6 week old persian

[Kitalynn]

Hello! I know the healthy standard time frame for a kitten to be rehomed is at least 10 weeks, and even better at 12! Well I found an ad with a lady pushing her 6 week old kittens already! all because she said they were litter trained, eating hard foods, etc.... she is definitely not a proper home breeder in regards to having the kittens best interest in mind. The home was clean, kittens were cared for, but I could not explain to them that kittens should stay with mom as long as possible due to language barrier. The 3 adult cats were healthy in regards to weight on coat shine but ones undercoat was very matted when I was petting him. I felt like if I didnt take one of the 3(litter of 6) that someone else would have anyways and who knows what kind if care it would have had! I have taken care of young kittens before that were separated from mom either to situations like this or mom passed away but it's been a while. Kitten is doing amazing for only being 6 weeks. She has used the litter box(we already had an oopsie poopsie butt bath LOL), she has ate, and is exploring and being playful. I plan on calling vet tomorrow to set up first shots and a general check up. She is currently sleeping but I plan on getting a weight on her. She is only a pound at most from my guess. Any advice that anyone could give? I was debating on going to getting some kitten formula today to supplement as I have not seen kitten drink water yet!

 

[posiepurrs]

Formula might not be a bad idea. My kittens nurse much longer than 6 weeks. I let them nurse until Mom stops them.

 

[Sarthur2]

Definitely buy kitten formula (not Hartz). She should be able to lap it. Is she eating soft wet food?

 

[Kitalynn]

Formula might not be a bad idea. My kittens nurse much longer than 6 weeks. I let them nurse until Mom stops them.

Will grab some today! I put some water in hard food to soften it and give her some kind of water intake for the time being!

 

[Kitalynn]

Definitely buy kitten formula (not Hartz). She should be able to lap it. Is she eating soft wet food?

I have given her hard food softened with water and some wet cat food. She is eating both! I weighed her finally and she is so tiny still, 1lb 3 oz. Hoping to get her up to a solid 2 lbs in a few weeks!

 

[Kitalynn]

Her birthdate is Jan 27th. She will be 7 weeks tomorrow!

 

[mentat]

A veterinary exam as soon as possible, to ensure she's healthy, meeting developmental markers, in good body condition, and establishing patient relationship so you can message her vet/technician as needed if issues arise. Having that baseline body weight on an accurate digital gram scale important for such a wee growing kitten.

Then, Persian specific congenital defects and disease can be reviewed, symptoms for which your vet can teach you to be vigilant for, what to monitor for and track, then report to and consult them.

Just more in depth info. As you said, you already know 6 weeks weaned was not ideal, especially if they started 3 weeks earlier, and already on dry kibble only, versus wet/moist food. Early weaning increases aggression and stereotypic behaviour in cats
Early weaning increases aggression and stereotypic behaviour in cats
"Early weaning may lead to neurobiological changes, for example, alter the neuroendocrine stress response6, but this effect has not been found in all studies7. Furthermore, early weaning can impair memory8 and cognition, such as extinction learning9, and it seems to especially blunt social learning10. Behavioural changes linked to early weaning are extensive: early weaning may lead to impairments in social behaviour as well as increased anxiety11, 12 and aggression7, 12, and these behavioural changes may persist for a long time13."

Kitten behavior basics
"Kittens are usually weaned at six to seven weeks, but they may continue to suckle for comfort as their mother gradually leaves them for longer periods of time. Orphaned kittens, or those weaned too soon, are more likely to exhibit inappropriate suckling behaviors later in life, such as sucking on blankets, pillows or your arm. Ideally, kittens should stay with their littermates (or other "role-model" cats) for at least 12 weeks."

Socialisation and play

"The early socialisation phase begins at around 3 weeks of age and is completed by around three months old although will benefit from daily interaction throughout her life. During this important time, the mother teaches her kittens invaluable lessons about keeping clean, how to get along with other cats, how to play and be predatory. She also sets important boundaries about such things as biting, scratching, or potentially risky behaviour. If you are caring for unweaned kittens, you should help socialise them. In particular, it is important that they learn how to get along with people and other cats early on, and how to deal with new situations or environments including new sounds, smells, and different forms of stimulation. Have fun and be confident playing with them and testing together the many cat toys available to enrich their lives. Assist them to explore new sensations, experiences and limits. At a time when the kitten is not feeding or sleeping, you should begin picking them up at an early age, stroke them gently while speaking softly. If they should bite or scratch you, immediately stop the interaction, and try again when they are more receptive. Unwanted behaviour should be ignored and desired behaviour should be rewarded, in this case with gentle handling.

Note: Start with short handling sessions from when kittens are 2 weeks of age and build up to at least 40 minutes a day outside of feeding times until they reach the age of 7 weeks. Do not forget that your kitten also needs a lot of sleep to grow well. Good conditions for sleep are important for your kittens’ health and growth."

Our shelter vets manage many orphaned kittens, with unavoidable premature weaning and non-social behavior development. They compensate as much as possible while organs still developing, including the brain, by supportive care, nutrition support, and behavior play exercises. While potential for stress adjusting is high, support immunity and hydration by adding Pedialyte or LRS fluid instead of water to mix KMR powder formula for kittens. Adding Proviable KP cap to freshly mixed formula to support GI flora, a feline vet specialists' favorite probiotic loaded with high counts of viable beneficial bacteria. Dispose of any unused formula every 24 hours. Weigh daily. Cleanse eyes 2-3x daily, wiping with warm, soft, non-abrasive wet cloth. Wipe coat with warm damp (well wrung) cloth daily. Adjust long haired kittens to daily grooming behavior with 3-5 minutes with "greyhound comb" daily. Calm play to densensitize to movement, noise, and scents, removing toy stimuli when kitten overstimulated, biting or scratching. Removal of yourself, or a toy, is to not reinforce the undesired behavior; psychology terms this "punishment," but it just means rather than reward or "just ignore," you are removing the reward/toy to convey what they did does not benefit them. Punishment in this form includes when handlers or kittens yelp loudly at the "rough play or aggressive kitten," and stop playing.

In the big picture, macrosopic view, we strive to not to be swayed by unethical breeders, pitying the animals in their suboptimal care and continuing to perpetuate the problem cycle by purchasing kittens from them. Profit they will invest in more unethical practices and conditions, which the purchaser has contributed by exchanging money for a kitten sale. Ethical breeders invest so much time, education, finances, and emotion into producing the best version of the breed they are contributing to, they earn your trust and dollars more by making the breed you are passionate for better, stronger, for as long as possible. Someone will buy that kitten, that doesn't know better. When we know better, we must strive to do better. Ethics, in a nutshell.