I just acquired a new kitten about a week ago, he is 10 1/2 weeks old and it's been nothing but trouble. Apollo is a very cute kitten, and loving as well (he likes to purr and knead, and follows me around like a little duckling), but there are some things that just drive me crazy. First off is the meowing, he meows CONSTANTLEY, like hours at a time non-stop. For the first few nights I had to keep him in a small room because I have another cat, and was waiting for Apollo to be tested for FIV. When I leave the room he cries for at least an hour until he goes to sleep. Even when he is in my sight, he meows. The only time he doesn't meow is when he sleeps. Is there any way to stop this? I can't let him sleep with me because my other cat hasn't accepted him yet, and hisses when the kitten gets too close. Water spraying doesn't help, he's not bright enough to understand this and he just ends up being soaked without any improvement of meowing. Secondly is the fact that he won't eat. He acts hungry, but when I put food down in front of him (wet, dry, I've tried it all, even tuna fish juice!), he won't eat. The only thing that worked was adding a bit of baby food in with the cat food, but that gave him diarrhea, so I stopped that. I KNOW he's hungry, but he's just so picky. He's also been trying to suckle on my face, which is cute but a bad habit to have I think. I've taken him to the vet and he was just dewormed. She said he was healthy and all, but I'm beginning to wonder, he seems a little thin. Which is another thing, I don't think he's pooping much. And the last thing I have to complain about him is the fact that he just peed on my bed. He KNOWS where the litter box is, and usually he uses it, but a few times I've caught him peeing in a different spot. Is there any way to help this? I'm sorry that I've been going on a rant, but I've just been so frustrated this past week. I've had kittens before, but none of them have been this much work, and I'm on wits end. I'm wondering if I should just give him up and bring him back to the breeder. He is cute and all, but I'm about ready to just try getting a different kitten.
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Kitten problems.
- Thread starter hoppybunn
- Start Date
Hoppy..welcome to TCS...what breed of cat is he?? Some cat breeds are more "vocal" than others. Additionally, it sounds like he is lonely in the bathroom by himself...can you at least provide him with a few stuffed animals and a t shirt that smells like you and a radio that has music softly playing so that he doesn't feel "alone".
Katie
Katie
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- #3
Oh, he's not in a bathroom, he's in a small bedroom (no bed, it's the cat room for now), with his cat bed, scratching post, toys, food, water, litter, and with a few things of mine for my scent. He's a bengal actually. He's quite a loud little bugger for a guy his size. I actually might try the radio idea, it seems to be a popular bit of advice from what I've read. Truthfully I don't want to give him up, but I'm in an apartment complex, and I don't want him disturbing the neighbors.
Understand...there are actually a few bengal breeders on this site and I just PMed one to see if he would be willing to provide you with some ideas. I'm not all that familiar with the Bengal breed myself.
The other thing that I have read is really good is to provide some stuffed animals..if you can find one that is a cat..that would be good as it would remind him of his littermates.
Katie
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #5
You are welcome...just so you are aware..the breeder I PMed is called Kai Bengals and he could certainly assist you with understanding how to work with your newly acquired kitten. BTW...I just got a PM from Kai that he will respond to this post.Originally Posted by hoppybunn
Great, thanks for your help, I appreciate it a lot!
Katie
Hoppy,
Congratulations on your new bengal kitten. In order to help you through this, I need to ask a couple of questions first.
1. How long has he not been eating?
2. What was his weight when you got him and what is it now?
3. What was he eating at the breeders and is he still being offered the same diet?
4. Did the breeder assure you he was completely weaned?
5. Have you contacted the breeder for help?
I have been breeding bengals for more than 8 years and the behavior your kitten is exhibiting is not normal. Yes, bengals can be very vocal, but kittens will only meow at length when they want or need something. Most bengal kittens don't go around yowling about stuff.
I believe your kitten is probably very hungry and of course views you as the food source. He also probably misses his siblings and mother a great deal, especially if he wasn't completely weaned.
The inappropriate peeing can be addressed after you resolve the food issue, but for now just make sure you show him over an over where the litter box is. Praise him profusely if you witness him using it.
I'm most concerned about his lack of appetite, as he can go downhill very quickly at his age if he refuses to eat. I'm not a big fan of letting new owners have their kittens at this young age, because things like this can happen, but you have the kitten now, so let's see if we can get you through this.
Again, what does your breeder say about the situation?
Congratulations on your new bengal kitten. In order to help you through this, I need to ask a couple of questions first.
1. How long has he not been eating?
2. What was his weight when you got him and what is it now?
3. What was he eating at the breeders and is he still being offered the same diet?
4. Did the breeder assure you he was completely weaned?
5. Have you contacted the breeder for help?
I have been breeding bengals for more than 8 years and the behavior your kitten is exhibiting is not normal. Yes, bengals can be very vocal, but kittens will only meow at length when they want or need something. Most bengal kittens don't go around yowling about stuff.
I believe your kitten is probably very hungry and of course views you as the food source. He also probably misses his siblings and mother a great deal, especially if he wasn't completely weaned.
The inappropriate peeing can be addressed after you resolve the food issue, but for now just make sure you show him over an over where the litter box is. Praise him profusely if you witness him using it.
I'm most concerned about his lack of appetite, as he can go downhill very quickly at his age if he refuses to eat. I'm not a big fan of letting new owners have their kittens at this young age, because things like this can happen, but you have the kitten now, so let's see if we can get you through this.
Again, what does your breeder say about the situation?
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #8
Thanks Kai for your interest in helping me, I really appreciate it. To answer your questions: Apollo does eat, just not very much. It's been like this since I got him a little under a week ago. I took him to the vet on Thursday, he weighed 1.1 pounds, I am not sure what it is now, but he feels about the same as he did then when I hold him. The breeder said he was eating adult iams chicken flavored canned food, and I have offered him the same, but he wasn't interested. She also said to feed him boiled chicken, but I haven't done that as I don't want the kitten to get used to people food so much because I want his diet to be healthy (though I guess at this point I just want him to eat). Actually the breeder said that suckling is normal sometimes, but that he was weaned at the proper age. I am beginning to suspect that he was weaned too early. I agree that he wants something, but everything I try to do doesn't seem to work. The vet gave me a prescription canned food called I/D, and he liked that the first time I gave it to him, but after that he wasn't interested. The only time he ate ravenously was when I accidentially dropped some tuna on the floor while I was making a sandwich. He plays a little, and he is very active, but he is not too interested in toys, he is more interested in purring and kneading on me, and then trying to suckle, so I think he is hungry. I'm just exhausted and frustrated because I am worried about Apollo, and I want him to turn out all right and to be healthy.
Ok, your primary concern right now has to be to get this kitten to eat and eat as much as possible. I can't stress this enough.
A healthy 10.5 week old bengal should weigh at least 3 pounds. Your kitten is very under-nourished. The suckling and meowing are signs of this and your kitten is at a loss as to what to do to nourish himself.
I'm going to refrain from going on a tirade about the breeder you got your kitten from, but suffice it to say, this person has his/her head up their posterior.
I think at this point we need the forum's members to chime in on the best ways to get a stubborn kittne to eat and what is the best high calorie choice to force feed if needed.
To reiterate, you must get this kitten to consume food, so don't worry about spoiling him on human food or anything like that right now. Whatever he wants to eat (within reason), let him eat it. Boiled chicken is good, just don't add seasonings. No onion, no garlic.
I don't want to scare you, but your kitten is only 1/3 of the weight he should be. So do whatever you can to coax him to eat.
Once he's full, he'll stop meowing so much.
I hope some members with lots of experience feeding sickly kittens will respond now.
A healthy 10.5 week old bengal should weigh at least 3 pounds. Your kitten is very under-nourished. The suckling and meowing are signs of this and your kitten is at a loss as to what to do to nourish himself.
I'm going to refrain from going on a tirade about the breeder you got your kitten from, but suffice it to say, this person has his/her head up their posterior.
I think at this point we need the forum's members to chime in on the best ways to get a stubborn kittne to eat and what is the best high calorie choice to force feed if needed.
To reiterate, you must get this kitten to consume food, so don't worry about spoiling him on human food or anything like that right now. Whatever he wants to eat (within reason), let him eat it. Boiled chicken is good, just don't add seasonings. No onion, no garlic.
I don't want to scare you, but your kitten is only 1/3 of the weight he should be. So do whatever you can to coax him to eat.
Once he's full, he'll stop meowing so much.
I hope some members with lots of experience feeding sickly kittens will respond now.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #10
Okay will do, I'll try feeding him some tuna again, and then maybe chicken later. I'll see how it goes, and I'll keep you updated. Thanks for your help. Hopefully if all goes well I can curb different problems together, like I said my concern is for him to be healthy as I was having suspicions that he wasn't.
What about that milk replacement stuff (not sure what it's called)? Or is he too old for that? It really sounds like he was weaned too early and just wants to nurse still....
It is called KMR, and as underweight as he is, I think it is probably one of the things he needs. Poor little guy needs as much nourishment and comfort as he can get right now. I have even used a bottle for very fussy kittens, just for the comfort of suckling. A kitten that is so underweight can get cold easily, too, so make sure he is warm enough. I have an apron with a large pocket right on the chest that I carried Pepper around in when I rescued her. She had been abandoned and injured, and was very tiny and afraid. She took a bottle for the first few days I had her, then she perked up and began eating on her own.
I hope your little one is ok, please keep us posted. We would love to see pics of him if you have any.
I hope your little one is ok, please keep us posted. We would love to see pics of him if you have any.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #13
Thanks for your support you guys. I actually asked my vet if I should try kitten formula, but they said he was too old for it. But as it seems that he's trying to suckle I might give in and let him "nurse" for a few days, just to get his weight up. Do you guys think this is an okay idea? I fed him some tuna, and he ate some of it, but I think only because my other cat was eating it. He didn't eat as much as I wanted him to however. Where is the easiest place to get the milk replacer? Would a Super Stop & Shop have it? Or do I have to get it from the vet?
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I agree with giving KMR, either in a bottle or mix it with wet food.
I wonder if the kitten is actually 10 weeks old, he sounds younger.
I wonder if the kitten is actually 10 weeks old, he sounds younger.
Usually KMR comes from a vet, but some pet stores may carry it. You'll need a the kitten baby bottle and nipple as well, unless he'll lap it up from a plate.
If you go to a vet, ask for a supplement called Nutri-cal. It's a paste in a tube (like toothpaste). Follow the instructions on the amount to give as a supplement.
I've found that stubborn kittens sometimes like the canned Fancy Feast with lots of juices in the can. This is really not high quality food to feed long term, but he might like it enough to start eating, then you can wean him off.
I feed my cats and kittens a raw diet and we have very few problems with kittens eating. I'm not suggesting you try raw at this point in time, but it is an option later if he proves to be a stubborn eater after he gets his weight back up.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #16
What I don't get is the fact that I took him to the vet, they weighed him, and didn't say anything about him being underweight. I always thought that he felt a little bony. I guess I should switch vets then. Right now though my goal is to get his weight up, and I've actually seen the nutri-cal at petsmart. My mom uses it on her female siamese cat, who has always been tiny.
I sort of hate to bring this up.............but it is something you should think about, since you purchased a kitten from a breeder.
Your breeder should have sold you and then handed you a healthy vibrant kitten without litterbox issues and without feeding issues. From what you have described, your kitten is in my opinion, none of these things and you do have the right to return the kitten to the breeder for a refund or an alternate kitten.
So.....the questions are......
Are you so attached to this kitten now, that you're willing (and able) to go the extra mile to bring him back to optimum health?
Do you have the time and energy to do so?
Can you handle the burden of the vet bills if you incurr them during his re-hab?
There is the outside chance that his condition doesn't improve and instead worsens.....is this something you can come to terms with?
Is your breeder willing to assist you and even bear some financial burden?
If some of your answers are no....I would ask you to seriously think about taking this kitten back to the breeder for them to handle.
I have a real problem with breeders who "deliver" sick or sickly kittens to new owners and expect them bear the burden (cash & emotions) of getting their new kitten healthy again.
It's really not fair for the kitten or the new owner.
Your breeder should have sold you and then handed you a healthy vibrant kitten without litterbox issues and without feeding issues. From what you have described, your kitten is in my opinion, none of these things and you do have the right to return the kitten to the breeder for a refund or an alternate kitten.
So.....the questions are......
Are you so attached to this kitten now, that you're willing (and able) to go the extra mile to bring him back to optimum health?
Do you have the time and energy to do so?
Can you handle the burden of the vet bills if you incurr them during his re-hab?
There is the outside chance that his condition doesn't improve and instead worsens.....is this something you can come to terms with?
Is your breeder willing to assist you and even bear some financial burden?
If some of your answers are no....I would ask you to seriously think about taking this kitten back to the breeder for them to handle.
I have a real problem with breeders who "deliver" sick or sickly kittens to new owners and expect them bear the burden (cash & emotions) of getting their new kitten healthy again.
It's really not fair for the kitten or the new owner.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #18
I've been thinking about that Kai, and though money isn't an issue, I don't really have the energy or time to deal with a sickly kitten. He is cute and all, and I believe he would be a great pet once healthy, but like you said, perhaps I should return him and find a cat somewhere else. I just really feel bad because it's NOT the kitten's fault, and I don't want to incur anymore stress upon him, I really just want him to be happy and healthy. So I'm stuck because I think he has bonded to me a little, and he's already been taken from his mother and siblings in a short time. It's a tough decision.
Awl... poor baby! What a horrible breeder!
When my cats are sick or need to gain weight (or pregnant), I feed them human baby food (Gerber chicken, beef, etc...). It has a comforting texture and also seems to taste great to them. Although, the baby food doesn't have the vitamins and minerals that cats need, so I would make sure he gets real kitten food too. I am surprised he was getting adult food! That's crazy! My Burmese breeder fed her kittens one small ball of raw fresh ground sirloin daily if they were not doing well... I know that is controversial because they can get sick from it, but I imagine it is about the healthiest thing they could eat nutritionally. If you have a reliable high end meat market, I would do it.
I also think your kitty may be lonely, too... Ziggy cried like that for a month because we had to keep him separate until we knew he was FeLV negative as well. It really tore him up, and he is still an exceptionally clingy cat. Your kitty may have "issues" in that sense, too. Once you don't have to keep him separate anymore, the annoying things subside quite a bit. Ziggy still has a little separation anxiety... he meows if we keep him out of any room. Closed doors drive him crazy.
Hold tight... I'm sure he'll eventually be tolerable.
When my cats are sick or need to gain weight (or pregnant), I feed them human baby food (Gerber chicken, beef, etc...). It has a comforting texture and also seems to taste great to them. Although, the baby food doesn't have the vitamins and minerals that cats need, so I would make sure he gets real kitten food too. I am surprised he was getting adult food! That's crazy! My Burmese breeder fed her kittens one small ball of raw fresh ground sirloin daily if they were not doing well... I know that is controversial because they can get sick from it, but I imagine it is about the healthiest thing they could eat nutritionally. If you have a reliable high end meat market, I would do it.
I also think your kitty may be lonely, too... Ziggy cried like that for a month because we had to keep him separate until we knew he was FeLV negative as well. It really tore him up, and he is still an exceptionally clingy cat. Your kitty may have "issues" in that sense, too. Once you don't have to keep him separate anymore, the annoying things subside quite a bit. Ziggy still has a little separation anxiety... he meows if we keep him out of any room. Closed doors drive him crazy.
Hold tight... I'm sure he'll eventually be tolerable.
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- #20
Heh, actually my cat that I have now, the breeder used to feed him raw ground sirloin, and it seemed to do well. I've heard of the controversies over it afterwards, but it didn't cause him any problems. Maybe Apollo is lonely, he's not shut in a room all day though. He cries when he does anything, even eating (when he does eat).
