten doesn't seem "right" so I'm going to take her and see if I can figure out what's wrong. She is very skinny and only has 4 teeth...  which concerns me because there should be 26. And if they had just fallen out because they are the baby teeth, shouldn't we be able to see more coming in? There aren't any. I'm planning on taking the poor thing to the vet soon, but wondering if this might in fact be normal and nothing to worry about at this age yet. I'm hoping she is just skinny because it's been hard for her to eat (which is an easy fix so long as the teeth situation is a temporary one). Please advise. Thanks.

RedHeadJKB said:

 
I'll be bringing home a 10 week old kitten tonight that appears to be in poor health. My sister got her for my niece a few days ago, but the kitten doesn't seem "right" so I'm going to take her and see if I can figure out what's wrong. She is very skinny and only has 4 teeth...  which concerns me because there should be 26. And if they had just fallen out because they are the baby teeth, shouldn't we be able to see more coming in? There aren't any. I'm planning on taking the poor thing to the vet soon, but wondering if this might in fact be normal and nothing to worry about at this age yet. I'm hoping she is just skinny because it's been hard for her to eat (which is an easy fix so long as the teeth situation is a temporary one). Please advise. Thanks.

Click to expand...

Does she seems reasonably healthy otherwise?  Or is she visibly under the weather, as the english say?   Is she handleable or very shy?

Because being visibly sick, will make the comfort effort more complicated, alike heating pad, very easy digestible yet nourishing food, etc.  Giving comfort and massage, massage perhaps with a toothbrush...

All this may still be the wise, but not the same degree of urgency...

As you say, its surely wise to let a vet used to cats look at her.  It may be so she is younger than 10 weeks.  and she may be full of worms...

A first owner whom apparently neglected the kitten, will almost surely conceal the truth, as selling her underage, saying she was dewormed when she wasnt...

What food are you giving her?  does she eats and drinks?   Apparently she needs more of whatever she has.

I would suggest " return to the basics",   ie giving  some good kmr or goats milk, use it as a base.   its 8ml / oz and day. So a kitten of 1 kilogramme which is about what she should be at this moment if not very skinny - 33 oz - about 250 ml goats milk or kmr a day.    Real food is more energy tight, so the equivalent amount will be lesser.

If you dont have problems with salomonella in eggs in your area, you can add raw egg yolk to this.

Later on, you begin with more regular food; it may be minced meat (not from pigs), it may be baby food - Gerber is making good brands,   Royal Canin makes dry food  for nursing mommas and kittens - this brand is good.  Better than their kitten-equivalent.   Etc...  Theree are many possibilities.

A little cheese, a little plain full fat youghurt, raw chicken (all parts are possible).  Or cooked chicken - meat, internal organs

Please continue to report.

Thank you so much for your response. I went and got some goat's milk and wet food to try first. I've only had her for a few hours now. She hasn't touched the wet food yet, but she drank the milk. She DOES have all her teeth. They just didn't look hard enough. And as for her being skinny, she's the right size for her age. I don't think there is anything wrong with her. I think my sister just didn't like her, and I don't know why. She's such a sweet girl. I won't have any problems finding her a good home. Thank you again for your response. I prepared for the worst before picking her up, but thankfully she's just fine

Thank you so much for your response. I prepared for the worst before picking her up, but she appears to be just fine. I don't think there is anything wrong with her. She DOES have all her teeth - they're just hard to see. She drank the goat's milk just fine but didn't touch anything else. She's prob just stressed from being moved place to place. She's the right size too. I think my sister was worried for nothing, but better than not caring. Thank you again for your response. I'm truly greatful.

RedHeadJKB said:

 
Thank you so much for your response. I prepared for the worst before picking her up, but she appears to be just fine. I don't think there is anything wrong with her. She DOES have all her teeth - they're just hard to see. She drank the goat's milk just fine but didn't touch anything else. She's prob just stressed from being moved place to place. She's the right size too. I think my sister was worried for nothing, but better than not caring. Thank you again for your response. I'm truly greatful.

Click to expand...

Tx for this nice report, Now I can go to the days work with peace of mind.  

Good luck!