Kitten problems.

I would try the bottle with KMR and some Nutri-cal from the vet. Maybe he just wants to "nurse" some more.

Did you physically tell the vet how old you were told he is? Did the vet coment on his age? Sounds like he could be younger and if you didn't mention his age, maybe the vet assumed you knew he was younger and thought the weight was okay. I am just trying to think of all possibilities here.

I find it odd that the vet didn't say anything about the fact that he weighs 1.1 pound at 10.5 weeks. That is crazy, maybe find a new vet if he thought that was okay.

Yes I did say that he was 10 weeks, the receptionist even said that he was 10 weeks 5 days old when she looked at her calander. The vet said he was healthy, so I guess I should see a different one, but she was the only one available that week when I took him. I'll get a second opinion.

I don't really want to encourage you to give up the kitten, but if you have only had him for a week, I think he could easily be placed back with his breeder (from the kitten's standpoint). I foster kittens for a rescue agency, and there is a period of time when they are 10-14 weeks old, where if some kittens get adopted, we put the various kittens from several litters together, to be sure no kitten is left without "siblings". They always adjust pretty quickly to their new brothers and sisters. And often they are of varying ages, too!

Do you have his papers so you are sure of his age? Poor little guy, I hope he starts eating more soon!

Yeah the contract I got says his birthday was April 1st. Actually now he's 11 weeks old since I just looked at the calander. I seriously am considering taking him back to the breeder, I just feel horrible because he's so cute, and he does have a loving personality, it's just his little quirks that drive me crazy, and I want him to be healthy. I think he's a cat that needs constant attention that I can't give him right now.

Originally Posted by hoppybunn

Yeah the contract I got says his birthday was April 1st. Actually now he's 11 weeks old since I just looked at the calander. I seriously am considering taking him back to the breeder, I just feel horrible because he's so cute, and he does have a loving personality, it's just his little quirks that drive me crazy, and I want him to be healthy. I think he's a cat that needs constant attention that I can't give him right now.

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You have to do what is right for you and the kitten. Also, the breeder should be willing to work with you to find you a different kitten or refund your purchase price (or at least part of it...not sure how it works).

Katie

Thanks. Yeah hopefully it will all work out. I'll see how it goes tomorrow after I call the vet and the breeder.

Ugh okay, I am definitley taking him back. He peed on my bed TWICE today, and I have to do laundry again (I JUST made my bed not a couple hours ago). Not to mention he peed on my comforter -_-. I have 2 centrally located litter boxes (in different rooms) and this kitten obviously hasn't been litter trained properly. I've caught him a couple of times not peeing/pooping in the litter box, but I thought perhaps he couldn't hold it. This time though he was in a room with the litter box and just decided not to use it. I mean I would be understanding if it were a one time thing, but if this is going to happen like everyday, forget it.

Still doing laundry lol. Yeah, I'll take pictures later, I left my camera at my parent's house which is 2 hours away, but I have to go up there to get some stuff, so I'll try to take them tomorrow (well technically today).

Awl, that is too bad... I hope everything ends up okay for the little one. That "breeder" should be lectured a time or two.

Sometimes peeing outside the litterbox indicates a urinary tract or bladder infection. He should probably see the vet again to check this out! Cats are naturally very neat, and it doesn't take much to litter train a kitten. He should probably see the vet again to check this out!

All these issues can be worked on with training and vet care, but honestly purchasing a kitten who has health problems is simple buying yourself a lot of heartache! Poor little baby...I hope he starts doing better.

While I am not, in any way, trying to defend the breeder, she isn't here to defend herself and they may have been other circumstances of which we are not currently aware. I don't think it is fair for us to so harshly judge the breeder when we do not know all of the facts.

Sometimes, when kittens go to a new environment, stress and exposure to the elements of that new environment can wreck havoc on young systems. Issues with getting a kitten to eat or inappropriate elimination behaviors can result. I am not saying this kitten doesn't have problems, it is clear that he does, but blaming the breeder is quickly pointing a finger of blame where it may not be warranted.

No matter what you decide to do with this baby, you must get him to eat something. Try some chicken meat baby food (human variety - no veggies or onions, meat and broth only) and see if he won't eat that. While it isn't a long-term nutritional plan, many cats love it and eat it readily when they aren't eating anything else.

As for the inappropriate elimination, stress is a primary factor for cats to develop a urinary tract disorder or infection. I have never seen it happen in a kitten of this age, but I won't rule it out completely. Additionally, we have to remember this is a little baby and he may have a few accidents -- you should probably keep him confined to one room of your home for a few days along with his litter box, food and water dishes, a few toys and a warm cozy bed until he gets the hang of using the box consistantly. Spreading out boxes in different rooms will be confusing for now. Keep things simple and keep his range of freedom a bit more restricted until he learns he needs to use his box.

Well I was able to feed him some kitten food today by mixing it with chicken flavored baby food, he still didn't eat as much as I would like him to, but it's a start. He is still meowing constantley though, so this is a major problem (as I don't want my neighbors to be disturbed, I live in an apartment complex). I am still contemplating in brining him back to the breeder.

I agree. Try the substitute mothers milk. I found with Isis, she wanted to use an eye dropper as oppose to a small nippled bottle in order to eat. I normally gave her 2-3 eye droppers full every 2-4 hours. Also with Isis, she was not eating hard food. I took canned food and deluted it with water. Make sure it mashed up really well (use a fork) so that it can be sucked through an eye dropper. Feed y our kitten a combination of the deluted canned food and the replacement milk and he should start puttin on the lbs. Isis was 1.2 lbs at 5 weeks when we took her to the vet. (needless to say she was not gotten from a breeder.) Since last week we have been able to turn her on to hard food by softening it up with the replacement milk and now she eats it without the milk. Since last week Isis has gained around .8 oz and now weight 1.10 lbs. Try some of these and let me know how they go! Best of luck to you!

Originally Posted by gayef

I am not saying this kitten doesn't have problems, it is clear that he does, but blaming the breeder is quickly pointing a finger of blame where it may not be warranted.

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In this particular case, the reason why the breeder needs to be blamed is that this kitten is 11 weeks old and only weighs 17 ounces. The breeder was feeding the kitten adult cat food. The O.P. has had the kitten for less than a week.

An 11 week old bengal kitten should weigh at least 3 to 3.5 pounds. So, yup, I'm pointing a finger at the breeder. There is no way this kitten should have been turned over to a new owner at the weight he's at.

The Vet is also brain-dead for not making a big deal about a 17 ounce emaciated looking kitten coming in for a routine check-up.

Truthfully I'm seriously thinking about returning him, just because I don't have the energy to deal with worrying about what to feed him 3-4 times a day and hoping that he gains weight. He does feel a little heavier today, but right now I have plans to go to an animal shelter and adopt a kitten/cat that I fall in love with that does well with other cats, but is somewhat independant, and of course the big thing: EATS. I feel bad about this for the sake of Apollo, as it really isn't his fault at all, but I think he deserves a home where someone can devote a LOT of attention to him and his needs. Hopefully the breeder can help find him a new home.

I am no expert on cats or kittens, but I am a mother. Maybe you will feel better about the decision if you stop thinking of it as taking the kitten back to the breeder and start thinking of it as taking the kitten back to it's mother, which is what it sounds like he needs most of all. Maybe you can talk to the breeder about just keeping the kitten a couple of weeks, get it healthy, get it litter box trained and get it old enough to be away from it's mother. Then you can get him back, the way you should have gotten him in the first place.

Excellent advice, Telynn ... but no matter what is decided here, I just sincerely hope everything works out for the best.

Yes, thank you everyone for giving me such great advice and helping me to come to a decision. I am going to call the breeder tomorrow to see if she will be able to take him back, as I don't have the energy nor time to devote to him to make him better. I know kittens are work, but I honestly don't think that a kitten I paid a lot for should be this much work. Hopefully the breeder will be able to find a suitable home where he will be loved and cared for. The only hesitation I have about bringing him back is the fact that it is a four hour drive, and the way there will be hell (as Apollo hates the carrier and will cry the entire time).

Originally Posted by hoppybunn

Yes, thank you everyone for giving me such great advice and helping me to come to a decision. I am going to call the breeder tomorrow to see if she will be able to take him back, as I don't have the energy nor time to devote to him to make him better. I know kittens are work, but I honestly don't think that a kitten I paid a lot for should be this much work. Hopefully the breeder will be able to find a suitable home where he will be loved and cared for. The only hesitation I have about bringing him back is the fact that it is a four hour drive, and the way there will be hell (as Apollo hates the carrier and will cry the entire time).

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Well,? what's the verdict?