Hello all, new to this board! One week ago, I found a 2-week old kitten trying to climb out of our cinder block fire pit, yelling his little head off. I searched the surrounding area and didn't find a Mama cat or any other kittens. I've taken in the homeless for over 30 years, so it was just natural for me to bring this little guy in and give him a home.
I took him to the vet the day after I found him, where he was pronounced strong and healthy, and he was given his first deworming. The following day, he developed runny stool. I thought that maybe the deworming loosened him up, but it's continued for the last week. I cut the KMR with a little bottled water, and I'll see if that helps.
My big problem is that he is such a frantic feeder! I've never had to deal with such a wiggleworm in my life. I feed him with a PetAg nipple attached to an oral syringe. He claws frantically at the syringe (and sometimes just at the air), all the while ignoring the nipple until he's about worn out - then he'll settle down and nurse properly. But when I refill the syringe, he goes frantic again and is nearly impossible to handle. I've tried wrapping him up to the neck in my softest cloth... then wrapping him under the armpits... stroking him while he's frantic... holding him gently against my chest so he can feel my heartbeat, you name it - but nothing seems to work! (I've named him "Stinkpot" as a result, and his picture is my avatar.)
I've ordered some Miracle Nipples and should receive them in the next day or so, but does anyone have any other suggestions? I even reduced the time between feedings so that he wouldn't be quite so hungry, and that hasn't helped. I'm beginning to think that he just has Orange Cat Attitude, even at this age . The four other kittens I bottle-fed over the years never acted like this - three tabbies and one lilac-point Siamese - so I don't know what to think.
Thanks a bunch!
I took him to the vet the day after I found him, where he was pronounced strong and healthy, and he was given his first deworming. The following day, he developed runny stool. I thought that maybe the deworming loosened him up, but it's continued for the last week. I cut the KMR with a little bottled water, and I'll see if that helps.
My big problem is that he is such a frantic feeder! I've never had to deal with such a wiggleworm in my life. I feed him with a PetAg nipple attached to an oral syringe. He claws frantically at the syringe (and sometimes just at the air), all the while ignoring the nipple until he's about worn out - then he'll settle down and nurse properly. But when I refill the syringe, he goes frantic again and is nearly impossible to handle. I've tried wrapping him up to the neck in my softest cloth... then wrapping him under the armpits... stroking him while he's frantic... holding him gently against my chest so he can feel my heartbeat, you name it - but nothing seems to work! (I've named him "Stinkpot" as a result, and his picture is my avatar.)
I've ordered some Miracle Nipples and should receive them in the next day or so, but does anyone have any other suggestions? I even reduced the time between feedings so that he wouldn't be quite so hungry, and that hasn't helped. I'm beginning to think that he just has Orange Cat Attitude, even at this age . The four other kittens I bottle-fed over the years never acted like this - three tabbies and one lilac-point Siamese - so I don't know what to think.
Thanks a bunch!