Advice Please....

sar · Oct 20, 2005

I'm not really sure what I am doing with this, so please bear with me!

I kitty arrived at my door last night and he is now in my kitchen (I have suspicions that someone droped him off, but i'm just speculating there! I'll explain more in the Lounge)

Anyway, he's an older kitten (a bit smaller than Molly - although she's fully grown) and I'm not good at estimating ages.

He has used the litter tray for both things (after a lot of persuasion last night) and is eating like a trooper and drinking his cat milk!

He is very vocal and loud, but I'm thinking it is just the way he meows - not a problem.

I'm hoping to get him to the vets today, if I can get an appointment and i'll take things from there!

Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated, as I have never experienced this before!

Is there anything I should look for to see if he's ok?

sar · Oct 20, 2005

I just went to clear the tray and noticed that his poop is really quite soft

dawnofsierra · Oct 20, 2005

Congratulations on being adopted, Sarah! Does he have any signs of an URI, such as sneezing, drainage from his nose or eyes, etc. Also, a distended abdomen could indicate worms. Does he have fleas? Are his ears clean? Ear mites are not uncommon in kittens found like this. Does his poop look normal?

These are just a couple of things that come to mind. As we've discussed, it is probably best to be on the safe side and keep him separated from Molly and Tibby for now, including not sharing dishes or litter pans. If he has any symptoms of an URI, I would also change my clothes and carefully wash my hands between contact with your new little one and your other babies.

Bless you for rescuing this precious baby! Please keep us updated!

dawnofsierra · Oct 20, 2005

ok, you just answered the poop question. There's no telling what he may have been eating before coming to you, so this may just be a bit of stomach upset. Do you have any acidophilus you could give him by rubbing on his gums? This could help settle his tummy.

sar · Oct 20, 2005

Originally Posted by dawnofsierra

Congratulations on being adopted, Sarah! Does he have any signs of an URI, such as sneezing, drainage from his nose or eyes, etc. Also, a distended abdomen could indicate worms. Does he have fleas? Are his ears clean? Ear mites are not uncommon in kittens found like this. Does his poop look normal?

These are just a couple of things that come to mind. As we've discussed, it is probably best to be on the safe side and keep him separated from Molly and Tibby for now, including not sharing dishes or litter pans. If he has any symptoms of an URI, I would also change my clothes and carefully wash my hands between contact with your new little one and your other babies.

Bless you for rescuing this precious baby! Please keep us updated!

Thank you, Stephanie!

His poop is a quite soft

As far as I can tell, there is no drainage from his nose or eyes and I haven't found any fleas yet! (sill looking)

I will check his ears when I go back into the kitchen!

His abdomen seems pretty solid, but he seems pretty muscular all over his little body!

Yes, I'm keeping them away from eachother and I remembered from whan you got Serenity that it's best not to let them share bowls or litter trays!

I will do the checklist again to make sure I haven't missed anything and i'll come back and post again!

Thank you again!

sar · Oct 20, 2005

Originally Posted by dawnofsierra

ok, you just answered the poop question. There's no telling what he may have been eating before coming to you, so this may just be a bit of stomach upset. Do you have any acidophilus you could give him by rubbing on his gums? This could help settle his tummy.

True, I didn't think of that!

I don't know what acidophilus is?! Where would I be able to get it from?!

decadenz · Oct 20, 2005

Yes, definitely keep the new arrival completely separate from your resident kitties till he's had a full checkup at a vet's. Do the whole shower before you touch your kitties thing, just as Dawnofsierra mentioned.

Some irresponsible people will abandon their cat if there's something wrong with his health, and you don't want him spreading anything to your resident babies.

if he's having bad diarrhoea, make sure he's properly and sufficiently hydrated, especially if he doesn't drink water readily.

Good luck~!~

sar · Oct 20, 2005

Just checked his eyes and nose again and they seem to be normal! His gums are good too - which is good, I's say!

He is now playing with the mouse I introduced him too - it's keeping the moews down, But Tibby and Molly want to see what's in there!

rosiemac · Oct 20, 2005

Awwwww Sarah's been adopted!!!

What colour is he?, and any luck with a vet appointment?

dawnofsierra · Oct 20, 2005

Originally Posted by Sar

I don't know what acidophilus is?! Where would I be able to get it from?!

Lactobacillus Acidophilus is one of the friendly backeria in the digestive track. I keep some on hand at all times, and, in fact gave some to Serenity just this week when her tummy was bothering her. Any health food store should have this available, Sarah, and some grocery stores carry it now, as well.

rosiemac · Oct 20, 2005

Thats sounds like the same sort of stuff that Sophie got from the vets when she had an upset tummy 2 days before her spay?!

It was brilliant though!

sar · Oct 20, 2005

Thank you, Decadenz!

Just checked his ears and they seem pretty clean too!

Susan, he's black and white cow print!

Thank you for letting me know about that stuff, Stephanie, I'll ask the vet when I manage to get through to them!

I'm not sure if he is neutered, as he's so small (I only have Tibby to go from, because I have never had a male cat before him!) Is there any way I can check?!

sar · Oct 20, 2005

Yay, I got through to the Vet and we have an appointment for 5:30!

The veterinary nurse said that we can discuss anything that I'm concerned about at the appointment, so that's good (being as I haven't been keen on the vet!)

I so hope it goes well!

Do I need to get him different food?! He's eating all that I give him really well - we have an empty bowl already!

Should I try to give him set meals for the time being?!

Also, should I ask around my neighbours to see if they have seen him around at all - I have seen all the other cats, but never him?! Should I put found posters up (without a picture,obviously)?!

I'm really not sure what to do!

purity · Oct 20, 2005

Awww Sarah he sounds adorable, obviously knew he would get taken of when he chose you!

Let us know how it goes at the vet won't you

sar · Oct 20, 2005

Originally Posted by Purity

Awww Sarah he sounds adorable, obviously knew he would get taken of when he chose you!

Let us know how it goes at the vet won't you

He is adorable! I'll try to get a picture later!

I will certainly let you know how it goes! Keep your fingers crossed that he's healthy!

rosiemac · Oct 20, 2005

I would ask around Sarah just incase he does belong to someone.

Fingers are crossed that he's ok, which im sure he will be. And i can't wait to see him

Will you keep him if he doesn't belong to anyone Sarah?

sar · Oct 20, 2005

Originally Posted by rosiemac

I would ask around Sarah just incase he does belong to someone.

Fingers are crossed that he's ok, which im sure he will be. And i can't wait to see him

Will you keep him if he doesn't belong to anyone Sarah?

Oh, I don't want to keep him if he belongs to anyone - I'll keep him here until I know anything! The vet might be able to tell if he is owned or not!

I'd love, love, love to keep him, but i'm not sure if I would be able to!

Firstly it would depend on Tibby and Molly, secondly on whether my Mum accepts the idea and thirdly if I can stretch to afford three!

I think it'll take a lot of thinking, but we'll just have to see how it goes!

dawnofsierra · Oct 20, 2005

I'm so happy you and he have an appt now at the Vet, Sarah!

I prefer feeding set meals. These must be frequent with a little kitten, though. Serenity just has gotten to where she isn't demanding a meal every couple of hours, day and night. He needs a food suitable for kittens to meet his special nutritional needs. Serenity is eating Innova canned. I hope you're feeding him wet food.

As far as the diarrhea, you can tell if he's dehydrated by gentle pinching the skin up on his neck. It should snap right back into place. If not, and it stays tented, this would indicate he is dehydrated. There is a difference, though, between soft (sort of like soft ice cream consistency) and runny, watery stool. You could give him pedialyte with a dropper if you're concerned about dehydration. I'm sure you know not to allow him to eat way too much at one time, as this could only add to his stomach upset.

I'm so looking forward to seeing your baby!

sar · Oct 20, 2005

Originally Posted by dawnofsierra

I'm so happy you and he have an appt now at the Vet, Sarah!

I prefer feeding set meals. These must be frequent with a little kitten, though. Serenity just has gotten to where she isn't demanding a meal every couple of hours, day and night. He needs a food suitable for kittens to meet his special nutritional needs. Serenity is eating Innova canned. I hope you're feeding him wet food.

As far as the diarrhea, you can tell if he's dehydrated by gentle pinching the skin up on his neck. It should snap right back into place. If not, and it stays tented, this would indicate he is dehydrated. There is a difference, though, between soft (sort of like soft ice cream consistency) and runny, watery stool. You could give him pedialyte with a dropper if you're concerned about dehydration. I'm sure you know not to allow him to eat way too much at one time, as this could only add to his stomach upset.

I'm so looking forward to seeing your baby!

It is amazing how long it feels until we visit the vet, I just wish I could have booked and earlier appointment! *sigh*

Yes, I've been feeding him wet food and mushing it up (Tibby and Molly have it this way anyway!

) I'll nip out as soon as I can to get some kitten food for him!

He seems to be pretty hydrated! Thank you for reminding me about the pinch test!

His poop seems to be more of the soft king, it wasn't runny - which I assume is quite a good sign?!

I will keep in mind to feed him regualarly and small meals!

I'll be posting some pictures soon! They're just uploading into photobucket!

dawnofsierra · Oct 20, 2005

Goody, pictures!

Advice Please....

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