I have a 3 week old kitten that doesn't eat anything? What to do?

Question

Ok these details are long. But bear with me? =D


I got him yesterday and we've tried giving him a little meat shredded to an almost puree with lots of water mixed in it. He doesn't eat it.
He also happens to quite weak. He was the smallest of the litter.

Oh another thing, I already have a white tom cat and he has always had the tendency to bite and can be violent when crossed. Is he a threat to the kitten? They happen to be brothers as they come from the same mother.
Is there no genetic bond that will make them love each other...? eh? =D

Answer 1

A three week old kitten needs to be with its mother until it is weaned--usually 6-8 weeks. You could try feeding it replacement formula from the vet or pet store with a little bottle with a nipple on it or an eyedropper. It's too young for meat. Also, keep it away from the Tom cat. He will kill the kitten. Even though they are brothers, don't expect them to form family ties, etc. Once the kitten gets a little older, he may accept it. Good luck.

Answer 2

He was probably taken from the mom too soon! Have you tried kitten milk replacer? You can get it at walmart. You may have to get a bottle too. They should be near the milk replacer. Usually kittens aren't taken from the mother until they're 6 weeks old.
Is your tom neutered? If not, you may be in for a mess - he'll start to mark his territory. And No, no brotherly bond there. The only way cats bond in that way is if they are literally raised together right from the start. Eventually, if the kitten survives, they will get along.
Right now, you need to be the mom cat and give the babe what it needs...milk. And you should rub - pet the kitten lots - like a mother cat would, thats is a survival type thing to help kittens strive to live.
Keep in mind - this is the smallest kitten - there is a small percentage of "runts" that don't make it. Good Luck

Answer 3

A 3 week old kitten should still be feeding off it's mother's milk. It's way too young to eat any solid food. They are usually not weaned from their Mom's until at least 6 to 8 weeks. You need to call a vet and find out what to do. You will have to bottle feed it, but I am not sure if you would use regular milk, or some other type formula. Please call a vet. The kitten will not make it if you don't get food in it SOON!

Answer 4

I work with animals for a humane organization and i can tell you immediatly that a three week old kitten should still be with his mother. If for some reason he can't be, you need to bottle feed this kitten every three hours, they sell the bottles and kitten formula at any pet store. Also, at three weeks they do not go to the bathroom regularly by themselves, you need to take a wet cloth and rub their genitals after they eat so that they will urinate and such. They also need to be kept on a hot water bottle as they cannot produce thier own body heat. The kitten will surely die unless you take all these precautions. KIttens should not be away from thier mother until they are 6 weeks old, he is way to young to eat any kind of food or lap up any water. He will get deydrated if you do not bottle feed him.

Answer 5

At 3 weeks old, the kitten is still nursing from his mother. Whoever gave him to you should have waited, but if you or someone happened to have found him, that's another story. What you need to find (call a vet or search on-line) is a nursing formula for kittens as he will have to be bottle-fed (a eye dropper will help) liquid food at least for 3 weeks more, and then gradually mix the liquid diet with some solid food. At this stage, he doesn't know what solid food is and cannot digest it. If you don't want him to starve, please get him some kitten formula. You will also have to become his mother, help him go to the bathroom afterwards by rubbing the area near his rear end (the mother usually licks this and helps him to go to the bathroom). You will need a litter box, not too high, but at this stage, a lot of warm towels/blankets for him to sleep in - he'll get cold at night without a warm body to keep him warm.

And yes, keep your other cat away from him (in another room) until he can at least eat solid food and then slowly let your older cat be able to smell him without letting him actually touch the little one. Until he gets use to having another cat around, putting them in the same room may result in the smaller kitten being harmed. By the way, the kitten will need to get shots, see your nearest animal shelter as they will provide shots, some education for a smaller fee than your vet.

Answer 6

Go to the pet store and ask about formula for kittens. This kitten is way too young to be away from it's mother. Shreaded meat will not give him what he needs to grow stronger. There is no natural bond usually with cats. You're tom cat will probably end up hurting the kitten, especially if it's sick, it's just natural for them. Just keep an eye on them until the cat gets bigger, hopefully they will become friends.
Good luck

Answer 7

It takes 8-10 weeks to ween a kitten, and it should not have been separated form its mother. It often takes 14 days for the kitten to be able to see, and 3 weeks before it can walk. You need to do some research on how to raise an orphaned kitten. Google it.. you got some work ahead of you or the kitten will die.

Answer 8

That kitten should not have been removed from its mother. It is too young to be weaned. It is weak because it hasn't gotten any milk. You must get a supplement like KMR at the pet store and a small bottle. Your kitten should not have waited a whole day to eat. Get the formula and feed him pronto.

Keep the kitten away from the other cat until he is old enough to take care of himself.

Answer 9

2-3 week old kittens do not have a digestive track mature enough to be 'weened to an extent' this kitten needs medical attention ASAP! this kitten has no nutrition, probably no hydration, probably anemic from the fleas and its blood glucose level is probably plummeting . VET ASAP

Answer 10

That kitten is way too young to be eating solid food. Try to get him to drink milk from a dish. If he wont then you need to get a straw and give him "drops" of milk until he's ready to eat.

The older cat may or may not be a threat to the kitten. Sometimes they will get maternal sometimes not. See how he does with the kitten and let him know that he can't hiss or attack them kitten. I wouldn't leave them alone together.