All Day to long?

The vet said that I need to not help her eleminate all day and see if she goes by herself. She does not like to eat until she goes to the restroom. She is going to be 5 weeks old on Sunday. Is this really healthy? Should I wait another week? What if she does not eat since I am not helping her potty?

At 5 weeks old, this baby should be introduced to the litter box and to solid foods now. Please refresh my memory ... is Momma cat around to care for this baby?

No. I have been taking care of her since she was born. I tried to let her go by herself over the weekend but I finally figured out that when she has to go she crawls into my lap and whines. I thought she wanted to eat but when I start to pet her or pick her up she starts to let loose. I then run to the litter box and set her in. Sometimes she stops and sometimes she finishes. She Pees on my husband and poops on me????? She has gone in the litter box a couple of times but it seems to be more when I am not around???? Like the day I was at class she went twice. The day I spent with her zip. Today she went all over the place. Like she started to go and then quit but dribbled all over the place. I don't know what to do. She was such a mess I gave her a bath and she went like the whole time I was cleaning her. She is real runny the vet said because of her meds. Is that why she is having trouble learning to use the litter box. What can I do? Plus She is not at all interested in eating without the bottle. I have tried giving her milk in a dish. I even tricked her into licking out of it but she got all upset when she realized what she was doing and would not have anything more to do with it. I have tried dried food (science diet kitty food) plain, mixed with milk and mixed with water. Nothing. She can't be feeling lonely. She is with someone 24-7. And most of the time she is being played with or held or sleeping. She has even started playing with one of our dogs. Is it time for tough love? HELP!!!!

First, remember to breathe ... even if you or someone close to you doesn't smell so good from getting pooped or pee'd on. *chuckle*

OK, let's address this one thing at a time:

"I tried to let her go by herself over the weekend but I finally figured out that when she has to go she crawls into my lap and whines. I thought she wanted to eat but when I start to pet her or pick her up she starts to let loose. I then run to the litter box and set her in."

You might have to change your approach a bit ... when you are going to sit down and let her crawl into your lap, have a small litter box there - in your lap if you have to - so you can place her in it and pet her. You might have to change your approach a bit because I had forgotten that Momma wasn't around to show this baby how it is done. And you might also have to make your husband do the same thing so she gets the idea from him too.

"Today she went all over the place. Like she started to go and then quit but dribbled all over the place. I don't know what to do. She was such a mess I gave her a bath and she went like the whole time I was cleaning her. She is real runny the vet said because of her meds. Is that why she is having trouble learning to use the litter box."

What medications does she take, for what and for how long has she been taking them? If she is having frequent, loose diarrhea, then I worry about her hydration levels and electrolites, especially if she isn't eating or drinking much on her own. It isn't uncommon for kittens to eliminate while being groomed and I suspect she might also have been a bit frightened or stressed while you were bathing her. Can you effectively clean her up without getting her entire body wet? Make sure you keep her real warm afterwards and help her dry off quickly. The diarrhea could very well be a reason she isn't taking to the litter box just yet, but I suspect that there is more to it than that. You have a kitten that doesn't have Mom to teach her how it is done, she is evidently not feeling well and needs the extra comforting touch of you - her Mom - and all this at the tender young age of 5 weeks old. She has a lot to deal with. You might be pushing this a little faster than she can handle at the moment.

"Plus She is not at all interested in eating without the bottle. I have tried giving her milk in a dish. I even tricked her into licking out of it but she got all upset when she realized what she was doing and would not have anything more to do with it. I have tried dried food (science diet kitty food) plain, mixed with milk and mixed with water. Nothing."

I think it still might be a little early for this one, but you can try this to see how she goes with it; get a good, high-quality canned food - I like Nutro, either Natural Choice or Max Cat KITTEN formula. Don't get the pouches, get the cans and get the turkey variety. Spoon about a third of the can (approximately an ounce) into a flat sided dish or even a little jar lid and then mix it up with a little bit of warm water or KMR until it is soupy. You still want it thick, but you also want it to be more of a liquid than a paste. Offer it to Baby. She might go right for it, but if she doesn't, be patient with her and try smearing a small amount right on her lips. Keep trying with this. The old saying applies - if at first you don't succeed, try try again. She might need a little extra time as I said above.

"She can't be feeling lonely. She is with someone 24-7. And most of the time she is being played with or held or sleeping. She has even started playing with one of our dogs. Is it time for tough love? HELP!!!!"

Do you have any other cats? If not, then she absolutely CAN be lonely for one of her own species. I don't think that is the problem with this little one though - from what you have described, it sounds like she has a wonderful, loving home. And if she is beginning to play a bit, that is promising - are you 100% absolutely certain the dogs won't harm her, even in play? You know your animals the best, but I have heard horror stories ... and my heart always breaks.

Tough love doesn't work on cats. And this one is somewhat unique in that she had a rough start and is trying deperately to make it against what are some pretty large odds against her. Just be patient with her, give her some time to mature a bit and show her what you want her to do.

~gf~

when you are going to sit down and let her crawl into your lap, have a small litter box there - in your lap

I will try that. It makes sense. Why had I not thought of it before!

What medications does she take, for what and for how long has she been taking them?

She is on a pink liquid by mouth. I think it is like a pencillin, an antibiotic. The vet said she looked like she had ringworm so he gave me this plus an oitment to rub on her spots.

I suspect she might also have been a bit frightened or stressed while you were bathing her.

Maybe a little but per the vets instructions she has been getting frequent baths anyways so I think she is kinda used to them by now. She does not purr when she gets a bath but she seldom fights me while I am doing it except when I have to get around her face. Some of the ringworm spots are there and whenever I wipe her face with a wet or dry rag she acts just like a kid and hollors about it. But when I wipe her bottom with the warm wet washcloth while I am bathing her she goes and goes.

get a good, high-quality canned food

Last night I tried the food again. This time I crunched the science diet and a tiny bit of meat from the stew we had for supper and then made it into a thick soup with warm milk. I fed her with a baby spoon and she ate three or four kitty size bites of it before she lost interest. I will get her some canned babyfood today and try that.

Do you have any other cats?

Yes. Luke is my other house cat. He sniffs around the kitten but really has no interest in him other than scolding me when I make the kitten cry and when the kitten heads towards him he moves away.

are you 100% absolutely certain the dogs won't harm her, even in play?

Jock is only 2 so we are very careful to be right there with them when they are together. Right now Jock mainly watches the kitten or when we are on the floor with her he will mimic our moves trying to play too. He is the only one that will let the kitten get close to him but right now he is afraid of her a little. When she tries to cuddle and play right next to him he will move away but he will touch noses with her and has licked her a couple of times.

Just be patient with her, give her some time to mature a bit and show her what you want her to do.

Thank you for your responces. I look at the charts on what they should be doing at this age and read what others say thier Kittens are doing and I am concerned that we are doing something wrong that is causing her to be slower than she should be in her development. Her next vet trip is on Friday. I will ask them about dehydration and electrolites or should I go sooner? Is there a sign to look for a serious problem?

Thanks again.

The pink stuff (forget if it is amoxi or clavimox) can cause the diarrhea after a certain amount of time. Can you make up a batch of the kitten glob (recipe is stickied at the top of this Forum's index) and add a little unflavored, live culture bacteria yogurt to it? The digestive flora are out of balance and that is more than likely the culprit with the loose stools.

How is the ring worm coming along? Is it healing?

I think the charts are a guideline - and you have to take into consideration that this baby had a rough start with no momma cat - so use them to guide you, but don't expect each and every kitten to reach critical milestones from it. Kittens are as individual as snowflakes, so remember that and let her tell you when she is ready.

I will print the recipe and get the ingredients tonight on the way home. What kind of yogart though? Is it just plain yogart you can buy at the supermarket?

The worst spot already has hair growing on it. The hair is dark grey so it looks kinda funny right now with the rest of her hair which is light grey. My hubby bought me a cheap digital camera this weekend so I hopefully will learn how to post pictures soon. Then everyone can see my precious little girl. I would love to hear ideas on what kind of mixes she may have. She has such unusual features in her face. at least different than what I have seen before.

Oh and Padme (momma who would not feed) Is fixed as well as her brother Ani. I will see if I can get pictures of all my Kitties posted.

Thanks again.

The yogurt is any kind (and yes you can get it at the grocery store) that says on the label that it has "active cultures" in it. Just be sure to get the unflavored kind - not fruit on the bottom or any of that ... It seems to help settle the balance.

Can't wait for pics so learn how to use that camera! *grin*

~gf~