New kit sick?

pat

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Jenny, what about flea-bite anemia? It would certainly go along with the shivering and weakness. I found this one page at www.kitten-rescue.com of interest, it may help a bit:click here

If you are really concerned re hepatic lipidosis (and perhaps a vet tech here will correct me if I am wrong) the caution re feeding too much would be at any one time - not overfilling the stomach. I'd go for frequent small feedings - even getting up through the night until this little one seems out of the woods. I hope Hissy will come through, and of course, you can ask your vet, but I'd think feeding every 3 or 4 hours is called for.

They are both lovely, I hope they make it...bless you for caring.
 
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jennyr

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Thanks Pat and Alix - at this stage I am concerned about every possibility. I am feeding her through the night -at least, I did last night and I will again tonight, though she did eat a little more by herself this evening. I gave her some boiled chicken and she even growled to keep her sister away from her share! So there is improvement. Anaemia is a real possibility and it was one thing I thought of, though I did not connect it with shivering. Thanks for that. I have never seen any animal as covered with fleas and flea dirt as these two. It was horrific. I will check her gums in the morning. To combat anaemia should I feed extra protein/anything with iron in it/vitamins? KRS didn't give any practical tips.
 

pat

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Originally Posted by jennyranson

Thanks Pat and Alix - at this stage I am concerned about every possibility. I am feeding her through the night -at least, I did last night and I will again tonight, though she did eat a little more by herself this evening. I gave her some boiled chicken and she even growled to keep her sister away from her share! So there is improvement. Anaemia is a real possibility and it was one thing I thought of, though I did not connect it with shivering. Thanks for that. I have never seen any animal as covered with fleas and flea dirt as these two. It was horrific. I will check her gums in the morning. To combat anaemia should I feed extra protein/anything with iron in it/vitamins? KRS didn't give any practical tips.
The only liquid supplement I've used is not for kittens (Pet-tinic), which makes me wonder what is safe with a kittens different nutritional needs. If you do use liver, it has to be not daily or a large amount because you can get into vitamin a toxicity...but I'd sure consider using a little bit. I read one site (not sure of it's reputableness) that suggested 1 oz. of liver per day for *cats*...but again, on other sites, it discusses how regular diet of liver (or cod liver oil) can cause a problem. So.....I like the liver idea, but please ask your vet for how much, how often would be safe and appropriate for this little one..who is obviously beginning to respond to your care.
 
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jennyr

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Good idea. I will ask my vet in the morning if I can give her cod liver oil. And there are some adult cat foods that contain liver - I could use one of those sometimes. I will see what he says.
 

pat

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You could simply cook up a small amount of chicken livers, but one food line that has some w/liver flavors is Fancy Feast - they have a beef and liver and a tender chicken and liver, both in a basic ground texture.
 

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These kittens look similar in size (except that they are very skinny) as my 16 week old kittens...

My kittens born on May 1st weight 4.5 lbs...

Hope your babies get better...
 
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jennyr

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I can't get Fancy Feast here - the choice is very limited. Whiskas and Friskies do a liver flavour, but I want to get good quality food into them as quickly as possible. I will ask Haris about the cod liver oil - I have some that I take, and I will buy some chicken livers today and cook them up in some milk to dilute the flavour a little. Overnight they have both eaten, and I got an egg yolk into the small one this morning by syringe.

I don't think they are anything like 16 weeks old - 8-9 weeks is my guess, though I agree that they are so small and malnourished it is difficult to tell.
 
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jennyr

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For interest, I just weighed them, though my scales are not very accurate. The bigger one is 3lbs 5oz and the smaller is 2lbs 6 oz. Going by the kitten calendar that is normal weight for 8 week olds, so maybe they are older, because they are certainly not normal weight, however old they are!
 
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jennyr

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Just got back from the vet. It never rains but it pours. Ellie has a UTI and I have antibiotic syrup for her. Now I have to clean the hall carpet that she peed all over before my landlord comes for the rent this weekend! But I took the chance to ask Haris about the liver and he said OK to the cod liver oil. He also said he thought the kittens were around 15-16 weeks, I don't know why I didn't ask him before. So that they are incredibly underweight. I also now have Frontline for them so that will bash any remaining fleas on the head (or wherever fleas get bashed!).

My only remaining question is - how do you all, those who have five or more cats, manage? I always said three was my limit and now I know why!
 

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Oh no!, poor Ellie
I hope she feels better soon Jenn, bless her


Do you have those plug in air freshners where you are?, i only leave them on when i'm in the house, but their briliant!.

15-16 weeks!, the poor things they must have been starving before you came along
Well at least they have good old frontline to fight the fleas now


Oh and are we thinking of increasing the family by asking how people cope with more?!
 

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I've have 4 cats currently but I've had as much as 13 (2 cats had litters 2 weeks apart). Five cats had been the norm for quite a while but its 4 for now. I have an area in the basement for the litter boxes 3 right now as they are indoor/limited outdoor and use the gardens as litter boxes. I used Duct tape and tape down a piece of those plastic tablecloths that I bought at a fabric store for easier clean up. I have a food dish for each plus 2 water dishes and 4 small dishes for moist food. These are on those plastic placements that could be used on kitchen table. I watch the petstore newspaper ads for sales on the cat litter and food and if there is a sale I really stock up. I only give then a small amt of moist food for a treat daily (about 1T) so a big can can last a week. I buy the dry food in the largest bags available and as I said if on sale(i'm trying to watch the stores for patterns) I will buy 2-3 bags. If they have free samples I pick them up as will as trial offers that are say $1-$2 box for emergency use.
I also have lots of "cat odor" stuff. Then brushes/collars and a small medicine cabinet for cat shampoo/nursing bottles and some 1st aid stuff. I also keep a file with their rabies tags and other stuff from the vet. Most of my vaccuming is from cat hair, Ox as he ages is dropping more. I've made pet beds and polar fleece blankets and cat toys too.
I guess I really do alot for them I always tell my friends if you have 3 cats what's 4 cats and then if you have 4 what is so different about 5!! But I feel more than 5 depending on house size and the cat's personalities could become more challenging.

I hope the little one keeps improving!!
 
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jennyr

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It was a rhetorical question! I must somehow find homes for these little ones. I have not done a stroke of work all week dealing the feeding, petting, fighting, playing, health problems of five cats, plus the general cleaning up after them. And now I don't have a car I am hiking back large bags of food and litter on the bus! I have a deadline in 13 days and must meet it for handing in my syllabus for next year, and then another one by Oct 31st. And I have to go to France in the middle to deal with some renovation decisions. Let alone what will happen if I manage to sell the London apartment and have to go there for legal matters. Sorry, just a panic attack.

More importantly, the chicken livers were a great success. The little one ate a huge bowlful, growling all the time. I gave her sister some too of course, but that did not stop the 'this is mine, mine, mine'. And my girls are happy too - they had a treat of the chicken hearts, lightly poached. And Ellie has started her amoxicillin course, so I hope to see some improvement there. The pee-sodden carpet is soaking in the bath (which is where I would like to be!).
 

pat

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Originally Posted by jennyranson

More importantly, the chicken livers were a great success. The little one ate a huge bowlful, growling all the time. I gave her sister some too of course, but that did not stop the 'this is mine, mine, mine'.
Sorry about the fancy feast recommendation, I remember thinking toi myself that I wasn't sure you could get that. I am
delighted this little one liked the chicken livers. I am sorry to hear about the UTI
nd hope Ellie responds quickly to the medication.

I remember that having 5 cats was distinctly different than 3, it was as if once you reached that number, there was little difference in how the house felt and worked until one reached 10 (which I did when I was showing). I know this is temporary for you though, so just hang on! Wishing these two to begin gaining and for the littlest one to become well. They are such lucky, lucky kittens to be in your care.
 
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jennyr

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Both kittens are doing well this morning, but guess what? The bigger one is a boy!!! I began to suspect I had got it wrong a couple of days ago, but now there is no doubt. He has suddenly developed definite bulges and boy parts. I suppose he was so emaciated before that there was no sign. But it does help explain why he is so much bigger than his sister. He is much more active and escaped from their room this morning, getting all the way down two flights of stairs before I could catch him. He is a real lovebug though, and jumps on a lap to purr and headbutt whenever he can. She is much more timid, still wants to sleep and stay still, but she can now jump onto the bed in one leap, so that is a big step forward. She had a big meal on her own this morning, and some milk to follow. They are both pooping enormous amounts, I wish their little bodies would retain more of it, but at least their systems are working. So things are looking OK.
 
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jennyr

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Well, I am feeling an idiot, after 50 years of having cats! I have now realised that they are both boys! I really could not tell before - they were all kind of thin and pinched out, and now they both have definite testicles! I have compared them closely with my girls too - the cats must have htought I was mad!

This morning they are not eating so well - the dish I left them overnight was untouched, so I fed them a very little glop by syringe, and then later they each had a little bit of chicken. The bigger one has very liquid stools. I hope there is not some infection coming out. They are playing together though, now in my bedroom to give them a little more space. I am having no luck finding homes yet, there are just too many kittens around. This morning I saw a little dark orange one outside the grocery shop and a tabby running round inthe courtyard of hte university, both about the same age as my two, though not as thin. But I cannot save all of them. My camera batteries have run out so as soon as I can I will post more pix.
 

rosiemac

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Don't worry Jenny, mistakes happen.

Aww i hope they start to eat again soon
but if their playing thats a good sign.

It couldn't be the milk thats causing him to have runny stools could it?!
 
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