4 week old kitten problem

marin

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Hi!I bought a kitten from the market and ever since it's been acting strange.I've took her to the vet for the regular check,but it didn't find anything wrong.Still,she has a strange behaviour;shes afraid of averyone and evrything,and doesnt's want to eat anything,i often have to force feed her.Shes also very restless and never sits in her box and even more anoyng she meows all the time,especially at night and in the morning i find her wandering around the house hiding somewhere.
I don't know what to do.Any advice would be apreciated.
 

gardenandcats

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A four week old kitten Should still be with its mother. Thats your problem the kitten is way to young to be eating on its own.Shes a infant.She needs alot of attention and helping with eating. Probably she still would nurse from a bottle.
I'm sure others will have some good advice. Kittens should stay and nurse from their mother till their at least 10 weeks old. Shes scared, lonely and to young to be expected to eat on her own. Shes also probably cold as at this age they spend alot of their time sleeping with there motherand siblings.This keeps them warm and also they need to learn and develop social skills from the mother.Kittens need to eat about every 2 hours also. So the meowing is because shes hungry and scared and lonesome.
 

maverick_kitten

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at 4 weeks my kitten Jupiter was still feeding from his mum and not on to soilds until 6weeks.

go to www.kitten-rescue.com for tips on raising him. and you'll need to either buy some KMR (kitten replacement milk) or make some kitten gloop.
 

jane_vernon

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I agree.

She needs a bottle for one, lots of warmth (If she is cold then she won't eat) and lots of love and attention.

She is probably scared because of what has happened to her - So you need to take it nice and gently. Give her a big box with nice cuddly blankets and maybe a stuffed toy or toy that she can snuggle up to. Keep this box in a fairly dark environment away from noise.

Is she toilet trained? Because you may have to stimulate her to go, by getting a warm wet tissue or cotton ball, and gently massaging her genital area to make her go to the toilet.
 

kumbulu

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Hi Marin, welcome to TCS.


I'm hoping that perhaps this kitten is at least 6 weeks old, to take a four-week-old kitten away from his mother is very cruel.

The first thing that you need to do is confine the kitten to either a small room or a large box. 4 weeks is too young to be wandering around the house. Prepare some rice socks (http://www.kitten-rescue.com/cold_kitten.html) and let him snuggle with those. Find a small clock that ticks and bury that in the bedding - this will remind the kitten of his mother's heartbeat and will comfort him.

You'll then need to make sure he isn't dehydrated.

There are two ways to check for dehydration:

Pinch test - Gently pull the skin up on the back of the kitten's neck and release. If the kitten is well hydrated, the skin will snap back into position in a second. If the kitten is dehydrated, there will be a 'tent' in the skin that takes longer to go back into place.

Gum test - With clean hands, lift the kitten's lip and gently press on the gum and release. The gum should turn white for a second and then return to a nice pink colour. If the gum stays pale or is greyish, the kitten is dehydrated.

I would advise feeding Pedialyte diluted 1/2 and 1/2 with boiled, cooled water. Use a dropper or syringe (without the needle of course) and feed him 2ml every hour for 3-4 hours. Make sure it is warmed a little.

Home-made Pedialyte

1 cup water (boiled then cooled)
Small pinch of baking soda
Small pinch of Salt
2 teaspoons of sugar

Mix all ingredients well. Make sure the mixture has been slightly warmed before feeding to your kitten. The mixture will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Feed 1ml (1cc) every half an hour for the first two hours using a dropper or feeding syringe. Also make sure your kitten is on his tummy and not his back when you feed. Feed very slowly so the fluid does not go down the wrong tube and choke your kitten.

Never feed a kitten cow's milk or human baby formula as this causes stomach upset and severe diarrhea.

Then you can begin to feed either KMR or kitten glop, as others have said. If he can lap, let him lap this from a tiny bowl or jar lid. If he cannot lap, use the syringe or, ideally, a kitten nursing bottle, to feed him.

Home-made kitten formula (Kitten Glop)

8 ounces water (boiled then cooled)
1 envelope Knox unflavored gelatin
8 ounces whole evaporated milk (not skim)
2 tablespoons mayonnaise (not low fat)
2 tablespoons plain yogurt (not low fat)
1 large or 2 small eggs yolks (raw)
1 teaspoon clear Karo syrup
* 1-3 drops liquid pet vitamins
* 1 capsule acidophilus
* 1 drop Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE)

* Optional, though very beneficial.

Boil the water, add the gelatin and mix well. Add the following ingredients in order, mixing well after each addition:

1/2 of the canned milk
Mayonnaise and Yogurt
Rest of the milk
All other ingredients

You can substitute canned goat's milk for the canned evaporated milk, if you prefer it. This mixture will keep in the fridge for up to four days. It is jello-like in consistency in the fridge so you can just scoop out as much as you need and warm. It can also be frozen in ice cube trays and defrosted as needed. You can find pet vitamins at a pet store or your vet, and acidophilus and GSE in the liquid form at a good health food store.

Good luck with this little one. I hope he makes it.
 
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marin

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A four week old kitten Should still be with its mother. Thats your problem the kitten is way to young to be eating on its own.Shes a infant.She needs alot of attention and helping with eating. Probably she still would nurse from a bottle.
I'm sure others will have some good advice. Kittens should stay and nurse from their mother till their at least 10 weeks old. Shes scared, lonely and to young to be expected to eat on her own. Shes also probably cold as at this age they spend alot of their time sleeping with there motherand siblings.This keeps them warm and also they need to learn and develop social skills from the mother.Kittens need to eat about every 2 hours also. So the meowing is because shes hungry and scared and lonesome.
Yeah,i got it a bit to young.I thought that if i take it as small as posible i could train her better.But yeah.I just can't always saty with her since i have school.And 2 hours.I didn't know that.I fed her 3-4 times a day.
 
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marin

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Originally Posted by jane_vernon

I agree.

She needs a bottle for one, lots of warmth (If she is cold then she won't eat) and lots of love and attention.

She is probably scared because of what has happened to her - So you need to take it nice and gently. Give her a big box with nice cuddly blankets and maybe a stuffed toy or toy that she can snuggle up to. Keep this box in a fairly dark environment away from noise.

Is she toilet trained? Because you may have to stimulate her to go, by getting a warm wet tissue or cotton ball, and gently massaging her genital area to make her go to the toilet.
Well, i got her a the biggest box i could find and put some towels and a blanket.I gave ger some fluffy toys but she didn't seem to care about them.The box is in my room and it's pretty quiet.I'l try to wrap her in some blankets and try to bottle feed her afterwards.As far as the toilet.She did it in the box,i never gave much atention as long as she did it in there.
Thanks a lot for all of your advices.I'l try to apllie them and keep you posted if her situation changes.
 
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marin

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Never feed a kitten cow's milk or human baby formula as this causes stomach upset and severe diarrhea.
Oh.I though it was ok since she didn't show any signs she dislikes it.Sge didn't seem upset to the stomach thoug,but i think shes just lucky i guess.
 
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marin

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Strange.I've done all those things(keeping her hydrated,the clock,putting nlenkets,etc.) and she seems fine.But now shes sleeping to much,almoust all the time.I keep puting her in blankets and in her box,but she doesn't want to do anything else.She wakess up only to get fed but just barely.I don't know..it doesn't seem naturall.Should i take her to a vet or wait to see what happenes next
 

kumbulu

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It sounds like a vet visit is in order. Because she is so young, she may need to be fostered by someone who takes in orphaned and abandoned kittens, until she is old enough to eat, use the litter pan etc.

4-week-old kittens will tend to sleep quite a bit but they should have bursts of 1/2-1 hour where they're active and will bat at your fingers or play with a small toy with you. What are you feeding her? Has she urinated and moved her bowels?
 
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marin

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What are you feeding her? Has she urinated and moved her bowels?
Well.i've been giving her that Pedialyte mixture,but other than that i don't know.I'ts not t ime yet for solid food right?
Yes,but not in her litter,just in the box.
 

goldenkitty45

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This is gonna take a lot of work/patience. 4 weeks is WAY too soon to be separated from mom and littermates. Its just beginning the learning stages.

I don't want to scare you but this kitten may have many social problems because of the separation. First of all, 4 weeks is NOT weaned. So you should be feeding her KMR (kitten milk replacer). Kittens start to eat solid foods around that age. My rex kittens didn't even attempt solid food till 5-6 weeks old and they nursed up to 3 months!

You can make a soupy mixture of a little KITTEN canned food and fed her off your fingers. But she still needs the KMR too.

She's crying at nite because she doesn't have her littermates or mother around - so you have to become her mother. You may have some problems with litter pan - be patient.

I'd get a few books out on raising orphan kittens so you can be prepared for the stages ahead.

Also very young kittens can dehydrate quickly. The little activity and listlessness does not sound good - the kitten is probably dehydrated. And you may not be able to save her. I'd call a vet and get her in there now, before you lose her. The vet can give you information on what to feed her.

The ideal age for adopting a kitten is 12 weeks old. By that age, they have been socialized with other cats, dogs, humans (hopefully). They are weaned from mom and eating normal solid food and they are stronger in every way. They also know how to use the litter box.
 

kumbulu

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Have you only been giving her the Pedialyte? She needs formula or the kitten glop mixture. The Pedialyte should only be fed for a few hours. No wonder she is so lethargic and not well. The Pedialyte makes sure she has fluids but is not nutritious at all.

Please buy some KMR or make up the kitten glop and give her some now.

Home-made kitten formula (Kitten Glop)

8 ounces water (boiled then cooled)
1 envelope Knox unflavored gelatin
8 ounces whole evaporated milk (not skim)
2 tablespoons mayonnaise (not low fat)
2 tablespoons plain yogurt (not low fat)
1 large or 2 small eggs yolks (raw)
1 teaspoon clear Karo syrup
* 1-3 drops liquid pet vitamins
* 1 capsule acidophilus
* 1 drop Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE)

* Optional, though very beneficial.

Boil the water, add the gelatin and mix well. Add the following ingredients in order, mixing well after each addition:

1/2 of the canned milk
Mayonnaise and Yogurt
Rest of the milk
All other ingredients

You can substitute canned goat's milk for the canned evaporated milk, if you prefer it. This mixture will keep in the fridge for up to four days. It is jello-like in consistency in the fridge so you can just scoop out as much as you need and warm. It can also be frozen in ice cube trays and defrosted as needed. You can find pet vitamins at a pet store or your vet, and acidophilus and GSE in the liquid form at a good health food store.
 

beckiboo

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Oh, my! As Kumbulu said, Pedialyte is just to give the kitten fluids. She still needs formula. Either purchase some KMR or make the recipe for kitten glop. At least start giving the kitten moist kitten food again. Sounds like you are trying your best, but the Pedialyte doesn't have enough nutrition to keep her alive!
 

gayef

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At 4 weeks old, your baby can be successfully weaned onto solid foods - while mother's milk is best, that doesn't seem to be an option so here's a good suggestion - Go to the grocery store and purchase several jars of chicken or turkey meat baby foods. No veggies, no onions, just chicken or turkey. Don't get the advanced stages, get the pureed almost liquid stuff.

Warm the jar in a small bowl of hot water and when a comfortable temperature, spoon the entire jar out on to a round saucer, not bowl, a small plate will do. Give it to your kitten and then give another jar about 4 to 5 hours later. You can warm a little Kitten Milk Replacer and mix it in with the food or you can place a saucer of that nearby, but give her both and let her choose which she wants. She may not eat all of it. She may walk in it, she may roll in it, she may make a huge mess of it. But give it to her now in the hopes she begins eating appropriately very soon.

If she has gone several days with nothing but the hydrating fluids, this kitten should be seen by the vet right away.

Please, please ... keep us updated on this little tyke and let us know how she goes?

Best of luck, we are ALL hoping for the best here,

~gf~
 
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marin

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Go to the grocery store and purchase several jars of chicken or turkey meat baby foods. No veggies, no onions, just chicken or turkey. Don't get the advanced stages, get the pureed almost liquid stuff.
Oh i see what you mean.Yeah i could try that,cuz she looks weak now.

But anyway i have to do something to keep her ocupied..i try playng a little with it so shes not always sleeping,but doens't seem to really wanna play or do nothing,just falls asleep pretty quiqly.I don't think shes dihadrated cuz i've chechek her gums like you totld me and they seem fine.Should i take her tot the vet try feeding her and continuing with the Pedyalite?
 

kumbulu

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Marin, she is starving to death and you need to do something to stop this - feed her! As others have said, KMR, kitten glop, baby food, kitten food made into a gruel with warm water.

Please feed her.
 
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