how do i help this kitten WANT to eat on his own?

Question

i found this little (maybe 8 week old) kitten last friday night. i took him to the vet first thing saturday morning. the vet gave me ointment for his eyes because they were sealed shut with infection and oral antibiotics for his congestion. when i found him he could barely even breath or move for that matter. he looks better and sounds a lot less congested. i've been forcing kitten milk down his throat every couple of hours and he reluctantly takes it but i'd really like to see him showing some interest in eating or drinking on his own. he might be blind but i'm not sure yet. i pry his eyes open and put the ointment in his eyes twice a day but he doesn't try to open them on his own yet. he seems so pitiful but i'm still holding out hope. i know i should go ahead and get him tested for feline aids and leukemia but i guess i'm stalling because i don't want to find out that he really is that sick.

yeah science diet a/d is good stuff. i'm going to pick some up later today.

first of all....i already took the kitten to the vet and have called her for advice. i hate it when people don't read the entire question. i'm not the kind of person to think that my answer peeps (while very knowledgeable) know more than a licensed veteranarian. my vet (who i think the world of) sometimes doesn't have all of the answers. sometimes tried and true home remedies are what a person (and a sick kitten) needs.

Answer 1

I'm actually surprised your vet didn't give you some pointers on a baby stray. Have you tried canned cat food? If he's 8 weeks he should be able to get into that. He might enjoy the smell. I would simply call your vet (and ask to talk to the actual vet) and tell him what's going on if you can't get him to eat canned food or milk. The little guy might just need you to keep 'force' feeding him until he's up and at 'em! Thanks for loving him!

Answer 2

You may actually need to jump start his eating a little by force feeding him some canned food. Get some ground kitten food, nothing with chunks or shreds. Put a little on your fingertip and wipe it on the roof of his mouth so that he has to eat it. Being sick with a cold, he doesnt have much of an appetite. Just think about when you get sick, you dont feel like eating either, only to the kitten a few days without food is much more detrimental. You may have to force feed him for a while, and it can be a little messy, so set yourself up on the floor on a towel or something and get to work feeding that little guy. Once you get him started he should be ok. At 8 weeks the nutrition and protein is more of what his body needs to grow than the formulas. Just be sure to get a high quality canned food, and then the crunchy food too. Nutro and Pro Plan Kitten are two of my favorites. Good luck. Get well soon!

Answer 3

Of course you have to continue feeding him the milk as he must have some nourishment. The vet has some canned food called a/d. It is high in calories and fat which the kitten needs right now. As another poster suggested putting some on the roof of his mouth or around his lips and just inside the mouth might get him to eat it. It is soft and mushy. You can also mix a small amount with the kitten replacer milk and see if he would lap that from a saucer. You can also use Max canned kitten food in the same way and the a/d might be more nutritious for him now than a regular canned food.

Sounds like he has a way to go and is responding. Bless you for helping him, giving him your love and care and being supervised by your veterinarian.

Answer 4

It sounds like he's just not feeling up to eating on his own yet. They make some canned kitten food for kittens who you are weaning or are just weaned. After a little more time you might want to try some of that. I bottle fed a kitten once and when I tried that food, for the first few times I had to mix in some of her formula to get her to eat it. Keep up with the ointment and antibiotics (if he's still on those) and he should perk up in a few days. You can always call the vet's office and let them know what's going on (or not going on) and see if they think he needs more medicine or if he just needs more time. Good luck!

Answer 5

it may take a while for this kitten to be interested in food on it's own since it sounds pretty sick. You may just have to keep up feeding it yourself until it is stronger and well before it has a healthy appetite. Ask the vet if you can start it on regular kitten food....you will probably have to make it into a gruel to feed, but maybe if this kitten is old enough, it may just need more sustenance than just kitten formula to get it well. Ask the vet for more advice.

Answer 6

First of all you should at least call a vet. I have taken care of many kittens that were near death when I found them. You may have to keep feeding it the kitten formula untill it feels well enough to eat on its own. I have at times put a tiny bit of soft food in a kittens mouth, it took a little effort, but generally with my results they come around after that. Eaither way it should eventually come around. I hope all works out for you and the little one.

Answer 7

I would reccommend that with all that the vet has done&given you so far , that you also try taking a warm rag and gently from the inside corner to the outside of the eye, and use a medicine dropper or a small plastic baby bottle to squeeze warm milk gently onto the kittens mouth. I hope some of that works. Good Luck.

Answer 8

I had friends find 3 kittens like you did.they bottle fed them for months and had them sleep with them for body heat and sometimes warmed washcloths on the bottom of there box.when you feed the kitten by bottle after your done pet your kittens tummy to active the bowels like the mommy cats do,I know its strange but I really think that if you have hope and love the cat enough it will pull threw.and if you want to do the tests to find out how sick the kitty is.Do it at least you know what your fighting against.good luck.

Answer 9

Just keep doing what you're doing. He's very small and weak and probably can't do much of anything on his own, just like when you're sick all you want to do is stay in bed and sleep. Also, when you feed him the milk, make sure he's on his stomach, the way he would be if he were nursing--I've heard that's the best position for feeding them.

Answer 10

Best bet is to get advice from a vet!

Also, try opening a can of tuna and pouring the juice on the food - the smell is really strong so even if he is blind he'll go towards it.