10 wk old kitten, depressed and not eating!

My boyfriend and I just bought a 10 week old kitten.
The woman we got it from said that it has been depressed ever since its two brothers were sold (we don't know the details about the mum, if she was still at this woman's house) and is not eating or moving very much.
We took it home, and it has not moved or anything. It just looks like its sleeping (it is still breathing). We have a syringe to force feed it soft food, but something is very wrong!
Is it just shock from being away from its family? And how do we remedy it?

This kitten sounds like he is extremely ill and he needs a vet right away.

Kittens may miss thier siblings and former home but a normal kitten should be tearing around, eating, drinking and occassionally conking out for a couple of hours, not sleeping so much that you need to check whether he is still breathing!

I would take the kitty to the vet for a checkup just to make sure there isn't anything wrong. This isn't normal.

Its not that bad anymore, she is eating and playing now. But there is still something strange going on.
Yesterday was the second day of having her. When I got home yesterday, she was rambunctious, eating, and playing with me. She even got up on the couch and cuddled with me for about 4 hours! We didn't want her in our bedroom because we knew about cats peeing on beds while their owners slept, but during the night she seemed extremely scared to be by herself, so we built her a bed in our closet and let her sleep there.

Of course she wanted to be with us, so while we were asleep she came up and slept beside us. And of course, she peed on our bed. We got up to change the sheets. She was playing for a bit, but then suddenly she started crying and we couldn't figure out why. She ran around the house, looking for something, crying, wouldn't let us near her, and then she got into a tiny gap between the fridge and the counter, and got stuck behind the fridge! But even when we made room for her to get out, she wouldn't come out.
We got her out by force because it was too dangerous back there, blocked every gap, hole, etc in the house.
After we got her out, she ran straight for our bedroom and under the bed, and has been there for nearly 7 hours.

I don't know why she gets sudden bursts of being extremely frightened like this, why she hides from us after hours of playing and cuddling and being familiar with us on her own accord. My boyfriend (who was the one who got her) told me last night that she was the runt of the litter so I think she just has huge trust issues. How can I get her to trust me?

A kitten that is acting lethargic and refusing to eat, even part of the time, needs to see a vet. Any new pet should be checked out by a vet anyway.

As for trusting you -- this is only her second day in your home, she doesn't even know you. With cats, it's all up to them. Wait for her to come to you. Wanting to sleep with you is a good sign of bonding.

Originally Posted by Eloedee

I just got a kitten myself! I found her outside, she's been abused and had given up on life and was just laying on her side in the rain next to the sidewalk. I couldn't leave her (she was only about 4 months at the most old). When I got her home she just layed right where I put her, depressed, and didn't eat any of the food I tried to give her. I had to go get formula and force feed her for about two weeks. I took her to the vet two days after I brang her home and they told me there was nothing they could do. They tried EVERYTHING, but she'd given up on her self. They told me to bring her home and just love her and keep feeding her and MAYBE she'll come around. I didn't know what to do, and I was heart broken trust me. So I made her a cozy bed in a box and set her in it and tried to be with her whenever I could but she still never bothered to move. My husband came home a couple days later with one of those small round clocks that tick really loud, a fuzzy teddy bear, and a small blanket. I was confused at first but as he wrapped the kitty up and placed her snuggly next to the teddy bear and then placed the clock behind the teddy bear I sort of understood. The teddy bear would remind the kitty of her mother, and the clock of her heart beat. She didn't react at first but later that day I could hear her purring. Now she's a ton better, although she still acts a little bit off and flinchy. She's about 7 months now and she's actually pregnant (I don't even know how she got pregnant, lol, I never let her outside that I can remember). I'm sure your kitten will come around,but it might be in your best interest to take her to the vet JUST in case theres something past what the eye can see wrong.

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Eloedee, I guess my question here is, are you sure she is pregnant? Is it possible she has worms instead. If you have never let her outside I can't see how she could possibly be pregnant and may have something wrong internally which could also be the cause of her acting a bit off and flinchy.

As for the other kitten - you should already be at the vet instead of posting here. That kitten is sick and needs help now.

Originally Posted by Eloedee

I'm positive! Lol, when I took her in for her shots I thought that was why her belly was so swollen. They took a look and told me they didn't think so, and although cat pregnancy testing isn't for sure they're pretty sure she's pregnant. There's no way a kitty can be THAT big because of worms, lol. Besides, my husband has been checking her litter box and hasn't found any being passed at all. She's also been nesting. My guess is, that my husband got sick of her mewing (when she was in heat off and on she would cry for hours non-stop even if I was petting her), and decided to let her outside while I was up in Everett planning our wedding. He's probably just too pridefull to admit it to me .

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Eloedee...please keep her strictly indoors now. Did the vet give you any timeline when to expect kittens?

Katie

Thanks you so much for sharing that story, it makes me feel a whole lot better! And congratulations to you for being such a good cat person! I'm glad there are people like you in the world, you saved her life.
I've heard about the clock and teddy bear thing before, and we did do that the first night...but she keeps choosing several different spots to sleep in so I think we'll let her find her way around first.
My kitty is out and about again right now. I think she just needs to get used to us...its just that it was confusing me at first why she would cuddle us one second and then be frightened of us the next without us doing anything. I've had lots of cats in my life and I've never encountered one with such anxiety as this one.
I plan on taking her to see a vet in a few days once she calms down and lets me get close to her more comfortably. I need to get her first checkup and shots anyways, so I'll tell the vet about her behavior as well.

Originally Posted by TNR1

Eloedee...please keep her strictly indoors now. Did the vet give you any timeline when to expect kittens?

Katie

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She's due the second week in March and is scheduled to be spayed the following month. I can't chance her getting out and breeding again as much as I love kittens...it's just to difficult to find good homes for each of them. I found out today that I have a Russian Blue cat (I have no idea what that means) but I like the fact that she has an actuall breed (I think that would be her breed right?).

Originally Posted by Eloedee

She's due the second week in March and is scheduled to be spayed the following month. I can't chance her getting out and breeding again as much as I love kittens...it's just to difficult to find good homes for each of them. I found out today that I have a Russian Blue cat (I have no idea what that means) but I like the fact that she has an actuall breed (I think that would be her breed right?).

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Eloedee....she may have Russian Blue traits...but unless you have papers from a breeder stating that she is a Russian Blue..then she most likely is a mix.
I would really recommend that start talking to rescue groups about helping you to place the kittens. The benefit is that a rescue group can follow up to ensure they are spayed/neutered.

Katie

I am praying for your kitty (1st post in this thread.) How is she now???

Originally Posted by TNR1

Eloedee....she may have Russian Blue traits...but unless you have papers from a breeder stating that she is a Russian Blue..then she most likely is a mix.
I would really recommend that start talking to rescue groups about helping you to place the kittens. The benefit is that a rescue group can follow up to ensure they are spayed/neutered.

Katie

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That's a good idea. I'll be fine with that as long as the kittens can stay here and I can see whose family the kittens go to. I couldn't just give her kittens away to just anybody!

I'm pretty sure she's a Russian Blue...I'm thinking she was abandoned because she has a deformity and therefore wouldn't sell well...*shrugs* I'm going to take her in to get her checked to make sure .

I think that a vet check for the 1st kitten is definitely in order! Kittens do best if they can stay with their mom till 12 weeks. After she gets a clean bill of health, you can consider this an emotional issue. You can also stroke her face, chin & ears, simulating what her mother would do for her, to help her establish that you are a maternal figure that will care & protect her. As for sleeping with her, you can try giving her a folded towel to sleep on, in case of accidents, although at her age, I don't think that would be much of a problem - hence, why I think the vet needs to be consulted ASAP.
I know that this kind of situation is unusual, but I applaud your compassionate efforts to give this kitten a chance for a wonderful life in a caring family. When she bonds to you & your Bfriend, you will have a marvelously devoted, loyal soulmate
I hope that she gets an A+ from the vet & that she overcomes her traumatic beginnings rapidly! Susan

For the original poster: Did this kitten come from a breeder? When I read the original post, something doesn't sit right. I don't think that your kitten was properly socialized to human contact, not to mention that she was sold at too young an age. Kittens really need their mothers to teach them how to behave like a cat. You didn't see the mother? The whole thing seems odd to me.

That said, In My Opinion, you should ALWAYS take a new cat to the vet. They can test for different diseases, etc. Also, I really don't think the kitten can become that depressed just from losing its siblings. Also mention the peeing on the bed.

Do you have more than one floor in your place? There should be a litter box on every floor of your home for a kitten. They just can't get there in time if not. Just like little kids. Be patient with her, and talk to her, make her comfy beds to rest in, even read to her. Your voice will calm her and get her used to her new home. Oh, and one last thing - maybe take her to the litter box before bed? Maybe she didn't want to leave you - or afraid of jumping off your bed...best of luck, and let us know what happens!