my husband just brought home a 2month old kitten who is scared to death! she cries almost constantly-although she has calmed over the last 3hrs after being held but only when being held,but she also wont eat. and, the mother was wild. can anyone help?
2007-07-29 11:29:35 · 11 answers · asked by samsa 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
You are going to have to keep holding it until it gets use to you and your family. It misses its mother and you are now going to have to take the place of the mother. It's a labor of love. I did it with two kitens that I rescued at 5 weeks old. I had to bottle feed them for almost a month before they would eat on their own. You might want to try a bottle with slightly warm milk in it. The kitten will then bond.
2007-07-29 11:39:00 · answer #1 · answered by CRAIG C 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have to give her time, she is just a baby. Make sure you put food where she can get to it easily, if she is hiding, put food and a litter box near by so she can use them. Probably once you go to bed she will come out and explore a bit. If she wants to be held, then hold her as much as you can and offer her food while she is in your arms. It may take time, if she came from a wild mother as you say, she needs LOTS of socialization, so be sure to have others hold her, play with her. Get some cat nip, but she may be a bit young for that, it calms them sometimes. The biggest thing is give her time to get used to you and her new home.
2007-07-29 18:39:44 · answer #2 · answered by Patricia M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An 8 wk old kitten is a very wee baby, comparable in age to a human baby who has just begun solid foods. In a natural setting, momma cats keep their young with them and train them until the kit reaches sexualy maturity, 6-8 months. You have a very dependent little baby, who knows her dependency and is terrified at the loss of the only trustworthy being in her world. That need is your opportunity to bond with her by supplanting her mother in her world, by being gentle and nurturing, by training her about the rules in her new environment, and by meeting her needs.
A crying kitten is a weeping baby. You did the right thing when you held her, and if you hold her, you will not be spoiling her. You are meeting her need for reassurance. Once she trusts you, she will begin to explore and be a regular kitten. She will turn to you for guidance and nurturing and food.
A really good thing for a kitten newly away from its mother is fur, or something furry. I used to use deep-pile, fuzzy toilet lid covers, with something soft fluffing them in lieu of the toilet lid, and I would keep that on the pillow I didn't use when I went to sleep. So that if the crying began, in the middle of the night, I could just reach up and sooth the kitten and go back to sleep. If you have something fur or furry that you don't mind sharing with her, she would probably like this. Of course, if you really want to go all out, you could go to Ikea and get the $20 sheepskin (which are washable in Woolite in the machine and must be line dried)
If she picks a spot on the floor to go potty, put a little litter box there, which will train her (when she goes back to that spot) to use the litter.
You can feed her wet kitten food, and if you'd like, you might want to add a raw egg yolk to it (yolk only - no white, because she will be unable to digest raw egg white) But if she's upset, she probably won't want to eat just yet. And with respect to bathroom productions, she will probably pee many hours before she poops. This is instinctual in a frightened cat; poop is stinky and attracts predators, so she will likely want to feel safe before she releases it.
Within 24 hours you will have a very different, little miss happy as can be, on your hands. The more you reassure and cuddle her now, the more she will trust you later. She needs a surrogate mommy. Be that and you will have an unbelievable friend for many years to come.
Good luck.
2007-07-29 19:26:55 · answer #3 · answered by Mercy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a new environment for her. Just reassure her and she will be fine. She might like a small round cat bed. That will make her feel comfortable and safe as cats like to curl up when they sleep. The sides of the bed are not only a support but a barrier of sort and gives them comfort.
If she has not been checked out, she should go to the Vet for a check up and vaccinations.
If not ill, she will probably start eating by tomorrow. Try canned and dry food and of course, water. ( I have never had a cat turn down Turkey flavored cat food.)
2007-07-29 18:42:22 · answer #4 · answered by Laurie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This happens a lot with kittens (even grown cats) that are introduced to new environments. I work at a vet clinic and we constantly are given stray kittens and when they come in they're always terrified...hiding behind things, not eating. Make sure to give it lots of TLC and coax it to eat with different kinds of foods...give it some toys to play with, but also set up a little box with some blankets or a comfortable little area that's quiet and away from everyone. She'll come around quicker than you think. =)
2007-07-29 19:29:08 · answer #5 · answered by xobubblegum 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My sister has a feral cat too which is still wild, but is happy in her home. Holding the little tyke, feeding and stroking it will help it get used to its new home. All cats are "scaredy cats" when they have a new territory to conquer. You have to find out what is liked - fish is a good bet, if the kitten food isn't acceptable. Keep trying different food till you get the right stuff.
2007-07-29 18:34:50 · answer #6 · answered by jenesuispasunnombre 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If she really is 8 weeks old she is missing her mother and litter mates. Give her loads of attention, lots of patience, and just be sure she knows where the food, water, and litter box is. Also try playing with her... a small toy/bell/attached to a piece of string. I have raised kittens from as young as 2 weeks. They are fine.
2007-07-29 18:37:37 · answer #7 · answered by the fnho 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you could try feeding it wet food or adding water to the dry food so it might be easier to eat. Also call a vet and ask them about it. Maybe she cries because she isn't use to you yet give the cat a little time to adjust.
hope it gets better! :)
2007-07-29 18:38:50 · answer #8 · answered by Me 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Keep on petting and stroking her, ESPECIALLY her tummy. I foster lil feral kittens all the time and if you mimick what mama does they settle down. It will take a few days or a week but they will respond.
She will eat when she is good and hungry. A little crate would be good and a stuffed animal to cuddle with is perfect.
2007-07-29 18:40:17 · answer #9 · answered by nomosno64 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
takes a little time.
will adjust to your world.
put her in a box and let her sleep and get comfortable
2007-07-29 18:37:05 · answer #10 · answered by Michael M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋