- Joined
- Jun 24, 2019
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I unexpectedly and happily got a litter of three kittens to foster Sunday afternoon! All I know is that they came in as strays and are approximately 8 weeks old. Based on their odour I assume they grew up on a farm and based on their poor appetite/interest in cat food - wet or dry - I am wondering if they had only been drinking milk from their mom and then were taken in suddenly and haven't really been exposed to cat food? They have had human contact, not feral.
They have access to dry food always and I've given them wet food 4x per day since I was off Mon and today, it will be 3x tomorrow when I work. But they eat such a small amount!! I've fostered 5 week old kittens that ate more!
One is high energy, one is moderate energy but the other one is a bit more sleepy, but this could be part of his personality - he will usually prefer to sit near me and cuddle instead of playing and seems to enjoy observing his littermates play instead of joining in. But I'm not sure yet. I have bought a second brand of dry food (the brand they were initially giving at the shelter) and leave both brands out for them to choose. I also opened two new brands of wet food tonight but the black one fully snubbed them, including the liquid treat I offered him. He threw up twice yesterday so maybe that's partly it? (I emailed the shelter) He didn't get sick today and ate well at 6am, 11am, but not since then. He did that yesterday too - ate wet food the first two meals. He may be eating dry at night - the first evening I had him he refused wet food all night but when I came home at midnight I saw him eat dry food...
All seem to drink water and stools are usually formed/solid. The black one had a soft formed one last night but this evening was normal again. I add a smidge of forteflora in their breakfast.
How much is the minimum a kitten this age should eat? Any tips to get them to eat more? Not sure if I am over thinking things, I tend to worry more about foster kittens then my own kittens!
Just heading to work, but will check responses tomorrow
They have access to dry food always and I've given them wet food 4x per day since I was off Mon and today, it will be 3x tomorrow when I work. But they eat such a small amount!! I've fostered 5 week old kittens that ate more!
One is high energy, one is moderate energy but the other one is a bit more sleepy, but this could be part of his personality - he will usually prefer to sit near me and cuddle instead of playing and seems to enjoy observing his littermates play instead of joining in. But I'm not sure yet. I have bought a second brand of dry food (the brand they were initially giving at the shelter) and leave both brands out for them to choose. I also opened two new brands of wet food tonight but the black one fully snubbed them, including the liquid treat I offered him. He threw up twice yesterday so maybe that's partly it? (I emailed the shelter) He didn't get sick today and ate well at 6am, 11am, but not since then. He did that yesterday too - ate wet food the first two meals. He may be eating dry at night - the first evening I had him he refused wet food all night but when I came home at midnight I saw him eat dry food...
All seem to drink water and stools are usually formed/solid. The black one had a soft formed one last night but this evening was normal again. I add a smidge of forteflora in their breakfast.
How much is the minimum a kitten this age should eat? Any tips to get them to eat more? Not sure if I am over thinking things, I tend to worry more about foster kittens then my own kittens!
Just heading to work, but will check responses tomorrow