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.

as far as the vitamin thing he is on VAL syrup and the vet gave me pet tabs also. there is no way i can give him the tabs but he lets me give him the VAL syrup okay. i also thought that he was younger than 8 weeks but the vet said he's just so malnourished that he just seems younger.

Answer 1

Any way you could attach a pic of the kitten? It sounds like it's not anywhere near 8 weeks if it's not opening it's eyes on it's own or wanting to eat. It could just be because it's so sick too though.

You'll probably have to continue force-feeding it until it's feeling better... at which point it should show some desire to eat. Try getting some very fragrant canned food (fancy feast has worked well for me) and mix that with the formula. Get a 3ml or larger syringe...preferably one made for forcefeeding as it will have a bigger hole, making it easier to get the gruel through (otherwise you'll have to mix it VERY watery). You can also try meat-based baby foods, which also tend to smell strong.

Of course once he's eating on his own, you'll want to give something better than fancy feast. Especially since he's had such a lousy start at life, he should be on something very high quality like Felidae or Wellness, etc.

I know it's hard to get him viral tested... but it really should be done. If he DOES have FeLV or FIV, it's cruel to make him keep suffering. If he does have either of those, his chances of a full recovery are very slim. Cats with those diseases CAN live a few years (many years in the case of FIV), but if they're already sick then they're probably not going to pull through.

Keep an eye out for sores in his mouth/throat/tongue or on his nose. If he gets any, call your vet right away. Calicivirus is pretty common in young stray kitties and can be deadly (it's treated with hard-core antibiotics) and older cats are typically protected by their annual vaccines.

Feel free to message me if you have questions. I've nurse back MANY a sick kitten. I've been fostering for a no-kill for the past 6+ years and have had over 300 foster cats come through my home... many of whom were sick. Good luck! I hope he makes a full recovery!!!

Answer 2

Bless your heart, I did something similar last year - I adopted a kitten that was also about 8 weeks old. I fed him 6 times a day similarly, but he developed a severe upper resipiratory infection and passed on after a week, and I was devastated. I'm not trying to scare you or make it seem that he is doomed, but one thing I learned was this: if a kitten does not properly wean/receive milk until the appropriate time (3 months?) then his chances for survival are slim. Don't get your hopes up, but know that you can do a few simple things, to do your best. Absolutely keep him in the warmest, draft-free, slightly humid environment possible (perhaps the bathroom, good to take hot showers in there so he gets a little steam). Wash your hands thoroughly before handling him. Continue to feed him as you are, it is likely he is still sick and doesnt have an appetite, but trust me, once he does, he will be all over the formula you give him and/or soft food. Just give him time. Then, stroke his belly a few minutes after he eats to help him eliminate. let him sleep and recover. Have patience, and hope, and know you are doing the best you can without his mom.

Answer 3

My sister had this same problems with a foster cat who was very sick and weak. He had been found near death in a snow bank. We called him Mr. Banks

The kitten was so weak he didn't have the energy to be interested in food and my sister had to syringe feed him KMR (kitten milk replacement) for several days. She tried mixing up a small amount of the KMR with some canned kitten food (sort of a KMR smoothie) and syringe feeding him small amounts of this as well.

If your kitten has an upper respiratory illness he won't have a good sense of smell until his nose is clear. Cats are very oriented to the smell of food, so try the stinkiest kitten food (fish flavored is good!)

As your kitten gets stronger his appetite will start to come back as well. Mr Banks eventually became so enthusiastic about his food he was renamed Piggy Banks!

Answer 4

He's probably just still too sick to want to eat much. As his health improves, so should his appetite. Give him some more time.

If it turns out he has leukemia, keep him indoors and away from other infections, and he could live for a good long time. FLV is most dangerous to an outdoor cat.

Good luck with this little one!

Answer 5

well give it a bit more time to heal if not give him to a shelter.. if they get hungry and am string eniugh they will meow and go for a bug or mouse or bird they will let you know they are ready.. but if they are sickly all you can do is what you done.im surprised he isnt on vitamins too.sad/

Answer 6

give the kitten more time. he may just not be used to living this way.

Answer 7

ASK CAT PEOPLE!