I was given a kitten and he is really small the person who gave him to me says he is 8wks old, but he looks about four wks. I gave he won't eat unless i put the food in his month. he will eat canned and dry. i have another kitten who is 12wks old and she is twice his size. he is not interested in playing with my other kitten, but he will follow her around or allow her to bat at him while he runs away. is there any special food i should feed him besides regular kitten food. i am going to get him some replacement milk so he can get the nutrints he needs to grow. since he is so small should i be concerned about his health? he seems to be a little fat and he fills warm his gums are pink which means he is healthy. is their any specail type of kitten food i should give him?
2006-07-05 16:42:13 · 10 answers · asked by Shasta 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Keep making sure hes getting plenty of food in him and take him to a vet asap. Wether you think hes sick or not, its always best for the vet to see all new addition to your pets. Its very likely that the kitten could have worms that are keeping it from absorbing the nutrients from the food.
2006-07-05 16:47:24 · answer #1 · answered by TiFFeRz 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I raised two kittens, one was only a few days old (ears & eyes were still closed) and the other about 2 weeks, on KMR - a milk supplement for kittens. I bottle fed them until they could drink from a bowl. Your kitten sounds like it's only 3 or 4 weeks old at the most. The replacement milk (like KMR) is a great idea. Definately DO NOT give it regular cows milk. It can't digest it very well.
Little round bellies on kittens are usually normal. I would keep an eye on how much he eats and how much he poops and pees. If he is not pooping you will have to help him like his mother would by wiping his little fanny with a warm, damp cloth (the mother uses her tongue, yuck!), this will stimulate him and get things started.
If you are concerned, definately take it to a vet. It doesn't take much to put a little kitten in seriously poor health.
Good luck!
2006-07-05 23:52:37 · answer #2 · answered by ChCh01 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The reason he won't eat unless you feed him is probably because the other kittens in the litter crowded him out of the feeding line. Meanwhile get him checked have him vaccinated, and ask the vet if they think you should get replacement milk. Keep feeding him by hand but try to get him to start eating on his own. Keep his food separate from the other kitten's food. Try Iams kitten formula and moisten it with milk that is room temperature - Iams is actually more nutritious than Kitten Chow.
2006-07-06 00:32:55 · answer #3 · answered by krissydahs93 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should really take the little guy to a vet and make sure that he is 8 weeks old. The person who gave it to you might be wrong...the kitty might actually be 4wks. Also, if you say he isnt really eating but he seems fat, there could be a worm problem. I strongly suggest you take him to a vet, he could have a lot of health problems you are unaware of.
But until you get him to a vet, I suggest Purina kitten chow, and maybe soak it in a very small amount of water so it's easier for him to eat. Keep an eye out on what his poop looks like, if its runny it could be giardia(parasite) or worms. Keep him warm, and try and keep him active.
2006-07-05 23:48:39 · answer #4 · answered by Courtney 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Another good thing to give him and it will give him all the vitamins he needs would be by giving him some dry kitten food and moisten it with the replacement milk but warm it up, maybe with a little warm water, or run the can under some warm water.
Hi will love it!!
I used to work at a pet store and thats what we recommended
Good Luck
2006-07-06 01:02:12 · answer #5 · answered by Elaine 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I paid $500 for an 8 week old (supposedly) seal-point himalayan kitten...with a written health guarantee. I picked the runt of the litter because I thought he was so cute. The kitten was very inactive and only wanted to sleep all day. I took the kitten for a vet check 3 days after I got him. Blood tests came back postive for feline lukemia. He was born with it...so the mother had to have it to. The kitten died the day that I received the test results. Take your kitten to the vet ASAP.
According to CFA papers that finally came in the mail....the kitten was actually 12 weeks old when I got him. The breeder lied about his age because he was so little. I finally got my money back after several attempts and then finally court. Judge also ordered her to spay the kittens mother and have her treated for the desease. I would have rather have had my little runt alive and well.
2006-07-05 23:53:24 · answer #6 · answered by pet stylist 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I also have a runt. Please take him to the vet and do what he or she says. My own PK was so tiny the vet didn't honestly expect him to live. She told me to give him human baby food to supplement his diet. He really needed the extra calories/protein. I got meat flavours (like Stage 2 or 3 turkey, chicken or beef) and fed him seperately from his brother and sister (who were normal weight). It worked - PK is now 13 years old, and a roly poly 9 pounds! His brother is still larger than him, but PK is healthy happy and a total momma's boy!
Good luck to you!
2006-07-05 23:50:44 · answer #7 · answered by mistress_piper 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If he seems to have a beer belly you need to get him dewormed also. They sell it in most stores that sell milk replacement. Better plan on getting someone fixed soon. They don't have to be as old as you think before your in trouble.
2006-07-05 23:47:15 · answer #8 · answered by gnomes31 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can call a vet. to ask them your questions and they will answer them. my friends cat had kittens and her cat had 1 runt and the kitten is healthy and is growing up fine now.
2006-07-05 23:48:18 · answer #9 · answered by Mandy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should take him to the vet maybe he is sick?
2006-07-05 23:46:37 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋