Question about our new Kitten--advice please

coconut · May 1, 2006

Our Kitten is now about 10weeks old, and we have had her about two weeks. My concern is that her little behind always seems to be wet. I have had to give her a bath at least every other day to wash her behind because it smells like urine. Is it common for kittens to leak urine and not wash themselves off? Any advice is appreciated. She has a vet appt in a couple of weeks, and I will also ask then.

daybyday · May 1, 2006

I have taken care of many kittens and I have never had one have that problem. I have heard of elderly cats who had that problem. I can not remember what causes it though. You should call your vet immediatly and tell him/her. There may be a medical prob. that could get worse quickly.

hell603 · May 1, 2006

To be honest - her being so little and very suceptiable to everything - I would take her in ASAP to have her checked to rule out any medical issues.

Good luck with your baby!

sharky · May 1, 2006

Originally Posted by Hell603

To be honest - her being so little and very suceptiable to everything - I would take her in ASAP to have her checked to rule out any medical issues.

Good luck with your baby!

... please keep us updated

charmed654321 · May 1, 2006

Is this a long-haired kitten? If so, you might want to trim the fur around her butt.

Have you watched her use the litterbox? Is she perhaps going against the side and it's splashing back on her? Or is she sitting in it?

The next time you feed her and have a little time, watch and follow her until you see her go, and maybe you can find out exactly what's happeneing for her to get the urine on herself.

Bathing a kitten that young that often is not a good idea. They can catch chills and it will lower their resistance. I would suggest instead getting something like baby wipes, or wiping the area with a damp paper towel.

stephanietx · May 1, 2006

I had this problem with my 6 month old kitty not too long ago. I discovered that there was too much litter in the box for her. I reduced the amount of litter to hardly anything and she's been fine ever since. As she's grown and her legs have gotten longer, I've increased the amount of litter to a more normal level.

Stephanie

coconut · May 2, 2006

Charmed654321 said:
Is this a long-haired kitten? If so, you might want to trim the fur around her butt.

Have you watched her use the litterbox? Is she perhaps going against the side and it's splashing back on her? Or is she sitting in it?

QUOTE]
She is a medium hair gal, and I thought about the hiney hair trimming--I thought maybe she just wasn't good at keeping all that hair clean. I did that two days ago, and it is now a clean area, but her little labial area (it that is what you call it on cats), is always a bit damp. When I pick her up and check it always looks like she just peed. The litter box suggestion is a good one, and it does look like she goes against the corner. It's almost like she has a little leaking problem--does it take a while for kittens, like human babies, to control their bladders completely?

She's eating, drinking, playing, all the good stuff, it's just this one little aspect that concerns me. Sometimes when she gets up from the couch or bed, there is a little wet spot where she was sitting. It's like she just forgets to go the litterbox. Kinda like when my daughter was being potty trained, and she would not like to leave whatever she was doing to go, and then was too late.

I will also try the suggestion to reduce the amount of litter in the box. That could certainly be a factor as well that I had not considered.

Thanks for all the input. She is a wonderful little kitty, and will see the vet on Saturday morning, but I wanted to see what other folks had experienced as well.

Thanks!

hell603 · May 2, 2006

Thanks for being such a good and observant mom - please keep us in the loop and let us know how she is doing!

goldenkitty45 · May 3, 2006

I'd have the vet check it out. By any chance is this kitten a manx (with no tail)? Some totally tailless manx have problems with the muscles that control urine/bowel and have problems all their life.

coconut · May 8, 2006

I took Coconut to the vet on Saturday. I was able to collect about half a cc of urine off of her fur from her bottom with a syringe, and the Dr. is sending it out for a urinalysis. Her little bottom was very sore due to the urine being on it so much, like diaper rash. The Dr. said it was probably either an infection, and she went ahead a started Coconut on antibiotics (what a treat it is to give a 13 week old kitten medicine!) in the likelyhood it is this. Alternatively, she said it could be anatomical--a problem with the sphincter that relaxes too much when Coconot sleeps. I'm hoping it is the infection, because the diagnosis and treatment for the latter is pricey.

Anyway, Coconut has been on the medicine for 5 doses now, and her little bottom is now dry, for the most part. So keep your fingers crossed for us!

Thanks!

yosemite · May 8, 2006

Oh, I'm so hoping this will clear up little Coconut's problem. Hugs and kitty kisses to her from us.

Question about our new Kitten--advice please

coconut

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daybyday

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hell603

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sharky

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charmed654321

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stephanietx

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coconut

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hell603

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goldenkitty45

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coconut

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yosemite

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